Montage: Great film composers & the piano

There is a misconception in the classical-music world that composers who spend most of their time writing film music long ago sacrificed whatever individual voices they may once have had. This album conveniently and unequivocally demonstrates otherwise.

The six contemporary composers represented in 'Montage' are among today's most sought-after creators of film music: collectively, they have amassed 72 Oscar® nominations and eight wins! They have repeatedly demonstrated their skill at creating mood and propelling action for a mass audience. But, pianist Gloria Cheng wondered, what do they think about when they go home at night? What melodies, what harmonies, what cadences haunt their private dreams? 'Montage' answers those questions. By turns thoughtful, moving, amusing and thrilling, these new works offer glimpses into the private worlds of six otherwise very public composers. They are especially revealing because the compositions are for solo piano, where communication to the listener is direct, the message unadorned. The project began three years ago when composer Bruce Broughton surprised Cheng with a completed, five-movement suite. Then John Williams (who had long promised to write something for her) presented a short piece that she performed as an encore to a Tanglewood program in 2012; over the next year he added a second, third, and fourth movement. She commissioned new pieces from Don Davis, Michael Giacchino and Randy Newman, and Alexandre Desplat offered one that he had recently written for Lang Lang. This immaculate presentation is topped with a note from each composer in the booklet and all tracks are premieres.