Biography
Composer Rodney Newton was Music Consultant to London Film School for 21 years and also works as a freelance arranger, music journalist, music critic, lecturer, musical competition adjudicator and General Editor of a music publishing company.
Rodney studied at Birmingham School of Music (now Birmingham Conservatoire, of which he is an Honorary Member), and Salford University from which holds a Masters degree in composition. He began his professional career in 1967 with the New BBC Orchestra in Bristol as a timpanist and percussionist, during which time he wrote music for the BBC World Service. He went on to join the orchestra of Sadler's Wells (now English National)Opera where he stayed for 11 years, holding during that time the positions of co-principal percussion and principal timpani and establishing himself a composer of concert music.
After a short course of study at London International Film School with Richard Arnell, he left ENO to work in films and television as a composer, arranger, musical director and music consultant, working on a number of projects including the feature films King David (Paramount), The Butterfly Effect (Fernando Colomo) and The Wicked Wicked West (CinePics) and the television programmes The Living Isles, The Pyrates, The Watch House and Lucinda Lambton's Alphabet of Britain (BBC TV) and Korea - the Unknown War (Thames TV). He also assisted the film composers Carl Davis, Wilfred Josephs and Edward Williams.
Rodney's own concert works include thirteen symphonies, five string quartets, chamber works, vocal music and many published works for brass and wind bands. In 1975 he received a commendation in the Prince Pierre of Monaco composers' competition. He has worked for a major music publisher and has been long associated with British music, having assisted composers Simon Bainbridge, George Lloyd, Edwin Roxburgh and Robert Simpson, and preparing performing editions of major works by Granville Bantock, Havergal Brian, George Dyson and Gustav Holst among others. He is Arranger in Residence with the Band of the Coldstream Guards (being the first civilian to hold this post).
His higher education career has included teaching on the Commercial Music Course of the Royal Academy of Music and running a postgraduate degree course in film music at the London College of Music. He was on the teaching staff of London Film School for 22 years and is now an Honorary Associate of the college, and was a panel member for the 2010 Ivor Novello Award for film music.
A professionally produced piece of work, but lacking in content. This sounded rather like a backing track. There was just endless repetition of a pop-style rhythmic base. The introduction of a strong melody would have helped.
3 years 3 months 20 days
Rather a bland piece which plods along pleasantly without making much impression either way. I would question some of the cadences as well as some of the vocal contributions. Quite nicely produced, but not much magic here.
3 years 3 months 20 days
Quite haunting, with a good grasp if what to do with a small string unit.
Nice harmonic progressions. Economical whilst actually evoking an atmosphere.
3 years 3 months 20 days
A first class piece of sound-design. Very atmospheric - no wonder it features on a Zomba library CD. Shows an ear for colour and a sense of imagination when evoking an atmosphere.
3 years 3 months 20 days
Lovely sounds,imaginatively 'orchestrated', highly professional production values, but the music itself loses focus at times - too much concentration on texture at the expense of content.
3 years 2 months 25 days
A thoroughly professional job (did you have an orchestrator or did you orchestrate it yourself?) - tells the story well - who needs the film?!!
3 years 2 months 25 days
A beautifully crafted movement with a real understanding of string writing - it really should form part of a concert work.
3 years 2 months 12 days
A well-scored and punchy genre piece - a professional-sounding job which would be welcome in any production music library,I would have thought. Very impressive indeed.
3 years 1 months 21 days
Rather densely scored, but attractive nevertheless. I think it would be much improved were the chattering piano removed after the opening. This sounds like transcribed synthesizer music - too much going on - too many lines - too dense a texture.
3 years 1 months 21 days
The opening catches the style well without being too 'over-the-top'. From there on, however, it deteriorates with rather unimaginative, predictable harmonies and cliched choral writing.A pity, because there's good stuff in there at the opening.
3 years 1 months 21 days
The basic ideas are fine, but I feel the 'ethnic-rock' style is a very big mistake and totally wrong for the subject. If I was watching the film, I would turn the sound off! The oud music and the flute works for me, though.
3 years 1 months 21 days
This is a lovely cue - in its simplicity it works very well and would allow the picture to 'speak'.
Very sensitively done.
3 years 1 months 21 days
Unpretentious and effective with pauses to allow the 'picture to speak'. Beautiful
3 years 28 days
Very attractive - catches the attention and keeps it. Nice one Mick!
3 years 28 days
Dark undertones and metallic percussion track helps to maintain uneasy feeling. Works well.
3 years 28 days
This would work well on a travel show, I think, - the Latin percussion adds a dash of exotica.
However the repeated phrases might just as well work in a drama.
Intriguing.
3 years 28 days
Very simple but effective and well scored. Unexpected key shifts suggest unease in the story line.
Haunting and memorable.
3 years 28 days
This works very well indeed - those hornet sounds and repeated phrases evoke the images well. A most successful track in my estimation.
3 years 28 days
Quite atmospheric - transports the listener to an exotic, faraway place.
The Vienna Symphonic Library is OK for what it is, but I'd rather have the Vienna Philharmonic!
However, a very satisfying track.
3 years 19 days
An excellent track, well-constructed musically and imaginitively scored with some interesting and varied textures. Most satifying.
3 years 19 days
This works very well indeed and accurately captures the Jewish sound-world of the film without becoming mawkish. Hold the interest throughout its span.
3 years 19 days
Very much 'X-Files' to start with (that sampled whistling track!), but works very well with some very accomplished arranging. Interesting, inventive and well played - well done!
3 years 19 days
Very professional and intriguing from the start. This track captures the attention with its brooding atmosphere and inventive scoring.
3 years 19 days
Given the first rate professional forces involved this really should sound more impressive than it does. The basic material is somewhat predictable and, please forgive me, a bit commonplace. A triumph of fine orchestration over content, I'm afraid.
3 years 10 days
I like this very much - the 'loom' sounds are just right and the sampled voice works well with the instrumental music - an intriguing track which holds the interest.
3 years 10 days
A thoroughly professional track that really 'does the business' so to speak. I would have liked it to have lasted longer as it was just getting really interesting (some great sax licks).
3 years 10 days
This catches the mood of the title and sounds like something from one of the Harry Potter films. This is not meant as a criticism but a complement. A well-conceived and well executed track.
2 years 8 months 20 days
What a lovely track! Uncluttered and effective scoring make it ideal as an underscore and those modulations really work. It left me wanting to hear more, which is a mark of success.
2 years 8 months 20 days
Very well orchestrated,and a nice build to a climax, but then it runs out of ideas for a few bars. The bridge between the climax and what follows could have been smoother. Nevertheless, a fine attempt.
2 years 6 months 27 days
A bit of a mish-mash - unconnected ideas (some quite ear-catching) are paraded before us, but the sum of the parts doesn't make a satifying whole. This doesn't sound like music - more like a tour around your synth's capabilities. OK on a short demo showreel, but doesn't do you justice.
2 years 5 months 22 days
A lot of fun, but becomes predictable after a minute or so. Listen to Shostakovich's score for the ballet 'The Age of Gold' to hear how to do sharp, witty music which thumbs its nose at authority.
2 years 5 months 22 days
This is a beautifully scored track which does what it says on the tin. I like the simplicity and the keen ear for instrumental colour. It gets my vote!
2 years 3 months 27 days
This has a great ear for local colour, but there is little musical content! It would be fine for a travelogue where ambient atmosphere is all that is required, though.
2 years 3 months 27 days
A lovely piece of scoring which gets away with little thematic development by virtue of it's imaginative and effective scoring and its sense of proportion.
2 years 3 months 27 days
Imaginative, but owes a bit too much to other people (the opening sounds like Debbie Wiseman's music for 'Haunted', Arvo Paert pops his head around the door and the synth stuff at 2:14 sounds like an 808 State track I arranged for brass band!). It's really not cohesive enough, although there are some imaginative moments.
2 years 3 months 27 days
I like the unusual sound-world and the use of high strings over the strummed accompaniment (it reminds me of Janacek) - it's quite original but I just wish it did a bit more!
2 years 3 months 27 days
Some good ideas here and it would be great to hear it played on a real orchestra (one day, David!). The synth sound doesnt do it justice which is a pity because it is very evocative and really rather haunting.
2 years 3 months 27 days
This is very good indeed - I like the harmonies and the statement-and-answer between the brass and the strings. Very professional, full of craftsmanship, very well scored and a real pleasure to listen to. You obviously know exactly what you are doing.
2 years 3 months 27 days
It sounds OK as far as it goes, but it's not really distnctive enough to distinguish it from 100 other such tracks. Sounds well-produced though.
2 years 1 months 20 days
This works well and has plenty of variety, interesting orchestration, but tends to be a bit short on basic material and harmonic direction. Some good stuff here, though.
2 years 1 months 20 days
Lovely ambient 'swimming' music (but why oh why must we always have a dance-music percussion track??? - it gets so boring). I'm afraid I don't catch any threat or danger mentioned in the preamble - it's all a bit bland and neutral, although well-produced.
2 years 1 months 3 days
This is a bright,lively track and does what it says on the tin. A professional job, but doesn't really tell me that much about this composer. Very enjoyable, though, and a good starter for a showreel. Good luck, Alex!
1 years 6 months 13 days
An atmospheric opening, but the theme sounds rather too noble for the speech of a dictator, and why the wordless female voice (rather flat at one point)? - such a boring cliche. The 'battle' stuff is ok and well orchestrated, but didn't anyone notice that split trumpet note at 1'55"? - it sticks out like a sore thumb and should have been re-taken. It all sound very impressive and expensive (and probably was!), but there is not enough musical cohesion and too many cliches from the music of other composers The raised 11th suspension at 2'08" comes straight out of Danny Ellfman's 'Batman' score), all cobbled together in a rather clumsy way.
2 years 9 days
This works to some extent, but I find the repeated staccato quaver figuration too aggressive and 'in yer face'. I think a gentler approach might have worked better, given the self-imposed brief. Attractive material, though.
1 years 10 months 20 days
Very simple and touching, but perhaps needs filling out with a subtle string underscore or something like that. It also tends to ramble on a bit in the same key. It sounds rather like an improvised sketch for a film or TV cue, rather than a cue itself.
1 years 11 months
I like some of the sounds, but it's all a bit fragmented - it might have been better to develop just one idea a bit.
1 years 7 months 1 days
An effective song, nicely scored - very attractive.
1 years 7 months 5 days
An interesting track, well scored and imaginative, creepy 'shivers' along the way. Fits the generic theme of the album well
1 years 7 months 5 days
This is the real McCoy! An excellent mixture of live instruments and electronic effects - and the orchestration really works. First rate.
1 years 6 months 12 days
A lovely opening to any film (and great to hear my old buddy Maurice Murphy still sounding so good!). The string writing is geeat and I really like the mixture of a live orchestra with the synthesized sounds. Up there with the best of 'em!
1 years 6 months 12 days
A nice pastiche - and one that doesn't sound hackneyed. Very skillful!
1 years 6 months 12 days
An interesting cue - well scored (I'm just wondering about some of the harmonies...) but highly effective as a 'mood' piece.
1 years 6 months 12 days
This is good stuff - does what it says on the tin and is satisfying to listen to as 'abstract' music in its own right. I wish all library music was as well written as this.
1 years 6 months 12 days
A bit too much like Philip Glass for me, I'm afraid. However, it is attractive and quite nicely produced. Rather too heavily orchestrated, I think, given the images, but effective nonetheless.
1 years 5 months 22 days
A most interesting track, nicely arranged with lots of counterpoint and a melacholy air. I particularly like the solo cello entry at 1'30" - very effective.
1 years 4 months 23 days
A very sensitive piece - fits the description of the scene - doesn't become too sentimental. Quite well done.
1 years 4 months 23 days
This is a very pleasant track - I like the 'ethnic flute' just colouring the synth strings before taking the top line, although it does have a very slight Celtic feel, which I think should have been avoided, given the subject. The introduction of the guitar is a nice touch too. Very simple, effective music for chilling out!
1 years 1 months 19 days
This is good stuff - it's basically simple, but hits all the right buttons, given the brief. It skillfully avoids being a mere copy of JB and has a voice of its own. Nice one!
1 years 1 months 26 days
Oh dear - that wailing female voice again - it's such a cliche and you would do well to avoid it - however the rest is very well executed with skillful orchestration. I'd very much like to see the film.
1 years 23 days
Although comparitively short, this is an exceptionally well-wrought piece with memorable ideas and effective orchestration by a composer with the orchestra firmly in his head. Let's hear some more pieces like this (perhaps a bit longer next time?).
1 years 22 days
This is quite haunting, but it is more of a song for use in a film than a film cue as such. It is a highly professional job with excellent imaginative use of electronics. It says little about this composer's range and although it is undeniably atmospheric, it's weakness lies in the fact that it is just one idea repeated over and over. We are supposed to be taken on a journey, but I'm afraid the landscape for me is a little static and unchanging.
1 years 11 days
I like this very much - it's shifting harmonic centre and use of false relation chords really catch the ear and the slow section is haunting and memorable.
If the rest of your output is of this standard, no wonder you picked up an award!
1 years 22 days
This works, but it very short. As a single idea it is OK, but I'd have liked to have heard it developed.
1 years 2 days
This sounds as if it would work well, given the brief. I like the orchestration (lovely oboe and cor playing), although the aggressive strings tend to overwhelm (taking them down a bit in the mix would help). Unuusual and ear-catching.
10 months 3 days
Rather nicely written, but like my fellow panellist, Martin Cooper, I fail to spot a sense of fun in the music. Possibly it has something to do with the rather pedestrian performance and closely-miked recording.
9 months 22 days
I like this - it fits the description and the harmonic progressions are beautiful. I'm not quite so keen on the ending, though - I think you could have finished it off more imaginatively. However, this is just the sort of material for a production music library track.
9 months 27 days
This is very well written, although slightly under-produced (a bit more reverb, I'd say). Orchestration is very effective and shows a good ear for colour. However, I think that, for a natural history programme (and I've done a few myself!), it would be a bit too obtrusive - it needs to be a less heavily orchestrated to let the pictures speak. Lovely, high-quality stuff, though.
8 months 23 days
This is quality material - original, well constructed and well arranged, although I feel that the percussion is rather too heavy (a remix would fix it).
6 months 16 days
This is inventive, colourful stuff - although a description of the images it is intended to accompany would help. Holds the interest, though and knows how to create tension. I love the string writing which starts around 2'07''.
5 months 18 days
This works for me (I once had to score something for the BBC to a very similar brief)- it is satifying from a purely musical point of view and evokes the right atmosphere with regard to its aim.
2 months 25 days
Great stuff! A superbly synchronised, musically inventive, excellently arranged orchestral scherzo which fits the bill perfectly (I loved the Lydian mode 'flying music' at the end). I'd give it three stars if I could. Congratulations on your Ivor, Joris, but you are far too good for video games!
2 months 25 days
I love this track - rooted in the dark world of the 2nd Viennese School - beautiful scored and played. We don't hear nearly enough music of this quality on television these days. Very well done - more strength to your elbow, Joe!
2 months 8 days
This track is appropriately low-key for the underscoring of dialogue but, in my estimation, is far too bland and not nearly dark enough for the text. The tinkly things are a terrible distraction, would draw attention away from what Lady M. is saying. More or less in the right direction, but for me, misses by a mile or more.
1 years 8 months 28 days
I can't hear this track properly due to some kind of distortion. However what I can hear sounds effective and fits the theme of the programme.
1 years 6 months
This works for me and I presume it worked with the film, although I found the sudden climax a bit over-dramatic. However, without the visuals I can't judge properly. I wish it were a bit longer.
10 months 3 days
Very short, but OK for the brief. I can't really say much more - a longer cue would have helped.
10 months 3 days
I like this very much with its inventive and imaginative scoring - but it's so short. To make a proper assessment of your work we need to hear something with more development.
10 months 3 days
Sounds a bit too heavy to me - and why the major-minor in the harmony? It makes me think of Mahler 6! A lighter approach would, I think, have benefited this cue, given the brief.
10 months 3 days
Good atmosphere at the opening, but thereafter the track becomes rather too heavy and cliched and I lose interest. However, quite a good attempt at a minature tone-poem.
9 months 27 days
It would be a great help to know what the visuals were and what the documentary was about. As it is, this is simply a piece of interesting sound design with minimal musical content. I'm afraid I can't really comment more than that.
9 months 27 days
Pleasant, evocative stuff, but I'd like some more separation of the fiddle and the synths - the two tend to fight each other a littl - and the ending is very odd.
8 months 23 days
I like this - it retains the interest with plenty of variety in the scoring - the minor key makes it soumd intriguing.
6 months 16 days
This works to some extent and is quite haunting. However, it is far too heavily dependant to that arpeggiating keyboard which, after a while, becomes very irritating. I like the false-relation chords, but some of the collisions don't really work and the harmony is rather directionless.
6 months 16 days
This is very imaginative with a good sense of drama and some interesting sounds. You have captured the scene well and you vary your material. A good attempt.
6 months 16 days
This works quite well, although I think we've had enough of the dotted figure by the end. Just breaking it for just a bar or so might help to avoid ennui.
5 months 18 days
Although following a well-trodden path, this is undeniably effective stuff written with imagination.
5 months 18 days
A nice piece, fits the 'new start' theme of the scenario. I'd like to hear more of this score.
2 months 25 days
I like this - it's simple, direct and well though-out with nice 'hooks' (as my pop-music friends say). It reminds me a little bit of Sibelius in a funny sort of way. Not sure why the castanets are there, nor the other percussion entries (rather inappropriate to my ear - I think you could have done without them) but I like the 'heavenly choir'. A very pleasant 4 minutes 48 seconds. (PS - I liked the mellotron as well - long live The Moody Blues!)
2 months 25 days