Celebrating 40 Years of The Snowman With Howard Blake OBE
Written by Jamie Griffiths on November 19, 2022
Celebrating 40 Years of The Snowman With Howard Blake OBE
19-11-22
Sony Music and its label Magic Star, in partnership with The Orchard, celebrate eminent British composer, Howard Blake OBE this winter season with a very special re-mastered version of his acclaimed magical music for ‘The Snowman’. It is released to coincide with the 40th anniversary this year of the first showing on Channel 4 of ‘The Snowman’ film, featuring this enduring classic soundtrack, beloved by all ages and which includes Blake’s evergreen song ‘Walking In the Air’. Howard Blake’s narration is spoken by the inimitable Bernard Cribbins, the boy singer is Peter Auty and Howard Blake himself conducts the Sinfonia of London. This iconic soundtrack has enjoyed over 20 million streams worldwide and is set for many more with this new anniversary edition, which includes special enhanced 360 and Dolby Atmos formats.
Not only does Howard Blake celebrate the 40th anniversary of this time-honoured tale this season, but also the 25th anniversary of ‘The Snowman’ stage show in the West End and the 29th anniversary of the show overall. ‘The Snowman’ runs from 19th November – 31st December 2022 at the Peacock Theatre, Holborn. A perennial family favourite that features Blake’s famous music and lyrics, it follows the glorious story of a young boy’s adventures when his snowman comes to life on Christmas Eve.
Notes Howard Blake: “It had always been my dream to create a film where the entire narrative was carried by the music. Forty years on, I’m delighted to see that ‘The Snowman’ is as beloved as ever”.
In the 1960s he worked alongside such giants as Quincy Jones, Eartha Kitt and Sir George Martin and also produced scores for the popular TV series, ‘The Avengers’ and many other leading TV programmes of the day, as well as music for numerous TV commercials.
Famous concert works include his Piano Concerto commissioned for HRH The Princess of Wales on the occasion of her thirtieth birthday; a Violin Concerto commissioned for the centenary of the City of Leeds; a Clarinet Concerto commissioned by Thea King and the English Chamber Orchestra and large-scale choral/orchestral works such as ‘Benedictus’ and ‘The Passion of Mary’, both recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 1988 and in 1994 received an OBE for services to music.
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