Well, the Easter weekend hasn’t turned out exactly how we’d planned, but I’ve been trying to make the most of the self-isolation by throwing myself into preparations for All Movies Easter Monday on Scala Radio.
We tried out a 12-hour movie music marathon last Easter Monday, and the support we received from the listeners encouraged us to do it again on the August Bank holiday, so hopefully our celebration of cinematic sounds has the potential to become something of a tradition.
As someone who has spent a lot of time listening to and writing about film scores, think of me as the kid in a sweet shop or the pig in the proverbial when approaching this special day of programming. After consulting with the music team about the themed hours from 10am until 10pm, they let me get on with it and curate the 12 hours – or, to be precise, 11 hours, seeing as one is for listener requests, a regular feature from midday on Simon Mayo‘s show.
The aim is of All Movies Easter Monday is for it to be a day of movie music bangers – technical term – so I’ve opted for familiar favourites in the awareness that film scores are the gateway into the world of classical music for so many people – as, indeed, they were for me.
It kicks off at 10am with an hour devoted to the film music master John Williams – E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, they’re all in there – and Simon will follow that with an hour of ‘Musicals at the Movies’. Personal favourites include Mary Poppins, Bugsy Malone and Muppets Most Wanted – because, let’s face it, we can do with as much muppety joy as we can get right now.
However, film music aficionados will hopefully be pleased by the odd lesser-played gems popping up alongside the big hits, such as Clint Mansell’s music for Moon and James Horner’s score for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan in the Sci-Fi hour with Mark Forrest between 4-5pm, or a little something from The Exorcist II in the Ennio Morricone hour from 6pm.
Find out more about what’s in store across the day here and do let us know what you think of the musical selections! Hopefully Scala Radio will be able to provide a suitable soundtrack to your day, and perhaps we’ll encourage you to watch or re-watch a classic film at home – and maybe even buy membership for your local cinema, to support them during this difficult time.
Our additional aim is that the music will inspire you to experience it live in the concert halls when they’re open again. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra will perform concerts devoted to music from Star Wars, Harry Potter and James Bond in Edinburgh and Glasgow in 2021, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is planning a Film Music Gala at The Baths Hall in Scunthorpe this November, the Joker in Concert UK tour has been re-scheduled, in case we need reminding about the brilliance of Hildur Guðnadóttir‘s Oscar-winning score, and Hans Zimmer‘s bringing his live show back to London and Manchester in March next year. All things to look forward to when our lives have returned back to normal. In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the music!
