Not shaken, and very stirring

Made with Sibelius: Casino Royale Soundtrack

Just a few days before the orchestral recording of David Arnold’s Casino Royale soundtrack, some major edits were made to the film. Not a problem; all the parts had been created in Sibelius 4, so changes were quick and painless. The players weren’t shaken and recorded another stirring Bond soundtrack.

Jill Streater from Global Music Service, music copyist on Casino Royale

Picture the scene. You’re days away from recording the orchestral soundtrack to one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year, when the studio delivers a new version of the film that requires large-scale changes to the music. What do you do?

If you’re Jill Streater from Global Music Service, renowned copyist and engraver, who has worked on many blockbuster movies, you don’t worry – because all the scores – along with their dynamic parts – had been created in Sibelius 4.

“Sibelius enabled us to change cues substantially and make lots of other revisions really quickly - stuff that simply couldn’t have been done any other way”, says Jill. “We were able to adjust the full orchestral scores as we were given the changes by the orchestrator and conductor Nicholas Dodd so that the timings and music fitted the new action sequences. Then, because of the Dynamic Parts feature, the different instrument parts were just there – ready to print. Amazing really! Despite all the last minute revisions I’m glad to say the recording process went really smoothly.”

Jill is used to working with Sibelius to hit tight deadlines. Over the past year Global Music Service have worked on many movie scores including Patrick Doyle’s  ‘Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire’ and newly released ‘Eragon’, Jeff Danna’s ‘Closing The Ring’, and a new David Arnold  score for  ‘Hot Fuzz’ - just recorded - using Sibelius every time.

“It’s like an extension of my arm! I can’t imagine working without it these days. In fact, if we did, I just don’t think we could meet studio deadlines.”

The whole soundtrack was recorded at AIR Studios in London in a one-week period with an orchestra of 74 players. It was mixed, mastered and released within three weeks of the recording – a tribute to modern production techniques.

London's AIR Studios, where the score was recorded

Jill and the team were very happy with how the recording went, and with how well the soundtrack enhances Casino Royale. And as for the new Bond heartthrob, Daniel Craig, Jill probably sums it up best. “He certainly does it for me!”

The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for ‘Casino Royale’ is out now on Sony Classical.