The Avengers International Fan Forum

mousemeat · Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 12:33 am Post subject: Howard Blake

I still have mixed feelings about the music of Howard Blake, who seemed
to fill in for Laurie Johnson, etc..he wrote some 'new' music...and recycled
cues from LJ as well..opinions, people ?

darren · Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 2:14 am Post subject:

His scores are wonderful. I think it's a shame he didn't do a load more.

The recycling is nothing to do with Blake, that's the choice of the music editor. As made clear by the CD release of Blake's music, some bits weren't even used (in Noon Doomsday case absolutely loads) and stock Johnson tracks were used instead.

Recycled music was very common in the sixties, the ITC shows did it loads. The Avengers was rare in the most episodes had their own score. Yet There's lots of recycling even in season 4 - the early episodes especially shared lots. There's fight music that constantly pops up

jaz · Have Fingers... Will Type! Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 401

Buy the double CD of his Avengers music released by Silva Screen and you'll be converted - absolutely sublime music!
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mousemeat · Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 12:58 pm Post subject:

darren · Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 2:07 pm Post subject:

Frankymole · Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 11:56 pm Post subject:

I agree, a wonderful CD. And his music works perfectly in the show - I'm actually disappointed when any music from earlier seasons shows up, as it feels like the new season's brighter, making-it-new identity is being intruded upon! Thank goodness Johnson didn't revisit old scores for The New Avengers. They're great in their place but time moves on - we wouldn't want Dankworth's jazz funk stuff in every season, would we?
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norw27 · Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 12:54 am Post subject:

I love his score, still disappointed the Cd wasn't completely complete (if you get my meaning) as there were loads of cues not used, especially for Game.

mousemeat · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 9:26 am Post subject:

Frankymole · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:30 am Post subject:

News of a score by Howard Bake being auctioned:

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/signed-page-from-the-snowman-score-to-go-under-the-hammer-39890334.html
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mousemeat · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 5:58 pm Post subject:

Frankymole · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2021 6:54 am Post subject:

Howard Blake had similar experience of lots of his score not being used, when he did Flash Gordon (along with Queen). As Wikipedia relates: "In 1980, Blake was commissioned to write an orchestral music score for Flash Gordon, in collaboration with Queen. He was given only 10 days to produce the results, and after completion fell ill with pneumonia brought on by exhaustion. He recovered, and he and Queen were jointly nominated for a BAFTA Award. It was, however, a disappointment to him that the makers of Flash Gordon did not use much of his score."

As it's Christmas, they've been talking about The Snowman a lot on BBC Radio 5 Live, for which, of course, Blake wrote the music and lyrics on the hit song "Walking in the Air". Incredibly versatile composer, we were lucky to have him on "our" show.
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Last watched: "The Gilded Cage"

mousemeat · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2021 11:50 am Post subject: