In conversation: Ernest C (Lower Sixth), arranger and composer
What is your role in the Shakespeare in Love production?
I have arranged some songs from the original West End production and reused themes composed by Paddy Cunneen to write new underscores.
What has your role involved?
I have worked closely alongside Mr Todres, the cast and the live band throughout the production, as well as attending rehearsals and conducting the score. Sometimes I have had to make adjustments to the score in the middle of a rehearsal based on others’ feedback!
What’s your inspiration for the Shakespeare in Love score?
Given that Paddy Cunneen wrote a set of soundtracks for the original West End production, his soundtrack has served as an excellent template for working out the emotions and context of each scene in the play. I also listened to the King’s Singers album Madrigals & Songs from the Renaissance for inspiration, which taught me ways to infuse lyricism from the 1500s with my own style of composing — especially for writing and arranging for the live band.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced when writing the score?
Due to licensing issues concerning writing an entirely original soundtrack and arranging for songs in the West End Production, this challenged me to reuse pre-existing themes from the original and to reimagine these motifs when writing the score. Staying faithful to the original songs and adapting their ideas in my own compositional voice has never been easy!
What have you learned from the experience?
A lot! I learned to communicate effectively with others and actively listen to their feedback in rehearsals to share creative visions with them confidently while acknowledging the collaborative nature of incidental music – Music that heavily relies on the actors, directors and band members’ advice and where the composer’s intentions take a backseat. I was humbled by their passion, intuition and creativity from the very start and it was an immense privilege to be part of this journey.
Who is your role model when it comes to music writing and composition?
I mainly enjoy writing concert music inspired by 20th century composers outside of the production, by the likes of Ravel and Stravinsky, but I also often get inspired by listening to songs by Olafur Arnalds, Jacob Collier and soundtracks by Ludwig Göransson when it comes to writing in a more contemporary style.
Where would you like to study after Wells?
I would like to study Composition in the Berklee College of Music.
To find out more about Composition Studies at Wells, click here.
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