COMPOSER’S NOTE

In 2002, I was approached by the director Paul Johansson to write the music for his film ‘The Incredible Mrs Ritchie‘ starring Gena Rowlands, James Caan and Kevin Zegers.

High school principal Harry Dewitt (Caan) believes student Charlie (Zegers) stole local retiree Evelyn Ritchie’s (Rowlands) handbag, so he arranges a punishment that puts the boy to work in the old woman’s garden.  From the start, Charlie is puzzled by the widow, who believes she can talk to her dead husband’s spirit.  But, as he spends more time with Evelyn and her two mentally challenged sons, he begins to lose his anger and see life in a different way.

Pavane is the main theme from the film.  The simple guitar melody reflects Mrs Ritchie’s garden and her faith that all things can be reconciled in nature.  The climax of the Pavane comes at the end of the film and speaks of love’s triumph over death.

I went on to create a version for solo piano which featured on the album Towards the Light.

In 2018, international star Sarah Brightman asked me to rework Pavane for her album ‘Hymn’.  The award-winning librettist David Zipple came up with the words and the title ‘You’ and it was recorded in Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus.  Read more >