Pip Williams - Orchestral & Choir Arrangements
News from Pip's Twitter
13.7.2014.
Stuck in to writing scores for Nightwish's 8th album. Recording the orchestra and choirs in October at Angel Studios. Can't wait!!
Again, the East/West Symphonic Orchestra sample library is just brilliant for preparing the scores and sending demos to Tuomas for approval!
20.7.2014.
1st score on a new Nightwish album is always a slow start- compounded by having to reinstall a load of software!!
Tuomas has excelled himself yet again. Dedicated Nightwish fans old and new will have plenty to get excited about!!
Working on a new Nightwish album is wonderful. Meticulous communication between Tuomas and myself- and great tech support from Tero!
Well on the way to finishing the first score. What should I start next? Something mad and epic, something peaceful or something sinister?!
24.7.2014.
Well, I HAVE nearly finished the 1st Nightwish score!! A great rocking track that will make you shudder ;-)
The next few weeks will be pretty intense, but the score writing deadline is on track. LOTS of texts and calls to Tuomas- Must be perfect!!
29.7.2014.
1st score for Nightwish 8 finished! Just a couple of small tweaks for Tuomas before wrapping it up! Already started score 2. Brutally heavy!
Some really interesting choir stuff for this 2nd score. Tuomas's writing genius goes from strength to strength!
6.8.2014.
2nd score finished! Ready to send off to the maestro for approval. I've had a blast with this one and its epic, Mahler-like chorus!
Making a start on score 3 tomorrow. This one will be dark and mysterious, with a really memorable film-worthy main melody!
Gutted that Jukka is having to step down for a while. Just get well mate!
10.8.2014.
3rd Nightwish score is in stark contrast to the first two songs. Very slow and dark, with an amazingly infectious main melody!
An assortment of exotic percussion will feature on this, plus an opportunity to bring out the awesome contra-bassoon!
Troy will put his stamp on this one too- well he does on everything he touches, but this song is tailor made for his unique talents!
19.8.2014.
Well, Tuomas has described my score for song 3 as "Stunning and beautiful"! Fans will love that track- destined to be a real album sleeper!
Now into score number 4. This is a driving, typically Nightwish fast affair, perfect for Floor's great rock delivery, with a bonkers chorus!
And just to add- wait til you hear what we're doing with the Metro Voices choir on this one- some manic stuff!
23.8.2014.
Just finished score number 4. Some incredibly demanding parts for the strings and choir, but they'll cope as they always do!
Metro Voices sing on all the Tim Burton films and will have a lot of fun with this one. Just need to send an MP3 to Tuomas for comments.
Sibelius software means that I can send Tuomas a mock-up of the score with realistic samples playing the parts. Saves much studio time!
Tomorrow- on to score 5, which is actually the album closer, in 5 movements! I chose to tackle this marathon next!
1.9.2014.
Well score 5 is complete and and Tuomas is delighted with my Sibelius mock-up! Gave me a chance to write some sensitive woodwind parts!
…Including a bassoon obligato, to be played by the wonderful Julie Andrews (no, not THAT one!) Started score 6 yesterday.
Number 6 is back to familiar Nightwish rock territory. More mighty ethnic percussion and plenty of crazy guitar riffs!
Nearly 11 years down the line and Tuomas and I have a fantastic musical bond. Almost telepathic! Very little gets changed these days.
7.9.2014.
Score 6 has the Tuomas seal of approval- on with 7! Some crazy stuff in the intro of this- bowed crotales, contra bassoon, weird strings…
…..very discordant brass and spooky woodwinds too! The song itself?- it has a GREAT chorus and judging by the demo, Floor will be amazing!!
16.9.2014.
Score 7 is done and dusted- REALLY pleased with that one. Number 8 should be wrapped up today. A beautiful, sensitive song!
This'll display the gentler side of Floor and demonstrates Tuomas's brilliance at coming up with fantastic melodies and riffs!
This will feature much smaller orchestra- small string section, harp and subtle percussion- and soft children's choir!
22.9.2014.
Well, despite the lack of news, I am actually on score number 10! Number 9 was a rousing affair, featuring the largest orchestra…...
9 is possibly the title track of the album and I think it's a really strong single contender. Really pleased with my French Horn lines!
The more I listen, the more I think this is one of Tuomas's strongest selection of Nightwish songs for a long time. Powerful and memorable!
Song 10 has one of those clever timing shifts. It's actually in 4/4 but has a little twist to throw the listener. Fearsome pizzicato too!
24.9.2014.
Well after just a couple of small changes, song 10 is done and dusted and off to Dick, our dependable music prep doyen.
Dick's job is to physically tidy the score, collate and print all the individual music parts and make sure there are page-turn breaks.
Sibelius software and great samples means Tuomas and I can discuss my orchestrations and make any changes if necessary- very few this time!
I'm onto song 11 now. I've come back to the 4th part of the epic closer.
Tuomas has asked me to - "Make it the ultimate show stopper- beautiful, melancholic, even biblical". Pretty straightforward then :-)
Just confirmed the full orchestra and choir line-up. Plus, I've made a list of all the mighty percussion instruments we'll be using- wow!
28.9.2014.
It's been a full-on few days. Tuomas is delighted with score 11, the album closer- really pleased cos I'm proud of this one! An epic!
I'm actually very pleased with all of them, but 11 is a bit of a fave. It will be huge!
Yesterday I completed the part for solo Hardanger Fiddle on song 12. This will be played by Dermot Crehan (who played on Lord Of The Rings!)
….and today, I finished song 13- the last score!! It's a strong single contender, with a great vocal from Floor!
There still much work to be done. I need to listen through and check everything and meticulously plan the running order for the recordings.
MP3's and parts have to be sent to key musicians and soloists, so they can be well prepared!
Need to liaise with the studio and engineer to ensure that nothing is left to chance. Some songs will need specific setups and soloist mics.
Full of excitement and anticipation for next week. Even after all these years, I still get butterflies before the first big session!
4.10.2014.
Orchestra for 8 songs successfully recorded yesterday. Amazing musicians and an absolutely fulfilling day. Onwards today with more!
5.10.2014.
Day 2 was equally amazing. Slightly smaller orchestra and solo violin and Hardanger Fiddle from the legendary Dermot Crehan!
Testament to the quality of the orchestral musicians, that they finished all of the songs 30 minutes early! On with percussion and choirs!
8.10.2014.
Well, the Nightwish London sessions were wrapped up yesterday, with every session finishing early!
Recorded the children's choir on Sunday. 20 amazingly talented kids from Young Musicians London. Stunning ethnic percussion in the evening!
Full on orchestral percussion on Monday, with the legendary Metro Voices choir bringing things to a conclusion last night. Totally drained!
The songs are brilliant and so varied. Plenty of really heavy stuff as well as sensitive songs to demonstrate Floors great versatility!
…and of course, a monumental closer to the album. There will be some real surprises for Nightwish fans and Troy's presence is mega!
2.11.2014.
Had a lovely email from Tuomas today. Mixing is going really well and can you believe, the epic closer has 430 tracks and 55 gig of files!!
I think poor mix engineer Mikko Marmilla will need a holiday when everything is done and dusted!
18.12.2014.
So the latest Nightwish extravaganza is finally mixed! Big congrats to Mikko, Tero and Tuomas on this mammoth task!
8.1.2015.
Tero's comments at the end the last Nightwish trailer made me laugh. I know how you feel mate- sometimes I can't listen again for weeks!
25.2.2015.
At last, I can listen to the new Nightwish extravaganza objectively. As a piece of art- not just something I worked on!
And it is a piece of art. The best NW album yet in my humble opinion! Every contribution deserves credit, but Floor is simply magnificent!