Download Helen Jane Long

Presented by Sarah Benson




Born: April 10, 1974 in Hampshire England
Age: 41
Occupation: British Composer/film composer
(1994-present)
Instruments: Piano, Clarinet, guitar, cello,
organ, and violin.



Worked for the children’s shows “Blue Peter”
and “Live and kicking”
Worked with many composers
Served as a music score assistant for composer
Howard Shore on the trilogy: The Lord of the
Rings (2003)


Well known for the scoring of the Volkswagen
Passat commercials (2005)
Composed original music for the movies:
“The Only Hotel”
 “ Surveillance 24/7”
• Had done several recordings with the Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra (2007)

created 2 albums:
 Porcelain (2007)





Collection of piano compositions
Classically expressive/filmic style
Top selling album on Americas Largest Classical
Radio station
musicians: Jonathan hill and Nick Holland
Embers (2010)

-
Became widely requested on worldwide classical
radio stations
Collection of piano compositions





Album: Porcelain - track 5 (3:42)
Released: July 24, 2007
Musicians: Jonathan Hill/Nick Holland
Performed: December 11, 2014 at St. James
Church Piccadilly in London
Influences: Long’s deep personal emotions
experienced during various points in her life.

0:00- 0:30

0:30-1:00



1:00-1:30

Piano begins melody and then plays a
constantly ascending and descending scale that
is harmonic to the melody. Beginning at 0:10 the
cello takes over the melody and it creates a slow
flowing harmony that is conjunct between piano
and cello.
The piano begins to take over the melody and
the cello quietly stops. The violins come in softly
(piano) at 0:45 but at 0:55 it switches to the cello
and violin playing harmoniously while the
piano plays softly in the background.
Piano, violin, and cello continue to play
harmoniously and slowly the piano starts to
take over the melody. At 1:19 the piano plays
solo and decresendoing both the melody and the
octave lower harmony (scales).

1:30-2:00


2:00-2:30


2:30-3:00

The violins come and take over the
melody, as well as the cello, and
crescendo together loudly (forte).
All instruments start to decrescendo together
towards “piano” loudness and the notes are
single and continuous as if lingering.
The cello comes in and joins the piano as well
as the violins, lingering on notes that create a
more deep feeling rather than a light feeling.
At 2:40 the melody begins again and is carried
by the piano but at an octave higher. The cello
then takes over the melody and the piano
plays the arched scales adding in accentuating
notes and cresendos.

3:00-3:42

This crescendoing of the cello,
which is playing the melody, and
the piano, which is playing the
arched scales, repeats until it
comes to a stop on a chord with a
few ascending softly played piano
notes.





Album: “Intervention” track 4 (4:46)
Released: September 7, 2012
Musicians: Cellist Nick Holland
Performed: New York Tropfest 2014
Influences: weekend of her grandmother’s
passing

0:00 – 0:30

0:30-1:00


The piano begins the song with a
wide ranged melody that is very slow.
Piano harmony is played by the lower
octave and keeps the rhythm of the
song. The higher octave plays a
descending scale and both octaves
slow.
The Violins start to play along softly
and seem to follow the melody of the
high pitched piano as it goes from fast
to slow. The violins grow louder at
0:45 and then decrescendo again
adding emphasis.

1:00- 1:30

1:30- 2:00


The tempo becomes faster as there
is a slow trill descending on the
lower octave. The higher octave
plays and emphasizes the 1st and
10th beats. The melody slows and
becomes stagnant at 1:30.
The beginning high pitched
melody is slowly replayed by the
piano alone and is back to the
same tempo as well.

2:00-2:30


2:30-3:00

The strings reenter playing softer at
the highest and lowest pitches. The
piano matches the pitch of the
strings and creates homophony.
The melody has changed and then
slows and decrescendos and the
melody is no longer heard.
The main piano solo melody from
the beginning reappears and
continues till 2:50 when all the
instruments join. The tempo
quickens then slows, and then
quickens again.

3:00-3:30


3:30-4:00

The melody descends creating a
darker and deeper feeling until the
piano is playing both the harmony
and melody at an octave below the
original.
The harmony and melody then
ascend together back to the original
pitch. There is also a higher pitch
played on the beats 1 and 10 that
accentuates them just as before. At
3:45 the tempo changes to fast
where as the lower octave keeps the
same slow tempo and slowly
ascends with arched scales.

4:00-4:30

4:30-4:46


As the tempo increases, the pitch
ascends and keeps ascending so
that the lower octave (played by
the strings) now has the melody
and the piano has the harmony.
At 4:30 5 descending chords are
played that slow the tempo until
it comes to a stop.




Album: “Embers” track 3 (2:19)
Released: May 3, 2010
No performances found
Influence: Written for her father while he was
in a coma

0:00-0:30

0:30-1:00


Immediately a piano solo
begins with a sort of disjunctive
melody. There is a wide range
of notes played that descend
and decrescendo at the same
time.
The rhythm is very slow and is
irregular. It is carried on by the
lower octave harmony of the
piano that rocks back and forth
on the notes.

1:00-1:30

1:30-2:00

2:00-2:19



The wide range descending scale
from low note to high note
decrescendos as it descends.
The tempo becomes even slower
and softer. The music pauses after
every few notes but then begins
again with another set of notes.
Gradually slows even more, then a
few notes are played very softly.
At 2:09 a deep low chord is played
that ends the piece.
Wikipedia. Helen Jane Long. Retrieved by
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Jane_Long
Manhiem, James. Allmusic Review. Retrieved by
http://www.allmusic.com/album/porcelain-mw0000747131
ReverbNation. Helen Jane Long: Artist Bio. Retrieved by
https://www.reverbnation.com/helenjanelong
Helen Jane Long. Retrieved by http://helenjanelong.com/
Facebook. Helen Jane Long. https://www.facebook.com/Helen-JaneLong-188575774493802/
Photos. http://blemusic.macmate.me/BLE/Credits.html