Starring Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, Ciarán Hinds, Jack Gleeson and many more

Directed by Robert Lorenz
Screenplay: Mark McNally & Terry Loane
Cinematographer: Tom Stern
Producers: Bonnie Timmerman, Kieran Corrigan, Geraldine Hughes and Terry Loane
Produced by Markus Barmettler & Philip S. Lee (Facing East Entertainment)

Music by Diego Baldenweg with Nora Baldenweg & Lionel Baldenweg
Performed by the Galaxy Symphonic Orchestra
Conducted by Dirk Brossé
feat. Pfuri Baldenweg on Harmonica

Plot:
Finbar (Liam Neeson) is a retired assassin. When IRA terrorists flee from Belfast to hide out in a small remote Irish town where he lives, things slowly develop into an inevitable grand showdown. A great ensemble cast drives this crime thriller forward to become a tense and atmospheric Irish Western set in the 70’s.
More infos on IMDB

Score:
“We played with the typical codes of a Western, married that with traditional Irish instruments, and then brought it all together with a symphonic orchestra and choir to give it that mysterious 70’s vibe.”

The Harmonica (Western)
As a main signature sound throughout the score, the composers recorded the harmonica in all its facets. There’s lovely, memorable tunes, some very gritty sounds that keep you at the edge of your seat and also hypnotic, rhythmical harmonica patterns that complement the rhythm of the orchestra in a very organic way.
Sometimes you can only hear the air being blown in to the harp without playing a musical note. It’s like a character breathing and chuffing throughout the movie. For this project the Baldenwegs collaborated with their father who is 77 years old and a devil on the blues harp.

Irish music (Setting the tone)
The composers drew inspiration from 17th century harpist and composer Turlough O’Carolan for his direct and nostalgic approach. Also from The Chieftains for their “bandy” sound and their use of multiple instruments playing the same melody together, like the mandolin, guitar, bass, bodhran or the fiddle. Further they studied and implemented typical Irish/Celtic scales and searched for ways to creatively break out of these limited notes by finding new melody and harmony combinations.

The orchestra (70’s vibe)
For the slow, poetic images the film needed beautiful and grand themes that vary and establish throughout the movie. The music prepares the audience for a big showdown. A lot of the orchestral music has a 70’s vibe to it with a modern twist.

Composing on script level with no “temp” music, helped the team develop a truly unique score contrasting beautiful melodies with gritty sound textures and striking ideas.

Watch the Film Music Making-Of

Order the physical CD here