Whether you’re a self-described movie buff or lover of live music, soundtrack concerts celebrating your favourite scores are the perfect way to appreciate music in film. When we hear scores, they warm the spirit and bring forth those nostalgic memories of watching your favourite movie for the first time. As soon as the first notes of “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter play, we’re instantly transported to the enchanting world of wizardry.
Now, Candlelight concerts in Wellington are celebrating these scores inside some of the city’s most magnificent spaces. From the music in animated classics to songs in films like Titanic, iconic movie soundtracks are performed by brilliant musicians in a stunningly candlelit space.
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All upcoming Candlelight soundtrack tribute concerts
Where to see live film score concerts in Wellington
This season, Wesley Methodist Church sets the historic setting for these film tribute concerts by Candlelight. Founded in 1839, the church has been holding services for centuries and boasts gorgeous architecture. You can also catch a soundtrack concert at Michael Fowler Centre or The Roxy Cinema, as scores are performed live in sync with film scenes.
“What makes film music different is that we are always given a situation and we make the song accordingly.” – Ankit Tiwari
How do great soundtracks help storytelling in film?
When we watch movies and series, we are reliant on just two senses: sight and sound. This means that the music has to be really powerful to convey character’s emotions. The sounds of a lonely violin can really tug at the heartstrings just as the upbeat notes of a fiddle can tell us that the character is feeling happy or excited. Even the pace of music is important. We think of slow music as romantic, for example.
People watch films and series to escape into different worlds and cultures. Often, music can denote the country (hopefully tastefully) but it can also tell us how to interpret different universes. The music in Hobbiton is very different to the music when the hobbits reach Mordor. It’s not just the visuals that tell the story.
A fun film score fact
Blockbuster The Bodyguard made history as the best-selling movie soundtrack album ever. This super-popular film starred Whitney Houston (which explains it), spent 20 weeks at the top of the US charts and sold a whopping 44 million copies.