Friday, October 28, 2011

A nod to one of the year's best scores: MARK McKENZIE - The Greatest Miracle (2011)



MARK MCKENZIE’S SCORE TAKES

“THE GREATEST MIRACLE” TO BOX OFFICE HEIGHTS


LOS ANGELES, CA (October 28, 2011)– Mark McKenzie scores the 3D animated faith-based family film The Greatest Miracle (El Gran Milagro). The film is directed by Bruce Morris (Finding Nemo) and produced by Mexico City-based Pablo Barosso and Claudia Nemer. The Greatest Miracle was released in both Spanish and English in Los Angeles and New York City for the week of October 14th to qualify for academy award consideration. In one week release, it was the third place film with the highest per screen average against films opening that week, including Footloose.

Last month, McKenzie’s heartfelt and uplifting suite from the score for the film was premiered as a special concert performance in Madrid, Spain as part of World Youth Day and Pope Benedict XVI’s visit. The Greatest Miracle (El Gran Milagro) tells an inspiring story of love, hope, and redemption as three characters mysteriously are drawn to attend morning mass. The composer incorporated over 100 musicians and performers into the score including an 80 piece orchestra and two choirs- the acclaimed London boys choir “Libera” and a women’s choir. The score album is available now on BSX Records and iTunes.

The lush, passionate score to The Greatest Miracle (El Gran Milagro) is matched to the narrative of gifted Disney Animation storyteller Morris (Finding Nemo, The Princess and the Frog and Pocahontas). McKenzie’s moving and dramatic composition connects perfectly with the film’s themes to create a powerful score.

McKenzie is one of a small number of composers working in Hollywood who orchestrates every note he composes. The talented composer/orchestrator has collaborated with virtually every major film composer over the past 20 years. The legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith chose McKenzie to orchestrate and provide additional music on his last seven films before his death. John Barry, Danny Elfman, Bruce Broughton, Alan Silvestri, Marc Shaiman, John Williams, and James Newton Howard all have enlisted McKenzie’s orchestral talent on many scores that have subsequently received Oscars. Although McKenzie has primarily scored independent projects, he has garnered a reputation for the thematic richness, beauty, and warmth of his scores.

McKenzie’s extensive list of film orchestration credits includes the films Spider-Man, Nightmare Before Christmas, Good Will Hunting and the Academy Award- winning Dances With Wolves. He also has composed and orchestrated Francis Ford Coppola's My Family / Mi Familia, The Ultimate Gift, and the award-winning Hallmark Hall of Fame television series.

Make sure you listen to the suite of the score here: http://www.markmckenzie.org/thegreatestmiracleprelude/popebenedictXVI/

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