Shirley
Walker (1945-2006)
|
In
1995, I
approached Shirley
Walker (Batman: The Animated Series) to
do the scoring for my short film, Prelude to Eden. What
she delivered to me was beyond any of my expectations. She created
a symphonic piece that was powerful and epic. I didn't think
the recording that was done on a synthesizer did justice
to her magnificent composition, so I decide to hire a 33-piece
orchestra to record the massive score. |
The Prelude
to Eden Recording Session (Burbank, CA, 1995)
The
Recordings
Prelude
to Eden Score - Final Mix (3:36
min. / 5mb)
Below
is a series of MP3s (provided to me by Prelude to Eden's
sound maestro, Joe Campana) detailing the recording
session. It's pretty fascinating
to hear Shirley and the orchestra rehearsing. This was the very
first
time I
heard
the score being performed by an orchestra, so you can imagine
how amazing it was to be sitting there and hearing all this.
In
the studio (5:42 min. / 5mb): Shirley talks
to the musicians and gives instructions.
Rehearsal (3:49
min. / 3.5mb): The very first time the score is performed by
the orchestra.
Tuning
up (3:20 min. / 3mb): Musicians are tuning up
as Shirley continues to give instructions.
OK
Folks (1:51 min. / 1.5mb): Shirley and the musicians
are getting ready for take one. You can also hear score mixer,
Doug Botnick, in there.
Strings
- Take One (5:14 min. / 4.8mb): This is the
first take of the string and wood wind instruments. You can
hear Shirley stopping the whole thing in the middle and starting
over. She also jokes about how my hard earned money is being
quickly spent!
Strings
- Take Two (3:33 min. / 3.2mb): This is a great
track. Not sure if that was the one used in the final mix
but it sounds perfect to my ears. It's interesting to hear
the score without the brass and percussion instruments.
I
think we got it! (17 sec. / 0.2mb): Shirley
seems pretty happy with the last take!
Getting
Ready for the Brass Take (3:21 min. / 3mb):
The musicians rehearse as Shirley jokes around!
Percussions
Only (3:36
min. / 5mb): The percussion track was recorded seperately. This
is the take that was used in the final mix.
Some
Photos
Shirley
Walker, Michel Gagné and the Prelude
to Eden Orchestra outside the recording studio.
Shirley laughing
at one of Michel's stupid jokes.
Joe
Campana (sound editor), Shirley Walker and Michel
Gagné reviewing notes at the recording session.
Shirley about
to conduct the Prelude to Eden Orchestra.
The
Orchestra
Composer,
Orchestrator and Conductor
|
|
Shirley
Walker |
Violins
|
|
Kathi
Lenski |
|
|
Dorothy
Wade |
|
|
Joy
Lyle |
|
|
Mari
Tsumura |
|
|
Irma
Neumann |
|
|
Lisa
Johnson |
|
|
Henri
Ferber |
|
|
Sid
Page |
Celli
|
|
Steve
Erdodyi |
|
|
Miguel
Martinez |
|
|
Paula
Hochhalter |
|
|
Judy
Johnson |
Basses
|
|
Francis
Lui Wu |
|
|
Ian
Walker |
Harp
|
|
Gayle
Levant |
Flutes
|
|
Susan
Greenberg |
|
|
Steve
Kujala |
Trumpets
|
|
Malcolm
Nab |
|
|
Rick
Baptist |
Trombones
|
|
Charlie
Loper |
|
|
George
Thatcher |
Tuba
|
|
Don
Waldrop |
French
Horns
|
|
Marni
Johnson |
|
|
Jim
Atkinson |
Timpani
|
|
Mike
Englander |
Percussion
|
|
Jerry
Williams |
|
|
Judy
Chilnick |
Scoring
Mixer
|
|
Doug
Botnick |
Shirley
Walker passed away from a brain aneurism on November
30, 2006.
She
was amazingly generous with her talent,
time and expertise and always a consumate professional who enjoyed
her work a great
deal.
Shirley
will be missed by many who were lucky enough to have known her.
This page is dedicated to her.