Craig Armstrong - Love Actually - The Love Themes For Orchestra '2023

Tracks list

Twenty years ago, when Craig Armstrong sat down in his Glasgow studio to compose
the cues for Richard Curtis' latest romcom, he had no idea the film would become
one of the world's most beloved cult classics – and his score would be a
central part of the film's enduring appeal.

Starring an ensemble cast, including Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson,
Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, the intertwining romances of Love Actually were
beautifully punctuated and accented by Armstrong's original score when it was
released in 2003. Now, the award-winning musician has returned to his original
compositions for an exciting new project, released by independent Glasgow-based
record label, CMA Records.

The Scottish composers new album, Love Actually – The Love Themes For
Orchestra, comprises 15 songs from the film's original score, all beautifully
adapted, extended and reworked to celebrate not only the film's 20th
anniversary, but fulfil Armstrong's long-held ambition to create fuller versions
of his now classic compositions. Due to the very nature of film editing,
Armstrong's cues were often cut down to shorter versions within the film's
scenes, but revisiting the score has allowed the Grammy winner to write fuller
versions, which have been performed by the Budapest Art Orchestra, conducted by
Peter Pejtsik, for the album.

"Getting the chance to work on this film twenty years ago was an exciting and
sometimes complex process as quite a few areas of the film had to be filmed to
on set," explained Armstrong, who has scored many other popular films over his
illustrious career, including The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge!, Elizabeth: The
Golden Age, Far From The Madding Crowd, Snowden and Ray, for which he has
achieved many awards including a Golden Globe, Ivor Novellos and BAFTA's
including being awarded a Grammy for Best Original Score. "Of course, I had no
idea at the time that this film would go on to be so loved, and it's a testament
to all the crafts involved in filmmaking that lead to it being the success it is
today."

The tracks on the new album are updated versions of the most poignant, moving
parts of the film, including Croissants In France, which fans will know and love
for its use during the lost in translation love story of Jamie (Colin Firth) and
Aurelia (Lúcia Moniz), and Glasgow Love Theme, a beautiful piano-led piece,
which soundtracks the unrequited love between Mark (Andrew Lincoln) and Juliet
(Keira Knightley).

As Love Actually was Armstrong's first score for a romantic comedy, director
Richard Curtis gave him one piece of advice – not to worry about writing
the comedy, but more to the emotion of the film. Glasgow Love Theme is perhaps
the most beautiful, heartfelt example of this advice made real.

"Of the original compositions for Love Actually, Glasgow Love Theme is one of my
favourites," Armstrong added. "It was written here, in Glasgow, 20 years ago,
and I'm so pleased to have had the chance to go full circle and write the
extended full version as I had always imagined it. My thanks go out to all the
musicians involved in making the Love Actually score so loved."

Creating what he hopes is an added listening experience for both fans of the
classic film, and film music lovers in general, with this special album release,
Armstrong has, once again, perfectly captured romance, love, desire, passion and
emotion through his unique sound. 

Tracklist:
1.01 - Craig Armstrong - Glasgow Love Theme (Extended Version) (4:08)
1.02 - Craig Armstrong - Croissants In France (Extended Version) (4:00)
1.03 - Craig Armstrong - Jamie Leaves Aurelia (Extended Version) (3:19)
1.04 - Craig Armstrong - I'm In Love (Extended Version) (1:23)
1.05 - Craig Armstrong - Wrapping The Necklace (Extended Version) (3:23)
1.06 - Craig Armstrong - Portuguese Love Theme (Extended Version) (3:28)
1.07 - Craig Armstrong - Love Actually Opening (Extended Version) (2:31)
1.08 - Craig Armstrong - On The Bench (Extended Version) (4:43)
1.09 - Craig Armstrong - Glasgow Love Theme (Chamber Version) (2:34)
1.10 - Craig Armstrong - Natalie On The Stairs (Extended Version) (3:15)
1.11 - Craig Armstrong - In Love With Karl (Extended Version) (0:52)
1.12 - Craig Armstrong - Croissants In France (Chamber Version) (2:26)
1.13 - Craig Armstrong - Sarah And Karl Go Wrong (Extended Version) (2:05)
1.14 - Craig Armstrong - PM's Love Theme (Extended Version) (4:22)
1.15 - Craig Armstrong - Portuguese Love Theme (Chamber Version) (2:55)

Related artists