Writing for Fun
December 2015
Heaven Sent - Bob Wendelkin
John sat on the stall beside his piano thinking where will the next notes come from. As he sat there waiting for some inspiration the telephone in the next room rang. Julie his wife answered the phone and the called him.
'It's for you John, it's your agent,' called his wife.
John slammed down of the keyboard giving rise to a loud discordant noise, then he eased himself off the stall and made his way into the next room, grateful that his search for the next note had been interrupted, Julie handed him the 'phone.
'Hello, Simon what can I do for you?' asked John as he put the phone to his ear and swung into a comfortable chair by the phone.
'John I think I have a commission for you. How do fancy writing a piece of music for a film?' asked his Agent.
'No! I wrote some before and it's just too much trouble, a few seconds here, a few seconds there. It's impossible to develop any form of music it's just a musical fill in noise. The last time I did it I said to myself I'll never do it again unless I was desperate, and thank God I'm not that desperate yet,' replied John.
'Oh, no, John, this time they want a proper piece of music as it is a central theme of the film. Can you come up the London and I'll introduce you to the commissioners and they can tell you more about the story,' replied his Agent.
'Okay, Simon when do you want me to come?'
'Can you come on Thursday? I'll have them here in the office, they know your work and they asked for you in particular,' replied Simon.
'Okay I'll come. Can you tell me what sort of music they want so I can think about it?' asked John.
'All I know it's about a young Violinist discovering his talents and then playing your music in a concert hall. They will tell you more when you meet them on Thursday,' answered Simon.
They ended the call and John just sat there in the chair rubbing his hand over the back of his head. He wondered just what it would mean to him; at least a good commission will pay the bills for the coming year, who knows it might even make a good record.
'Darling, how would you like to go shopping in London on Thursday, Simon wants me to meet a few people in his office to discuss a Commission for a film,' called John to Julie who was in the kitchen getting their lunch ready.
'You're not going to take it are you? After the bother you had with the last lot of film work,' asked Julie. 'I'm told it is not linking music but a piece to be played in a concert hall by a young musician,' replied John.
A few days later John and Julie were on the train to London, after about an hour they were leaving the station and looking for a Taxi to take John to Simon's office after dropping Julie off in Bond Street.
When he arrived he was shown into Simon's office by his Secretary. In the office there were two people in addition to Simon, John didn't recognise them but he was certain they must be the commissioning team from the film company.
'Oh, John welcome. I would like you to meet Margaret Purves and Bill James, they are from the Lion Film Company.' Turing to his Secretary, Simon said, 'Could you bring us in some tea and coffee.'
After the usual handshakes they all sat down to discuss the film for which they wanted John to write the music. The music was to be for a young violinist to play at his first concert. The time allowed for the piece was to be about four minutes, and was to lean towards the Romantic Classical type of music.
They pressed John for some ideas.
'Do you have any ideas about the music?' asked Margaret.
'I have a few ideas but I must tell you after my last experience of writing film music I decided that I would never write for the films again. If you want me I would like to have quite a free hand,' replied John.
'Your reputation is such that I think we can give you quite a free hand. However, we will need the music to be delivered in about six weeks from now, as we have a lot of money tied up in the making of this film. So although the music is at your discretion, the time is not,' said Bill.
'I have a concept about a piece of violin music, I've been toying with a piece for sometime,' replied John to show that he was on board with the idea of writing a piece of film music. The thought of writing the music overtook his dislike of the film industry.
John went over to the piano in Simon's office and started to play some melodic music. His audience listened intently and John could see that they were hooked on this melody. When John had finished they congratulated him and the film people asked when could they have the finished score.
John told them they could have the score in six weeks time and that he would tolerate little or no changes, he would conduct the piece with the studio orchestra.
They agreed to his demands and the meeting come to an end. The film people left the room and John and Simon were left alone.
'Simon, I didn't like to ask at the time when they were here, but how much is the contract worth to me, and do I own the rights to the music,' asked John.
'Let's put it this way you will not have to worry about the bills for your house for the next few years if the film is a success. I will make sure that you own the rights to the music, so that I can continue to obtain my commission from any sales,' said Simon with a smile on his face.
'That's great is there anything for me to sign at the moment?'
'Not yet but I should have their contract in a few days and I'll come down to see you,' answered Simon.
'I have to go as I said I would meet Julie in Harrods, and I must get there before she has spent all the money the contract may earn,' said John as he moved away from the piano and made his way out of the office to catch a taxi to take him to meet Julie.
When they got home John started to write the music down on paper. He could hear all the notes they were going round in his head. It was just a question of putting them down on paper.
After about two hours work the piece was almost complete. John had tried to play it on the violin but he was more at home with the piano so although he could get a reasonable idea of what it would sound like, until it was played by a real violinist he couldn't be absolutely certain.
The music was delivered and John took part in the conducting the music with the studio orchestra.
A small concert was set up by the studio to play the music to the press as a way of promoting the film.
The young Violinist started to play the music, it was the first time any of them had heard it. They all began to fall silent as the music filled the air. None of them had heard anything quite as beautiful. The violinist his eyes completely shut moulded himself into the sound as it took him over. All too soon the music ended and the Violinist opened his eyes and the small audience were left just sitting there in silence.
'That's the most wonderful piece of music I have heard in a long time, and I have heard quite a few. How did you manage to think that up?' asked Simon.
'I didn't think it up. It was Heaven Sent; I think God wrote it, all I did was to write down the notes.
[Sidenote:- I heard a piece of music on Classic FM it turned out to be from the Film Ladies in Lavender. It stimulated me to write this story.]
Please turn up the volume and click on this link to hear the piece of music