History of Sound, The (OST) - Music By Oliver Coates

The music in this period film ranges from folk, orchestral, chamber, and choral music through to synthesized and sampled sound. In addition, the sound design of nature - wind, water, birds, insects and fire - is part of the tapestry.
 
Lionel’s vivid musical memory tracks his emotional landscape. This ranges from bleak and empty following the death of his parents, to deeply Romantic when he finds love far from home -  violins and harps adding a bucolic and hyper-idyllic character.

The romance of David and Lionel is elegiac and told through unspoken words. Their path together is woven through a love for folk song and the chance to record it where it lives, in peoples’ homes, front porches and places of worship.
 
Folk songs are made unique by the people who sing them. The imperfection and character of each human voice enhances the music and its soulful qualities. Many of the vocal takes that we liked best were not edited for perfection, but had true spontaneity and a raw quality.  Likewise, we preferred to use an upright piano with a pencil stuck inside rather than a perfectly conditioned piano.
 
I am deeply indebted to the hard work of the musicians who poured themselves into this project and helped shape the full score with such warmth and good humour.”  - Oliver Coates