Composer

:

Simon Jeffes

Genre

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Film

Style

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Film Score

"Music for a Found Harmonium" is a soundtrack composed by Simon Jeffes, the founder of the British instrumental ensemble Penguin Cafe Orchestra. The piece was composed in 1984 and premiered in the same year. It is a single movement piece that lasts for approximately three minutes. The piece is characterized by its use of a harmonium, a small keyboard instrument that produces sound by blowing air through reeds. The harmonium used in the piece was found in a junk shop in Kyoto, Japan, and was in a state of disrepair. Jeffes repaired the instrument and used it as the centerpiece of the composition. The piece begins with a simple melody played on the harmonium, accompanied by a plucked string instrument. The melody is then repeated with additional instruments joining in, including a bass guitar, drums, and a violin. The tempo gradually increases, and the piece builds to a climax before ending abruptly. The composition has been described as joyful and uplifting, with a sense of childlike wonder. It has been used in numerous films and television shows, including the 1996 film "Napoleon Dynamite" and the 2019 television series "The Umbrella Academy." Overall, "Music for a Found Harmonium" is a unique and memorable piece of music that showcases Jeffes' talent for creating beautiful and innovative compositions. Its use of the harmonium and its joyful, uplifting tone make it a beloved piece of music that continues to be enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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