FILM MUSIC CREDITS

2010

2006-7

  • Die Hard 4

    Composer / Orchestrator
    Fox Studios | USA

  • Matchbox

    Composer
    AFTRS

1985-88

  • Tatlin

    Composer
    Short Animation by David Cox

  • Fish Kiss

    Composer
    Short Animation by Andrew Corby

FILM MUSIC EXCERPTS

  • 01 The Arrival (South Solitary)

  • 02 Solitary Lament (South Solitary)

  • 03 Theme for a Lady Detective

  • 04 The Detective in Situ

  • 05 Die Hard 4 Production

  • 06 Stride

Mary Finsterer working with musicians at a recording session. Photo by Dean Golja.

Mary Finsterer working with musicians at a recording session. Photo by Dean Golja.

South Solitary

South Solitary CD coverAs far back as I can remember, I have always felt there to be a magical connection between image and sound. When Shirley invited me to compose the score for her film, in a moment my imagination was abrim with the musical possibilities.

The invitation was in fact a gift – a chance to revisit a music and culture from my childhood that has stayed with me – one that my mother saw to instill in all her five children through dance, music and song. With her guidance, from an early age I was busy in the Irish tradition of dance; and at family gatherings I would listen to my mother and her family in full voice as they sang through their list of favourite Australian bush songs and Irish ballads. Of course, this is where I became familiar with She moved through the Fair. The first time I heard this ballad I was spellbound – so beautiful and poignantly sad in tune and lyric. My uncle, Father John O’Neill, was the soloist – always the centre of the family sing–songs.

Through the score of South Solitary I have been able to compose a music that would, I am sure, surprise many who have heard my concert music. On the surface it could not be farther removed! Yet – for those who know me better, know that the spirit underlying all the music I create is affirmed by the same passion.

I am so grateful to my dear friend Shirley, for the gift she placed in my hands – for trusting me with her beautiful story.

South Solitary CD is available from ABC online

South Solitary - The Arrival

South Solitary - Solitary Lament

South Solitary - Seabirds

South Solitary - After the Storm

South Solitary - Birds Nest

South Solitary - Solitary Lament: The Leaving

South Solitary - Lighting the Burner

Die Hard 4

Die Hard 4

A Churchill Fellowship enabled me to travel to Los Angeles to work in a music production led by Hollywood composer Marco Beltrami. During this time I was able to research and be involved the making of the film music for Die Hard 4.

One of the most important aspects for a composer of screen–music is to have insight and experience into how film production can inform the art of making music. In the Hollywood industry, with its long tradition and highly developed techniques of film production, coupled with the massive turnover of product, I had the opportunity to focus on how the creative process of composition works within a highly systemised operation.

I was able to research the most up–to–date methods of composing music for film and to develop an understanding of the working process of music production for feature film in the USA. The music for Die Hard 4 was recorded at the Newman Scoring Stage, Fox Studios, Hollywood and was released by Twentieth Century Fox.