“Refusing to bend or bow to the constraints of uniformity, McKenzie’s works have only grown in their power and singular beauty. Listening to this wistful McKenzie score reminds one of his gentle, sensitive gifts and artistry in composing these lyrical, deceptively subtle melodies. His music is filled with the wonder of limitless possibilities, as well as the power and beauty of dreams…Mark McKenzie remains one of the last treasures of original film music” Steven Vertlieb “Film Music Review”
“The seemingly-effortless lightness of touch…the instantly-memorable tunes, the smiles sure to form on the face of anyone hearing them…From the gentle materials, the composer extracts great emotional weight… It is hard to imagine anyone’s day not being brightened by listening to this album… this is an absolute treat, a Christmas gift to us all.” James Southall Movie-Wave.net
“There is a warmth and a feeling of goodness that radiates from the composers score…bright, beautiful, delicate, and poignant…overflowing with fragility and mesmerizing affecting tone poems….soul warming.” Movie Music International
“The score overflows with gorgeous, evocative, emotionally resonant music…warmth and heart, tenderness, playfulness, an occasional touch of whimsy, and more than a sprinkle of festive seasonal magic.” Jonathan Broxton Movie Music UK
McKenzie’s penchant for lyrical melodic writing and gorgeous orchestration comes through from the very opening…moments of awe and wonder as well as excitement….an often quite colorful and heartwarming work well worth adding to your holiday. Steven Kennedy, Film Score Monthly USA
“Simply beautiful!” Tim Burden, Movie Magic, Belfast Ireland
“Another gem from this highly talented composer.” Jason Drury Cinematic Sound Radi
Buy the collectors CD before it sells out at INTRADA RECORDS or Back Lot Music’s digital release at music outlets everywhere. Take a listen at your favorite streaming outlet: PRANCER: A CHRISTMAS TALE
Two books I loved this year were THE CHOICE and THE GIFT both by Dr. Edith Eger. A teenage Jewish ballerina headed for the olympics who survives starvation, years at Auschwitz, Dr. Mengola’s attempted rape, hard labor and after the war is pulled from a large pile of dead bodies with a broken back. Now, at age 94, she is a world renown master therapist helping soldiers overcome post traumatic stress among other things. Dr. Eger said last week: “I guarantee you if your’e a perfectionist you’re going to procrastinate… And then the world can pass you by and they you’ll be scared.” When composing films I’m often concerned that ideas aren’t perfect enough so I stare at an empty page or later look at the finished orchestral page and see imperfections. Over the years I’ve learned to live with that uncomfortable feeling while striving for excellence. If you’re waiting for that perfect inspired idea to write a song, a book, painting or whatever, may I encourage you to just start. With effort, it will become beautiful because it’s you and there’s no one in the world quite like you.I hope you enjoy the music to “Triumph Over Fear” from Max and Me.
Composer Mark McKenzie’s film score to MAX AND ME has been voted by the International Film Music Critics Association as BEST ORIGINAL ANIMATED SCORE OF THE YEAR winning over Michael Giacchino’s INCREDIBLES 2, Alexandre Desplat’s ISLE OF DOGS, and Daniel Pemberton’s SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE.
MAX AND ME was also nominated as overall BEST SCORE OF THE YEAR by the IFMCA along with Ludwig Göransson’s BLACK PANTHER, Justin Hurwitz’s FIRST MAN, Marc Shaiman’s MARY POPPINS, and John Powell’s SOLO. Thank you to Dos Corazones and Sony Classical for the full page congratuations in Variety’s final Oscar issue. Thank you also to the IFMCA critics who wrote positively about the music. We are very happy to see Polish priest Maximilian Kolbe’s sacrificial love at Auschwitz honored.
Maximillian Kolbe, tortured at Auschwitz asked those around him to not be overcome with hatred but to love for “Only love is creative.” His compassion lead him to sacrificially die in Auschwitz’s starvation bunker to help a man with children survive. The film makers, musicians and I wish for this message of hope, love, and beauty will be enjoyed by many and spread widely. A portion of each sale goes to the Shoa Foundation, Word Vision and Catholic Relief Services. The Sony Masterworks soundtrack is available everywhere digital music is sold. Max and Me is dedicated to the memory of choral master and mentor Robert Salvatore Ruberto 1932-2016.
A sincere thank you to those who performed the music and those who made it possible; Joshua Bell, conductor Gordon Johnson, Robert Prizeman and the Libera Boys Choir, Isobel Griffith and the London symphony orchestra, Ben Parry, Terry Edwards and the London Voices, soloist Clara Sanabras, boy soprano Issac Thomas engineers Peter Cobbin and Armin Steiner, music editor Marc Perlman and copyist Gregg Nestor. Thank you to Producer Pablo Barroso, writer and director Bruce Morris, Associate producer Claudia Nemr, animators Paty García Peña, and Gregorio Núñez.
“A triumphant ravishing masterwork…finest film music yet for 2018” American Music Preservation
“Transcendent…an incredible tour de force.” Ave Maria Radio
“Staggeringly beautiful…score of the year” Movie Music UK
“Boundless expression of joy…score of the year” Movie-wave.net
“Tender, heartfelt, soaring, gorgeous…score of the year” Score Zone
“profound…inspiring and haunting…stunningly beautiful.” Movie Music International
“You’re going to have goosebumps…one of the best scores of the year.” Cinematic Sound
“An ode to symphonic beauty…do not miss this celebration of life and love” Soundtrack Dreams
Brought to tears…the more I hear it the more I believe it is a truly theophanic work.” The Click TrackMAX AND ME
I Am (w/ Joshua Bell on violin) 1:13
Two Crowns Vision 1:22
Head in the Clouds Over You 2:16
You Could be Anything 2:44
In the Trenches 2:29
If You Are So Intelligent Why Don’t You Believe? 5:22
Ask and it Will Be Given to You 1:25
When I’m Saying Me I Mean You :51
Dare To Dream Bigger 1:51
A Mother’s Prayer (w/ Joshua Bell on violin) 3:10
Dapper Duds 1:50
Sunset Hug 1:49
I’m Sorry 3:02
Nazi Brutality 3:17
Prayer For Peace 3:40
Auschwitz Cries 2:56
Only Love is Creative 2:37
I Love You (w/ Joshua Bell on violin) 4:00
Triumph Over Fear 3:20
He Was Always With Me 1:50
I Believe in You 4:12
Heaven’s Welcome 2:28
Violin Soloist: Joshua Bell
Soundtrack Available on Sony Masterworks
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London
Recording Engineer: Peter Cobbin
Mixed at 21st Century Fox Newman Scoring Stage
Mixing Engineer: Armin Steiner
Conductor: Gordon Johnson
Choir: London Voices
Chorus Masters: Terry Edwards and Ben Parry
Solo Vocalist: Clara Sanabras
Boys Choir: Libera
Libera Choir Director: Robert Prizeman
Orchestra Leader: Thomas Bowes
Piano: Dave Arch
Boy Soloist: Issac London
Wooden Recorders: Helen Keen
Guitar: John Parricelli
Orchestra Contractor: Isobel Griffiths
Assistant Orchestra Contractor: Susie Gillis
Supervising Music & Scoring Editor: Marc S Perlman MPSE
Additional Music Editing: David Lai
Music Preparation: Gregg Nestor
Mastering Engineer: Patricia Sullivan
Assistant Recording Engineer: John Barrett
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Christine Russell
“I am no fan of synth scores, but this is different, it has a celestial and other-worldly aura, the composer fashioning heart breaking and highly affecting tone poems which he combines with exciting and at times relentlessly full on action cues…DRAGONHEART VENGEANCE is a masterfully written score.” John Mansell: Movie Music International
“Mark McKenzie is a composer whose music overflows with beauty and passion, gorgeous themes and strong emotion, sparkling orchestrations and masterful technical content…He should have been nominated for at least a couple of Oscars. Dragonheart Vengeance is a score which is beautifully composed, skillfully arranged, and filled with heart…I just wish that there had been the budget for an orchestra.” Movie Music UK ” Jonathan Broxton Movie Music UKDragonheart Vengeance Soundtrack Music Composed and Performed by Mark McKenzie
1. Hold On To Hope in the Dark Times 2. Love Changes Everything 3. Never Never Ever Give Up 4. You’re Destined for Greatness 5. You Make Me Feel Magical Inside 6. Look At What You Have Left and Not at What You’ve Lost 7. Pledged to Peace 8. Great Love Surrounds What is Surrounding You 9. Snake Battle 10. Self Control Makes You Stronger 11. Trying to Kiss You 12. Look Behind You! 13. Risking Life For Something Bigger Than Yourself 14. Siveth’s Cat Mouse and Dragon Plan 15. Keep Looking Up 16. Hope: It All Works for Good
Dragonheart Vengeance debuts as #1 Soundtrack on Amazon
We are celebrating that DRAGONHEART VENGEANCE was the #1 top selling MP3 Soundtrack on Amazon! Thank you to those who supported the music.
Universal Studios Dragonheart Vengeance cast Director Ivan Silvestrini and Raffaella De Laurentiis (are front row right to left)
Note from Composer:
I love the tiwsts and turns in the plot and of course the musical pallate this film allowed. Matthew Feitshans imaginative screenplay captured my fancy from day one with a female dragon that has a few tricks up her sleave. Working with the gifted Italian director Ivan Silvestrini, who is a composer in his own right, was a pleasure because his musical and dramatic instincts were precise and effective. Sometime check out his creative electronic music here: (IVAN SILVESTRINI) A special thank you to my friend Randy Edelman who’s timeless Dragonheart theme from the first film profoundly impacts audiences. 4:40 of the 69:00 score uses this beautiful theme.
The attempted to make the music textural, thematic, magical, heart pounding, heroic, gentle, serene and everything inbetween. The 47 minute soundtrack musical color pallette consists of: pan flutes, penny whistles, drums and percussion of every kind, solo cello, voices, harp, nylon guitar, plenty of fresh electronic textures and a great variety of traditional symphonic colors. Following are some personal thoughts.
Helena Bonham Carter 18 time Oscar Nominee / mentor Jerry Goldsmith with Mark McKenzie recording at Todd AO Studios
Set for Dragonheart Vengeance Producer Raffaella de Laurentiis on back road used in the movie Dragonheart Vengeance Main Character Lukas shooting Dragonheart Vengeance without special effects finished Entire Dragonheart Cast and Crew on set in RomaniaDirector Ivan Silvestrini
Dedication:
As a young man, with some reservation, I asked out a neighbor that was full of life, love and kindness. She turned me down in the nicest way possible by actually meaning it when she said, “We’re friends.” Recently while editing a piece of music (track #14 “Siveth’s Cat Mouse and Dragon Plan”) for the soundtrack, I was told of her passing. It’s not much, but I added a solo voice that sounded like her to the beginning and ending and dedicate track 14 to her memory. One of the last things she said to me was: “I knew you were heaaded for great things.” How fortunate to have friends like that. Linda Larson, your kindness and friendship will be missed. (photo below).
Linda Larson (classmate)
We all have teachers and professors who have invested themselves into our lives when by all outward appearances there was not much to invest in. In my case, it is Maestro Stephen Ritzenthaler, Choral Master Robert Ruberto, and brilliant composition professor David Baker. Grateful for these educators.
Maestro Stephen Ritzenthaler Janurary 29, 1949 – March 12, 2017 David Baker, Composition Professor at UWEC Robert Ruberto: Choral Master
I would like to thank Universal Music Executives Angela Leus, Mike Knobloch and Rachel Levy, Back Lot Music’s Nikki Walsh and Andy Kalyvas; the extraordinary actors Helena Bonham Carter, Jack Kane and Joseph Millson; Intrada Record’s Doug Fake and Roger Feigelson; Mastering Engineer Patricia Sullivan; Vision Daw Music technical advisors Mark Nagata and Ryan Ouchida; my family Sue, Megan and Mollie.Executive in Charge of Music for Universal Pictures: Mike Knobloch Music Supervised for Universal Pictures: Angela Leus Music Business & Legal Affairs for Universal Pictures: Tanya Perara & David Flanzer
Available on Intrada Records and for download on Universal’s Back Lot Music label. Executive in Charge of Music for Universal Pictures: Mike Knobloch Music Supervised for Universal Pictures: Angela Leus Music Business & Legal Affairs for Universal Pictures: Tanya Perara & David Flanzer Marketing for Back Lot Music: Nikki Walsh Production for Back Lot Music: Andy Kalyvas
Dragonheart Vengeance Entire Cast and Crew
The composer would like to thank Randy Edelman who’s timeless Dragonheart theme breathes beauty into this fun film franchise and into this soundtrack. Out of the 69 minutes of underscore 4:40 was Randy’s theme. Siveth’s Cat Mouse and Dragon Plan is dedicated to Linda Larson who will be missed. Music for film is collaborative, a warm thank you to many who contributed: Director Ivan Silvestrini, Writer Matthew Feitshans, Producers Raffaella De Laurentiis, Hester Hargett-Aupetit, Share Stallings; Universal Music Executives Angela Leus, Mike Knobloch and Rachel Levy, Back Lot Music’s Nikki Walsh and Andy Kalyvas; the extraordinary actors Helena Bonham Carter, Jack Kane and Joseph Millson; Intrada Record’s Doug Fake and Roger Feigelson; Mastering Engineer Patricia Sullivan; Vision Daw Music technical advisors Mark Nagata and Ryan Ouchida; my family Sue, Megan and Mollie.
I’m grateful for the timeless eleven time Academy Award Nominated song writer Diane Warren who introduced me to this brilliant, beautiful and iconic Hollywood ground breaker Sherry Lansing recently. When Sherry’s doting artistic father died at a young age she spent years thinking she had caused it by being bad. She secretly vowed to always be good from that day forward. She started her LA career as an actress working opposite John Wayne with director Howard Hawks RIO LOBO and then decided she wanted the freedom to act like herself rather than impersonate others. In succession she became a producer (Fatal Attraction), the first female president of 20th Century Fox, the Chairman of Paramount’s movie division releasing 6 of the top 10 highest grossing movies in Paramount history at the point (Titanic and Forest Gump) and now a tireless and very effective philanthropist for cancer research. It is said “She ruled with an iron fist hidden inside the most velvet of gloves.” I said, “Sherry, you worked daily with the biggest, toughest movie stars, agents and film makers in Hollywood and are known for your people skills. Was there a guiding principal? She said, “Yes, I always remembered that EVERYONE is the same on the inside. Every one of us is insecure and fragile inside. When artists anger raged I knew it grew out of a passion for excellence and I didn’t take it personally.” No wonder Sherry was an inspirational leader. Her biography “Leading Lady” by Stephen Galloway is hard to put down. Thank you Sherry Lansing for helping pave the way for other women and in particular, my oldest daughter Megan McKenzie, an upcoming comedic film maker (see Hippie Happenings). (Photo by the inspirational The Passion of the Christ / Jungle Book / The Greatest Showman composer John Debney)
As I left a party, I introduced myself to a man I didn’t know. Humble, kind, exuding an interest in meeting me, he said: “Hi I’m Ted Sarandos; president of Netflix.” I was shocked at first. Since I’d composed 3 Netflix Dragonheart films it was a memorable moment. Meeting the most powerful leader in Hollywood, who’s studio is about as big as all the rest of the Hollywood studios combined, I was reminded that often the least pretentious are those who are the most powerful, creative, innovative and effective. I asked the guy next to us if he’d take our picture and Ted happily said…”We’re in good hands., he’s an academy award nominated director.” One just never knows who’s standing next to us in the grocery line or at a party and how fortunate we are if they are willing to share something of their uniqueness with us. And just maybe we have something to share with them too.
Mark has composed two logos recently. The first is THE THIRD FLOOR’S new STORY ATTIC (see video below) and the second RAFFAELLA PRODUCTIONS. The Third Floor does special effects for most of the big blockbusters and the Story Attic (Website Here) is an outlet for the hundreds of THIRD FLOOR artists to share their own unique stories. It is headed up by the truy gifted artist and story teller Doug Lefler.
Composer Mark McKenzie’s film score to MAX AND ME has been voted by the International Film Music Critics Association as BEST ORIGINAL ANIMATED SCORE OF THE YEAR winning over Michael Giacchino’s INCREDIBLES 2, Alexandre Desplat’s ISLE OF DOGS, and Daniel Pemberton’s SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE.
MAX AND ME was also nominated as BEST SCORE OF THE YEAR by the IFMCA along with Ludwig Göransson’s BLACK PANTHER, Justin Hurwitz’s FIRST MAN, Marc Shaiman’s MARY POPPINS, and John Powell’s SOLO.
Thank you to Dos Corazones and Sony Classical for the congratulatory add on the inside back cover of Variety’s final Oscar issue. Thank you also to the IFMCA critics who wrote positively about the music. We are very happy to see Polish priest Maximilian Kolbe’s sacrificial love at Auschwitz honored.
Maximillian Kolbe, tortured at Auschwitz asked those around him to not be overcome with hatred but to love for “Only love is creative.” His compassion lead him to sacrificially die in Auschwitz’s starvation bunker to help a man with children survive. The film makers, musicians and I wish for this message of hope, love, and beauty will be enjoyed by many and spread widely. A portion of each sale goes to the Shoa Foundation, Word Vision and Catholic Relief Services. The Sony Masterworks soundtrack is available everywhere digital music is sold. Max and Me is dedicated to the memory of choral master and mentor Robert Salvatore Ruberto 1932-2016.
A sincere thank you to those who performed the music and those who made it possible; Joshua Bell, conductor Gordon Johnson, Robert Prizeman and the Libera Boys Choir, Isobel Griffith and the London symphony orchestra, Ben Parry, Terry Edwards and the London Voices, soloist Clara Sanabras, boy soprano Issac Thomas engineers Peter Cobbin and Armin Steiner, music editor Marc Perlman and copyist Gregg Nestor. Thank you to Producer Pablo Barroso, writer and director Bruce Morris, Associate producer Claudia Nemr, animators Paty García Peña, and Gregorio Núñez.
“A triumphant ravishing masterwork…finest film music yet for 2018” American Music Preservation
“Transcendent…an incredible tour de force.” Ave Maria Radio
“Staggeringly beautiful…score of the year” Movie Music UK
“Boundless expression of joy…score of the year” Movie-wave.net
“Tender, heartfelt, soaring, gorgeous…score of the year” Score Zone
“profound…inspiring and haunting…stunningly beautiful.” Movie Music International
“You’re going to have goosebumps…one of the best scores of the year.” Cinematic Sound
“An ode to symphonic beauty…do not miss this celebration of life and love” Soundtrack Dreams
Brought to tears…the more I hear it the more I believe it is a truly theophanic work.” The Click Track
MAX AND ME
I Am (w/ Joshua Bell on violin) 1:13
Two Crowns Vision 1:22
Head in the Clouds Over You 2:16
You Could be Anything 2:44
In the Trenches 2:29
If You Are So Intelligent Why Don’t You Believe? 5:22
Ask and it Will Be Given to You 1:25
When I’m Saying Me I Mean You :51
Dare To Dream Bigger 1:51
A Mother’s Prayer (w/ Joshua Bell on violin) 3:10
Dapper Duds 1:50
Sunset Hug 1:49
I’m Sorry 3:02
Nazi Brutality 3:17
Prayer For Peace 3:40
Auschwitz Cries 2:56
Only Love is Creative 2:37
I Love You (w/ Joshua Bell on violin) 4:00
Triumph Over Fear 3:20
He Was Always With Me 1:50
I Believe in You 4:12
Heaven’s Welcome 2:28
Violin Soloist: Joshua Bell
Soundtrack Available on Sony Masterworks
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London
Recording Engineer: Peter Cobbin
Mixed at 21st Century Fox Newman Scoring Stage
Mixing Engineer: Armin Steiner
Conductor: Gordon Johnson
Choir: London Voices
Chorus Masters: Terry Edwards and Ben Parry
Solo Vocalist: Clara Sanabras
Boys Choir: Libera
Libera Choir Director: Robert Prizeman
Orchestra Leader: Thomas Bowes
Piano: Dave Arch
Boy Soloist: Issac London
Wooden Recorders: Helen Keen
Guitar: John Parricelli
Orchestra Contractor: Isobel Griffiths
Assistant Orchestra Contractor: Susie Gillis
Supervising Music & Scoring Editor: Marc S Perlman MPSE
Additional Music Editing: David Lai
Music Preparation: Gregg Nestor
Mastering Engineer: Patricia Sullivan
Assistant Recording Engineer: John Barrett
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Christine Russell
Composer Mark McKenzie’s film score to MAX AND ME has been honored with the Sammy Award as BEST ANIMATED SCORE OF THE YEAR. View The Sammy Awards are the longest running awards for film music recordings and is named after the famed 4 time Oscar winning lyricist Sammy Cahn. It is awarded by FILM MUSIC REVIEW which also has the most detailed and carefully researched review of MAX AND ME written by Steve Vertlieb. View
Polish priest Maximillian Kolbe, tortured at Auschwitz asked those around him to not be overcome with hatred but to love for “Only love is creative.” His compassion lead him to sacrificially die in Auschwitz’s starvation bunker to help a man with children survive. The film makers, musicians and I wish for this message of hope, love, and beauty will be enjoyed by many and spread widely. A portion of each sale goes to the Shoa Foundation, Word Vision and Catholic Relief Services. The Sony Masterworks soundtrack is available everywhere digital music is sold. Max and Me is dedicated to the memory of choral master and mentor Robert Salvatore Ruberto 1932-2016.
A warm thank you to those who performed the music and those who made the music possible; Joshua Bell, conductor Gordon Johnson, Robert Prizeman and the Libera Boys Choir, Isobel Griffith and the London symphony orchestra, Ben Parry, Terry Edwards and the London Voices, soloist Clara Sanabras, boy soprano Issac Thomas engineers Peter Cobbin and Armin Steiner, music editor Marc Perlman and copyist Gregg Nestor. Thank you to Producer Pablo Barroso, writer and director Bruce Morris, Associate producer Claudia Nemr, animators Paty García Peña, and Gregorio Núñez.
Composer Mark McKenzie’s film score to MAX AND ME has been nominated by the International Film Music Critics Association as the 2018 BEST FILM SCORE OF THE YEAR along with Ludwig Göransson’s BLACK PANTHER, Justin Hurwitz’s FIRST MAN, Marc Shaiman’s MARY POPPINS and John Powell’s SOLO. MAX AND ME has also been nominated as BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR AN ANIMATED FILM by the IFMCA. The composer is grateful to the many fine film music journalists and critics from the international community, many of whom are composers in their own right.
Polish priest Maximillian Kolbe, tortured at Auschwitz asked those around him to not be overcome with hatred but to love for “Only love is creative.” His compassion lead him to sacrificially die in Auschwitz’s starvation bunker to help a man with children survive. The film makers, musicians and I wish for this message of hope, love, and beauty will be enjoyed by many and spread widely. A portion of each sale goes to the Shoa Foundation, Word Vision and Catholic Relief Services. The Sony Masterworks soundtrack is available everywhere digital music is sold. Max and Me is dedicated to the memory of choral master and mentor Robert Salvatore Ruberto 1932-2016.
A warm thank you to those who performed the music and those who made the music possible; Joshua Bell, conductor Gordon Johnson, Robert Prizeman and the Libera Boys Choir, Isobel Griffith and the London symphony orchestra, Ben Parry, Terry Edwards and the London Voices, soloist Clara Sanabras, boy soprano Issac Thomas engineers Peter Cobbin and Armin Steiner, music editor Marc Perlman and copyist Gregg Nestor. Thank you to Producer Pablo Barroso, writer and director Bruce Morris, Associate producer Claudia Nemr, animators Paty García Peña, and Gregorio Núñez.
I love the ground breaking new definitive biography of Chopin called “Fryderyk Chopin: A Life and Times” by Alan Walker.
Chopin’s composition teacher Józef Elsner had these maxims on his office door. They demonstrate how a fine composition teacher thinks.
“It is a bad master who is not surpassed by his student.
The study of composition should not be restrained by observing too many petty rules, especially by students who’s gifts are self evident. Allow them to discover the rules for themselves.
One should never expose a student to just one point of view. It is not enough for a student to equal his or surpass his master, rather, he should create his own individuality.
An artist should open himself to his surroundings. Only then, and only through such influences can he attain his true self.
Each part of a composition should share the same objective. It should belong to the whole. Otherwise the beauty of a work is lost, for all beauty arises from the union of multiple parts.”
“A Conversation With Mark McKenzie” aired on many public radio stations recently. This one hour overview containing some of my most beautiful original scores is now online HERE. Sometimes, while burning midnight oil orchestrating what turned out to be about 100 films for composers like Broughton, Elfman, Goldsmith, Silvestri, Shaiman, Williams and others, I wondered when my pencil would be devoted to McKenzie music. Fast forward…22 original soundtracks and Edmund Stone’s “The Score” broadcast to a million listeners gives reason to be grateful. If you’ve ever wondered about my music, this is a great place to start. Included are two extended suites from Max and Me which is being repeatedly called “Score of the Year.” The original manuscript to the final track Heaven’s Welcome is above. I invite you to listen online: www.thescore.org
“Max and Me” is dedicated to the memory of Choral master Robert Salvatore Ruberto 1932-2016.
The Power of a Teacher and Music by Mark McKenzie
There is a story behind each of us that probably includes at least one teacher. For me it was a choir teacher named Robert Salvatore Ruberto (1932-2016). He patiently filled my head with music, dreams, poetry, wisdom, laughter, encouragement and discipline. In addition to the thousands he conducted in his choirs over the years, he personally mentored and counseled hundreds of us through every conceivable crisis. While he was alive, he wasn’t interested in honors saying: “I’ve been honored enough, the joy is in the journey and in my students.” Though I have thanked him on 17 movie soundtracks, a new Sony Masterworks soundtrack called Max and Me, recorded at Abbey Road Studios with 135 of London’s finest symphonic and choral musicians along with concert violinist Joshua Bell, is solely dedicated to this public school teacher’s memory.
In high school, I spent every free minute practicing piano and organ in Robert’s tiny office. How he endured bad Elton John, Beethoven, and my early noodling compositions day after day is a mystery. After playing a piano-organ solo in front of a large audience in my small hometown, I pushed Robert’s upright piano back in order to perform an encore. As I pushed, the tall piano got snagged on a crack in the old High School wooden stage and began to tip backwards in slow motion. I frantically grabbed trying to hold the 700lb piano up but to no effect. It slammed flat on its back with the loudest crash I’ve ever heard. The audience stunned, I stood paralyzed thinking “I’ve just destroyed Robert’s only piano in front of my entire community and he will be livid.” I desperately wanted to be beamed out like Captain Kirk. Shielding my eyes from the glaring spotlight, I searched for Robert. When I finally found him, what I found were deeply loving eyes and a smile. He stood up and asked for strong men in the audience to lift the piano back up. He said loudly “It’s fine…go ahead and play.” That was his lifelong message to each of his students; don’t ever let anything stop you…fearlessly use your gift and do what you are called to do. Don’t stop. Don’t ever give up…ever.
Robert’s dream was to be an Italian Opera star. Instead he came to a small Minnesota town, Lake City, raised a fine family and turned the community upside down introducing rebellious young people involved in alcohol and drugs to pursue meaning through the language of great music and great love. He used Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, The Beatles and Leonard Bernstein’s difficult masterpiece The Mass.
We now know that music encourages strong left and right hemisphere crossover which is the magic in high functioning brains. With Robert that magic was exceptionally pronounced because he added love, acceptance and hope to young people struggling with romance, deceased parents, depression, drugs, and school. He said, “I chose to teach music in high school because the young minds there are still pliable.” His students over the years became doctors, teachers, nurses, lawyers, professors, scientists, pastors, Wall Street analysts, philosophers, business leaders, musicians, and politicians.
Several weeks before he unexpectedly passed, I sent him my Sony Masterworks soundtrack Max and Me. Not one to give unmerited praise, I braced myself. He approved. Relieved, I timidly told him I was dedicating it to him. He responded, “What does that mean?” Well maybe not much really…only that his spirit and artistry live in this music, and that I desire to honor this generous teacher because he made all the difference. Like many, Robert was there early when there was not much to believe in.
“I have no mentor, I’m my own man” said a famous composer recently. I’m not sure that is possible because every life influences every life around them; especially teachers. Our public school teachers and private school teachers are on the front lines helping bring out the best in future generations. They are the ones helping the next generation in their most formative years become all they possibly can be. Maybe there is an email, letter, phone call, post, tweet or text that you might send this teacher appreciation week?
MAX AND ME
I Am (w/ Joshua Bell on violin) 1:13
Two Crowns Vision 1:22
Head in the Clouds Over You 2:16
You Could be Anything 2:44
In the Trenches 2:29
If You Are So Intelligent Why Don’t You Believe? 5:22
MAX AND ME
