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(Denver, CO / December 23, 2023) -- Perseverance Records (PEGI) has teamed up with Spectral Shimmers Productions and the James Horner Estate to record and release renditions of the legendary film composer’s early, unreleased musical works through Perseverance Records.com.

The Colorado-based label will produce complete original recordings of Horner’s The Dresser (1981) and The Hand (1983) - two previously unreleased titles, and the first in a series of original concert pieces, followed by 1979’s The Lady in Red, plus a surprise fourth previously unreleased work, written in the early phase of Horner’s iconic career, which, by many accounts is considered to be the nucleus of his unparalleled success. Grammy-nominated conductor Matt Dunkley and prolific orchestrator Nikiforos Chrysoloras will be taking the reins of this formidable project, bringing their expertise to rediscover Horner's works and highlighting their commitment to honoring his legacy by bringing his music to fans and new audiences. Dunkley enthused, “I’m excited to have been asked by Perseverance Records to conduct some of their new recording projects, especially re-discovering these amazing scores by James Horner.”

Chrysoloras, having arranged the world premiere the Legends of the Fall suite, as well as other Horner scores, is coming to the project fresh from Perseverance’s musical journey down the Jerry Goldsmith and Michael Kamen lanes, for whom he produced a 14-minute Alien suite (orchestrated and performed as Goldsmith had envisioned it before his score received the treatment everyone knows about) and a 10-minute Suite from Highlander. Sara Horner, the late composer’s widow, said, "I am so pleased to see James' work continue to excite audiences around the world. The recordings by Perseverance and Spectral Shimmers Productions of two of his most beautiful scores is an occasion to celebrate. The Dresser is a beautiful gem and deserves a wider audience. The Hand was his first foray into a major motion picture. Both of these scores, in their own way, offer listeners a unique experience.

“I am very pleased that Perseverance Records, Nikiforos Chrysoloras and Spectral Shimmers Productions are collaborating on this project. Perseverance’s track record speaks for itself. Their enthusiasm, skill and passion for film music as an art form are all a perfect fit for James’ music. Nikiforos’ talents as an arranger is matched only by his deep understanding of James’ musical world.

“Following the success of James’ concert piece, Spectral Shimmers, and the outstanding concert produced by Torodd Wigum and Kim Spildrejorde of SSP, and the James Horner Film Music Association at the Szczecin Concert Hall in 2022, a new wave of interest in James’ music has been born. With this new partnership and recordings a new endeavor begins - a truly exciting tribute to James’ rich compositional career." Reflecting on Horner’s score for The Dresser, written by famed playwright and screenwriter Sir Ronald Harwood, his daughter Alexandra, an accomplished composer herself, endorses the Perseverance project in the upcoming release’s liner notes as a heartfelt homage to both her father and Horner, akin to preserving a piece of their shared history that celebrates their friendship and collaboration, which began in the 1960s and culminated in the Oscar-nominated film.

Also in the works is the complete series of Horner's concert works that he composed during his 37-year career, as well as a compete re-recording of a science-fiction score that will get the definitive performance treatment. This initiative marks the first in a series highlighting Horner's original concert compositions and a complete re-recording of a classic sci-fi score.

Perseverance's founder and producer Robin Esterhammer says, “All of us are beyond thrilled to be working with Sara and the Horner Estate on these recordings. We are joining them in giving the music the respect and treatment it deserves while making it available to the multitude of James’ fans as well as the general public.” The project, slated to begin in early 2024, will be partly funded through Kickstarter campaigns, promising to revive and celebrate James Horner's rich musical heritage.

The second volume of our Anthology series of rare and newly recorded music from Sci-Fi, Horror and Fantasy films will be out on December 8, 2023. The title track is a newly recorded 10 minute suite from Michael Kamen's heretofore unreleased Highlander score. There are many more gems on this album, which is also available in digital download and streaming formats. You can get it here.

We have another piece of sad news to report to you today. Our close friend and collaborator Gergely Hubai has passed away in his native Budapest yesterday after a brief stay in the hospital. He was 39 and is survived by his parents Judit and Béla. He was easily the best liner notes writer I have ever worked with and a wonderful person. For more responses from the film music community, click here and here.

One of the composing duos' most unusual scores, to the Fred Dryer-directed Desert-Highway-Western, "Highway 395" will be released on Friday, June 17, 2022. If you like Ennio Morricone-style orchestration, check this one out. He would be proud of it. As are we. 

The fans had to wait a long time for this one. "Breathing Fire" is available. In the vein of his classics "Kickboxer" and "Bloodsport", Paul created an electronic score that hasn't been released since the movie's theatrical debut in 1991. Now, in a limited edition of 300 physical units, the first 100 of which are numbered, plus a digital download version, we have rectified this mistake in collaboration with the composer. 

One of our biggest sellers, Donald Rubinstein's "Martin" from the eponymous George Romero horror film, is back for a second time. Included is "Pollock", Rubinstein's unused score from the movie of the same name. But only for a year. This time our license expires on February 1, 2023. Limited edition of 250 units. 

Indian über-violinist, composer and recording artist Sharat Chandra Srivastava teamed up with American jazz musician, composer and producer Dennis Dreith (who is not a stranger to this label himself) to create a unique blend of jazz and world music in an East-Meets-West tour de force featuring an international cast of stellar musicians. The result is nothing short of astonishing. 

I have long been a friend and fan of composer Alan Derian, whom I met through a mutual friend at one of Mark Northam's Film Music Network events back in Nineties when I was still working for Christopher Franke. He is a highly underrated composer, whose "SHREDDER" soundtrack is one of the best horror scores I have listened to in a very long time. In fact, its "Main Title" is so good that we have included it on the first volume of our upcoming "TEARS IN RAIN" anthology. Get it. You won't regret it. 

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