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RIP Jonathan Whitehead

Started by Bad Ambassador, June 12, 2020, 10:01:47 AM

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Bad Ambassador

I noticed that today's edition of Radio 4 obituary programme Last Word covers the composer, who worked on The Day Today, Brass Eye, Knowing Me Knowing You and many others. Morris is listed as contributing to the programme.

Thomas

Thanks, BA. It's on at 4pm. He worked with Morris as recently as The Day Shall Come.

Whitehead also wrote Peep Show's 'Outrageous' and worked on Nathan Barley, which owes half its tone to its scratchy, zappy soundtrack. He contributed much to a beloved comedy soundscape.

M-CORP

Condolences to Jonathan's family at this time. Can we all please take a moment to appreciate how excellent and badass the theme tune to Brass Eye is?
Especially the huge gigantic climax version at the end of the final episode in the series...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpmEkKu9riA

Spiral King

Dreadful news. One of the funniest and silliest parts of brass EYE was the music in the ad-break stings in the Sex episode. They just continue on and on, with images of Stringfellow and Sullivan thrusting back and forth towards you and it's absolutely ridiculous.

Retinend

The Day Today and Brass Eye theme tunes are both absolutely iconic. RIP.

the

Wow, that's sad. It's unclear from Disgusting Bliss exactly when he and Morris started collaborating with each other (Morris's use of JW's studio to record parodies like Motherbanger are the earliest things cited), but it seems they were also in vague acquaintance in Bristol in the 80s.

Too late at a The Day Shall Come Q&A did I think of a good question, which was about CM's music work alongside Whitehead. Wished I'd asked now.


the

Quote from: Braintree on June 12, 2020, 03:15:04 PMChris Morris' tribute up now in advance of broadcast later
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08gsh19?fbclid=IwAR064P6syPByabNVEKSsvcMaJf04OUZQClTHhPZSgFAHWomt2O98q_Jjmaw

Reunited Matthew Bannister and Morris.

Wow, cheers Braintree. Love the non sequitur:

      MB: Was his musical talent immediately on show?
      CM: Killer basslines!


I've grabbed an mp3 of it, if anyone wants it for the CM archive:

      https://we.tl/t-O6OmKtEVPk
      (link expires in 1 week)

Thomas

Thanks, Braintree and the.

Jonathan's own website links to crisp original uploads of his TV compositions (more tracks available over on his SoundCloud).

www.jonathanwhitehead.co.uk

Didn't know The Graham Norton Show theme was one of his!

Head Gardener


Ballad of Ballard Berkley

Thanks you two. That's a really nice tribute.

shagatha crustie

Shit this is very sad. Once I'd noticed his name in the credits of a lot of Morris stuff I started spotting it frequently in other telly. Good gig to get that, composing for TV. Definitely a talented fellow. RIP

Ballad of Ballard Berkley

Quote from: Spiral King on June 12, 2020, 11:01:56 AM
Dreadful news. One of the funniest and silliest parts of brass EYE was the music in the ad-break stings in the Sex episode. They just continue on and on, with images of Stringfellow and Sullivan thrusting back and forth towards you and it's absolutely ridiculous.

Whitehead's music was just so brilliantly absurd, it's clear that he and Morris had similar sensibilities. They were a perfect match.

shagatha crustie

I like the 'seriously monged music' that they play the kids in the darkened classroom in Drugs.

momatt

Oh shit, I really like his work.  The music for Green Wing was him as well.  That is excellent and matches the show so well.
Shit

Shaky

I stupidly hadn't realised how important Whitehead was to Morris' work. I mean, I saw his name on the credits, but I still assumed the weirder stuff was down to Chris.


Spiral King

#17
Quote from: Astronaut Omens on June 23, 2020, 03:13:25 PM
The Guardian's obituary is written by Chris Morris:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jun/23/jonathan-whitehead-obituary

Insightful stuff. Especially this part:

Quote from: Yer man MorrisHis detailed perceptions were relaxed in a way that belied his discipline, but his opinion was never forced and always genuine. I would show him early cuts of an edit, and when it didn't work he never made it feel like failure. His description of what was wrong would be the start of the solution.

Highlights how awful it is that he's gone, far too soon.


EBGB

Quote from: Spiral King on June 23, 2020, 05:43:31 PM
I would show him early cuts of an edit, and when it didn%u2019t work he never made it feel like failure. His description of what was wrong would be the start of the solution.

I think that reflects well on them both.  Whenever I see CM being interviewed, he actually appears to *listen* before answering, which is a skill most of us could probably do well to improve.  I know I should.

I see the obit reports a heart attack.  Regarding the YT stuff, I'd noticed that much of it was posted quite recently.  I'd foolishly overlooked that it might be lockdown related and getting around to it, rather than an anticipated end.  Duh.  Lovely, and appropriate, that CM is emerging briefly from his private life to lead the tributes to a good friend and a fine artist.

Thomas

#20
Quote from: Astronaut Omens on June 23, 2020, 03:13:25 PM
The Guardian's obituary is written by Chris Morris:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jun/23/jonathan-whitehead-obituary

Lovely. And weirdly moving to see Morris - with that much-vaunted reclusive reputation (i.e. not on Twitter) - write so personally and intimately. I suppose it demonstrates their friendship.

I felt rather down the day I learned that he'd died, without really having consciously reflected on his contributions before - like Shaky, I knew his name, and the shows he worked on, but after finding out he'd died I realised just how engraved in my brain all that music is. There's not much of Morris' work you can conjure to mind without it. I'd always wished there was a longer edit of the Brass Eye theme.

Retinend

he was a handsome guy!


https://imgur.com/a/WQLpOYl

I'm finishing work to this soundtrack today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uqb_EMDE1w&list=PLXnis1my4lI8QE5ZAJ4RSZIn-R8hEEWDV&index=2

According to Morris this was streamed the day he died: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnH-u4TQiak

What on earth could have happened? Hm - maybe better off not to ask now I think of it.

Retinend

Quote from: the on June 12, 2020, 03:45:53 PM
I've grabbed an mp3 of it, if anyone wants it for the CM archive:

      https://we.tl/t-O6OmKtEVPk
      (link expires in 1 week)

Mirror:
Radio4_LastWord_JonathanWhiteheadObituary_ChrisMorris_2020-06-12_p08gsh1d

The composition at the end sounded great. I hope it gets some sort of release.

Ambient Sheep

Oh no, what dreadful news!

RIP Jonathan, you musically magnificent bastard.


Quote from: Retinend on June 25, 2020, 02:44:05 PMhe was a handsome guy!

Kinda looks like a more rakish Morris in that!


Quote from: Retinend on June 25, 2020, 02:44:05 PMWhat on earth could have happened? Hm - maybe better off not to ask now I think of it.

CM says in his obit: sudden heart attack.

Retinend

WTF? - he looked like the proverbial "picture of health" in those, what would be his last, archived youtube streams.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the Green Wing soundtrack yesterday so today I'm listening to his YouTube livestreams. You can tell he loved music regardless of genre. Everything blends deliciously and as a bonus you can listen to it without getting distracted from work.

Retinend

#25
Brilliant rendition of Debussy's majestic "Sonata for Harp Viola Flute" (in fact a long-time favourite of mine) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nyzr61KVAQ

edit: you can get an idea of the man from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9I82BhjZ9g