Renowned film composer Patrick Cassidy is currently in Dublin recording the original score for Irish feature film ‘Calvary’, alongside the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Cassidy, originally from Co Mayo, has lived in the US for the last 12 years, but travelled back to Ireland this week to record an original piece of music, after director John Michael McDonagh requested his contribution personally.
Cassidy has produced original music for a number of well-known films, including the 2001 horror ‘Hannibal’, starring Anthony Hopkins; the award-winning and IFTA-nominated film ‘The Front Line’, and the 2007 documentary ‘Breaking the Ice’.
He began recording the original piece of music for ‘Calvary’ today, with the help of the orchestra, which he has worked with previously for the Famine Remembrance.
Cassidy’s other notable credits include ‘Veronica Guerin’, ‘CSI’, ‘King Arthur’, ‘Salem’s Lot’ and ‘The Tree of Life’, all of which he contributed to the soundtrack.
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra musicians are no strangers to film productions either, having played the score to John Ford’s ‘The Iron Horse’ live, during last year’s John Ford Ireland Film Symposium, and providing the musical entertainment at this year’s 10th IFTA Awards ceremony, with performer Jack Lukeman.
‘Calvary’ is currently in post-production at LipSync post house in the UK. It shot in Ireland last year, with Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, Aidan Gillen and Dylan Moran all starring.
Gleeson, who previously worked with McDonagh on the Irish smash hit ‘The Guard’, plays the lead of a tormented priest in ‘Calvary’, which is set in a parish town in Sligo.
Speaking of his latest job, Cassidy said: “The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is an excellent orchestra with a great attitude – the musicians really give it their all. And ‘Calvary’ is a very good movie, very inspiring – that lends itself to creating good music!”
‘Calvary’ is scheduled for a release later this year. The film is a co-production between Ireland’s Octagon Films and the UK’s Reprisal Films.
