Posts Tagged ‘ Chœur d’Enfants Amazing Grace ’

The French composer Philippe Rombi was born on April 3rd, 1968 in Pau, studied at the «Conservatoire National de Région Marseille Pierre-Barbizet» winning first prize for conducting, a gold medal in piano and in chamber music, and the «Grand Prix de la Ville de Marseille». He went on to study at the «Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris»  where he was awarded a «Diplôme supérieur en composition» as well as conducting and piano playing Rombi has always specialised in composing soundtracks for films. He wrote the scores for «Les Amants Criminels» (1999), «Sous le Sable» (2000), «Swimming Pool» (2003), «5x2» (2004) and «Angel» (2007) amongst others. Included amongst those others is the music he composed for Christian Carion's «Joyeux Noël» the film deals with the events of the famous "Christmas Truce" and it was this soundtrack that brought Pombi's work to widespread public notice — and praise, leading to a César nomination in 2005.

Rombi's setting of Lori Barth's poem "I'm dreaming of home" captures the poem's elegaic and wistful quality contrasted in the film with the horrors of trench warfare  (you can watch the "Singing Scene" at this link). You'll still sometimes hear it played on French radio and it's often sung by French choirs either in French translation or in English. In the music video below it's sung by the boys of the French choir «Chœur d'Enfants Amazing Grace» conducted on this occasion by Mme. Marie-Giang Ngo at Biscarrosse on July 19^th 2011, I enjoy this choir's singing – they're one of my favourite French childrens' choirs and I enjoyed listening to them singing this song. I think they sing it very well —  have a listen and see what you think. Video and lyrics are both below the fold. Enjoy :-).

markfromireland

Click here to listen to the music and read the rest of the posting ...