Chasing Sheep Is Best Left to Shepherds
Encyclopedia
Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds is a piece of music from the soundtrack for The Draughtsman's Contract
, written by Michael Nyman
.
, performed by the Michael Nyman Band
, which was not the original arrangement for the film. Another different version was recorded by Wingates Band
and comes from the Album "Nyman Brass
".
In the original film, the piece was performed much more slowly than re-recorded versions. It did however have a similar arrangement, with a soprano saxophone
with the lead melody. In the Wingates Band version, the melody is in the high range of the band.
In the Michael Nyman Band version, the bassline is in the piano
, played by Michael Nyman himself, playing chords
. In the Wingates Band version, it is running quavers in the tuba
line.
movie Sex Drive (Stop Surprise in the original).
It is also used in the opening titles of the 2006 film, A Cock and Bull Story
.
The Divine Comedy
rearranged the piece as the B-side to their 1998 single Generation Sex.
The song was used in an episode of the motoring show Top Gear, during a race from the studio in Dunsfold Park near Guildford
to Casino Square, Monte Carlo
between a Aston Martin DB9
and the Eurostar
/TGV
. (Series 4, Episode 1
)
The Draughtsman's Contract
The Draughtsman's Contract is a 1982 British film written and directed by Peter Greenaway – his first conventional feature film . Originally produced for Channel 4 the film is a form of murder mystery, set in 1694...
, written by Michael Nyman
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
.
Versions
There are different arrangements of this piece, one of which is broadcast on Classic FM TVClassic FM TV
Classic FM TV is a web based internet channel owned by Classic FM. Until 14 December 2007 it was available as a television channel on the Sky Digital and Virgin Media cable TV services. Classic FM TV now only broadcasts online in the United Kingdom via the Internet.- Other media :Classic FM TV is...
, performed by the Michael Nyman Band
Michael Nyman Band
The Michael Nyman Band, formerly known as the Campiello Band, is a group formed as a street band for a 1976 production of Carlo Goldoni's 1756 play, Il Campiello directed by Bill Bryden at the Old Vic...
, which was not the original arrangement for the film. Another different version was recorded by Wingates Band
Wingates Band
Wingates Band is a brass band based in Wingates, a settlement near the town of Westhoughton in north-west England. It is considered one of the country's finest contesting bands and competes in the championship section of the British brass band league structure...
and comes from the Album "Nyman Brass
Nyman Brass
Nyman Brass is a 2006 album composed and produced by Michael Nyman and performed by Wingates Band. It consists of suites from the films, The Ogre and The Libertine, and two additional shorter works: "In Re Don Giovanni", and "Chasing Sheep Is Best Left to Shepherds" from The Draughtsman's...
".
In the original film, the piece was performed much more slowly than re-recorded versions. It did however have a similar arrangement, with a soprano saxophone
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
with the lead melody. In the Wingates Band version, the melody is in the high range of the band.
In the Michael Nyman Band version, the bassline is in the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, played by Michael Nyman himself, playing chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
. In the Wingates Band version, it is running quavers in the tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
line.
Uses
The theme was used as early as 1984 for the opening sequence and the Rolls Royce plots in the Jean-Daniel CadinotJean-Daniel Cadinot
Jean-Daniel Cadinot was a French director and producer of gay pornographic films.-Biography:Cadinot was born during WWII, in German-occupied Paris, in the Montmartre hill area of the Batignoles Quarter. His parents were tailors who custom fit clothes...
movie Sex Drive (Stop Surprise in the original).
It is also used in the opening titles of the 2006 film, A Cock and Bull Story
A Cock and Bull Story
A Cock and Bull Story is a 2006 British comedy film directed by Michael Winterbottom...
.
The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
rearranged the piece as the B-side to their 1998 single Generation Sex.
The song was used in an episode of the motoring show Top Gear, during a race from the studio in Dunsfold Park near Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
to Casino Square, Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
between a Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin DB9
-DB9 Volante:The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the convertible version of the DB9 coupe. It is built by hand in limited numbers and has enhanced styling. It is powered by the same 6.0 litre, DOHC 48 valve V12 as the DB9 and is completed with 470 bhp and a top speed of 186 mph...
and the Eurostar
Eurostar
Eurostar is a high-speed railway service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. All its trains traverse the Channel Tunnel between England and France, owned and operated separately by Eurotunnel....
/TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
. (Series 4, Episode 1
Top Gear (series 4)
The fourth series of Top Gear began on May 9, 2004, and concluded on August 1, 2004. The series contained 10 episodes. The series was subsequently followed by one "Best Of Top Gear" special, charting the best moments from the series, and "Stars In Fast Cars", a Sport Relief charity special, which...
)
External links
- Chasing Sheep is best left to Shepherds at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....