Hummingbird Productions, one of America's leading producers of original music and sound design for the advertising, entertainment, and multi-media industries, has written and produced dramatic and compelling orchestral productions for three special new projects. The announcement was made today by Bob Farnsworth, CEO/Founder/Creative Director, Hummingbird Productions. See: www.hummingbirdproductions.com
Following Hummingbird Productions' work on Coca-Cola's Marlen Esparza TV spot, which was featured in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Farnsworth and his company have been eager to work on additional new projects featuring the recording of full orchestras. Farnsworth and team got their chance with these three brand new projects.
Says Farnsworth, "No matter how closely we think today's synthetic sounds can replicate real instruments, it always blows us away when we are allowed the opportunity to compose original music for presentations employing an entire orchestra. When recording tracks using just electronics and digital instruments, the music tends to 'stair-step' – that is, the emotion within the piece of music isn't properly conveyed. Due to the human element involved when a person actually plays an instrument in real life, the music can rise and fall naturally and organically — like an ocean wave. A human musical performance always allows much more subtlety, nuance, and flavor to be expressed."
THE COUNTRY OF UGANDA
Farnsworth and Hummingbird Productions have been specifically requested by the Government of Uganda in Africa, to write and record a new rendition of that country's national anthem. The new orchestral score, written by Farnsworth, will be presented during a special event to be held in that country in conjunction with its upcoming 52nd Anniversary in September 2014.
Farnsworth and his team will be traveling to Uganda in late April to record 1,000 voices of native Ugandan people, including young children, living in various villages throughout the country. Farnsworth and team will then head back to Ocean Way Studios in Nashville to record the full orchestration of the piece, integrating the vocal recordings made during their trip to Uganda.
The exciting and unique project came to Farnsworth and Hummingbird through renowned African Playwright Alex Mukulu. Back in 1992, Farnsworth and Mukulu recorded an album together which took African songs and "American-ized" them with western instrumentation and synthesizers. The album was entitled "Skin of the Earth." For more background on Alex Mukulu, please visit: http://www.independent.co.ug/society/society/6676-when-theatre-is-your-life-
SAINT THOMAS HEALTH
Nashville, TN-based Saint Thomas Health recently turned to Hummingbird Productions for an original orchestral score to accompany their new "Nothing Shall Be Impossible" television and online video promotional campaign. The campaign debuted May 5, 2014. Farnsworth wrote the piece, working through the Bohan Ad Agency, and Creative Director Rich Paschall. The "Nothing Shall Be Impossible" score was recorded at Nashville's Ocean Way Studios. Producer was Penny Rahe, Arranger was Don Hart, and Engineer was Bobby Shin.
Regarding the new musical work, Rebecca Climer, Marketing Director for Saint Thomas Health, said, "We are introducing a new communication platform for our healthcare ministry that focuses on our faith tradition and the compelling stories of our patients, associates and physicians. A message as inspirational and compelling as 'Nothing Shall Be Impossible' requires images and music that support and expand it, and that has been achieved. Everyone who hears and sees our new 'anthem' is left very moved."
Notables in Accompanying Photo Above are from Saint Thomas Health
Recording Session: ID’s for Back Row:
5th from left: David Angel, Session Lead
6th from left: Don Hart, Conductor/Arranger
7th from left: Bobby Shin, Orchestra Recording Engineer/Mixer
8th from left: Bob Farnsworth, Composer, Hummingbird Prods.
9th from left: Aaron Howard, Producer, Hummingbird Prods.
10th from left: Rich Paschall, Creative Director, Bohan Agency
ID’s for Front Row:
4th from left: Penny Rahe, Broadcast Producer, Bohan Agency
5th from left: Jeff Parsons, Art Director, Bohan Agency
ALABAMA POWER
For "Lights," a new campaign through client Lawler Ballard Van Durand Advertising of Birmingham, AL, which promotes Alabama Power, Hummingbird recorded another orchestra at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville. The music from that session is featured within new 15- and 30- second spots which just broke across Alabama.
The campaign's Executive Creative Director Rich Paschall said, "The Alabama Power 'Lights' spot used illuminated spheres to metaphorically represent the special type of energy that Alabama Power brings to the state of Alabama. The spot is something of a mini-epic, so we needed music that would not only support — but enhance — the swell and drama of the visuals. Hummingbird Productions delivered in spades, as usual, with a truly inspired track that captured the mood and the vision of the spot. Working with Bob Farnsworth and Hummingbird is always a pleasure. Their work is proof that you don't have to go far from home to find a music house that can consistently deliver an outstanding product."
About HUMMINGBIRD PRODUCTIONS
Founded in Nashville, TN, in 1976 by Bob Farnsworth, Hummingbird Productions is one of the longest standing providers in the United States of original music for the entertainment and advertising industries. While the company is perhaps best known for its music in such advertising campaigns as "Always Coca-Cola" and Wrigley's "Double Double Your Refreshment," Hummingbird's composers also create original music for feature films/short films/documentaries, TV programs, soundtracks, web videos, radio commercials, video games, and more.
Touting the slogan "Hearing is Believing," which will be delivered by Bob Farnsworth as a TEDx talk in Colorado on May 22, 2014, Hummingbird Productions has, over the last decade, evolved into a collective of talented writers, artists, and producers who collaborate on some of the best music consistently featured in major national advertising campaigns. The company is renown for its talent and collaboration with artists and producers including: Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter Keith Thomas; Byron House, bass player for Robert Plant's "Band of Joy"; Dennis Holt, session drummer on Taylor Swift's "Beautiful Eyes" EP; Swan Dive vocalist Molly Felder, whose commercial credits include national advertisers Pepsi, Michelob, and Chevrolet; as well as many others.
Hummingbird is the winner of dozens of Clio and Lions Awards, including the Clio Hall of Fame Award for the sound design on "Budweiser Frogs" – considered one of the Top Ten Best TV Commercials of all time. Hummingbird Productions has been an acknowledged leader in the field of audio and sonic branding for 37 years. The company also offers music publishing, music licensing and music search services, all while actively working with artists from around the world.
Hummingbird Productions is located at 1521 Graybar, Nashville, TN, 37215. The phone is 615-385-3729 and the website is: www.hummingbirdproductions.com
