Biography
Craig Armstrong is a Scottish born composer. Through his orchestral writing, electronic music and wide ranging artistic collaborations in classical and film music, Craig Armstrong’s distinct compositional voice has received world wide acclaim. The composer studied at the Royal Academy Of Music under such greats as Corenlius Cardew, Paul Patterson and Malcolm MacDonald, developing an approach that evokes the most delicate shifts in atmosphere and emotion.
Orchestral works, solo albums and film scores
Armstrong has built an impressive repertoire of both classical and popular music. Citing influences from classical, jazz, pop and experimental music. His latest signing to the newly formed imprint Modern Recordings (BMG Germany) begins with The Edge Of The Sea. An album which is a culmination of his interests in Gaelic psalm singing from the west coast of Scotland. Developed over several years and in close collaboration with the Herbidean composer Calum Martin. The album is a unique recording of this traditionally acapella Gaelic psalm singing featuring the innovative Scottish Ensemble.
Feature films
Armstrong has composed scores for both Hollywood and independent films from Peter Mullan’s directorial debut The Close Trilogy to the BAFTA, Ivor Novello and Golden Globe winning award scores for Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge!. Many more films have benefited from Armstrong’s music including Love Actually, World Trade Centre, Far From The Madding Crowd, The Great Gatsby, Snowden and the Grammy award winning score for Ray. In 2018 he completed work on the critically acclaimed Mrs Lowry and Son, directed by Adrian Noble. Armstrong has since composed scores for Norman Stone’s drama about CS Lewis, The Most Reluctant Convert as well as scores for Dirt Music and The Burnt Orange Heresy with new films being scored for release in 2023 for Anand Tucker, The Critic and The Great Escaper by director Olly Parker.
Far from the Madding Crowd
Solo albums
Armstrong’s first solo albums were released on Massive Attack’s label Melankolic, The Space Between Us and As If To Nothing. Piano Works and Piano Works:The Film followed with a release on Sanctuary in 2004. Memory Takes My Handwas released on EMI Classics in 2008 featuring the violinist Clio Gould and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. It’s Nearly Tomorrow, a solo album with BMG Chrysalis in 2014 which featured collaborations with Paul Buchanan and Vladislav Delay. His latest signing to the recently formed imprint Modern Recordings (BMG Germany) began with The Edge Of The Sea. An album which is a culmination of his interests in Gaelic Psalm Singing from the west coast of Scotland. Developed over several years and in close collaboration with the Herbidean composer Calum Martin. The album is a unique recording of this traditionally acapella Gaelic psalm singing featuring the innovative Scottish Ensemble. The second release with Modern Recordings is NocturnesMusic For 2 Pianos and was released in September 2021.
