a variety of music demonstrating different moods, instrumentations and styles ...

Cinematic Music

Epic orchestral theme; meditations of a Dark Age pilgrim on a long journey.  Here, the melody itself seems on an unending quest to ask and find answers to some profundity...
Celtic, medieval, strings brass, huge video game, cinematic, film
Finalist in the UK SongWriting Contest (Instrumental), 2014!

Bidwell's Path

This track is from the album Mysts at Foggie Brae - medieval soundscapes and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/richardaltenbach

Pilgrimage Across the Plains

Entering the Citadel

Call of CuChulainn

5 "Tales" of Passion and the Macabre for Piano Trio - PNO, VLN & CEL - Impressions from selected Poetry & Short Stories of Poe:

- The Raven -  "Nevermore", "Lost Lenore"
- Annabel Lee - "Angel's Envy", "Tomb by the Sea"
- To Helen - “Beauty amongst the Roses"
- Hop-Frog -“the Jester's Last Jest”, "Hop-Frog & Trippetta Waltz"
- The Bells -“Intro”, Var. 1 -"Golden Wedding Bells”, Var. 2 -“Silver Sleigh Bells”, Var. 3 - “Alarum / Iron Bells”, Var. 4 - "Bells, Bells, Bells”, “Finale”

Composed by Richard Altenbach

These movements are impressions of the selected Poe works rather than attempts to musically summarize them. I term the musical style “Ultra-Romantic Expressionism” - an appropriately Romantic Classical tonal sound palette featuring vibrant dissonances befitting of the moody mind of the author.
Opening with the 3-note "Nevermore" motif (cello), "The Raven" ponders the angst and ultimate fury of the narrator, who feels sorrow over the fate of his beloved, departed Lenore while taunted by an enigmatic bird that perches in his apartments. The woody taps of the string players' bows represent the "tap-tap- tapping" on the chamber door. Spiky, dissonant chords signify the persistence of the ebony-plumed visitor. Anxious musical elements bring us to breathless turmoil. The slow “Lost Lenore” section features a somber cello theme poised over the piano’s deep, languid, unfurling clouds of chords. 
A violin interlude bridges this piece with "Annabel Lee", a gothic, romantic ghost story. A lover forever pines over the loss of his lady, blaming the jealous angels for tragedy. "Angel's Envy" describes the stormy cliff at the sea they frequented, while the eerie middle section, "Tomb by the Sea" explores the man's supernatural obsessions.
Solo violin brings us to “To Helen”. Contrasting the typical conception of Poe’s works as grotesque, morose and macabre, we hear more hopeful major tonality. “To Helen” is actually 2 distinct poems of the same title. In one version, Poe extols her beauty effusively. In the other, he speaks about her in a rose garden at midnight, wondering about what was and what could have been.
We now pivot harmonically to whole-tone and chromatic madness in “Hop-Frog” -  a Hobbit-sized court jester famous for his wit. He and his lovely Trippetta, were kidnapped from another land to serve at the whim of a boorish king. When the king unwisely insults Trippetta, the jester contrives a unique punishment involving a chandelier and masquerade ball gone very bad! The music here is quirky and sarcastic. The 2 heroes ecstatically escape back to their country. The carnival-like waltz describes their celebration.
“The Bells” evokes the emotions and rhythms suggested by the ringing of the various bells (tinkling silver sleigh bells, golden wedding bells, alarm bells, iron tolling bells). There is an Intro, 4 Variations and Finale ending in a cinematic, celebratory flourish. The final iteration of the “Evermore” motif in the last measures is extolled in a victorious, even hopeful manner. Listen for the “bells, bells, bells, etc,” and the indefatigable “Nevermore” motif haunting throughout the work...

Poetic Reflections

trailer music to a dark fantasy film (move over "Black Swan!")about a, uhh... well, haunted ballerina...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgBDei6PfBM

Unbroken ("Ballerina") TEASER

exhilarating music for a hanggliding film

Trekking The Clouds

a scene from the parody spy short film by Camen Hodges, "Project 5".  The lovable "antihero" Danny meets his end...

Danny Shot...

a scene from a film about horrific abuses of a credit collections agent, based on fact...I do mean horror!

Collections

Prehistoric World Music THEME/music from the Musozoic-"Mesozoans, eat, drink and be manic for tomorrow you..."

Chicxulub - Dinosaur Musings on the Meaning of Life OR Trouble at the K/T Boundary!

Epic Anthem to honor our fantastic military men and women, past and future! 
powerful, orchestral, brass, percussion, crescendo

Warrior's Hymn

Live, Hollywood Orchestral track to score for the final scene of a film about a horseman setting free his magnificent horse; ASCAP Film Composer Workshop Participant, Richard Altenbach


The Mustang Set Free

Live, Hollywood Orchestral track to score for the final racing scene of a film about victory for man & beast and by extension family and humankind; ASCAP Film Composer Workshop Participant, Richard Altenbach

In The Winners' Circle

from the "aborted" film, "His Child". demonic, evil possession story with a MAJOR twist...

His Child MONTAGE

Richard recently scored this dramatic feature film from South Africa directed by Oscar-nominated director, Darrell Roodt.  Bitter sweet, expressive, strings & flutes.

Stealing Time MONTAGE

Originally composed for solo cello, percussion, male chorus and low brass & strings, the Phantasy is a distillation of Richard's ballet-like musical themes from various moments of a darkly creative, sophisticated video game about Russian espionage. The WWII-era story finds our noble hero weaving through such events as the Nazi occupation of Kiev, KGB-style justice, escapes, love and ultimate betrayal, despair and true audacity of hope. 

from "Winter for Ivan"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmgtFEtXKFA
Movements include:
Cadenza Prologue (Adagio) 
Ballet in the Dark (Allegro agitato) 
Stefans Song (Andante) 
of Borscht & Blood (Allegro)


Wolf Sebastian's in-studio recording on cello with orchestra, electronics & male chorus prerecords. 

Stefan's Song

For Purchase Options of Piano Solo Sheet Music, click on the following LINK to J.W. Pepper:
https://www.jwpepper.com/Losing-Love/11548628.item

love song from the emotive, uplifting feature film, "Stealing Time" by Oscar-nominated director Darrell Roodt:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2593128/?ref_=nm_flmg_com_2

Losing Love

THEME for the popular WEBSERIES "Star Trek Lexington" ...

Star Trek Lexington THEME

Expressive Cue from the end of the heartfelt drama from South Africa, "Stealing Time".

Stealing Time - "The Note - Memories of Love"

Director Leaf Lieber's stylish, dark and atmospheric horror short film has won 4 awards and has recently screened at the venerable Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Below are cues scored by Richard for the film. Reminds me of Poe's quietly shrieking horror story, "the Oval Portrait". (Could be described as "Black Swan" meets "Psycho"!)

Link to film:
vimeo.com/231149638
WINNER BEST OF FEST SCREEN FILM FESTIVAL 2018
WINNER BEST DIRECTOR SCREEN FILM FESTIVAL 2018
WINNER BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT SEVEN HILLS FILM FEST 2017
WINNER BEST PRODUCING MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2017