An Interview with Anthony Inglis by Oliver Barder (...continued)
(page 4 of 4)

OB: So Macross Plus was the first time you worked with Yoko Kanno?
AI: Yes it was, it was also apparently the first time she had ever orchestrated for an orchestra. Which if it is true, I have no reason to doubt it, she is a genius. I should know, I have done orchestration and it is incredibly hard and requires a lot of practice. Anyway, she is a remarkably talented musician.

OB: So when do you get the music?
AI: Most of the time not until the recording sessions, however I occasionally have it sent to me before I get there which allows me to plan our rehearsals a lot better.

OB: So what did you do after Macross Plus?
AI: Escaflowne, which was another score composed by Yoko Kanno. I remember that I had to record a lot of Escaflowne. I had to make three or four trips out to Warsaw to do all the recording that we needed with the Warsaw Philharmonic. Warsaw in January is cold! <laughs>

OB: What did you think of the score?
AI: Yet again, the orchestra and chorus loved the music. There is no doubt that Yoko Kanno is an extremely talented composer. However, I get no musical guidance from Kanno or any of the Japanese composers I have worked with . It is entirely left up to me, which is fortunate considering that most of their English isn't very good. Of course I have musical annotation but I am still given a lot of freedom.

OB: Do you enjoy working on this type of music?
AI: Yes, I love it. I wish that it got the international coverage it deserves. Recently "Classic FM" had an international film music week, and I wanted to send off some of my CD's that I have done. Unfortunately other commitments prevented me from doing so.

OB: ...so you think this music has international potential?
AI: Most certainly. Music is a universal language is it not?

OB: Thank you very much for your time.
AI: You're welcome, however I think you know more about what I have done than I do <laughs>

Since the interview Mr. Inglis informed me that he will be working on a score for a new "Gundam" series (so as to commemorate Gundam's 20th Anniversary). He has also been recording another Yoko Kanno score for a series called "Brain Powerd".

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