With an emphasis on real instruments, strong themes, and melodies, UK’s Stephen Daltry's TV and Film commissions include the 2018 feature 'Of Fish and Foe' for BBC Scotland, the Sundance hit 'The Moo Man,' two documentaries on Princess Diana for ITV, 'The Hunt,' BBC (Cultural Prix Italia Winner), and scores for Discovery, Ch4, Ch5, PBS, and Cinema. Stephen has a Classical music style mixing his love of piano with sampled sounds for some of his scores, including the Grierson Award-nominated "The 2000-Year-Old Computer" for BBC (2013).
(JUNE 2019) Stephen Daltry's "Secret Talks" is a brilliant, dark, and mysteriously dramatic track fantastic for any creative TV/Film production needing to set an ominous, foreboding mood. Whether the scene is sad or suspenseful, this track is quite sparse leaving plenty of room for dialog without saturating the scene with music.From smouldering embers a violin soars up, a flute hesitantly sounds, like a high bird hovering against the swirling air, edging upwards into the sky, strings rise in slow moving chords, building to a climax then dying away. Good for film drama, a treacherous journey, conflict, diving off a mountain, Instrumental, Dramatic, Calm Edgy
Highly expressive, impressionistic piano solo, conjuring up images of a dawn landscape, the stillness of a river... ideal for nature scenes, documentary scenes, period dramas. Like Debussy or Ravel. Instrumental, Classical, Classical Piano
A slow waltz played by a live string trio. Two people dance, their faces turned away, a sad emotion in their eyes. The slow 3/4 pulse of pizzicato strings, a viola solo begins, it arcs and rises with a rapturous melancholy. Good for period dramas, ballroom scenes, romantic films, history channels. Instrumental, Classical, 20th Century
Real violins, violas and cellos, in attractive period music, with tender clarinet solos, at times contemplative and times rhythmic and climactic, with the hunting horn bringing the piece to a satisfying finish. Works well in romantic country scenes, 1700s, 1800s, early 1900s, history programs. Instrumental, Dramatic, Hectic Music
Bittersweet piano with sultry drums and vibes; a bluesy clarinet blows out into the rain-drenched street, a sad mellow jazz sound. Sounds like a Bernard Herrmann cue from Taxi Driver. Works well in crime scenes, romantic break-up, family struggle, mystery, montage scenes, film noir, documentary. Instrumental, Dramatic, Sad Music
A moody, romantic piano piece, free flowing and dark, rhapsodic, in the vein of Chopin or Rachmaninoff. Would suit love scenes, emotional montage sequences in feature films and TV dramas, or emotional scenes in documentaries, history programs. Instrumental, Classical, Romantic
A night time Kurdish dance, that begins with a single tar and oud then builds, gathering momentum like a great sweep of exotic movement and colour, with santour and violins joining the festive cry. Great for middle eastern dramas and documentaries. Instrumental, Middle East, Kurdistan
Great atmospheric track of misty docksides: spiky violins and plaintive flutes conjure up a sombre, edgy presence, perfect for serious documentary scenes, crime drama. A dark looming stillness like an enveloping cloud. Low clarinets chase through the darkness and disappear. A hunted man hides. Instrumental, Dramatic, Calm Edgy
Soothing beautiful piano track with gentle vocal humming, and then a heavenly string trio adds to the lulling lullaby quality of this enchanting music. Has a revolving, cyclical quality. Works well for family-orientated television, corporate films, adverts, sounds like Einaudi, children's bedtime. Male Vocals, Childrens, Lullabies
A solo oboe begins this mysterious, spooky tango theme with eerie stings and chromatic percussion. Dark and moody, it is great for strange, haunting dramas, dramatic end credits music. Instrumental, Latin, Tango
Stately piano chords over a restless string bed. Impending danger. A monarch broadcasts to the nation, in the midst of a terrible war. Stately, slow, elegiac, stirring, sad. Great for war documentaries, family dramas, historical programmes, human interest, opening scene of thriller. Real piano sound, Instrumental, Dramatic, Calm Edgy
Beautifully atmospheric track, a spaceship drifting in space; gentle piano chords against a soft synth pad. A far off galaxy, a child looking up at the stars. Wonderment, space documentary, drama. Instrumental, Dramatic, Calm Mellow Music
Upbeat classical ensemble, a rhythmic theme featuring real strings beginning with quiet pizzicato introduction, then strings start with a nice piano melody, then just pizzicato accompaniment and piano at the end. Great for historical documentary and drama scenes, road trips. Magazine programs. Instrumental, Dramatic, Energizing Music
Intense beautiful pleading music about a woman's love for her man. Live strings, great sound. Sounds like Barber. Romantic breakup, memories of a childhood, depths of sorrow and grief, war films, dramatic scenes. Violins, violas, cellos, woodwind. Standing alone at the graveside, remembrance. Elegy. Instrumental, Classical, 21st Century
Heart-rending and expressive string quartet, in slow 4/4 time, beautifully played on real instruments. A sublime melody which grows in pace and intensity, culminating in a climactic chord. Sounds like Barber or Shostakovich. Would suit a powerful documentary or intense dramatic love scene. 2mins25. Instrumental, Classical, 20th Century
Dawn. The sun rises over the morning fields, sweeping gold over the towns and cities. A glorious new day unfolds. A beautiful clarinet theme emerges, blossoming out with real and luscious strings, ascending like a great eagle into the air. Two lovers reunite. Great for film dramas, cinematic, epic. Instrumental, Dramatic, Heartwarming Music
An urgent, arresting piano theme begins, a classic thriller melody, and it builds with live strings to an emotional pitch. Has yearning, restless quality of a lover racing to find his girl before it's too late, a film noir track, 1950s, works well in romantic action scenes, sounds like John Barry. Instrumental, Action, Impending Orchestral
A piece that begins with low strings and pizzicato stabs - war threatens? - clarinets begin, and the piece builds into a warlike momentum with brass (tanks loom across the horizon?) then dies down, with a solo violin emerging from the background. Works well for war documentaries, political dramas. Instrumental, Dramatic, Calm Edgy
Piercing clarinets as Geronimo looks down on the enemy below. He gives the command to attack: intense strings as the chase begins, music building and building, whip lashing, rising to a climax. Features real strings and woodwind. Great for horse race, cowboy and Indian, herding and hunting scenes. Instrumental, Dramatic, Hectic Music
Against a restless string theme emerges a sad French horn solo, expressing heartfelt loss, and then a clarinet, poignant against the quiet, dark background. A theme for fallen soldiers? The bleak battleground. Or a woman’s desperate search for justice? A strong documentary or drama music. Instrumental, Dramatic, Sad Music
Ambient music with depth and beauty. Out of the dusk the slow waters move. A clarinet sounds from the deep, opening into an affecting melody. Expressive woodwind, flute, sampled sounds. Great soundtrack for human interest stories, emotional documentaries; works well under dialogue. Instrumental, Dramatic, Calm Mellow Music
Old style period music, real strings and playful flute. Little Women, young ladies in white chiffon dresses arrive at the ball, works well in costume dramas, historical documentary. hints of rural life, barn dances, pizzicato flourishes, violin drones. Anticipating, hopeful. Instrumental, Dramatic, Contemplative Music
An upbeat jazzy number, has a cool vibe. Piano, percussion and vibraphone. Sounds like Left Bank Two by the Noveltones. Would suit 1960s and 70s film and TV scene or advert. Instrumental, Jazz, Chillout Jazz
Gentle, lullaby-like theme on solo piano. Soothing and evocative. Classical, sounds like Bach. Over a flowing accompaniment there begins a meditative, melancholy theme. Could underscore a childhood memory, the passing of time and seasons, falling leaves, a slow motion shot of a lovers' embrace. Keyboard,
To a slow waltz of pizzicato strings a violin begins a sad expressive melody only to prematurely close, leaving a bed of low plucked strings. Effective track for an opening scene which needs an emotional theme then an underscore for continuing dialogue. Instrumental, Classical, 20th Century
Tense pizzicato instrumental theme. Features live strings, plucked cellos and violas. Would suit dramatic scene of someone trying to escape. Waiting. Lurking. In shadows. Waiting for the moment. Hesitation. Single cello sounds then is doubled by another. Two stabs then silent then another two. Instrumental, Dramatic, Calm Edgy
A reflective, plaintive melody, played on accordion, that expresses a love for the Celtic homeland, a yearning for the open, spacious vistas of the Scottish and Irish isles. Travel Channel, Documentary History Channel. Adventure, Instrumental, European, Scotland, Ireland. Warm, wistful, nostalgic. Instrumental, British & Irish, Scotland
Tender rendition on solo piano of this beautiful Hyfrydol melody. An introduction then the melody begins. The 2nd verse: the melody is in the left hand while the right gives a flowing, bright variation; 3rd verse plays the tune sweetly. Ideal for religious programmes, documentary, history. Instrumental, Spiritual, Christian Hymns
Tender and rich rendition on solo piano of this classic Christian hymn. After 1st verse the second is more flowing, with a tune higher in treble clef. 3rd verse is more in the bass of the piano, with big chords like a descant, slowing to a broad finish. Gospel Hour, religious TV, family, documentary, Instrumental, Spiritual, Christian Hymns
Upbeat, eccentric dance theme with live drums, clarinet, piano and accordion: cows leap out into the fields after being inside all winter, total abandon! Then music slows to a calmer scene as the cows peacefully graze. Great for comic, happy scenes in nature and country TV programs, romantic comedy, Instrumental, Dramatic, Happy Music
A bright and buzzing rendition on solo piano of this Christmas classic, has a really jolly, upbeat and festive bounce with octaves and large chords, bell-like arrangement. Ideal for happy Christmas scenes, snow fights, romantic comedies, family/children programs, greetings cards, festive parties. Instrumental, Christmas, Christmas Piano
An impish string waltz, pizzicato strings, with a wine-soaked accordion pining away. Prickly, slightly nervy. A French detective on his day off, doing the dishes, pondering the crime. A tired Head Chef cracks eggs. A quirky piece for crime drama, domestic scenes, cooking, travel, wildlife series. Instrumental, Dramatic, Whimsical Music
A lilting gentle rendition for solo piano of this popular traditional Christmas carol from England (17th century). Light glittering chords accompany the melody with plenty of variation in the verses. great for family Christmas moments in movies, nostalgic scenes of festive times past, romances. Instrumental, Christmas, Christmas Piano
Beautiful Christian song, a moving melody and words based on the 3rd chapter of Philippians, verses 10 to 11. Perfect for a religious or spiritual scenes in TV or film, documentary, concert hall. Female Vocals, Spiritual, Contemporary Christian
Simple, tender and sophisticated arrangement of this classic hymn. Opens like a soft lullaby; the 2nd verse begins lower in the bass, with colourful harmonies. The 3rd verse is more rhapsodic, sharing the tune between bass and treble registers. Works well in dramatic religious scenes, requiems. Instrumental, Spiritual, Christian Hymns
Slow somber pulsating music with real woodwind and strings. Over a repetitive rhythm of cellos and woodwind a great emotional atmosphere develops, a beautiful clarinet singing out through the mist. Works well for transition scenes in dramas and documentaries, passing time, melancholy contemplation. Instrumental, Dangerous, Danger Ambient
Tender, colourful and dramatic piano solo of this Christian hymn. 1st verse plays the tune, the 2nd verse plays the melody in the left hand with rhapsodic piano-playing in the right. The 3rd verse plays a variation on the melody, reflective, sublime. The 4th is a grander, more chordal arrangement. Instrumental, Spiritual, Christian Hymns
A real solo cello simmers with dark quiet tones, and a few pizzicato chords., silences, then the melody expressively rises, tense, urgent, passionate, climaxing to a high pleading note and ends, A dry and dusty landscape. Works well for dramatic scenes, history, war pictures, world sorrow. Instrumental, Dramatic, Calm Edgy
A plaintive pipe with soft piano accompaniment, conjures up a time long long ago, in the Dark Ages, Roman times. A short beautiful melody that soon dies away. Works well for short music cues in Archaeological films, Fantasy, ancient history, fairy tales, sci-fi mythological. Mystical, enchanted. Instrumental, Dramatic, Ethereal Music
A sampled sound like a sea breeze begins, and a high flute emerges from the atmosphere, then an expressive cello suggests the rugged beauty of a landscape. Imagine a boat sailing free upon the water. Has a long synth tail at end, Works well with travelogue, action adventure, documentary, exploration, Instrumental, Dramatic, Ethereal Music
Still sustained notes begin, low drums rumble, a few piano notes like stars in a vast sky, the strings start to build and a whirring sound like an ancient dial begins, in a turning motion. Wonderment. A distant galaxy. An extraordinary historical discovery. Great for documentaries, sci-fi dramas. Instrumental, Science Fiction, Sci-Fi Ambient Music
A live banjo plays a quick happy theme with a couple of twangs at the end! Funny, quaint and quirky. Great for punctuating a comedy scene, cartoon, western, comedy western, country scene, barn dance. Instrumental, Comedy, Comedy Banjo
A fun boogie-woogie piano version of Good King Wenceslas. Over a boogie-woogie left-hand rhythm the right hand plays the melody. Great for greetings cards, light romantic Christmas movies, documentary sequences.. Instrumental, Christmas, Christmas Piano
A tender, beautiful section from the Trio of Borodin's String Quartet in A major. Excellent for a period film, rural setting, or history, documentary. Instrumental, Classical, Romantic
Cajun food! An upbeat yummy track for TV food programs. Diners, Drive-ins and Dives visit Cajun restaurants! Fiddle, accordion, drums, slide guitar and washboard and vocals. Dancing along, with great food. Mumbo gumbo! Etouffee, creole, red beans and rice. Mississippi Delta. Great fun. Male Vocals, Themes, Food & Cooking
Restless strings and strong piano chords over a pizzicato bass: a rising dramatic tension, music rises steadily in pitch, movement, increasing tension, getting higher, gradually reaches a peak. Film dramas, great for climactic scenes, resolutions. Instrumental, Dramatic, Energizing Music
Cheeky clarinet and wah-wah trumpet, a catchy tune and a comic blast! This slapstick theme finishes with a resounding button! Great for a comedy scene underscore, silent movie music, cartoon, family/toddler and family/children programs, romantic comedy. Instrumental, Comedy, Comedy Trumpet
A real saw is accompanied by a live piano in this short funny little piece. The wobbly sound is like a theremin. ideal for comedy slapstick, funny greetings cards, comic scenes, silent movie accompaniment. Instrumental, Cartoon, Cartoon Goof Music
Beautiful piano solo ballad, slow, expressive, played with feeling on Bosandorfer grand. Speaks of love and loss. Suited for emotional scenes in films, romantic dramas and comedies. Instrumental, Singer/Songwriter, Contemp Singer/Songwriter
A beautiful, poignant melody played by a live cellist. It emerges softly and tenderly from a bed of high, quiet synth strings; short heart-rending phrases then it rises like a bird, yearning, before dying away. Great for very emotional scenes in film, romantic drama, documentaries, world sorrow. Instrumental, Dramatic, Sad Music
