Can’s Irmin Schmidt Unveils Filmmusik

Double CD includes selections from both TV and cinema, including Wenders' Palermo Shooting.

By Blurt Staff

Can keyboardist Irmin Schmidt has just released Filmmusik Anthology Vol 4&5 on Mute / Spoon. Fans of the band will also know the virtuoso pianist's other gig, as a composer, conductor and film scorer.

This double CD release follows 1994's Anthology Soundtracks 1978 -1993 and contains a selection of Schmidt's works over the last 10 years for 20 different films for both the big screen and television. The anthology includes tracks from the critically acclaimed German TV series Bloch and Tatort and the award winning film Schneeland.

Filmmusik Anthology Vol. 4&5 also includes eight tracks from the original score of the latest Wim Wenders film, Palermo Shooting, which premiered in the Official Selection of the Cannes film festival 2008. The complete original film score is available digitally on Mute. (The photo above shows Wenders, left, with Schmidt.)

In other Schmidt news, he has been commissioned by the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele (Ludwigsburg Castle Festival) to present an evening of orchestrations of his work for film in summer 2010. A selection of pieces (some included on the album Filmmusik Anthology Vol 4&5) will be transcribed for orchestra and the concert will be conducted by the composer himself. The event is being organised in co-operation with the Baden-Würtemburg Film Academy. In addition Schmidt will be holding a series of workshops at the film school.