I bet you'll be just fine Dr K if this is how you're getting on already after only a couple of days. You're getting it already. Have a great time!



The orchestra wouldn't dare think such a thing!

I've never actually seen Midnight Cowboy but listening to you slowly get to grips with the iconic and emotive theme has made me decide to rectify that tonight.

Blimy, Charlie, that was hard to sit through. Please don't take up "Dust In The Wind" next.

Go Mr Kermode! Bob Dylan, eat your heart out!

Sounds good. Well, better than your theremin playing for sure.

Have a crack at 'Man With A Harmonica' from Once Upon A Time In The West whilst you're there. I'm sure some of the Dodge bros could be available for some Morricone-esque twanging.

It's a good job they didn't decide to do the theme from "Genevieve".



Even so, it sounds as if you'll have "Midnight Cowboy" cracked in time for the gig. Just try to channel Larry Adler...

Sounding good. You'll be absolutely fine - I'm even looking forward to it! Next month, can you learn the saw and re-enact the scene from Delicatessan?

You've certainly set yourself a challenge Dr K.



Two of the worlds finest harmonica players of the 20th century are associated with the Midnight Cowboy theme; Toots Thieleman whose version is heard on the film's actual soundtrack and Tommy Reilly who re-recorded it for the album soundtrack release.



I hope you post a video of your performance from the concert; I'm sure you'll nail it on the night.

I've never seen Midnight cowboy but when I heard that melody I remembered hearing a version of it by Faith no more. I always thought it was beautiful.



Anyway, looks (or sounds?) like it will work out fine!

it was like watching transformers 2, although you started to pull it together at the end

Love the late, great John Barry's scores. Midnight Cowboy is a haunting, evocative piece enhanced by the chromatic harmonica.



You're doing brilliantly Dr K, after only a few days practice. You'll be a pro come next Friday. And remember that it always turns out "right on the night".



Can't wait for next week's awesome livestream recording with the BBC Philharmonic in Salford. Go Mancs!

Dr K,

My week wouldn't be complete without ducking in to see what mischief you are getting yourself into!:-) Within a couple of days of watching your original nail biting post re Midnight Cowboy, I sign in today and you're already sounding mighty fine. It's a beautiful piece, so haunting, yet strangely soothing at the same time. I very much look forward to hearing the final version. Remember if Kung Fu Panda can slay the mighty beast, this will be like taking candy from a baby ..........;-)

Good luck Mark.

By the way, next time balance both cameras (one of them is a lot darker and foggier)

In my opinion the score has certainly aged better than the film.

I think you'll do it justice on the night, Mark.

This vblog was like watching one of the great music documentaries. It's like watching a masterpiece in the making.



Oh, and sorry I haven't been around lately guys (in case any of you have noticed, which you probably haven't). Life, love and relationships caught up with me. But now I'm back and ready to virtually communicate again.

@ Sapphire77 and Magicthize



you should watch `Midnight Cowboy` its easily one of the best films of the sixties,and as a child i was always in love with the soundtrack, brilliance

@ magicthize



put your review on id like to know what you think ??

@ babyfacemichael



I've always been aware of its classic status. And I'm sure it's properly made and the acting is good and all but I read the plot the other day on Wikipedia and it kind of had me going "Ok, so what's the point?". But of course that is just the Wiki plot. Maybe when I ever see the movie it will make more sense to me.

@ sapphire 77



Its brilliantly acted and about how brutal and cold life can be when you move to a big urban city. The music is the best film score ever in my opinion, very very haunting. It has a particular poinyence for me. Theres a scene in it were a mad mother pulls a plastic mouse over her young childs face in a cafe, i saw in real life virtually an identical thing happen in a road side cafe in france ,horrible , life imitating art !! i think eveyone would enjoy its obvious quality and very moving ending.

How do you pull a plastic mouse over someone's face? I should watch the movie just to find that out!



Seriously, I'll watch at one time or another. *nods*

Ha! I love it.



Dr K, you're a brave man. Clearly you need a little practice but, from this evidence, I'd say it's all starting to sound ...well, Barry-ish? You've convinced me. The odds are looking good. Life's an adventure. Enjoy yourself.

Seriously Mark, after the ropey first attempts you sounded fantastic at the end! I am so impressed, you're gonna do a brilliant job. Just wish I could be there to witness it for real. Will be listening in :D Good Luck

everything i do in life, i always fail

Good luck in your performance Dr K...I'm sure you'll do great ...On a totally unrelated point , concerning your code of conduct , here's a link from a movie review website ,where one movie chain is actually taking your concerns seriously

[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

Actually Dr.K, that sounded pretty good. I think you'll do the piece justice, gutted I can't listen live, but looking forward to the podcast. Good luck tomorrow!

wouldn't it be possible to play it on two or three diatonic harmonicas (to get all the right notes, possibly in the right order)? I think I've seen rigs that hold that many harmonicas in parallel for that sort of key change effect.

I cried. Quite a lot.

Crying a lot more now listening to the R3 concert.

Just watched your performance on youtube, WELL DONE YOU !!! it is a beautiful piece of music !!!!!

Listened to the shows built around this proposition yesterday. And while I'd be descending to the hyperbolic to say I was massively disappointed, I can't help but think "what a missed opportunity". The process used to arrive at the selections (Paloma (?) Faith? Who?), I think demonstrated shallow limit of the panel's knowledge. None was this more manifest when a score conducted by one of its members was picked, and another assumed Mark Goldblatt (it was Brad Fiedel BTW) composed the Terminator theme and that score for Terminator II was orchestral. There is more to film soundtracks music than John Williams grandiose pillaging of the classical back catalogue and Danny Elfman's single "umpah umpah (choral bit) umpah umpah (choral bit) he's happily regurgitated for the last 30 years. I suppose, given the narrow criteria you used - orchestral only, nothing electronic or choral, the end result was pre-ordained. Which is a pity. Perhaps next time you won't hamstring your selections with such arbitrary restrictions? Right I'm off back to my Forbidden Planet / Andromeda Strain / Thief / Blade Runner soundtracks.