Music can be a wonderful shorthand in introducing and reminding us of an emotion, a character or a picture. The more thought, the writer gives to it, the more the director has to build upon. It can swing you instantaneously from one mood to another. It can – as subtly as a raised eyebrow – give to a phrase an extra, and possibly contradictory, level of meaning.

Gavin Ashenden says: “Music does all kinds of things. It excites. It frightens. It speaks a language of beauty and love to the heart. It sets up an agony of longing; and one of the most wonderful periods of human culture ever, I think, is the point at which music in the hands of certain composers brought the heart, so close to God that is hard to tell the difference between the music and God himself.

Music can provide unity, where unity may otherwise be difficult to achieve. As a director I have particularly found classical and movie music helpful in this regard; and it has been a great joy and privilege to employ such music.