MovieScore Media release Chad Cannon’s score for the wildlife documentary Qinghai. Directed by Li Xiao, Qinghai: Our National Park is a documentary series shot during the 2020 establishing of the country’s latest national park. Located high on the Tibetan plateau, Qinghai is one of the world’s greatest natural sanctuaries as the region contains the headwaters of China’s three great rivers: Yangtze, Huang He and Mekong - keeping it pristine is essential for the health of Southeast Asia. Beyond the stunning landscapes and incredible wildlife cinematography, the series focuses on ecological and cultural preservation as well as the people behind those efforts...

Chad Cannon's orchestral score for Qinghai is a sumptuous, lovingly crafted collection of emotional and epic themes. The album contains 18 tracks (59 min, 28 sec).

Talking about the project, Cannon says: "Director Li nudged me towards a big, open, and warm feeling, perhaps similar to the American West, where I grew up. Stylistically he was drawn to the paintings of Thomas Cole and the nature writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson. To meet these stylistic requests, we ended up with two ensembles: the large strings and brass in Prague, the sound of which typifies the grandeur of the landscape, and a small chamber group in Los Angeles, which gives colour and a sense of closeness to the characters in the film, be they insects, humans, animals, birds, or flowers. I can only hope people will hear my genuine love for the wild earth in this score and that the series can contribute to a greater understanding of modern China with all its complexities."

It's certainly a soundtrack that doesn't disappoint - not for a moment. Each track is crammed with a wonder and celebration of nature. It's upbeat, epic and slightly Western (as in cinematic genre) in scope.

A lush, engaging score that everyone will fall in love with,

10

Darren Rea