Press Release from Dragon's Domain:
Dragon’s Domain Records presents the premiere release of music composed by Don Davis (THE MATRIX films, JURASSIC PARK III, BEHIND ENEMY LINES) for the 1996 television mini-series PANDORA’S CLOCK, based on the novel by John Nance, written by David Israel, directed by Eric Laneauville, starring Richard Dean Anderson, Daphne Zuniga, Jane Leeves, Richard Lawson, Stephen Root, Tim Grimm, Robert Guillaume, Robert Loggia, Jerry Hardin, Kurt Fuller, Jennifer Savidge, Grant Goodeve, Vladimir Kulich, Michael Winters and Edward Herrmann as the President.
Airing in two parts on television in 1996, PANDORA’S CLOCK follows a man infected with a deadly virus aboard a Boeing 747-200 who is traveling from Frankfurt to New York’s JFK Airport. The story begins in Bavaria, where Professor Ernest Helms (Winter), a wildlife documentarian, has a violent incident with a stranger attempting to break into his rental car. After treating a minor wound and despite exhibiting symptoms of an illness, Helms boards International Flight 66, piloted by Captain James Holland (Anderson). Shortly after takeoff, Helms suffers cardiac arrest. Flight attendants perform CPR, and the crew attempts to divert the flight to London, but their request is denied as the authorities have become aware of a potential virus outbreak. As tensions escalate, the U.S. President tries to reroute the flight to RAF Base Mildenhall but the British government mobilizes their forces to block the landing.
Eventually, the flight is allowed to land at a U.S. base in Iceland, where a passenger is shot while attempting to break quarantine. Captain Holland takes off again in an attempt to land in Mauritania, only to face off against a Learjet armed with a missile. Anderson manages to outwit the enemy plane and land safely on an isolated volcanic island.
The music for PANDORA'S CLOCK is entirely composed using electronic elements, produced by composer Don Davis. This innovative score is meticulously designed to enhance the action, from the thrilling opening chase scene featuring an infected individual, to a climactic tension-filled conclusion.
Don Davis began playing trumpet and piano at the age of nine and started writing music at twelve. As his affinity for music grew, so did his aspirations and soon he was composing and arranging orchestral charts for local jazz ensembles that he also performed with. After graduation from high school, Davis furthered his study of music at UCLA, majoring in music theory and composition, playing trumpet in college jazz ensembles and orchestras. Although Davis' primary interest had been jazz and rock, he found himself enamored with the avant-garde side of modern music. UCLA introduced Davis to a new world of musical possibilities, and before long he'd begun to plan his future as a composer with an eye toward film music. After graduation from UCLA, Davis continued to study composition with Henri Lazarof and orchestration under Albert Harris. Harris introduced the young Davis to film and television composer Joe Harnell, best known for his work on TV shows such as V and THE INCREDIBLE HULK. Harnell was immediately impressed by Davis' attention to orchestral detail, especially as evidenced by a chamber symphony Davis was writing at the time and became a mentor to Davis and introduced him to the professional world of film and television scoring. His filmography includes music for films such as HYPERSPACE, BOUND, WARRIORS OF VIRTUE,THE MATRIX films, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, ANTITRUST, VALENTINE, JURASSIC PARK III, THE UNSAID, BEHIND ENEMY LINES and THE MARINE.
Dragon’s Domain Records presents the premiere release of PANDORA’S CLOCK, featuring music composed by Don Davis, with liner notes written by author G.B. Kemner and Scott Davis. The music has been mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland.
