Brian Keane - Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (Original Soundtrack)

The music composer for Oliver Sacks: His Own Life, opening September 23, 2020 nationwide on Virtual Cinema Platform Kino Marquee & Film Forum Virtual Cinema, is Brian Keane, a multiple Emmy winning composer, 20-time Emmy nominee, Grammy winning producer. Brian has scored the music to most of director Ric Burns' award-winning documentaries including the classic series New York, and critically acclaimed Andy Warhol. Having been the composer for hundreds of award-winning films spanning four decades, Brian’s credits include serving as the composer for Oscar winning director Barry Levinson, Stephen King, and his score to Susan Lacy’s HBO film Very Ralph about fashion icon Ralph Lauren won the 2020 Grand Award in the New York Festival TV and Film Awards.

Keane writes, “Oliver was quirky, but very serious. Intellectual, but extremely compassionate. There is a deep sense of wonder, and fascination with life itself and with our existence, in this story, Oliver was asking “who are we?”, and yet, this is also a story of a man who had six months to live. Director Ric Burns was documenting his thoughts in real time as they occurred, as were a cast of interesting characters involved in his life and work.

Oliver was also a classical pianist and music lover. At one point in the film, we left him playing his own slightly out of tune piano in. I often used the piano as Oliver’s voice in the score, often with a live chamber orchestra for emotional intensity in scoring Oliver thematically.

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life is a story of discovery, fascination, incredible human compassion, quirky humor, and heartbreak. In the end, the film is an affirmation of the wonders of being alive."

1. Beauty, Wonder, Reflection End Credits (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Piano, Bowed Metal, Orchestration
Dan Barrett - Cello Solo
Robert Zubrycki - Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Basses

2. Awakenings Theme Opening Credits (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Synthesizers, Harp, Tibetan Bells, Orchestration
French Horn - Dan Culpepper
Robert Zubrycki - Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Bass 

3. Compassion Theme Storied Into The World (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Piano, Harp, Celeste, Orchestration
Roxanne Bergman - Violin solo
Chris Cullen - Clarinet
Rhonda Larson - Flute
Boris Baev - Oboe, English Horn
Dan Culpepper - French Horn
Robert Zubrycki - Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Basses

4. Michael’s Madness (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Harp, Piano
Chris Cullen - Clarinet
Dan Barrett - Cello Solo
Robert Zubrycki - Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Basses

5. Oliver’s Mortality His Family (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Classical Guitars

6. Periodic Table (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Harp, Toy Piano, Tibetan Bells, Synthesizer, Orchestration
Chris Cullen - Clarinet
Rhonda Larsen - Flute
Boris Baev - English Horn
Robert Zubrycki - Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Bass

7. Intellectuals (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Celeste, Orchestration
Chris Cullen - Clarinet
Robert Zubrycki - Pizzicato Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Pizzicato Violins
Shan Jiang - Pizzicato Violins
Ralph Farris - Pizzicato Violas
Dan Barrett - Pizzicato Cellos
Leo Huppert - Pizzicato Acoustic Bass

8. Reckless and Free (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Electric Guitar
Richard Hunter - Harmonica
Leo Huppert - Electric Bass
Joe Bonadio - Drums

9. Forbidden Desires (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Organ
Leo Huppert - Electric Bass
Joe Bonadio - Drums
Richard Hunter - Harmonica

10. Drug Crazed (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Electric Guitar, Bass, Drums, Synthesizers, Sound Design, Sequencing

11. A Light In The Darkness (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Synthesizer, Harp, Sequence, Bells

12. Frozen States (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Processed Piano, Tibetan Bells, Mallets, Synthesizer, Sequences, Sound Design, 

13. Awakenings L-Dopa (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Harp, Celeste, Synthesizers, Sequencing, Sound Design
French Horn - Dan Culpepper

14. Rose Wants Out (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Synthesizers, Sound Design

15. Compassion Theme Solo Piano (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Piano 

16. Ward 23 (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Sound Design, Processed Piano, Synthesizers, Drums,

17.  Oliver’s Mortality The Hospital (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Harp, Piano, Orchestration
Dan Barrett - Cello Solo
Robert Zubrycki - Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Basses

18. Kate Saves The Day (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Piano, Acoustic Guitar

19. Compassion Theme At The Zoo (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Harp, Celeste, Orchestration
Rhonda Larson - Flute
Boris Baev - Oboe, English horn,
Chris Cullen - Clarinet
Dan Culpepper - French Horn
Robert Zubrycki - Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Basses

20. Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Guitar, Percussion, Sound design, Synthesizers, Sequencers

21. Out In The World (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Harp, Celeste, Piano, Orchestration
Rhonda Larson - Flute
Boris Baev - Oboe, English horn,
Chris Cullen - Clarinet
Dan Culpepper - French Horn
Robert Zubrycki - Violins, Pizzicato Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins, Pizzicato Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins, Pizzicato Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas, Pizzicato Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos, Pizzicato Cellos
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Basses, Pizzicato Acoustic Bass 

22. X-Bop (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Piano
Tenor Saxophone - Dave Mann
Muted Trumpet - Tony Kadleck
Acoustic Bass - Leo Huppert
Drums - Joe Bonadio

23. Rejection (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Piano, Mandolins
Robert Zubrycki - Violin
Roxanne Bergman - Violin
Shan Jiang - Violin
Ralph Farris - Viola
Dan Barrett - Cello 

24. Awakenings Notoriety (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Harp, Celeste, Orchestration
Dan Culpepper - French Horn
Rhonda Larson - Flute
Chris Cullen - Clarinet
Boris Baev - Oboe
Robert Zubrycki - Violins, Pizzicato Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins, Pizzicato Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins, Pizzicato Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas, Pizzicato Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos, Pizzicato Cellos
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Basses, Pizzicato Acoustic Bass

25. Inside The Brain (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Sound Design, Sequences, Synthesizers, Percussion,

26. Forces of Disturbance (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Sound Design, Synthesizers. Sequences

27. Awakenings Legacy (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Synthesizers, Celeste, Harp,  Tibetan Bells, Sound Design, Orchestration
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Bass
Chris Cullen - Clarinet
Dan Culpepper - French Horn

28. Billy (Keane, Burns, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP, Steeplechase Films Music ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Piano, Harp
Robert Zubrycki - Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos, Cello Solo
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Basses 

29. My Own Life (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Upright Piano, Processed Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, Echo Slide Electric Guitar, Orchestration

30. Oliver’s Mortality Ending (Keane, published by Brian Keane Music, Inc. ASCAP)

Brian Keane - Piano, Synthesizers, Sound Design, Processed Electric Guitars, Echo Slide Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass
Robert Zubrycki - Violins
Roxanne Bergman - Violins
Shan Jiang - Violins
Ralph Farris - Violas
Dan Barrett - Cellos, Cello Solo
Leo Huppert - Acoustic Basses

All tracks recorded at Brian Keane Music, Inc. Monroe, CT, August 2019, except “X-Bop”recorded in 2006. Engineered by Jeff Frez-Albrecht. Additional engineering by Lucas Borgstedt. Mixed by Brian Keane and Jeff Frez-Albrecht. Mastered by Brian Keane and Jeff Frez-Albrecht.

Music produced, written, and orchestrated by Brian Keane.

Special thanks to Ric Burns and Lishin Yu, for making the journey to Connecticut to work on this score. Thanks to Bonnie Erickson for the hospitality and allowing us to focus on the music so well taken care of. Thanks to Bonnie LaFave and Steeplechase Films, to Jeff Frez-Albrecht, Lucas Borgstedt, to the musicians, and support staff.

2-VLT-15305