David Schweitzer

[please note that this image is not in anyway related to the series of the same name discussed below]

Hello.

I’ve been very busy so not updated the site as much as I’d like. Anyhow, I thought I’d give a little update on what’s been going on and what will be going on in the not so distant future…

I’ve spent a large part of the last year working on the new kids series, Mike the Knight, which launched on CBeebies in October (and is already on in Canada and France, with many other countries to follow in 2012). It’s got off to a great start and has built up a big following already so it looks hopeful that Mike will be around for quite a while (see separate post).

Also in the world of kids shows, I’ve been working on the second series of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, which has continued to be hugely popular among preschoolers in the US and Canada. Series 1 is now showing in 80 countries around the world, though how many viewers it gets in Bhutan, I really couldn’t tell you. An hour long Christmas Special is also in production, which should be great (for Xmas 2012, though, so still a way off). It was pretty weird writing Christmas songs in a summer heat wave 18 months before they’ll be heard, but such is the slow-motion world of animation!

Meanwhile, back in grown-up-land, I spent much of the first part of 2011 working on the BBC Series, Inside the Human Body. A four-part doc series presented by Michael Mosley, it was really well received and a pleasure to work on. If you missed it, it’s well worth checking this series out on DVD of if they repeat it on the BBC.

2012 is going to be a big year, as I’m scoring two very exciting projects. One is the new Brian Cox series, The Wonders of Life, a five-part series going out next summer on BBC Two. I’m thrilled to be working on this show which already looks like it’s going to be amazing. The other is an as yet untitled three-part BBC One series presented by the lovely Dallas Campbell, scheduled to go out next Autumn. More details to follow on this early in 2012.

Also coming up in America in Spring 2012 is a new series for PBS called America Revealed. Produced by Lion TV, this is a transposition of their excellent 2008 series, Britain From Above to America. Hosted by Yul Kwon, the producers have used much of my existing score from Britain from Above, along with some new tracks I have written for the series. It looks like it’ll be a really interesting show.

To the kind people who ask me about when I’m going to be recording and gigging more songs, I’m sorry to say that it doesn’t look likely to happen imminently though its still very much my plan to do this the moment I stop being offered irresistible jobs writing soundtracks.

Oh, and one more thing… The soundtrack for Richard Hammond’s Invisible Worlds will, finally, be made available as a digital download early next year. Quite a few people emailed me asking about it, so I’ll be letting them know when it comes out. If you’re interested in this, do drop me a short line. [UPDATE 21st Jan 2012: This soundtrack is now released - click on the title of the series above for more info].

So, in general I am happy and I am busy. I’ve not done much of this tweeting stuff, but I’m starting to chirp occasionally, so I’d be delighted if you’d care to follow me.

All best and Happy Christmas everyone!

David x
11th December 2011