Justin R. Durban scores The Pacific War Suite for The Admiral Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War
Posted on December 3, 2009 by Dan Goldwasser
This fall, composer Justin R. Durban recorded his score for the new walkthrough exhibit that opens at the newly renovated National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, on Pearl Harbor Day – December 7th, 2009. Covering over 32,000 square feet, the exhibition in the George H.W. Bush Gallery will take visitors on the most extensive historical walkthrough of the war in the Pacific, supported by Durban’s music.

Recorded at Ocean Way Nashville’s Studio A, Durban’s score – entitled "The Pacific War Suite" – featured a 48-piece ensemble of Nashville’s finest local studio musicians known as the Nashville String Machine, contracted by Carl Gorodetzky, as well as a 24-piece choir contracted by Stephanie Hall Wedan. Both were conducted by orchestrator Philip Klein.

Phil Klein conducts the Nashville studio musicians

The low strings


The French horns

The brass section

Phil Klein conducts the Nashville studio musicians
The music is patriotic, big and energetic, and also features solemn and mournful cello solos by Carole Rabinowitz.

Carole Rabinowitz performs a cello solo

The choir sings on the Admiral Nimitz score

In the booth, Durban was assisted by orchestrator Penka Kouneva and stage engineer Ben Terry, while scoring engineer Greg Townley handled the recording mixes during the sessions.

Composer Justin R. Durban and orchestrator Penka Kouneva


Greg Townley handles the ProTools recording

Orchestrator Penka Kouneva and recording mixer Greg Townley

Orchestrators Phil Klein and Penka Kouneva

Scoring mixer Greg Townley talks with orchestrator Penka Kouneva
When the recording was finished, Durban spent a bit of time editing the material before sending it off to London, where Casey Stone handled the final score mixes.

Composer Justin R. Durban
The newly renovated gallery at the National Museum of the Pacific War will have its Grand Opening on Monday, December 7th, and a soundtrack album of Durban’s score will be available for purchase at the store, and online. We encourage our readers to check out the audio clips below for a special sneak-peek at the score, and visit the official website for the Admiral Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War.
Special thanks to Justin R. Durban, Phil Klein, Penka Kouneva and Greg Townley.
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