World of Soundtracks podcast

A Conversation with Dominik Scherrer

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In this episode, Ruth talks to Anglo-Swiss composer Dominik Scherrer about many topics including inspirations for his career to writing for period dramas to specifics in writing for the BBC/PBS series "Miss Austen." Whether it is the choice of instruments to writing in 7/8 to writing for the emotional truth of the work, there were a lot of topics to cover. We also covered a little regarding the album for "Miss Marple."

The music of Anglo-Swiss composer Dominik Scherrer can be heard in some of the finest dramas made in recent years, earning him two Ivor Novello Awards, a Primetime Emmy nomination, and a further four Ivor Novello nominations. 

Born into a musical family in Zurich, Switzerland, Dominik moved to London aged 19, where he has resided since. Among his initial compositions were two groundbreaking operas for the screen. The second, “Hell for Leather,” garnered attention, premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, being selected for the prestigious Young British Artist exhibition, Sensation at the Brooklyn Museum, and subsequently received ten international awards.

Dominik started scoring independent feature films, such as apocalyptic The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz and followed on with scores for acclaimed British drama series such as six seasons of Agatha Christie’s Marple and five seasons of the Victorian crime drama Ripper Street, earning him his first Ivor Novello award. He is a frequent collaborator of director Aisling Walsh, scoring her Bafta nominated An Inspector Calls, the Bafta winning Elizabeth is Missing, and most recently Miss Austen. Dominik received a second Ivor Novello Award for the supernatural thriller Requiem, on which he collaborated with Natasha Khan, aka Bat for Lashes.

His collaboration with the writers Harry Williams and Jack Williams began with the global hit The Missing. Dominik’s score received a Primetime Emmy nomination. Further scores for the Williams brothers were for The WidowBoat Story, and The Tourist. Sight & Sound praised Dominik’s unique soundtrack to the Netflix series The Serpent: “Dominik Scherrer’s marvellous score, a riot of analogue synths.” The soundtrack was nominated for an Ivor Novello and Camille Award.

Guest: Dominik Scherrer, dominikscherrer.com or dominik_g_scherrer on Instagram.

Host: Ruth Mudge, World of Soundtracks

"Reading Jane's Letter" - Miss Austen (Original Soundtrack), music by Dominik Scherrer, 2025 Bonnie Productions LTD, under exclusive license to Dubois Records.

"The Promise" - The Piano, music by Michael Nyman, 1993 Michael Nyman LTD.

"Claiming the Letters" - Miss Austen (Original Soundtrack), music by Dominik Scherrer, 2025 Bonnie Productions LTD, under exclusive license to Dubois Records.

"Ripper Street" - Ripper Street (Original Television Soundtrack), music by Dominik Scherrer, 2015 Silva Screen Records LTD.

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