THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL 'Choreographed dance scenes'

Richard G Mitchell's score for this BBC TV mini-series was based on the book by Anne Brontë and starred Tara Fitzgerald, Rupert Graves and Toby Stephens.The original novel shocked Victorian England and the cruel husband from who Helen Huntingdon escaped, was based on Anne Bronte's brother. In the novel, Helen leaving her husband violated not only social conventions, but the fundamentals of English law.

In addition to the film's score, Richard worked on various requirements for music that were needed on set before a frame of film was shot. For example during the ball scenes he worked with renowned period choreographer Geraldine Stephenson, and composed various pieces to be used for the actors to dance to.

This first series of scenes in this selection set up the dancing for the ball in London where the two main characters, Helen and Huntingdon meet. Then we cut at around 1 min 40 sec to a point later in the action where music becomes a more important part of the production and they dance together for the first time.

In the fashionable London seasons of the 1860's, the waltz was the hot new thing, so it was decided to arrange a piece that as well as working within the parameters of the period, would also suggest something evocative about the effect Huntingdon is having on Helen. By manipulating the recording of a Japanese instrument called a Shakuhachi, and featuring it to play the tune, the composer also sets up the instrument that haunts Helen's character throughout the story within the main themes of the score.