Tim Corpus
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The Story of the Penguin Documentary Short

So on Saturday, just a few days ago, my brother asked me if I was busy. He was finalizing the edit on an eight-minute documentary about a penguin rescue in South Africa and the specialist who worked with the organization. She worked with the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach California, which is an incredible aquarium. They had me compose music for another video back in 2019. So my brother needed the music for this video within 24 hours.

So I got home from dinner with my folks on Saturday, about 9:00pm and got to work. He was looking for something uplifting and energizing for the video. He sent me over the draft video with a few hit points and I started chugging away.

I always start by adding the video, markers, and regions I need. This is my road map for where I need to be and when.

I worked until about 1:30am when my brain was goo and begin right away in the morning on Sunday. I faced a lot of challenges with plugins malfunctioning, and surprising buffering issues. I’ve never had my computer freak out on my this much while composing before (I’ll address this more in a post about Reaper), it was an incredibly frustrating experience to deal with glitches every few seconds. Good thing the penguins are cute.

I decided that the doc needed a Planet Earth feel. The video takes place in South Africa, so I included a lot of African percussion, plus as a percussionist I love using percussion. percussion percussion percussion. With the use of the marimba and piano, I was able to produce the churning energy for the piece that carries throughout the full video. I didn’t have a lot of time to work, so I used legato strings and brass sparingly. I didn’t have time to spend fixing VSTs and making everything sound perfect. If I had more than 24 hours, I would have composed differently, but you gotta play the hand you’re dealt.

Birds were prevalent in the video, so I wanted to use the oboe, and honestly my favorite part of the score is this slow moment with a little quartet between the oboe, bassoon, flute, and piccolo. There is also a heroic brass anthem at the end because…why not?

With more than 24 hours to compose and produce, I would have done some things a little differently, but I think this piece was a fun achievement and I’m proud of how it came out. Below is an excerpt with orchestra only and then the full video. Enjoy the video and save those penguins!

1 Comment

Tim Corpus is a composer with a genuine lyric impulse. He writes music that is at the same time challenging and appealing - which should be the ideal of any composer. He has a wonderful ear for sound and for shape. This is a composer with a real and important voice.

Henry Fogel Retired Dean of the Chicago College of Performing Arts and CEO/President of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

...`{`Three Pieces for Five Timpani`}` is an outstanding addition to the literature for timpani and great for advanced recital programs.

George Frock Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas

Tim Corpus is a wonderfully skilled composer who has important things to say with his music. His debut album, Breath, is extremely impressive. Beautiful and exciting music to be sure!

Larry Alan Smith Composer

Tim Corpus' music is complex, original and steeped in tradition. His Three Pieces for Five Timpani is clearly an extension of the composers, such as Elliott Carter, that came before him. The pieces are challenging but fulfilling to learn and perform. Possibly the most important thing about Tim's timpani writing is that audiences will enjoy listening to his compositions. He is taking solo timpani writing to the next level.

Ed Harrison Timpanist of the Lyric Opera of Chicago

The melodic gestures in Tim Corpus' masterful piece for strings, ``Breath``, are paced so that a listener’s respiration pattern aligns itself instinctively with the slow and even pulse of the piece. Breath creates a powerful performer/listener symbiosis, a remarkable accomplishment on the part of the composer.

Steven Gryc Composer

Tim Corpus’s music is beautifully lyrical, nicely voiced and technically well-realized. In person, he is a pleasure to work with. We very much enjoyed recording his first two string quartets and hope to see more from him in the future.

Jen Leckie Violinist, Grant Street String Quartet

I recently had the pleasure of conducting the premiere of First Flight. It is artfully written, fresh, unique, and best of all – a beautiful piece of music! Tim is a major talent with big things in store for his future. It clearly deserves a permanent place in the repertoire of any serious wind ensemble. I can't wait to program it again!

Stephen Squires Conductor, Chicago College of Performing Arts Wind Ensemble

I have worked with Tim Corpus as a performer, composer and teacher. He brings passion and energy to his craft. He is a young lion who is making his mark on the Chicago music scene.

Kevin Miller Retired Band Director, Schaumburg High School

I've had the pleasure of knowing Tim for years now, and I learned very quickly that his passion and talent as a performer and composer are unquestioned. Everything he does is handled with a rare combination of intensity and care, and his works display such attributes. His lyricism in particular, along with his rich, beautiful harmonies and intricate polyphony set him apart from many of his colleagues. In a world littered with simple, non-intellectual music, Tim is breaking through and creating a new, exciting, accessible, and, most importantly, intelligent style of music that is imperative to the future of our art form.

Matt Bronstein Axiom Brass Quintet

Breath is very professionally produced, and the overall impression is of a lyrical and rhapsodic voice. I think Breath is a great starter, very ample and serene, even ecstatic. The second quartet is lively and engaging throughout.

Dr. Robert Carl Composer
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