Film
Truefaux Films Inc, 2021
Dementia, Dad and Me is a feature-length documentary by Hannah Minzloff, inspired by the onset of her father’s dementia. The film explores her evolving relationship with her parents as they cope with aging, find new ways to connect, and cling to fleeting memories. The film premiered at the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival in 2021.
Mark composed and recorded the soundtrack for the film, using a vintage aesthetic to evoke fading memories. In scenes of everyday life, Mark tries to highlight moments of joy, frustration, mourning, and hope.
Truefaux Films Inc, 2018
Six Primrose is a feature-length documentary by John Hillis demonstrating the power of food to build community. By tracing the lives of community members who frequent the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre, the film chronicles the dramatic impact that healthy food and a social network has had on the lives of this community. Six Primrose premiered at the Devour! Food Film Fest in 2018.
This was Mark’s first film soundtrack, in which he uses warm, folky minimalist textures to capture this spirit of hope and positivity that unites strong communities.
Truefaux Films Inc, 2022
This short film by John Hillis follows a bicycle as it passes through many hands on the way to being road-ready. Bike Again is a volunteer-run community initiative of Halifax’s Ecology Action Centre — drop in and find all the tools and knowledge you need to fix your own bike for free. The film was shown at the FIN Atlantic International Film Fest and features Mark’s original music, the product of an afternoon spent recording bike sounds in his basement.
Truefaux Films Inc, 2022
This short film by John Hillis showcases a public daffodil garden planted to honour survivors of cancer. Mark’s peaceful soundtrack evokes the quiet hopefulness of this little oasis in Ferry Terminal Park, downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. (About the garden)
Theatre
Eastern Front Theatre & Charles Taylor Arts Association, 2022
Love, Peace & Hairgrease is a two-act musical play by Tara Lynn Taylor about a young black woman and the pressures she faces to hide her natural hair and conform to societal expectations for her appearance. Leaning on soul and R&B music traditions, Mark composed much of the music for Tara’s lyrics & melody. As Music Director, Mark also arranged the sheet music and leads a 5-piece band. The show runs for 10 days in October as Eastern Front Theatre’s 2022 mainstage production.
PAN: The Musical, 2018
As a fundraiser for Malagash Bible Camp, former staff produced a stage adaptation of Peter Pan, with a script by Kate & Sarah Bustin. Mark helped record the music (mostly parody versions of pop songs), but he wrote this song specially for his character, Tuck the gnome (Pan’s sidekick, à la Tinkerbell).
Choir
Mark Amadeus Flowerdew, 2018
Mark composed an original mass setting (missa brevis) for SATB choir. It was performed several times by the choir at St Paul’s Anglican Church (Halifax), where Mark was the Assistant Director of Music in 2019.
Mark Amadeus Flowerdew, 2014
Mark composed this SATB anthem using words adapted from John 3:16. Originally an assignment for his Intro to Composition class with Peter-Anthony Togni, the piece has since been performed a number of times by the choir at St Paul’s Anglican Church (Halifax).
Etc
Information Morning, CBC Radio
Mark composed a short musical sting that introduces the weekly Art ‘n Soul events report by Tara Lynn Taylor on Information Morning. The music is adapted from Mark’s song Powder. Catch it on Mondays around 8:15 am, broadcast across Nova Scotia on CBC Radio One.
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Photo by Alex Davis