Film Composer Christoph Zirngibl (120+ Films, Apple TV's Where’s Wanda)
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
04/27/25
•68m
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Christoph Zirngibl is an award-winning German film composer who has composed music for over 120 films as well as many TV series including the Apple TV+ series Where’s Wanda. It often strikes me that even with something as specific as some of Christoph’s advice about work flow for fellow film composers, that it can apply more broadly to all of us, whatever our pursuits.. You’ll be hearing a few clips from some of his projects in different musical styles, as well as his reflecctions on his formative student years, the strengths of the apprentice system and his interest in many aspects of filmmaking. I have previously featured a few film composers on this series, and some of these episodes are linked directly in the show notes for you. It’s such an interesting career path, and I find that each of these composers have unique musical backgrounds.
Like all my episodes, you can also listen to the podcast on many platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(02:19) John Williams inspiration
(05:41) childhood Germany
(11:13) Flight of Bryan
(13:47) clip of Flight of Bryan
(14:47) Where’s Wanda, composing process
(22:35) clip of Where’s Wanda score Ralf Wengenmayr
(23:18) apprenticeship
(29:39) life balance and productivity for film composers
(32:02) other episodes you’ll like and how to support this series
(32:57) workflow organization
(37:12) the Unexpected Journey, love of orchestras
(42:04) life balance
(46:09) Hero of Centopia
(48:47) clip from Hero of Centopia
(49:50) filmmaking, reading
(55:35) Finis Terrae, Konstantin Ferstl
(58:18) excerpt from Finis Terrae score
(59:28) writing for voice, Finis Terrae, stollen
Photo: Steffen Rauschert
Previous Episode
Lawrence English
April 20, 2025
•97m
Lawrence English is a brilliant artist, composer and curator based in Australia. In this wide-ranging interview, Lawrence spoke to me about many topics, touching architecture, philosophy, field recordings, running a record label, and emerging biotech. One of his many projects is the record label Room40, which is celebrating 25 years, and punctuating this podcast are some clips from some of Lawrence’s albums, including Even the Horizon Knows it’s Bounds, Shell Type, and Observation of Breath. You’ll fine several links in the show notes so you can explore each project more fully.
Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website where you'll also find all the separate links for the albums featured in this episode.
Buy me a coffee? Thanks! Podcast merch
Other episodes which I think may interest you: with Jesse Stewart
(00:00) Intro
(01:42) commission for Naalu Badu Art Gallery of New South Wales
(15:39) excerpt from Even the Horizon Knows Its Bounds
(20:00) architecture and design of cities, Metabolism, Japan
(28:24) Young Person’s Guide to Hustling in Music and the Arts
(34:03) sound art
(38:13) Room40 label, Akio Suzuki
(45:43) the importance of curiosity
(47:30) other episodes and ways to support this series
(48:20) about Field recordings, with clips, relational listening
(57:40) biotech cerebral organoids
(01:07:03) clip from Shell Thype
(01:08:35) Lawrence’s different musical phases and collaborations
(01:16:31) recording the organ Queensland
(01:21:28) And a Twist from Observation of Breath
(01:24:10) ambient music, harmony and pulse, Merzbow
(01:27:19) childhood musical memories
photo T. Pakioufakis
Next Episode
Alisa Rose is a multi-style violinist and fiddler, composer and educator, and in this episode we’re shining a light on her wonderful new album with mandolinist Tristan Scroggins, Speranza. You’ll hear about how she found her way to such an interesting and diverse career from learning Old-Time music from retired farmers in Wisconsin as a child to classical training with the legendary Camilla Wicks at the San Francisco Conservatory, where she’s come full circle as a teacher. Alisa shared wonderful insights into teaching music, including body awareness and using creativity prompts in her improvisation classes. She shared powerful experiences from her tour in Eastern Europe as an Ambassador of the State Department, and advice about the benefits of organizing house concerts. Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on many podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website . Speranza album
Buy me a coffee? Thanks! Podcast Merch
Other episodes you'll like: Brittany Haas
Joe K. Walsh Guy Donis Gina Burgess Tracy Silverman
Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(02:02) duo with mandolinist Tristran Scroggins
(06:29) baritone violin, composing Reaper
(09:41) clip from Reaper
(10:50) writing Space Samba, with clip
(13:22) childhood Suzuki and Old Time
(17:33) Camilla Wicks
(20:19)Fiddle and Pizzicato Caprices
(22:02) live performance of Alisa’s Percussion Caprice
(25:49) other episodes you’ll like and how to support this series
(26:44) reducing tension, teaching improv
(32:37) writing Klezmer-style Lasso the Squirrel with clip
(34:27) different styles, Bettina Mussumeli
(35:37) Real Vocal string quartet, Eastern European tour
(43:09) Grammy nomination, other collaborations
(44:47) balancing parenting and performing, house concert opportunities
(46:40) clip of Pandemic Buddy
(47:41)set lists, parenthood, composing her violin concerto
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