In November 2023, it was announced that John Powell would musically score That Christmas as his 25th animated feature film.[4]
Ed Sheeran song
In August 2024, it was announced that Ed Sheeran would write and contribute "Under the Tree", a song for That Christmas.[5][6] The song was released as a non-album digital single on 26 November 2024 by Sheeran's record label Gingerbread Man Records.[7] The song's music video, titled Ed Sheeran: Under the Tree, was directed by Richard Curtis and it stars Sheeran as himself and Bridgerton actress Claudia Jessie[8] as Anna. The music video for "Under the Tree" was also filmed in the Suffolk seaside town of Southwold and it features some scenes from That Christmas.[9]
Reception
Critical response
Filmtracks wrote "The score's weakness comes in the more wayward applications in the final third and lack of connection with the good Sheeran song. Some listeners may find the whole to be overplayed in its intensity and thus overwhelm haphazardly on the songless album. But That Christmas is a charming genre outing for Powell, and its rousing action sequences for the main theme notch it above Migration. This music represents Powell in his wheelhouse, and it's always a pleasure to hear."[10] James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "This really is a delightful album of music, for my money the composer's strongest since The Call of the Wild – so warm-hearted, blessed with a pair of catchy themes, thoroughly entertaining from start to finish."[11] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote "composer John Powell supplies a swirling orchestral score that gives the whole enterprise a sense of scale."[12]
Violins: Jo Archard, Mark Berrow, Daniel Bhattacharya, Natalia Bonner, Fiona Brett, Charlie Brown, Emil Chakalov, Ralph De Souza, Christina Emanuel, Dai Emanuel, Richard George, Kathy Gowers, Alison Harling, Ian Humphries, Alison Kelly, Patrick Kiernan, Laura Melhuish, John Mills, Perry Montague-Mason, Everton Nelson, Tom Pigott-Smith, Jackie Shave, Nicky Sweeney, Emil Tchakarov, Cathy Thompson, Clare Thompson, Matthew Ward, Debbie Widdup and Warren Zielinski
Violas: Katie Wilkinson, Bruce White, Andy Parker, Kate Musker, Fiona Leggat, Helen Kamminga, Clive Howard, Clare Finnimore, Fiona Bonds, Reiad Chibah and Nick Barr
Cellos: Tony Woollard, Bozidar Vukotic, Vicky Matthews, Dave Lale, Rachael Lander, Adrian Bradbury, Sophie Harris, Caroline Dearnley, Nick Cooper and Ian Burdge
Basses: Laurence Ungless, Marcus van Horn, Steve Rossell, Beth Symmons, Roger Linley, Steve Mair and Andy Marshall
Flutes: Rowland Sutherland, Anna Noakes, Karen Jones, Helen Keen and Samuel Coles
Oboes: Tim Rundle and Janey Miller
Clarinets: Anthony Pike, Duncan Ashby, Joy Farrall and David Fuest
Bassoons: Daniel Jemison, Gavin McNaughton and Rachel Simms
French Horns: John Thurgood, Martin Owen, Richard Watkins, Diego Incertis, Nigel Black and Corinne Bailey
Trumpets: Jason Evans, Tom Fountain, Kate Moore, Daniel Newell and Patrick White
Trombones: Andy Wood, Ed Tarrant, Tracy Holloway and Barry Clements
Tuba: Owen Slade
Harps: Bryn Lewis and Hugh Webb
Guitar: Vivian Vilichkoff
Piano: Simon Chamberlain
Vocals: Randy Crenshaw, Caleb Curry, Allie Feder, James Hayden and Suzanne Waters
Orchestra
Orchestra leader: Jeremy Isaac
Orchestra contractors: Isobel Griffiths Limited, Amy Ewen and Lucy Whalley
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