Brian Katona is an Emmy® Award-winning composer, orchestrator, arranger, and conductor based in the New York metropolitan area. He has composed and arranged original music for a long list of television and film projects. His work has garnered industry accolades across the board, winning numerous film festival and television awards. On June 2, 2021 he released the album “The Red River Flood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack),” a moving score to a new documentary about a devastating disaster in American history.
The Red River separates the towns of Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. In 1997 the river overflowed its banks to historic proportions. This resulted in the largest civilian evacuation since the Civil War. Tens of thousands of people were left homeless in a region known for its devastatingly brutal weather. Produced and directed by Emmy–winning filmmaker David Kuznicki, the hour-long documentary “The Red River Flood” honors the strength and heroism of these communities in the face of overwhelming circumstances.
Brian Katona’s soundtrack to the film opens with its ‘Main Title,’ setting the stage for the dramatic story to follow. A descending chromatic scale of piano and string arpeggios introduces the piece. Soon the mix opens up to a broad cinematic, ambient soundscape. Meanwhile, those pizzicato arpeggios change direction, shifting to a forward motion as they ride the river’s flow. Ominous minor-key strings swell from below as the waters rise, mirroring the severity of the real life drama about to unfold.
Watch “The Red River Flood” documentary in its entirety below, and listen to Brian Katona’s moving “Main Title.” You can also hear the song on the Deep Indie Chill playlist. Follow the links below the videos to connect with the artist. Get on his socials and get in the loop on all of the current and future projects from this talented and accomplished composer.