Music From The

Showtime Original Series

 A NOTE FROM THE COMPOSER
I met Neil Jordan at a hotel in SoHo New York City about a year ago. He was in the
US for only a short time promoting his current film, before heading back to Ireland and
Eastern Europe to start shooting THE BORGIAS. We had a tea together in the ever hip
lobby of the hotel, and chatted about his new show, and bantered about the difference
in ethos between television and film. Sometime thereafter Neil chose me to be his
composer, a moment I am grateful for.
We met again on the shows set in Eastern Europe, they were shooting episode 3 at
the time. I brought with me a portable composing rig, basically whatever I could fit in
a shoulder bag, and set up in an office beside the editing bay. Tony Lawson, Neils
longtime picture editor, was next door cutting the double opening show, and so the
collaboration began.
I always find this part of the process ironic, in the dichotomy between how others
view my process and how I view my process. To me, getting started, getting the initial
ideas is the hardest part of what I do, dare I say agonizing at times. I was asked to
pop over to the set in Budapest for a week and just, you know write a few things.
I have gotten used to this notion as my career progresses, but it still doesnt change
the fact that those first cues are the hardest. Even more so with a project as stylish,
deep, dark, murky, intelligent, and interwoven as THE BORGIAS. Nonetheless, I dug in
and the collaboration with myself, Neil and Tony was underway, and really continued to the very
end of Season 1, even as I write these liner notes.
The story of this original crime family has been with Neil for a long time. He has really lived with
these characters day in and day out, and knows them all intimately. I dare say Mario Puzo doesnt
know the Borgia Family half as well as Neil does. So it became evident that my job, musically, was
to just keep up with Neil. And is the case with factual historical material, there is music of the
time that needs to be seamlessly incorporated into the musical fabric as well. All part of the
musical challenge that is THE BORGIAS.
I have come to know the Borgia family quite well myself, in addition to all the other characters
and players in THE BORGIAS. Scoring the quiet power of Rodrigo Borgia (Pope Alexander VI)
is a very Godfather-like exercise in a way, one I am enjoying.
I went to Rome for the first time last summer, my last bit of time off before I started my
composing process for the show. It was a timely trip that really hit home with me, the power of
St. Peters and the deep history of that city. The historical significance of all that is holy, and, in
turn, the corruption that power draws and brings with it, is evident in Neils portrayal of this
amazing period in time. I tried to recreate that journey musically here for you on this CD, I hope
it echoes back for you to the rich tapestry of THE BORGIAS.
Trevor Morris
SHOWTIME Presents in association with TAKE 5 PRODUCTIONS and OCTAGON FILMS JEREMY IRONS THE BORGIAS
FRANOIS ARNAUD HOLLIDAY GRAINGER JOANNE WHALLEY LOTTE VERBEEK DAVID OAKES
SEAN HARRIS SIMON McBURNEY AIDAN ALEXANDER And COLM FEORE
Costume Designer GABRIELLA PESCUCCI Music by TREVOR MORRIS
Edited by WENDY HALLAM MARTIN, C.C.E. LISA GROOTENBOER Production Designer FRANOIS SGUIN
Director of Photography PAUL SAROSSY B.S.C., C.S.C Created by NEIL JORDAN
Executive Producers NEIL JORDAN JACK RAPKE DARRYL FRANK JOHN WEBER SHEILA HOCKIN JAMES FLYNN
The Borgias LB Television Productions Limited/Borgias Productions Inc./Borg Films kft. An Ireland/Canada/Hungary Co-Production. All Rights Reserved.
Music Composed by
TREVOR MORRIS
Score Produced by Trevor Morris
Executive Producer: Robert Townson
Score Recorded & Mixed at
Trevor Morris Music
Music Editor: Yuri Gorbachow
Featured Violin: Michael Levine
Electric Violin: Craig Eastman
Featured Vocalist: Laurie Ann Haus
Technical Score Producers:
Steven Richard Davis, Phil McGowan
Mastered by Patricia Sullivan Fourstar

Trevor would like to thank Neil Jordan,

James Flynn, Sheila Hockin, Bill Goddard,
John Weber and the team at Take-5,
David Nevins and all at Showtime, Csheryl Tiano,
Maria Machado and Sam Schwartz.
My beautiful family, Zoe, Josie and Jackson Morris.
Finally, my deepest thanks go out
to the musicians who played on my music,
and infused this modern score with
an ancient nuance and their musical subtleties.
Your contribution to my music is invaluable,
and never goes unnoticed. Thank you very much.
 1. The Borgias Main Titles (1:34) 2. Rome 1492 (:34)
3. Cesare And Lucrezias Theme (1:32) 4. Hallway Vampires (1:59)
www.VareseSarabande.com
5. Wing Of A Messenger Dove (1:58) 6. Confessional (2:24)
7. I Am Alexander Sixtus (2:30) 8. Arrival At Orsinis Palace (1:14)
9. Following A Monkey (1:25) 10. Giulia Farnese (2:26)
11. Della Rovere Plots (1:50) 12. Rovere Finds A Body In His Bed (:44)
13. Trust Has Already Been Earned (1:04)
14. Micheletto Stalks Rovere (2:21)
15. Sulphur Bath Assassination (1:32)
16. Micheletto And Juan Both Murder (4:19)
17. Giancarlo To Spy On Rovere (1:49)
18. Giulia Teaches Lucrezia To Kiss (2:12)
19. You Are A Borgia Spy (2:50)
20. Lucrezia Arrives At New Home (:55)
21. Sforza Rapes Lucrezia (2:05)
22. Alexanders Nightmare (1:02)
23. Cesare Angry With Micheletto (1:04)
24. Poisoned Pheasant (1:34)
25. Cesare Fights The Baron (1:18)
26. Lucrezia Tends The Wound (2:08)
27. Lucrezia And Paulo Kiss (1:31)
28. Cesare And Ursula Make Love (1:09)
29. Juan And Sancia Have Sex (1:28) 30. Attack Of Lucca (4:01)
31. The King Is Dead (2:46) 32. Sforza Whips Paulo (1:36)
33. France And Rome Meet On The Battlefield (1:45) 34. Canons Of War (4:04)
35. Vanozza Flees Vatican City (2:53) 36. French Army Enters Rome (1:08)
37. Lucrezia To The Nunnery (1:55) 38. Lineage Of The Family (6:45)

Music Composed by
TREVOR MORRIS
Score Produced by Trevor Morris
Executive Producer: Robert Townson
2011 LB Television Productions Limited/Borgias Productions Inc./Borg Films kft. An Ireland/Canada/Hungary Co-Production.
All rights reserved. Manufactured by Varse Sarabande Records, Inc., 11846 Ventura Blvd., Suite 130, Studio City, CA 91604.
Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. 0 302 067 091 2 4