Composer Jonathan Zalben recently finished scoring the HBO documentary, “There’s Something Wrong with Aunt Diane.” The soft, understated instrumentals accompany a retelling of the events leading up to Diane Schuler’s infamous 2009 crash on the Taconic State Parkway.

“(The film) is about a car accident in which eight people were killed. It’s a pretty dark film, and the music reflects that sort of tone,” said Zalben.

Zalben, who took approximately two months to write the tracks, says the focus of the movie is a young boy named Brian.

“This little kid, Brian, survived the crash. He was the only survivor. (By the end of the movie), he’s looking toward the future, hopeful,” said Zalben.

Zalben, who created parts for violin, guitar, cello, piano, and electronics, says that the score for “Aunt Diane” is not aggressive in any way.

“It feels like a very quiet, calm score. Even (in) the dark moments, the music is there to support the story,” said Zalben.

Zalben says that he really enjoyed working on “Aunt Diane,” and hopes to score for more movies with “emotional” soundtracks in the future. Zalben says that he is enthusiastic about writing tracks driven by compelling characters and stories.

Zalben’s other recent film project, “Son of Morning,” is a dark comedy. This September 2011 release features Joseph Cross as Philip, a copywriter taken for the next messiah. After Philip begins bleeding from his eye in church, he becomes the most publicized man on Earth. Zalben’s quirky soundtrack pairs erudite classical themes inspired by Mozart and Shostakovich with original jazz ballads drawing from Charles Mingus’s “Mood Indigo.”

To write tracks for “Morning,” Zalben says he lived very close to the production facility for four months.

“I set up a space where I could be right next to the editor and producer. I wrote 90 minutes of music. Half of that ended up in the film,” said Zalben.

Zalben says he used encounters between Cross’s character and the women he meets, Heather Graham and Jamie Lynn-Sigler, to riff upon a recurring theme.

“There’s a news theme, a seduction theme, and a church theme. It was something we (the post production team and I) discussed loosely,” said Zalben.

Zalben says he wrote music for “Morning” after watching filmed sequences several times.

“(Then) I (would) write a three to four minute track, bring it back, and set it against picture. In a way, I’m doing concert music, then film music,” said Zalben.

Composing is not Zalben’s only talent. In 2010, Zalben began marketing his own music library.

“(Last year), I put together a music library called First Frame Music (http://www.firstframemusic.com),” said Zalben.

“I put it together first as a tool for myself. (Now) it’s my go-to site (for music). It’s been a really great tool and resource to send to the people I’m working with,” said Zalben.

Zalben says at first, First Frame Music showcased a few tracks by three composers. Today, the site features works from 15 to 20 writers and contains roughly 3,000 tracks.

Zalben, who resides alternately in New York and Los Angeles, says that he looks forward to continuing “doing everything all at once.”

“I do recording sessions. I play live (at clubs), and I play with orchestras,” said Zalben.

“I’m writing an hour-long dance piece. I’m also working with a scientist in Long Island to develop software to test for perfect pitch. (In addition) I’m developing an audiovisual patch for the iPhone and the iPad, which is still in the beginning stages.”

Zalben views his life and artistic work “as one long trajectory.” He believes that years of practice helped him develop the discipline to juggle multiple projects. Zalben also recognizes the people around him as inspirations.

“A lot of my teachers, my family and my friends, have shaped what I do,” said Zalben.

“I really value the people that are in my life.”

 © October 4, 2011 // Copyright all material 10/4/11 by Jessica Zimmer