Jonny Greenwood

Jonny Greenwood talks at Abbey Road before two screenings of There Will Be Blood at the Roundhouse, with the 50-piece London Contemporary Orchestra playing his score live for the first time. The difference is as big as between any record and any concert, he says; things can go wrong, which is what makes it interesting. The conductor, Hugh Brunt, has pointed out that some music was played very loudly and used very quietly in the film, a nice problem with the orchestra in the room.

Paul Thomas Anderson cut the pipeline survey scene to “Popcorn Superhet Receiver”, a concert piece, and its use kept the score out of the Oscars; Greenwood was more excited to be asked onto the next film. He describes the ondes Martenot as a kind of electric cello, a 1920s idea of making music with electricity. For the oil gusher he wanted something primal and out of control, so he sat on the floor of the Radiohead studio like a toddler at playgroup, hitting drums one at a time over a whole day. Inherent Vice was meant for one or two players and ended up with an orchestra here a few weeks ago. Radiohead have taken the year off and get back together in September.