ABOUT Ex Cantibus Gaudium

…or Robert Hartshorne, if you prefer.
Two Thousand Years

Now, this might sound trite, but I do happen to believe it. When you work with me it should be serious fun. What does that mean? Simple - I enjoy what I do and therefore if you’re working with me it should be enjoyable and easy. BUT (serious bit)… the goods must be delivered absolutely right, on time and in budget.

Ex Cantibus Gaudium? It’s OK… no need to struggle with the Latin you learnt at school, it means ENJOYMENT THROUGH MELODY. Or at least, that’s my spin on it.

The Story So Far…

Robert played in some of the more formidable spots in Liverpool
mmm…, nice shirt!

Robert Hartshorne has a fairly traditional musical heritage. Having acheived the supreme accolade of Grade 4 (Piano) at school, he then went on to study chemistry at Liverpool University. Not one of your more conventional music conservatoires. However, Liverpool itself does possess a not inconsiderable musical past and present.

Now moving from school bands to university bands, Robert played in some of the more formidable spots in Liverpool. Forget the Liverpool Empire, forget Eric’s, forget the Cavern! If you wanted to make a mark, Huyton Social Club or Halewood Working Men’s Club were the places to be seen.

With this rich musical education and a degree in chemistry (just about), our hero was ready for the next step in his heady musical career - he became a personnel officer for BP.

Common sense really… how else was he going to finance a desire to “…do something in music!”

Boston Kickout
Boston Kickout

And so from there with the day job now in place, the real agenda of pursuing publishers, record companies, agents and other forms of low life could be addressed. Despite several offers of multi-million pound recording contracts from EMI, Virgin and the like, Robert turned these down in favour of starting a career writing music for corporate productions… as you do.

Music for corporate led to music for television, which led to music for live events, which led to TV commercials etc. etc. Strangely enough these did lead to publishing deals with EMI and Zomba as it happens!

For a more detailed… or at least, more recent history (generally the last 3-4 years) see SHOWING OFF.