How we made the music for McMafia

When Tom Hodge and Franz Kirmann sat down to write the music for gripping BBC One thriller McMafia, the one overriding emotion they wanted to convey was "tragedy".

Those who have already seen the globe-trotting, morally murky crime drama - which is about to start its US run next week - will know that they succeeded. And made the score rather tense and innovative, into the bargain.

"This was about how we could reinvent the danger, intrigue and ominousness [of a Hollywood thriller] with our own language," says Hodge, "and not resort to classic tropes."

The 'tragically beautiful' title theme

London banker Alex Godman's fall from grace all starts with the opening title sequence - and its distinctly hummable theme.

That initial music sets the tone for the entire saga. It's ominous, but also has a sense of sorrow running through it.

"It’s a simple eight note theme with a repeating phrase within it," explains Hodge. "I tried to find something robust enough both melodically and harmonically that we could carry, and the tragedy within it, through to wherever it was required."

"It had to encapsulate the spirit of the show, but also had to be catchy enough and support repetition," adds Kirmann.

The composition that made it to the title sequence was actually demo number eight.

"We'd tried many routes and styles and nothing had landed," says Hodge.

"I chatted to [director] James Watkins on the phone about Mahler and something with real classical weight, and then sat down and tried to write something simple, something tragically beautiful and with real portent."

Pushing the sonic boundaries

From the very get-go, the composers wanted to create a distinctive and original thriller score.

Producer Paul Ritchie was a fan of Hodge and Kirmann's music, and thought they could bring something "fresh" to the project.

The pair worked with musicians including the London Contemporary Orchestra, "trying to push the boundaries of how to use orchestral strings in a TV context".

Kirmann believes that the sheer volume of music needed for McMafia's eight episodes helped them in that bid for innovation.