UNT College of Music student adds depth to "House of Cards" score

Thursday, February 11, 2016 - 16:34
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Henry Beal, UNT College of Music Jazz studies student, plays bass for the
Henry Beal, UNT College of Music Jazz studies student, plays bass for the "House of Cards" score. Photo by Ahna Hubnik.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- "House of Cards" returns on March 4 when the fourth season brings 13 new episodes to Netflix. With it comes the haunting and sophisticated musical score, the perfect way to set the scene for an American political drama. It may be hard to believe that portions of it were created in a University of North Texas dorm room by College of Music Jazz studies student Henry Beal.

"My role is to play the electric bass," said Beal. "The bass lines were very specific to match the mood and characters."

Beal is the son of the series' composer, Jeff Beal, who writes, performs and edits the music in his California home, reaching out to family and friends when he needs to add specific instruments or sounds.

"I'd played bass tracks on scores for my dad previously, but this one was easily the most high profile and compelling," Beal said. "It's always odd to hear yourself play, but Jeff mixes everything extremely well, so it sounds like my bass is a natural part of the soundscape of the show."

Beal hopes to continue to contribute to "House of Cards," but, with his passion for everything from jazz to composition, he says he wants to stay focused on becoming well-rounded musically.

"It's an honor to be featured in such high-profile music, but my education at UNT and musical growth are my top priority," said Beal. "As long as I find some career path where I'm fulfilled with music in some way – composing, playing, anything – I'll be happy."

To set up an interview with Henry Beal, call Courtney Taylor at (940) 369-7912.

About the UNT College of Music

The College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the world. Approximately 1,600 music students attend the college each year, participating in nearly 70 widely varied ensembles while engaged in specialized studies in performance, composition, conducting, jazz studies, music education, music history, music theory or ethnomusicology. Music students, alumni and faculty have made appearances on the world's finest stages, have produced numerous recordings with many receiving Grammy awards and nominations, and have written influential texts in a variety of areas in music scholarship. Distinguished University alumni can be found around the globe in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities, and schools.

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