Posted inReal Life

Missing E.S. Posthumus Already

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Earlier this year, my son gave me an album called Makara by a group I’d never heard of called E.S. Posthumus 3rd Album - MakaraE.S. Posthumus.  He said, “Play the track called ‘Anumati,’ then play ‘Krosah,’ after that it doesn’t matter what track you play because you’ll play them all.” He was right and I was hooked and I couldn’t get enough of this group’s music.

E.S. Posthumus was formed by the brothers, Franz and Helmut Vonlichten in 2000. Their sound is a blending of orchestral and electronic music and they’ve had great success. Their music has been used in many movie trailers (most recently Sherlock Holmes), as the theme to the “U.S. Open on CBS,” as the theme to “The NFL on CBS,” as the theme to the TV show, Cold Case and MLB Tonight, and on the most recent Victoria Secrets commercial. In short, their music is all over the place and E.S. Posthumus album cover - Unearthedyet, they have remained relatively unknown. They write the music you don’t pay attention to, yet subconsciously you can’t get enough. Their music gets you into the theater, into the stores or keeps your eyes glued on your favorite TV program.

During this past summer, brother Franz Vonlichten died suddenly and Helmut announced that, “My brother and I created ESP together and we’ll “exit stage left” together as well.” So Helmut will work on other musical projects, but the group E.S. Posthumus is no more.  This is a shame because the work these two brothers did wasES Posthumus_Cartographer-cover fantastic.  You will hear even more of their music in the future because they have started commercially licensing their songs more aggressively.

As for me, I will forever thank my son for the song, Anumati, (below)  because I think of it as the soundtrack of my life.  In Hinduism, Anumati is the goddess of wealth, intellect, children, spirituality, and prosperity and I certainly think I have been blessed with those. And this song reminds me of those things every time I play it.

The E.S. Posthumus website is here. Their three albums, Unearthed, Cartographer & Makara are available on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby.   I’m confident you’ll find your own life soundtrack on one of those three albums.

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6 Comments

  1. SerenityLife
    January 23, 2011,

    You captured how I have felt about E.S. Posthumus’ music too. 4 years ago I was introduced to their music and had been hooked. I feel as though a sword has been inserted into my heart. God Bless Franz’s spirit. And I pray that Helmut that will be consoled during his time of grief. Grief is a life long process but Helmut has all of us fans to give him strength. Thanks for sharing!!

  2. David
    November 24, 2011,

    Thank you for sharing such a personal testimony of how the beauty of the music of the Vonlichten brothers has affected you.

    I share the same feeling. I was one of the early discoverers of their music (I think). About 10 or 11 years ago, I was browsing on CD Baby, and I came across an interesting looking album cover. I listened to the trimmed sample tracks. I immediately fell in love and wanted the album (“Unearthed”) immediately, but it would be weeks before it was actually available for purchase. I pre-ordered then waited, waited, waited…

    FINALLY, it arrived. Later that night, I tore off the thin plastic shrink wrap to what soon became and still is one of my most prized possessions.

    As I listened, song after song transported me to places I wasn’t aware my imagination could go.

    I truly believe that, if humanity survives, 300 years from now, E. S. Posthumus, the brothers Vonlichten and their music will still be revered in the same class and degree as the classical masters of old.

    I am forever grateful to Franz and Helmut for sharing their creative and powerfully emotive works of art with us.

  3. David
    November 28, 2011,

    Forgot to mention that the spirit of Franz and E.S. Posthumus live on:

    For several years now, I’ve been listening to an orchestral/trailer music production duo known as Two Steps From Hell (TSFH). The members are Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergersen. Nearly 100% of the music and choirs are done on computers due to the amazing quality of the instrument and choir samples that Nick’s other endeavor, the sample library production company Quantum Leap, has painstakingly produced over several years. Thomas Bergersen is an orchestral composer extraordinaire who by all accounts is as much a musical genius as Mozart.

    Several of the recent compositions of TSFH and Bergersen’s recent solo project, Illusions, seem to channel the musical spirit of Franz and ESP. I have created a YouTube playlist with mainly TSFH (“Nero” album) and Bergersen (“Illusions” album). Just click “Play All” and ENJOY!! Upon hearing the first song, you will know that Franz lives:

    Other recent (November 17, 2011) good news that explains itself is:

    ENJOY!

    • Bill
      November 28, 2011,

      What an incredible playlist! This was an awesome recommendation and I thank you so much. I really enjoyed the music and now know what I want for Christmas…thanks again.

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