Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films Book Announced
Carpentier and Alfred Music Publishing announce the release of
The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films
by Doug Adams
In-Depth Journey into Howard Shore’s Academy Award®-Winning Score
(July, 28, 2010—New York, NY) Carpentier and Alfred Music Publishing are pleased to announce the release of The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films, a comprehensive account of Howard Shore’s score for the trilogy, by Doug Adams. The book will be available in the European Union on September 28 and in the U.S. and worldwide on October 5, 2010.
The culmination of almost a decade of writing and research, The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films is an unprecedented look at Howard Shore’s Academy Award®-winning score, with extensive music examples, original manuscript scores, a rarities CD, and glimpses into the creative process from the composer, himself.
The 416-page full-color volume features a Foreword by Howard Shore, an Introduction by The Lord of the Rings screenwriter/producer Fran Walsh, original sketches by John Howe and Alan Lee, and numerous images from the films. Also included in the book, courtesy of Howe Records, is “The Lord of the Rings: The Rarities Archive” a CD presenting 21 tracks of previously unreleased music created for the films, and an audio interview with Howard Shore.
The score for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy has been hailed as some of the greatest film music ever written. Sweeping in scope, it is a musical interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth—an operatic tapestry of cultures, histories, languages, and people.
“Howard Shore’s [LOTR] music has touched millions of people the world over,” said Adams. “It’s been my great pleasure to assemble a piece that chronicles the creation of this music, and examines exactly how it tells this classic story.”
“Doug was a detective uncovering clues, tracing how one theme or character related to another,” said Shore. “He not only shows the themes and motifs for characters, cultures, objects, and their connection to Tolkien’s work, but also the ideas that were sometimes buried deep inside the writing.”
“Researching Shore’s music has been a true adventure,” described Adams. “His work is every bit as intricate and passionate as Tolkien’s Middle-earth.”
Doug Adams, a Chicago-based author and musicologist, was invited in 2001 by Howard Shore to observe and document his work on Peter Jackson’s motion picture trilogy. Adams attended recording sessions, examined the original scores, and was given complete access to the composer’s archives. As an acknowledged authority on Howard Shore’s music, Adams has become a regular fixture at concerts and events across the globe. He runs the popular blog, www.musicoflotr.com, which documents his work on this project and brings fans together in ongoing discussions.
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 27 Book signing and Q&A with Howard Shore and Doug Adams (Chappell of Bond Street, 152-160 Wardour St. London,UK)
September 28-29 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King, concert (Royal Albert Hall, London, UK)
October 7 Book signing and Q&A with Howard Shore and Doug Adams (Barnes and Noble, 1972 Broadway, New York, NY)
October 8-9 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, concert (Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY)
ABOUT ALFRED MUSIC PUBLISHING
Alfred Music Publishing is one of the world’s largest music publishers. Alfred is based in Los Angeles with domestic offices in Miami & New York as well as around the world including Australia, Germany, Singapore & the United Kingdom.
Labels:
book,
doug adams,
lord of the rings,
press release
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Soundcast Episode 16 - The Last Inception
Episode 16: The Last Inception
Recorded July 26, 2010
Published July 28, 2010
The SoundCast crew talks a little The Last Airbender, Inception, and about the love/hate relationship with Film music compilations.
Episode Highlights
00:30 - Intro and Google Voice invasion
06:28 - The Last Airbender discussion
21:35 - Inception discussion
38:26 - Film music compilations
Music Clips (Select music clips contained in this podcast)
05:48 - "The Avatar Has Returned" (The Last Airbender) by James Newton Howard
21:10 - "Dream within a Dream" (Inception) by Hans Zimmer
33:06 - "I Never Woke Up in Hand Cuffs Before" (Sherlock Holmes) by Hans Zimmer
37:55 - "Pearl & Dean Theme" (Asteroid) by Pete Moore
59:52 - "Cat Burglers" (Dinner for Schmucks) by Theodore Shapiro
Sunday, July 25, 2010
100 Greatest Film Themes - Take 2 - Review
From Silva with Love
Review by Marius Masalar
The challenge with putting together a collection like the 100 GREATEST FILM THEMES – TAKE 2 from Silva Screen Records is not in selecting the music itself, because there is no shortage of viable candidates and, by and large, the selections that have made their way onto this massive 6-disc set live up to the album’s titular promise. The trick is to pick and arrange the music in a way that showcases the diversity of the film score medium while providing enough familiar tracks to engage a general audience and enough obscure ones to ensure that even film score buffs are in for a fresh treat. Luckily, with this fifth release in their “100” series, Silva Screen Records has created a tasteful and extensive set that reaches through all facets of the past 70 years of the art form, albeit with some rough performances along the way.
Read the full review here
Monday, July 19, 2010
Inception (Soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer - Review

Theme-weaver
Review by Christopher Coleman
I, like a few others, set director Christopher Nolan's latest project, INCEPTION, as the film that would save the Summer of 2010. Given Nolan's track-record with efforts like MEMENTO, THE PRESTIGE, and THE DARK KNIGHT, there was good reason to do so. That amount of collective expectation; however, normally crushes the feeble foundations of most Hollywood, Summer movies. But that's actually where Nolan's strengths lie. His films, including INCEPTION, are built upon the foundation of solid storylines, compelling characters, and mind-bending concepts.
INCEPTION doesn't buckle under this weight. It thrives. While most Summer blockbusters go for high-tech, visual, cheap thrills - the type that so many are quite happy to plop their hard earned money down on, Nolan says to us, "Let me entertain your brain. Let me dazzle your eyes and ears. Let me give you an experience that will stay in your psyche long after you have vacated the theatre (...or at least until you return to see it again, that is).
While Nolan's early career found him paired with composer David Julyan, as the scope and gravitas of his projects grew, he has formed a new collaborative partnership with HANS ZIMMER. With BATMAN: BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT under their belts, (with notable contribution from JAMES NEWTON HOWARD) the two come together again to tell a doomed-love-story against the ultimate in corporate cloak and dagger, all while exploring the psychological realm of the dream. This unique concept opens the door to creative sound and musical possibilities that are rarely approachable in studio backed films. The end result is a sublime musical experience that is so tightly woven into the fabric of INCEPTION that it seldom, if ever, stands out on its own. At the same time, something indescribable or even quantifiable would clearly be lost, if this ZIMMER's score was to be removed.
Labels:
christopher coleman,
Hans Zimmer,
inception,
soundtrack review
Friday, July 16, 2010
Music of the Old Republic! Star Wars: The Old Republic Web Doc
Finally! A big look into the music for the upcoming LucasArts title, STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC. The hotly anticipated MMORPG, being developed by Bioware, is due sometime in 2011.
The music has been composed by MARK GRISKEY, JESSE HARLIN, WILBERT ROGET II, GORDY HAAB, and LENNIE MOORE. The music represented in this doc is fantastic, true to the ORIGINAL Star Wars spirit! If you weren't excited for this game and it's music yet...this doc ought to do it.
Now, Lucasarts, "You will release the original score." (waves hand) "....oh and The Force Unleashed II, too." (quickly waves hand again.)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Inception Premiere and Live Concert Performance with Hans Zimmer
INCEPTION PREMIERE AND CONCERT PERFORMANCE
Check the live performance of Hans Zimmer, Johnny Marr, and orchestra. Concert begins at about 8:30 in, but don't miss the niceties from Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page about the Zimmer and the score...and some words from Zimmer, himself.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Last Airbender (Soundtrack) by James Newton Howard - Review
“The Saviour Returns”
By: Marius Masalar
High hopes does not even approach the anticipation I felt for The Last Airbender. It was a chance for M. Night Shylamalan to reclaim his mantle of storytelling excellence, it was the perfect opportunity to display fantastic visuals, and it was a great chance to introduce the world at large to the acclaimed anime property.
It turns out it was just a messy disaster.
I really wanted to like the movie, but bad casting, painfully bad writing, and waxy acting made for a film that no amount of beautiful art direction could save. Enter JAMES NEWTON HOWARD, swooping in to the rescue to deliver a score that is so majestic, appropriate, and authentic that it manages to salvage the experience. This is JAMES NEWTON HOWARD in full form, with all pistons pumping and all the familiar favourite traits from past scores making an appearance. It is a tour de force of contemporary film scoring with one foot firmly in the grander styles of yesteryear.
Read the full review
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
SoundCast Interview: Kevin Riepl (Crackdown 2)
Composer KEVIN RIEPL shares about his latest project, CRACKDOWN 2, which is the highly anticipated sequel to the surprise 2007 hit, CRACKDOWN. He also shares about this year's E3, the status of DAMAGE VAULT, and other upcoming projects: HUNTED: THE DEMON FORGE and ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES!
Interview: Kevin Riepl
Recorded June 26, 2010
Published July 6, 2010
Episode Highlights
00:24 - Welcome and intro
02:50 - Thoughts on this years E3
09:50 - Expectations for Hunted: The Demon's Forge
13:58 - Working on Crackdown 2
20:53 - Licensed music in Crackdown 2
28:20 - Dude, Aliens: Colonial Marines?
32:30 - What's up with Damage Vault
Music Clips (Select music clips contained in this podcast)
00:00 - "Fly Through" (Crackdown 2) by Kevin Riepl
13:30 - "Boss Beacon" (Crackdown 2) by Kevin Riepl
20:30 - "Dawn Stinger" (Crackdown 2) by Kevin Riepl
32:24 - "Hollows" by Damage Vault
38:55 - "Freak Lair" (Crackdown 2) by Kevin Riepl
Listen to the SoundCast interview here
or
Read the interview here
Saturday, July 03, 2010
The Losers (Soundtrack) by John Ottman - Review

“Lost and Found”
Review by Marius Masalar
As far as comic book movies go, you could do a lot worse than THE LOSERS. Sylvaine White’s take on the Vertigo property is violent and quick, but a solid cast, funny writing, and good performances keep this train from stopping at the mindless crap station for too long. And keeping the momentum up in a surprisingly stylish manner is JOHN OTTMAN, whose recent work on ASTRO BOY buoyed him back up closer to the level of public interest he once had for his work on X2.
The tone of the film obviously doesn’t allow OTTMAN the room to explore his creative and potent ability to wield an orchestra, but the music for THE LOSERS is nevertheless a showcase of precision crafting and intricate soundscapes. “Dead Men” (1) is a contemplative opening which, along with “Not Soldiers Anymore” (2), establishes the instrumental palette for the score: guitars, subtle synth work, rock organs, and layered percussive elements both live and processed. The latter track introduces something of a theme — a quick riff, really — that recurs to great effect several times throughout the score. It is simple and rousing, but decidedly contemporary in its nobility.
Labels:
john ottman,
Marius Masalar,
soundtrack review,
the losers
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