9/11 Tribute revisited

I received an e-mail today regarding an audio tribute I put together after September 11th, 2001. I think the timing is right to highlight that again with the release of Universal's Flight 93 in theaters today (with music by John Powell). The piece is just under eighteen minutes long. If you haven't heard it before then maybe you'll enjoy it for the first time. Listen.

Have a nice weekend folks!

Earth shattering stuff

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention SoundtrackNet now features a review and even more soundclips from Hans Zimmer's The Da Vinci Code album.

Paul Cote's review of Tilton/Giacchino's Black is also now on this very site. This is the first of the slightly revised review page styling. Gone are the "notes" ratings. The albums are now rated by stars, making it much easier for me to explain to people what I thought of a certain CD.

Big news: Trevor Rabin will add oomph those those muthaf*ckin' snakes, scoring David Ellis' Snakes On A Plane, starring Sam Jackson.

Try before you buy

Summer is ramping up, which means film score nerds are spoiled for previews of the blockbuster soundtracks set for release in the next few weeks. Here are two to start...

Preview Hans Zimmer's The Da Vinci Code here and here.

Extended clips from Michael Giacchino's Mission: Impossible III can be heard at the film's official website. Just let the numbing Flash intro load and enjoy the music.

In release news...
Varese will release James L. Venable's Scary Movie 4, which sadly doesn't sound at all like the scores from War of The Worlds, The Village, etc., despite the film's deadly accurate recreation of sets and visuals. The album's release date is 6/6/6... Coincidentally Varese proves they have Damien covered, this time with Marco Beltrami's score for the The Omen remake, which they will also release (no date specified).

My oh my, even more M:I

Continuing their extensive coverage of Michael Giacchino's Mission: Impossible III, SoundtrackNet has added a first listen feature of Giacchino's forthcoming score album. There's clips from every track, complete with comments by Dan Goldwasser for your perusal.

Check back tomorrow when SoundtrackNet caps things off with a remote podcast from Giacchino's home, where the composer discusses what he's having for breakfast, and later, his process for washing his car. (Rain permitting).

Ottman Supes up sequel

SoundtrackNet has a new remote podcast, this time with John Ottman (played by Jeff Daniels? Dead-ringer voices!) recording his score for Superman Returns. The composer touches on Williams' original score, themes new and old, temp tracks and editing the picture but never mentions the film's completely bland lead actor. Zing!

Listen to the podcast with your underwear outside your pants at SoundtrackNet!

Save $$, see concert

More on the John Scott, Hollywood Symphony Orchestra concert (what's that? Click here)-- details on how you can save some of your precious CD-buying cash when getting tickets for the event:

Your readers are invited to take advantage of our special Society Partner discount on tickets.

When purchasing online or via phone through Ticketmaster, use the code "societypartner" (all one word)

Head to www.hollywoodsymphonyorchestra.org to order tickets and grab that discount, my frugral filmscore friends!

A glimmer of Zimmer

More film music fest news:

Soncinemad organizing committee are particularly excited to announce the presence of Hans Zimmer at the Soncinemad filmmusic festival in Madrid, Spain, June the 30th – July the 2nd, 2006.

The German composer is the head of Remote Control studios and also leader of the music department at DreamWorks SKG. With over a hundred projects, that feature among them influential works like Hannibal, Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down, The Last Samurai, The Thin Red Line, Batman Begins, Crimson Tide, The Ring and The Lion King which earned him an Academy Award for best original score in 1994, along with the Oscar-nominated As Good As It Gets and Gladiator, Zimmer is indisputably one of the most important, distinguished and influential film composers of our times.

The composer will be opening the Harry Gregson Williams concert with a formal introduction of Gregson-Williams, concert leader. Additionally, Hans Zimmer will closely follow the festival at its whole duration while participating in selected Soncinemad conferences and activities. Soncinemad organizing committee are thrilled for the attendance of Hans Zimmer and we are all assured that the greatest pleasure will be yours.

Tickets and V.I.P Pass Details
The tickets for Soncinemad Symphonic Concerts are now available for purchase. You can acquire the tickets for the Trevor Jones and Harry Gregson Williams two different concerts, online via www.telentrada.com, by this phone number 902-10-12-12 or through any Caixa Catalunya branch. Additionally, you can purchase the tickets from www.soncinemad.com.

IIFMC Goldsmith tribute info

More news from the film music folks in Spain:

Jerry Goldsmith Remembered: Live performances and other activities in the II International Film Music Conference, City of Úbeda (Spain) - 20-23 July 2006

21 July 2006 will mark the 2nd Anniversary of Jerry Goldsmith passing away. Surely one on the most influential and beloved film music composers of all times, Goldsmith's music has and still is playing a major role in the lives of many film music enthusiasts and struggling composers around the world.

For this reason, the organisers of II International Film Music Conference - City of Úbeda have decided not to miss the occasion to pay due homage to his persona through a series of events that will include, inter alias, a 20 minutes concert to be conducted by award-winning composer John Debney as well as many other thrilling activities focusing on the musician's work.

Furthermore, this time the symposium will be honoured with the announced presence of his widow Carol and his son Aaron who will, moreover, assist the organisers (the BSOSpirit Society) in launching the Jerry Goldsmith Award: a newly instated prize in the memory of this remarkable composer that should vitally contribute to recognising the talent of young film music composers in Europe.

For further information about these activities and the Jerry Goldsmith Award Competition, please visit our website

Elfman gets 'Nacho' combo

Confirming sources at the IMDb (when's the last time they were right over there?), Dan Goldwasser of SoundtrackNet has told me that Danny Elfman will score Nacho Libre, starring Jack Black and directed by Jared (Napolean Dynamite) Hess. The film is in theaters June 16th. E-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e.

It sucks to be Frodo

Okay, I couldn't resist posting this. For all you folks who take The Lord of The Rings so seriously, check out American television station TBS' ads for their upcoming airing of the trilogy.

Easter break

Sorry for the lack of new posts. I'm taking Good Friday to Easter Monday off. Have a safe and happy Easter, folks!

Blake takes break for blog

Jean-Francois Houben has just published an interview with composer Howard Blake on his blog Musique de cinema. Blake is a terrific composer who I wish we'd hear more from.

iTunes Report

Every Tuesday Apple's iTunes store, like music stores across North America, trot out their new releases. One album caught my attention (and it has nothing to do with the totally hot brunette on the album artwork, I swear...) - La Mujer de mi hermano, music by Angelo Milli. The IMDb summarizes the plot as:

After almost 10 years of marriage, attractive Zoe discovers that her marriage lacks passion and surprise, and is seduced by the possibility of finding those sensations already forgotten in her husband's brother.

The score, released on iTunes by Nacional Records is a mix of sensual strings over soft synth loops ("Tome una Desicion") and, in at least one of the samples, a bit of Thomas Newman's pots-and-pans quirk (natch). Milli, who went to Berklee College of Music, is also scoring Unknown, from the Weinstein Company. Perhaps a composer to watch.

If you have iTunes, you can check out the samples. The link will take you to the U.S. site, but the album is also available on the Canadian and UK iTunes sites.

La-La's May Sweeps

La-La Land Records announced it's two release for May. Breakheart Pass: Limited Edition, Music by Jerry Goldsmith, which is limited to 3000 units and The Big Empty: Limited Edition, Music by Brian Tyler, limited to 1500 units. Breakheart Pass is now available for pre-ordering at La-La Land's website. Both titles will ship May 4th. Here are the official blurbs on the albums:

Breakheart Pass: Limited Editon, Music By Jerry Goldsmith

Here it is! The first official CD release of Jerry Goldsmith’s knockout score from the 1975 Charles Bronson western Breakheart Pass, directed by Tom Gries and co-starring Ben Johnson, Charles Durning, Richard Crenna and Jill Ireland. Digitally transferred and mastered from the original mono tapes from the Sony Pictures vaults, Breakheart Pass has never sounded this good as it does in this limited edition of 3000 units. Fully illustrated CD booklet features exclusive, in-depth liner notes from film music writer Jeff Bond. 17 tracks / Total Time: 46:43.

The Big Empty: Limited Edition, Music by Brian Tyler

Acclaimed composer Brian Tyler takes on a cool, jazzy trip with a sci-fi chaser with his far-out score to the cult film The Big Empty, starring Jon Faverau, Daryl Hannah, Sean Bean and Kelsey Grammer. Wild score oozes lounge-cool, mystery and sci-fi all at once. This is a special limited edition of only 1500 units. Includes comments from the composer and producer. 24 tracks.

Folks who pre-order The Big Empty at lalalandrerords.com will receive your CD autographed by Brian Tyler at no additional charge. For a limited time.

Also coming soon from La-La Land Records:
Farscape Classics: Vol. 2, Music by Garry Gross
Battlestar Galactica: Season 2, Music by Bear McCreary
The Dog's Master, Music by Carlo Siliotto
Rock and Roll Nightmare, Songs and Score by Thor

Visit www.lalalandrecords.com for orders and info.

The 'House' that Harline built

Intrada Announces:

House of Bamboo
Composed by Leigh Harline, Conducted by Lionel Newman

For the 20th Century Fox film House of Bamboo (1955), director Samuel Fuller presents an extraordinary portrait of post-war Japan. Robert Stack plays Eddie, a tough Army cop who infiltrates a gang of dishonorably discharged servicemen, led by the disarmingly soft-spoken Sandy (Robert Ryan). Although a seemingly simplistic plot, Fuller brings in his usual bravura, embroidering the tale with more complexity than is first apparent.

In the music to House of Bamboo, perhaps nowhere is Leigh Harline's full range of gifts more glitteringly on display. From the opening cascades of ferociously descending strings, the music is sure, strong, confident, and beautiful. The music is played powerfully by the Fox orchestra under the baton of Lionel Newman. It's suspenseful, ominous, romantic...all wielding a profoundly serious tone that keeps Fuller's cinematic pyrotechnics in the realm of the recognizably real. This release was edited and mastered from the original stereo session masters which were in perfect condition, allowing for an impressive dynamic range and stereo spread.

This Intrada Special Collection release is limited to 1200 copies.

For artwork, tracklist, and to order, please visit Intrada.com.

Game Music Radio launches

From Brian DiDomenico at Game Music Radio:

Game Music Radio is a 24/7 streaming music site that features all video game music as well as On-Demand original shows.

I host "Reloaded" a composer interview show (currently featuring Jack Wall) and co-host "The Next Level" with Becky Young, a gamer community show focused on game music, soundtracks, game music news and special artist performances and interviews with gaming enthusiasts and video game icons (currently featuring Tommy Tallarico and the Video Game Pianist).

If you would like your game music aired on the 24/7 stream please contact me brian@gamemusicradio.com. Game Music Radio is fully licensed with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.

Visit Game Music Radio.

Brace yourself for the thrills

The world of film music is heating up! Or not. But there are a few items to relay.

Harry Gregson-Williams, who I thought was a relatively young composer (!) will receive the 2006 Richard Kirk Award for Outstanding Career Achievement at the performing right organization’s Film & Television Awards. Also grabbing statues are the composers of 2005’s boffo box office films, the highest-rated network and cable television programs.

The award is named after past BMI Vice President Richard Kirk. Past honorees include Jerry Goldsmith, Thomas Newman, Michael Kamen, Mark Mothersbaugh, Danny Elfman, Alan Menken, Mike Post, Lalo Schifrin and John Williams.

Scoremagacine has an interview with Michael Levine (TV's Cold Case), composer of the infamous Kit Kat jingle. He has other credits, but damn, the Kit Kat jingle, people!

Release news

May 9th looks to be a Battle of Titans. Varese Sarabande will release Michael Giacchino's Mission: Impossible 3 score on that day. Giacchino will attempt to drop-kick the The Da Vinci Code's ass, which is in stores the same day. Decca Records is set to release Hans Zimmer's score.

Wisely avoiding the bloodshed is Superman, specifically John Ottman's score, which reportedly will not only feature John Williams' "Superman March", but also material from Williams' Heartbeeps to underscore the gay robot that producer Jon Peters insisted be in the film. Rhino Records returns with both the score and songtrack (blech), both on 6/27/06.

Blanchard the 'Man'

Reuters has interviewed composer Terence Blanchard. His latest is a big, bold orchestral score with jazz elements for Spike Lee's The Inside Man. Read the interview.

Sorry, no April 1st jerking around! This is a deadly serious website...