This News Friday 2/27/98
by Lukas Kendall
John Williams recorded his score for Saving Private Ryan in Boston
last weekend, with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks in attendence. There
was some good coverage in the mainstream press, and even a mention on Aint-It-Cool-News.
Reportedly the score is very elegiac in tone, with passages for a trumpet
duet. Album is due July 14 from Dreamworks Records.
Trailer Questions
Got a whole lot of these recently:
From: mwmitch@ibm.net
About a year ago, I purchased the Abyss special edition, on video.
Since then, I had been intruiged with the music that is used for the trailer,
but I had no clue as to who composed the music. However, I recently purchased
a Michael Stearns CD, who is the composer of numerous Imax films, and I
heard a song that seemed very similar to the trailer soundtrack. The music
was from the Imax film CHRONOS. What I would like to know is if someone
could verify this as the music used for the trailer, and if so where could
I find the CD?
I dunno. Anybody?
From Dan Goldwasser:
To answer QUEST32681@aol.com's questions (from last week):
1 - RED ALERT, a custom piece of music for trailers, was used in
the teaser for ALIEN RESURRECTION, and STARSHIP TROOPERS.
2 - Unfortunately, I myself am stumped on the music from the STARSHIP
TROOPERS teaser.... damn.....
3 - I believe the music from DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, SCREAM, LAWNMOWER
MAN and PAWN from the MARY SHELLY'S FRANKENSTEIN (Doyle) score.....
To answer Sean O'Neill's question:
Regarding the MARK OF ZORRO Trailer music, you wrote: "I think
they're using David Newman's The Phantom for that last one."
The trailer is composed of THE PHANTOM, and then Zimmer's DROP
ZONE.
From: Hawkeye <urbanek.3@osu.edu>
Do you know anything about the music in the "Dark City"
trailer? I want to get a copy, and have no idea if it's part of the score
or done special for the trailer.
From: "KWIAT, JASON" <jjk6375@sru.edu>
I have a question for you, and especially given your recent article
about trailer music, I hope you can find out the answer for me. A few years
ago I remember seeing the long version of the Forrest Gump trailer on E's
Coming Attractions. The score that was used in the trailer was powerful
and emotional and so familiar, but i was unable to place it. It drives
me crazy every day. I sometimes rent movies just to see if it is the same
music from the trailer, but it never is. Was the music scored just for
the trailer, or was it indeed from another film. I would be forever indebted
to you if you could find out what music was indeed used for the Forrest
Gump trailer.
Could be Dave (the piano bit) or Dragon (the big orchestral
part).
Horner Odds and Ends
From: Kevin Grey <kgrey@vt.edu>
In response to your comment comparing "Book of Days" to
Titanic's "Southhampton," I have compared them and I don't see
how it even approaches plagerism. Yes they sound similar, but that's about
it. People love to talk about lawsuits and suing over copyright infringement
and such but they are obviously clueless about how these laws really work.
In order for a lawsuit to have any merit the tracks would have to be much
closer. As the person who wrote the letter put it, Enya does not have a
monopoly on that particular type of vocal.
From: GIZELT JOSH <AM0QC@qcvaxa.acc.qc.edu>
Regarding the score for "Something Wicked this Way Comes;"
the score is isolated in mono on the laserdisc.
Although no album for "Battle Beyond the Stars" is out,
there is a four minute and change cut on the new album "Alien Invasion:
Space and Beyond II" from Silva Screen. If anything, it makes my
frustration
with Horner complete; sure there's the Goldsmith stuff all over the place,
but it was a Corman picture anyway. Rather, the Hornerisms and boldness
of the music are so promising, and contrast sharply with his bland output
of late (much less the "borrowing" and re-using of material-
I hope Enya wins the lawsuit, maybe it will be a sobering experience for
him and the Hornerfans that don't see anything wrong with it).
Josh also adds:
P.S. Anbody know the answer to the problem I posted on the message
board, namely that the track listing on the "Dragonslayer" gold
disc from Fifth Continent inlay card does not seem to match the actual
cuts as they appear on the disc. The VideoHound guide lists the track listing
version. Que pasa con mi North?
The Dragonslayer CD has always been screwed up in that the track
listing does not correspond (there's either one more or one less track
at some point). It's a simple disc error that has crept up from time to
time--the Cherry 2000 CD also has that problem. I'm afraid I don't
have a list of the actual running order.
Upcoming Film Music Network Meeting
I'll let Mark Northam tell you all about this:
From: Mark Northam <mnortham@cinematrax.com>
The Film Music Network, sponsored by CinemaTrax, presents Film Music
Network Nights, a monthly networking series for professionals in the film
music business. The events take place the first Monday of every month at
6:30pm at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn, 4222 Vineland Avenue, Studio
City, CA and feature guest speakers who focus on specific issues and challenges
in the film music business. After these brief presentations, attendees
are encouraged to network. Admission is $10, memberships are available.
Guest speakers for the next event on Monday, March 2, 1998 (note
new time of 6:30pm!) are
Jay Chattaway - composer (The Star Trek Series, National Geographic,
various feature films) and president of the Society of Composers and Lyricists
will discuss working with producers, current issues in the film and television
music business, and the upcoming Film and TV Music Conference.
Joe E. Rand - music editor (Titanic, The Saint, Clear and Present
Danger) will discuss the role of music editors today and how composers
can successfully choose and work with a music editor.
TECHNICAL SPOTLIGHT: The first in our series of monthly technical
spotlights will feature WESTLAKE AUDIO, who will showcase their line of
pro audio electronics, speakers and monitors, and their state-of-the-art
recording studios. Come early (doors open at 6:30) and learn more about
Westlake Audio's products and services
To RSVP or receive more information, call (818) 771-7778. For questions,
call (818) 507-4900. Complete information and the new COMPOSER/FILM MUSIC
SERVICES FORUMS are available on our website at www.filmmusic.net.
Superman Campaign
From: BWillNCC1701E@webtv.net (Bill Williams)
My name is Bill Williams, and I am a frequent visitor to your Film
Score Monthly website. Over the past few months I have enjoyed reading
and hearing about the interviews with today's film composers, and, of course,
reading the latest news on upcoming soundtrack releases. Today's news on
the expanded "Close Encounters" CD is exciting indeed. :)
There is something that I would like to discuss with you. Over the
last several months I have been a frequent contributor to the "Superman
in the Movies" website, run by my friend MegadethDC, at http://members.aol.com/ds
upermanc/index.htm.
And since October one of the continuing issues that we have discussed has
been the neglect for an expanded "Superman" soundtrack on CD.
As you have noticed, since 1993 many of John Williams' scores have
been expanded and released on CD, namely the "Star Wars Trilogy"
in the boxed editions and the "Special Editions" last year,
"E.T.",
"Raiders of the Lost Ark", and per your report, the expanded
"CE3K" score. The years 1977 to 1983 mark what I consider to
be Williams' greatest success as a film composer, even though his success
continues to this day. If you notice very carefully, one film score has
been consistently neglected and overlooked for an expanded re-release...
"Superman", one of the very few scores that Williams has been
able to top in terms of quality and beauty.
Do you have any reasons or comments as to why Warner Bros. has failed
to make an effort to re-release and expand this wonderful score?
As you know, this is the 20th anniversary of the release of
"Superman",
the 60th anniversary of the Superman comics property, and the 75th anniversary
of Warner Bros. A number of films are currently slated for re-release in
the theaters or on video, laserdisc, and DVD, and one of them is
"Superman".
There is talk from the Warner Bros. camp that the film will be restored
for video, but to what final extent no one is clear. The WB is keeping
a tight lid on it.
One thing that would make this celebration complete would be an
expanded re-release of the "Superman" score on CD. According
to my friend Megadeth, he and Scott Hansen, who runs the John Williams
website, have talked about writing to Warner Bros. about it, and I am currently
preparing to write an official campaign letter. If you have any input,
comments, etc. that you would like to provide me with, I would certainly
appreciate it.
I love the Superman score and a complete-score reissue would definitely
go into heavy rotation here at Film Score Monthly. There is no specific
reason why Warner Bros. has never expanded it, except that when you deal
with any corporation as large and complex as WB, there's a lot of bureaucracy
there, and a lot of wheels that need to turn. Warner Bros. Records, which
owns the rights to the Superman soundtrack, has not shown much interest
in its soundtrack catalog, although that may change over the course of
this year with the 75th anniversary of the studio.
In short, there's no news, but I urge people to be cautiously optimistic,
as opposed to rapidly impatient. I don't know what good a letter writing
campgain would do, since it's all about who you aim it at, and many times
the people receiving these letters and not those in a position to make
a difference--or they simply don't care.
And by the way, at 70+ minutes the existing Superman CD, even
the U.S. one missing two tracks from the vinyl, isn't exactly an embarrassment.
I'll close by saying that some of my best friends work at large motion
picture studios, and even though a corporation as a whole might do frustrating
things, developing an antagonistic relationship with the many hard-working
and knowledgeable people who work for these companies won't accomplish
anything. Send them all cookies.
Kong! Kong! Kong! Kong!
From: Hawkeye <urbanek.3@osu.edu>
I have the so called "re-issue" of the original King Kong
score. That's the problem. The only thing original is the score. The rest
was recorded in 1976 by the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by
Fred Steiner. Damn it. It doesn't sound right; maybe the microphones were
placed incorrectly or the mixer did a bad job but it doesn't sound like
the original. And... some of the most distinctive music was left out: the
aboriginie king walking towards the film crew, etc. Double damn. I heard
there is a newly recorded 1996 version by the Moscow Symphony, or something
like that. If it at least has the feel of the original, I'd sure like to
know. Warn people about re-scores, if you haven't already. Mine sure is
a disappointment.
Sorry you feel that way, but the new Marco Polo recording is much better.
See Jeff
Bond's review from yesterday.
Questions
From: Nj701@aol.com
I have a small question. It is often mentioned how expensive it
costs to record a score (musicians, recording studio, etc..) and that they
try not to waste any time scoring because time is money. I was just wondering
how some composers can than record suites or concert arrangements (Star
Wars, E.T., Star Trek-TMP, The Rocketeer, ect..) on the studio time. I
don't think that the producers of the movie would put out more money just
for the soundtrack album. just wondering
Sometimes it's part of the budget and schedule for the film; sometimes
not. It all depends.
From: Kevin Deany <deany@lbpc.com>
Are John Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra still recording?
It has been well over a year since their last recording, a Duke Ellington
collection.
I'm told that the HBO did not make any recordings for Philips Classics
last year; I don't know the reason behind that.
From: Jim Rumberg <jim.rumberg@mei.com>
I just purchased the CD "David Raksin Conducts His Great Film
Scores Laura/Forever Amber/The Bad and the Beautiful (RCA Victor/BMG 1490-2-RG).
In the liner notes is mentioned a publication by the Library of Congress
called "Wonderful Inventions", a book and record combination
devoted to Raksin's film music. Is this still available? If so, where can
I order it? Is a Book/CD set available?
I know I've heard of this thing on a few occasions, but I don't know
off-hand what it is.
Film Music on TV this Weekend
Don't forget to check this site for cool scores to this weekend's
movies-on-TV
fare: http://columbia.d
igiweb.com/~ellenbe/fmtvindex.html
Sorry for all of the brief answers today--we're busy here making magazines!
Stay tuned, and see you next week.
MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com
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