James Newton Howard to Score Francis Lawrence’s ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’
James Newton Howard (King Kong, Maleficent, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Sixth Sense, Signs) is set to score the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The movie, which serves as a prequel to The Hunger Games series, is directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Josh Andrés Rivera, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman Irene Boehm, Cooper Dillon, Luna Kuse, Kjell Brutscheidt, Athena Strates, Dimitri Abold, Dakota Shapiro, George Somner and Vaughan Reilly. Lawrence is also producing the project with Nina Jacobson & Brad Simpson (Crazy Rich Asians, American Crime Story). Howard has previously scored the first four The Hunger Games movies (three of which were helmed by Lawrence) and also collaborated with Lawrence on the features I Am Legend, Water for Elephants and Red Sparrow. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set to be released on November 17, 2023 by Lionsgate.
What a great time scoring Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in London. Filmmaking is such a collaborative process, and I am so grateful for my brilliant team, many of whom I’ve worked with for decades!
Thank you Pete Anthony, Jeff Atmajian, Michael Parsons, Steve Durkee, John Prestage, Chris Cozens, Mark Graham, Shawn Levy, and Lionsgate!
James Newton Howard - The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Original Motion Picture Score) (CD)
Sony Masterworks £14.85 Format: 2 x CD Catalogue No.: 19658861762 Barcode: 196588617621 Release Date: 17 Nov 2023 Genre: Soundtrack
• Sony Music Masterworks is excited to announce the release of THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE) by award-winning composer JAMES NEWTON HOWARD.
• The album features original score music written by Howard for the new prequel to the massively popular dystopian film franchise. Howard makes his return to the world of Panem after scoring the franchise’s original four films, part of the composer’s longstanding creative relationship with director Francis Lawrence.
• Featured throughout the album’s 40 tracks is global superstar pianist YUJA WANG, who also contributes her virtuosic playing skills to three newly reimagined solo piano suites Howard based on past Hunger Games themes, including a new take on one of the franchise’s most moving cues, “Rue’s Farewell.”
• Taking place nearly 70 years before the events of the first film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes required Howard to chart a new, distinct sonic palette to reflect the earlier time period. In a departure from past scores, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes found the composer moving towards a more orchestral sound as opposed to the earlier, more electronic-infused soundscapes.
• Utilizing baroque instruments like the viola de gamba and cello d’amore, Howard was able to evoke a more rural, folk feel to the score, both a nod to the prequel’s earlier time period and also a stylistic extension of the original songs performed throughout by lead Rachel Zegler.
• A major figure in the film and TV music world since he scored Pretty Woman in 1990, James Newton Howard has had seven of his scores nominated for the Academy Award, as well as receiving two nominations in the Best Song category. His credits include scores for The Prince of Tides, The Fugitive, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Shyamalan’s The Village, Michael Clayton, Defiance and News of the World – all Oscar-nominated – as well as Maleficent, all of The Hunger Games films, Water for Elephants, The Dark Knight (with Hans Zimmer), King Kong (2006), Blood Diamond, Batman Begins and many others.
Tracklist: 1. The Dark Days 2. Anthem: Gem of Panem (Instrumental) 3. Coryo in the Capitol 4. Assigning the Mentors 5. Meet the Mentor 6. Gamemaker 7. Sejanus 8. Hunger is a Weapon 9. Strategy 10. Department of War 11. The Arena 12. Saving Snow 13. Ideas Firing 14. Happy Hunger Games 15. Mercy 16. Seize the Opportunity 17. Cut the Feed 18. Open the Gate 19. Powerful 20. Afraid of Water 21. Drone Attack 22. Inside the Duct 23. Under the Flag 24. Planting the Cloth 25. Rainbow of Destruction 26. Get Her Out 27. The Sound of Snow 28. Your Life Has Just Begun 29. You Are Safe 30. Trust Is Everything 31. I Can’t Stay Here 32. Cabin in the Rain 33. Lucy? 34. The Woods 35. Change of Plan 36. Passed the Tests 37. Snow Lands on Top 38. I. Friendship* – performed by Yuja Wang 39. II. Rue’s Farewell* – performed by Yuja Wang 40. III. Victor* – performed by Yuja Wang *Solo Piano Suites
Taking place nearly 70 years before the events of the first film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes required Howard to chart a new, distinct sonic palette to reflect the earlier time period. In a departure from past scores, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes found the composer moving towards a more orchestral sound as opposed to the earlier, more electronic-infused soundscapes. Utilizing baroque instruments like the viola de gamba and cello d’amore, Howard was able to evoke a more rural, folk feel to the score, both a nod to the prequel’s earlier time period and also a stylistic extension of the original songs performed throughout by lead Rachel Zegler. ----------------------- I like the sound of this. I enjoyed the first score albums from the other films, albeit sporadically. But the highs were very good highs to me. The combination of folk/rustic scoring with the more modern electronics and beats offered up a unique sound world for the dramas taking place. I now look forward to JNH taking things a bit more old-school, for this prequel series. Cool that there will be a double CD edition too.
I’m confused about the existence of a CD. Is it available anywhere in the U.S. or only as an import from the U.K. or elsewhere? Even on the Sony Masterworks site it’s still listed as Pre-Order even though it lists a release date of 11/17 and also has an Amazon page but “currently unavailable” there as well…
Edit: Barnes and Noble website lists it as release date 11/24 under the label Sony UK but hoping for it to show up on Amazon as well…maybe will within the next week?
Edit 2: Sony Classical site mentions digital and vinyl release but no CD…maybe if the film is a success they will initiate CD pressing…?
I’m confused about the existence of a CD. Is it available anywhere in the U.S. or only as an import from the U.K. or elsewhere? Even on the Sony Masterworks site it’s still listed as Pre-Order even though it lists a release date of 11/17 and also has an Amazon page but “currently unavailable” there as well…
Edit: Barnes and Noble website lists it as release date 11/24 under the label Sony UK but hoping for it to show up on Amazon as well…maybe will within the next week?
Edit 2: Sony Classical site mentions digital and vinyl release but no CD…maybe if the film is a success they will initiate CD pressing…?
The CD is available at EU Amazon stores so it does exist.
I’m confused about the existence of a CD. Is it available anywhere in the U.S. or only as an import from the U.K. or elsewhere? Even on the Sony Masterworks site it’s still listed as Pre-Order even though it lists a release date of 11/17 and also has an Amazon page but “currently unavailable” there as well…
Edit: Barnes and Noble website lists it as release date 11/24 under the label Sony UK but hoping for it to show up on Amazon as well…maybe will within the next week?
Edit 2: Sony Classical site mentions digital and vinyl release but no CD…maybe if the film is a success they will initiate CD pressing…?
The CD is in a strange place right now... I just pre-ordered fo Deep Discount along with Avatar Way of Water. We'll see what comes!
I have the 2CD, from Amazon UK. It's a proper old fashioned presentation. 2 disc jewel case, pressed CDs, colour booklet. Just like they used to make em.
I have the 2CD, from Amazon UK. It's a proper old fashioned presentation. 2 disc jewel case, pressed CDs, colour booklet. Just like they used to make em.