The Batman Begins Composers Speak

[RuBen_Kenobi 20]

http://www.james-newton-howard.com/main.ht...batman_sfx.html

The Music of the Knight

Excerpt taken from the latest issue (131) from SFX Magazine

'Batman Begins' shows there's more to Batman movie music than Danny Elfman...

Musically, the previous 'Batman' films - and the animated series - were defined by Danny Elfman's memorably gothic music. With 'Batman Begins' signalling a sea change in the franchise's style, the music is following suit by having two high-profile composers - Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard - score this particular Dark Knight.

It’s certainly an unusual move. "It hasn't happened in recent memory," claims Howard who, with Zimmer, spent three months at London's AIR Lyndhurst studios creating more than two hours of composition for the film. "We were terribly impressed with what we saw. The way the music had to feel was clear to us. The movie is very specific - complex and layered."

Why two composers? "We always joked about what if I wrote a cue and he finished it and vice versa," says Howard. "We reached a place where you can only do so many car chases moments etc -- so we wanted to shake it up. When Chris [Nolan] asked Hans to do this, he called me and said, 'How about it?'"

For Zimmer, the appeal was clear. "There is a nice division where I get to go dark with the music and James does the elegance."

Certainly, it’s an intriguing pairing that could work well, with Zimmer's action mores - best heard in 'Gladiator' - amply capturing Batman's war on crime, while Howard plies a focus on the pic's psychological dimensions. "We never really had a solid plan," says Howard, estimating that, "I have a stronger presence in the first half and Hans has the same in the second. There are two themes primarily. One relates to his journey and the other relates to the action."

The result, says Zimmer, should be unmistakably 'Batman'. "There's a lot of percussion, a lot of electronics, but, this is 'Batman', you're allowed to have the kitchen sink."

I can´t wait for the film (good director, amzing cast, the only thing that i´m afraid of is the writer) and for the soundtrack (I like Zimmer´s action shit)

[Mr. Breathmask 624]

I'm not really into Zimmer doing the action parts, but I guess we'll see eventually.

btw, this was already brought up here

[A24 5,155]

I never thought of Danny's music for Batman as memorable. A lot of unstructured symphonic-sounding mumbo jumbo, that's what it was! I never will understand how a Williams fan can dig this sorta sh*t.

[Mr. Breathmask 624]

Pfff.

- Marc, who thinks it's great.

[gkgyver 1,647]

. 

[Saxbabe 28]

It is as I expected with JNH doing the more emotional stuff...but Zimmer's action stuff is not too bad, AND it does sound like Howard has some involvement still on the 2nd "action" half music. On the flip side, it sounds like we might also expect Zimmer techno beats under JNH's "Journey" theme :?

Howard could be a good influence on Zimmer possibly (at least for this score), like in "suggesting" some fresh ideas (as far as the electronics). Howard excels in meshing electronics and percussion soundscapes with orchestral elements.

The track list and front and back covers:

http://www.superherotimes.com/newsarchive/000598.php

12 Tracks

1. Vespertillio

2. Eptesicus

3. Myotis

4. Barbastella

5. Artibeus

6. Tadarida

7. Marcrotus

8. Antrozous

9. Nycteris

10. Molossus

11. Corynorhinus

12. Lasiurus

Um, interesting. Like something Goldenthal would do. More like movement titles of a concert work. Makes it hard to easily identify what cue goes where maybe though.

Corresponding species

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showpo...59&postcount=27

There must be a connection here from the movie? Or maybe they came up with it from thin air...

Greta

[Mr. Breathmask 624]

I can hardly pronounce those titles. :?

[QMM 4]

Buh?

[Mr. Breathmask 624]

On second thought, I love the title Tadarida. Sounds like someone pronouncing a fanfare.

[Frank Vincent 301]

According to www.james-newton-howard.com the track names refer to Latin names of bat species.

[Todd 30]

Well if that isn't a bit self indulgant...

[David Coscina 4]

where does he get all those wonderful toys?

[Composer_Fan 2]

What....*interesting* track titles. I've never really studied a score with two composers. Sounds kinda interesting.