Composer Threads James Newton Howard thread

[Jay 33,668]

The first four JNH/Shyamalan collaborations are Disney flicks

[Jurassic Shark 10,621]

3 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

The Village desperate needs an expansion, the OST for some reason doesn't include some of the best cues.

 

So that's why the album is such a drag!

[Edmilson 5,663]

2 minutes ago, Jay said:

The first four JNH/Shyamalan collaborations are Disney flicks

Yeah, but I don't think Disney would create much problem to allow Intrada or any other label to expand them, unlike their animations which I believe they prefer to do (if at all) via the Disney Records Legacy Collection. Right?

[Jay 33,668]

I have no idea

 

I do know that Alive and Willow are the only two Disney flicks Intrada has worked on since 2019, with the upcoming Solo DE being their third

[Bryant Burnette 595]

I'd rather the powers that be convene to get The Village on Blu-ray before worrying about expanding the score.  Better yet: do both at the same time.

[LSH 901]

What I would like to see released:

 

My Girl (Premiere)

The Postman (Expansion)

Vertical Limit (Expansion)

[Richard Penna 2,949]

The Village is an outlier in the M. Night canon - all his others are relatively comprehensive, minimal rearrangement and certainly don't exclude any highlight cues.

 

I reckon that because it's a very character oriented film with Hilary Hahn's violin connecting so strongly with Bryce Howard's character, he wanted to show it as a 'tone poem' and think of it more as an album than the others. However, as a result he left off a lot of music and did some bizarre rearranging of the rest - looking at Spotify it's spectacularly out of film order.

 

The entire score, including at least one alternate, and something that appears only in the end credits (although part of the credits in the film is probably tracked), easily fits on one CD.

[Edmilson 5,663]

I'm still mad at JNH for leaving this wonderful cue out of the OST, it's just so good:

 

 

 

[Knight of Ren 646]

The Village is one of Howard's crowning achievements and it would be great to have it officially released in an expanded presentation, especially to have it in chronological order, since the original release is a mess in that regard.

 

I wonder, in case they do that, if they'll keep some of the film edits of some cues, or if they will keep the more complete versions as heard in the leak from a couple years ago.

[Drawgoon 81]

I was expecting a label to pick up Signs last year. It was the film's 20th anniversary after all.

It could still be Signs- though I don't think the current album is missing anything substantial, if anything at all.

 

It could also be Flatliners. It is a title that people seemingly talk about each time Intrada announces some JNH album in the works.

 

Village would be awesome. The old album continues to get tons of listens from me in autumn time.

 

I only wish Last Airbender could get considered some day. With the real choir restored, that is.

[Richard Penna 2,949]

20 hours ago, Knight of Ren said:

I wonder, in case they do that, if they'll keep some of the film edits of some cues, or if they will keep the more complete versions as heard in the leak from a couple years ago.

 

You wouldn't see anything edited for the film. I highly expect it would be something very closely resembling my current set, which is the OST combined with a promo that surfaced years ago containing just the cues not on the album.

 

Signs works extremely well in album form as a really nice 'deep summer' tone poem, and I think how people would react to the extra material depends very much dependent on how familiar they are with the film. I really like the film and latched onto the music strongly enough that I wanted everything but those who haven't seen the film or have a more casual fandom of the score probably wouldn't need the extra music.

[JNHFan2000 2,042]

I would love the first part of the end credits from Last Airbender with choir etc!

[Knight of Ren 646]

 

I don't know if it has been posted here already, but this is JNH's next big scoring assignment, longside All the Lights We Cannot See.

 

The movie looks fine, but I'm especially looking forward to his score, as I really like what he did for the main saga. Many great themes and fantastic action set pieces, and I think this will be more or less in the same vein. He also mentioned in an instagram post or something like that he had been going through his previous scores in preparation for the new one, so I guess he will get to use at least some of his themes in the new one!

[Mr. Who 798]

54 minutes ago, Knight of Ren said:

 

I don't know if it has been posted here already, but this is JNH's next big scoring assignment, longside All the Lights We Cannot See.

 

The movie looks fine, but I'm especially looking forward to his score, as I really like what he did for the main saga. Many great themes and fantastic action set pieces, and I think this will be more or less in the same vein. He also mentioned in an instagram post or something like that he had been going through his previous scores in preparation for the new one, so I guess he will get to use at least some of his themes in the new one!

I'm really looking forward to this score and movie as well! I have a feeling that many of the secondary themes might return but I'm less sure about the main theme, as that is really tied to Katniss. I can't wait to hear Snow's theme again though, which will surely be used!

[Knight of Ren 646]

Yeah, some themes will not make any sense, like Katniss vocal theme or her love theme with Peeta, but I'm really expecting to hear more variations on Snow's material, and perhaps some of the ideas for the games themselves, but it's true that it's a bit hard to properly identify the meaning of some of the themes through the trilogy.

[Jay 33,668]

Is this the start of a new trilogy, or a one-off that tells the entire Snow story?

[JNHFan2000 2,042]

It's a one-off

[Jay 33,668]

Thanks!

[Mr. Who 798]

It’s based on a one off book as far as I know. A new series is possible though I guess if the movie does well.

 

I am just listening to Katniss Afoot from the first score, a cue which was unused in the movie. However the theme at the end of the track was used in the third score in the final cue. I listened more to the last three scores but the first one is really good too, I need to listen to it again. JNH only had a few weeks to do it and still it’s full of ideas and really sets the tone for the series.

[JNHFan2000 2,042]

Indeed 2-4 are more played with me as well.

 

But you can't beat cues like "The Train" or "Rue's Farewell".

I very distinctly remembering hearing Rue's Farewell in the film and it was just so beautiful!!

 

The Sewer Attack from 4 is one of my all time favorite Howard action cues. Air Raid Drill is also fantastic!

And then you have cues like "Katniss Is Chosen", "I Need You" and "District 12" which are just gorgeous.

I really love these scores and am very excited to hear what he'll do with this. I think he can do some interesting stuff with Snow's theme. Since he's not the bad guy here yet.

[Edmilson 5,663]

My favorite moments from the scores for The Hunger Games saga were the more dramatic cues, showcasing the tragedy of Katniss' life.

 

I love the cue below from 3:25 to the end. It has some of the best dramatic writing JNH ever done. The best part is 4:33 to 4:52, which underscores the moment Katniss wakes up from her nightmare about the first movie and is hugged by Peeta.

 

 

[Richard Penna 2,949]

Rue's Farewell is beautiful, and there are quite a few moments from Catching Fire that I really like.

 

However, I will never understand what you hear in Sewer Attack! To me it's just a lot of banging and crashing and glimpse into JNH's modern action. Pretty much none of the music from Mockingjay did anything for me and I actually didn't like the fourth movie at all, despite liking the first three a lot.

1 minute ago, Edmilson said:

I love the cue below from 3:25 to the end. It has some of the best dramatic writing JNH ever done. The best part is 4:33 to 4:52, which underscores the moment Katniss wakes up from her nightmare about the first movie and is hugged by Peeta.

 

That's possibly my favorite bit from film 2 as well. JNH has always been good at dramatic, string-led themes like this.

[Mr. Who 798]

23 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

My favorite moments from the scores for The Hunger Games saga were the more dramatic cues, showcasing the tragedy of Katniss' life.

 

I love the cue below from 3:25 to the end. It has some of the best dramatic writing JNH ever done. The best part is 4:33 to 4:52, which underscores the moment Katniss wakes up from her nightmare about the first movie and is hugged by Peeta.

 

 

This moment is fantastic! The melody and the orchestration is just pure JNH!

37 minutes ago, JNHFan2000 said:

Indeed 2-4 are more played with me as well.

 

But you can't beat cues like "The Train" or "Rue's Farewell".

I very distinctly remembering hearing Rue's Farewell in the film and it was just so beautiful!!

 

The Sewer Attack from 4 is one of my all time favorite Howard action cues. Air Raid Drill is also fantastic!

And then you have cues like "Katniss Is Chosen", "I Need You" and "District 12" which are just gorgeous.

I really love these scores and am very excited to hear what he'll do with this. I think he can do some interesting stuff with Snow's theme. Since he's not the bad guy here yet.

Sewer attack is a brilliant action cue, especially the second part with the choir. I still remember hearing it in the movie in the scene where they escape the severs with the choir playing.

 

My favourite action cue from the series is Air Raid Drill though. The statement of Rue’s theme (which actually isn’t really her theme) is so good and the whole structure of the action writing is just so good plus the great use of choir!

 

Overall I think I like Catching Fire or Mockingjay Pt1 the most, followed by Mockingjay Pt2 and then the first score.

[Edmilson 5,663]

Speaking of emotional Hunger Games moments, I also love this cue. It starts with the traditional Katniss & Peeta love theme but it has a nice, warm coda for Katniss' sister comforting her after the nightmare:

 

 

[ddddeeee 160]

Unfortunately, I think of The Hunger Games series as a huge missed musical opportunity. Don't get me wrong, there are several highlights to each score, but the narrative just isn't there.

 

I don't blame JNH at all. The temp tracking in each movie is insane. There are several cues from other scores by other composers in the first movie - often in pivotal scenes (the introduction to District 12, the beginning of the games, the ending montage...). And the repurposing of JNH's score from one movie to the next is nonsensical most of the time. For example, 'The Train' from the first movie plays the wonderment of Peeta and Katniss seeing all the luxury that The Capitol has to offer ...in the sequel, it plays the horror of them having to go back in the arena. Every other cue in the last two scores references a cue from the previous scores, and I could never make heads or tails of it. The Katniss theme introduced in Catching Fire sounds the exact same in almost all its reprises, despite the fact that that character goes to hell and back. The same music that plays District 12 in Catching Fire plays District 12 in Mockingjay Part I...and it's been destroyed.

 

I think it's very telling that the suite at the end of Mockingjay Part 2 is a collection of cues from the franchise. It's a greatest hits package because JNH wasn't allowed to musically tell the story.

 

I really hope that JNH is allowed to do more with this one. 

[leeallen01 2,085]

16 hours ago, ddddeeee said:

 

I really hope that JNH is allowed to do more with this one. 

 

Well, the Director is Francis Lawrence again. So no doubt his musical vision he wants JNH to do will be the same.

[Mr. Who 798]

2 hours ago, leeallen01 said:

 

Well, the Director is Francis Lawrence again. So no doubt his musical vision he wants JNH to do will be the same.

The director mentioned the term Appalachian in terms of music in a recent interview. I’m curious how similar or different the score will be sonically from the HG scores.

[leeallen01 2,085]

2 hours ago, Mr. Who said:

The director mentioned the term Appalachian in terms of music in a recent interview. I’m curious how similar or different the score will be sonically from the HG scores.

 

Interesting. The first HG's score was very Appalachian sounding.

[Bayesian 1,165]

It looks like Francis Lawrence and JNH are forming a dyad like JW & SS, Elfman & Burton, Desplat & Anderson, etc. 

[Edmilson 5,663]

Lawrence directed a movie whose score I consider to be among JNH's very best: Water for Elephants. He should do more romantic dramas!

 

And I really like his scores for I am Legend and THG sequels.

[Mr. Who 798]

8 hours ago, Edmilson said:

Lawrence directed a movie whose score a consider to be among JNH's very best: Water for Elephants. He should do more romantic dramas!

 

And I really like his scores for I am Legend and THG sequels.

He also did Red Sparrow, which is a fantastic score. In fact JNH said that it is one of the scores he’s the most proud of.

[Naïve Old Fart 8,673]

37 minutes ago, Mr. Who said:

He also did Red Sparrow, which is a fantastic score. In fact JNH said that it is one of the scores he’s the most proud of.

Agreed. I like RED SPARROW very much.

[GerateWohl 3,298]

On 29/04/2023 at 2:27 AM, ddddeeee said:

Unfortunately, I think of The Hunger Games series as a huge missed musical opportunity. Don't get me wrong, there are several highlights to each score, but the narrative just isn't there.

 

I don't blame JNH at all. The temp tracking in each movie is insane. There are several cues from other scores by other composers in the first movie - often in pivotal scenes (the introduction to District 12, the beginning of the games, the ending montage...). And the repurposing of JNH's score from one movie to the next is nonsensical most of the time. For example, 'The Train' from the first movie plays the wonderment of Peeta and Katniss seeing all the luxury that The Capitol has to offer ...in the sequel, it plays the horror of them having to go back in the arena. Every other cue in the last two scores references a cue from the previous scores, and I could never make heads or tails of it. The Katniss theme introduced in Catching Fire sounds the exact same in almost all its reprises, despite the fact that that character goes to hell and back. The same music that plays District 12 in Catching Fire plays District 12 in Mockingjay Part I...and it's been destroyed.

 

I think it's very telling that the suite at the end of Mockingjay Part 2 is a collection of cues from the franchise. It's a greatest hits package because JNH wasn't allowed to musically tell the story.

 

I really hope that JNH is allowed to do more with this one. 

Another issue for me in the Hunger Games scores is that the music does not take for example clear position of Katniss view. Sometimes yes, then again it plays these heroic propaganda fanfares that that represent the capitols view positively staging these massacres. 

Of course this makes sense in the movie, Still it feels particularly inconsistent musically for me.

[Stark 200]

Hunger Games scores are great!

 

Back to the expansion, I really really want the Postman.

[Naïve Old Fart 8,673]

Whatever you say about the film, THE POSTMAN has a good score.

[filmmusic 1,587]

If I'd like a JNH expansion, I would choose The Prince of Tides. (although I'm not sure we're missing much music. Unless there are many alternates, song versions etc.)

[Marc 663]

Love this cue !
 

 

[LSH 901]

5 hours ago, Marc said:

Love this cue !
 

 

 

Fantastic cover of a great cue.

 

Particularly love that mini fanfare flourish at 3:11.

[Jay 33,668]

nice job, @Marc, I quite enjoyed that!

[leeallen01 2,085]

Don't think I've ever shared my JNH tattoo, but hey, here goes. It's his name in musical note form on the strings of a lyre instrument (the one used by Apollo; the god of music in greek mythology) 

[Edmilson 5,663]

This is great!

[Bespin 7,566]

Do we know the content of this suite?

 

[GerateWohl 3,298]

On 20/05/2023 at 11:25 PM, leeallen01 said:

Don't think I've ever shared my JNH tattoo, but hey, here goes. It's his name in musical note form on the strings of a lyre instrument (the one used by Apollo; the god of music in greek mythology) 

I thought this is supposed to be the rear view at a sitting big fat cat with James Newton Howard's name tatooed across her shaved back.

[JTW 697]

Does anyone have a John Williams tattoo? Maurizio must have one. 

[Thor 6,332]

God, no. No offense to leeallen, but to me, tatooing your favourite artists on your body is too extreme. Then again, I have no interest in tatooing my body with anything in the first place.

[thestat 276]

Dude leeallen - mega respect! My favourite is probably this mega-overblown Costner vengeance track. This was when JNH went from a Streisand, Seagal guy to full-blown orchestral genious. Obviously, I was ignorant of JNH's substantial background in orchestration and conducting:

 

And I love when the full JNH kicks in at about 4:30, brilliant, brilliant stuff

 

[Edmilson 5,663]

 

Quote

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!

— em Air Lyndhurst Studios — The Hall

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=776313990605304&set=a.242483000655075

[Richard Penna 2,949]

On 24/05/2023 at 10:54 PM, thestat said:

 

And I love when the full JNH kicks in at about 4:30, brilliant, brilliant stuff

 

 

I absolutely adore this cue too. There's something about how relatively understated it is as an action cue yet it feels so dramatic as a result. Particularly the part at 5:24 where it doesn't quite go straight into the final part of the action, but that little extra beat of buildup does something to throw you off slightly before the final part. Then the final dissonant bit at 7:00 (in the expansion) is unlike anything I've heard from a score like this - I can't remember what happens in the film but it can't be good.

[LSH 901]

On 01/06/2023 at 6:58 PM, Edmilson said:

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=776313990605304&set=a.242483000655075

 

I'm a huge JNH fan but the Hunger Games scores never gelled with me. Perhaps I should revisit them before this is released.

 

Any recommended highlights I should sample to get me in the mood?

[DangerMotif 877]

1 hour ago, LSH said:

 

I'm a huge JNH fan but the Hunger Games scores never gelled with me. Perhaps I should revisit them before this is released.

 

Any recommended highlights I should sample to get me in the mood?

Rue’s farewell