Howard Shore's The Desolation Of Smaug (Hobbit Part 2)

[gkgyver 1,645]

I'm sure the ideas going into Kong influenced other works of his. I can't imagine that a composer is able to just put all of that hard work aside.

Imagine, maybe what we call Smaug's theme was originally a theme for the T-Rex fight

I don't know how the copyright situation is on Kong, but I assume it won't be easy getting the rights, and not very cheap either.

[Doug Adams 494]

Really? Doug was involved with the King Kong score?

Yep, I was on my way out the door to visit the sessions NZ when the phone call came in telling me to unpack my bags.

Later the following winter, Shore had me over to hear his full Kong score, but only so we could talk about it on a personal level. He asked me to please leave specific details out of the public discussion, and so I honor that request.

I will tell you that it was astonishingly beautiful, and that it had a great deal of heart ... I hope that everyone has a chance to hear it one day.

So does that mean then that not every thing he wrote got recorded?

Correct. Some of what we listened to was mock-ups.

[Faleel 5,346]

Correct. Some of what we listened to was mock-ups.

Doug, since you are here, could you shed some light on the alternate versions of tracks between the OST and SE of AUJ? or are you still contractually obligated to keep silent?

[Doug Adams 494]

Correct. Some of what we listened to was mock-ups.

Doug, since you are here, could you shed some light on the alternate versions of tracks between the OST and SE of AUJ? or are you still contractually obligated to keep silent?

Ask away, but I probably have very little to add at this point. The differences are there because there was a lot of material generated and this seemed like a good way to present a bit more of it. There's really nothing linking the decisions, I'm afraid.

[Faleel 5,346]

#1 was the standard version of Roast Mutton written first, or was the deluxe edition version written first?

#2 did the standard version of Old Friends (with the Shire theme on the Whistle) score the same section of film the deluxe version did?

#3: in the documentary on the AUJ score that was posted by WaterTower music, there is an unused cue being rehearsed by Shore, its also in the EE appendices, what was it for?

and #4, there was a bit of extra percussion from the Warg-Scouts in the EE documentary The Epic of Scene 88, was it an original version of the ending pre-decision to add the Lothlorien theme, or a unused portion, or is it just the drum track that plays underneath the Orchestra, that were isolated from the rest for the documentary*?


*If any timestamps are needed I can provide them.

[Doug Adams 494]

#1 was the standard version of Roast Mutton written first, or was the deluxe edition version written first?

#2 did the standard version of Old Friends (with the Shire theme on the Whistle) score the same section of film the deluxe version did?

#3: in the documentary on the AUJ score that was posted by WaterTower music, there is an unused cue being rehearsed by Shore, its also in the EE appendices, what was it for?

and #4, there was a bit of extra percussion from the Warg-Scouts in the EE documentary The Epic of Scene 88, was it an original version of the ending pre-decision to add the Lothlorien theme, or a unused portion, or is it just the drum track that plays underneath the Orchestra, that were isolated from the rest for the documentary*?

*If any timestamps are needed I can provide them.

#1 I believe Deluxe was taken from a version written in September, Standard was taken from a version written in October.

#2 Yes, though they're both edited to play smoothly on the album.

#3 I'll have to look this up when I have more time.

#4 While I can't promise such a thing does not exist, I have no record of any version of this composition without the Lothlorien theme.

[Faleel 5,346]

Thanks!

and to bring this discussion back on topic a little more:

Hopefully Sting gets a theme

[Jay 37,353]

Thanks Doug!

BTW, this is the unknown cue Faleel is talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRruE2SFWko

It was shown in this featurette:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULBdnsRnCCE

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Is it just me, or do those low bass tones in Inside Information sound electronic? There's also something at the very end of A Liar and a Thief that sounds not-acoustic.

[crocodile 8,006]

Thanks!

and to bring this discussion back on topic a little more:

Hopefully Sting gets a theme

Hey and Sting could provide vocal wailing for every moment when Bilbo uses his "letter opener".

Karol

[KK 3,307]

Is it just me, or do those low bass tones in Inside Information sound electronic? There's also something at the very end of A Liar and a Thief that sounds not-acoustic.

I think you're pointing out the various Asian instruments being used to create Smaug's sound.

[crocodile 8,006]

Curiously enough this new expanded Smaug material reminds me of The Golden Compass, of all things. Must be that gamelan thing (or whatever Shore used).

Karol

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Is it just me, or do those low bass tones in Inside Information sound electronic? There's also something at the very end of A Liar and a Thief that sounds not-acoustic.

I think you're pointing out the various Asian instruments being used to create Smaug's sound.

Maybe, maybe... I don't mean the clanging Tibetan gongs, but the two low drones in the first case. There's something about them that sounds curious. Same with a tone at the very end of the second sample that sounds almost like an ondes martenot. Probably just imagining things.

[Jay 37,353]

No, it sounds electronic to me too

[Barnald 365]

If you go on www.thehobbit.com you'll hear Feast of Starlight playing in the background. It doesn't seem like the full track but it's more than the preview.

[Faleel 5,346]

If you go on www.thehobbit.com you'll hear Feast of Starlight playing in the background. It doesn't seem like the full track but it's more than the preview.

Cool!

[Jay 37,353]

Cool!

http://www.thehobbit.com/sounds/bgloop.mp3

http://www.thehobbit.com/sounds/bgloop.mp3

[Incanus 5,714]

Very cool!

[KK 3,307]

Very very cool!

A part of it remind me of the Beyond the Forest theme. Could be a stretch though.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

Cool!

Very cool!

Very very cool!

I see a pattern here...

[Faleel 5,346]

[Bilbo 3,709]

Cool? It's freezing here!

[luke905 18]

Really beautiful!

Also to me it recalled the theme heard in Beyond the Forest.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Is it just me, or do those low bass tones in Inside Information sound electronic? There's also something at the very end of A Liar and a Thief that sounds not-acoustic.

I think you're pointing out the various Asian instruments being used to create Smaug's sound.

Maybe, maybe... I don't mean the clanging Tibetan gongs, but the two low drones in the first case. There's something about them that sounds curious. Same with a tone at the very end of the second sample that sounds almost like an ondes martenot. Probably just imagining things.

I have a suspicion that it might be a superball mallet dragged on a bass drum. That can create a very low, drony, almost electronic sound. I remember Peter Maxwell Davies using that effect in The Devils.

The Ondes sound - that could be a bowed saw or rubbed singing bowls.

[gkgyver 1,645]

Very very cool!

A part of it remind me of the Beyond the Forest theme. Could be a stretch though.

I don't think you misheard. I heard it too.

100% Shore in Middle-Earth mode. Every time Shore does something for cor anglais, for some reason it goes straight into my heart.

[SafeUnderHill 205]

[gkgyver 1,645]

Indeed. You'll be called a Shore fanboy.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Is it just me, or do those low bass tones in Inside Information sound electronic? There's also something at the very end of A Liar and a Thief that sounds not-acoustic.

I think you're pointing out the various Asian instruments being used to create Smaug's sound.

Maybe, maybe... I don't mean the clanging Tibetan gongs, but the two low drones in the first case. There's something about them that sounds curious. Same with a tone at the very end of the second sample that sounds almost like an ondes martenot. Probably just imagining things.

I have a suspicion that it might be a superball mallet dragged on a bass drum. That can create a very low, drony, almost electronic sound. I remember Peter Maxwell Davies using that effect in The Devils.

The Ondes sound - that could be a bowed saw or rubbed singing bowls.

Could be. Probably more likely than Shore suddenly adding electronic elements.

[Faleel 5,346]

[Faleel 5,346]

is this Shore?

http://middle-earth.thehobbit.com/dol-guldur

[Jay 37,353]

I don't think so.

[Faleel 5,346]

Strange, all the other locations have music from LOTR (Gandalf's Farewells, Balins Tomb etc.) you would expect Dol Guldur to have Shore music as well.

[Alex Shore 83]

Such a beautiful theme is "Feast of Starlight" and yes, Howard Shore is the best composer making great solos for english horn, also I love the sounds of cello+bassoons, another of his special trademarks.

[gkgyver 1,645]

Yes, I would recognise those bassoon lines anywhere.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

is this Shore?

http://middle-earth.thehobbit.com/dol-guldur

Ok I had no idea what this was going to be and it freaked me out.

Is there some objective? I just keep getting effed up by the Necromancer.

That Rivendell one is beautiful, with that music. Very neat.

[Barnald 365]

Anyone in the US tried this yet?

http://drafthouse.com/blog/entry/free-song-hobbit?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+drafthouseblog+%28Drafthouse+Blog%29

I suppose we should hear 'The Woodland Realm' soon at least.

Don't know if this is also offering a download of 'The Woodland Realm' or something different:

http://www.fandango.com/movieblog/hobbit-desolation-of-smaug-tickets-and-regal-super-tickets-now-on-sale-743973.html

[Jay 37,353]

Cool!

[BloodBoal 7,538]

Expecting a "Very cool!" by Incanus, followed by a "Very very cool!" by KK

[Barnald 365]

It's only 'Cool!' if we actually hear something.

What superlative will we be using in the event of some site streaming the full soundtrack?

[SafeUnderHill 205]

[BloodBoal 7,538]

What superlative will we be using in the event of some site streaming the full soundtrack?

Asswrenching?

[Faleel 5,346]

[Incanus 5,714]

"Quite cool" won't do justice to that moment Faleel!

It's only 'Cool!' if we actually hear something.

What superlative will we be using in the event of some site streaming the full soundtrack?

The very coolestest?

[Faleel 5,346]

Superlative

[Incanus 5,714]

Superlative

Highly satisfactory.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

Kewl.

[Faleel 5,346]

Or Blumenkhool.

[Incanus 5,714]

Where is the good old squeeeefart!!111!!!! from these discussions I ask. Nobody uses that anymore.

But perhaps that is for the better... of mankind.

[gkgyver 1,645]

The superlative compliment for DoS would be "just like LotR".

[Faleel 5,346]

Better than LOTR!