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

[Bilbo 3,959]

I like plenty of pop/rock music. 
 

but Sheeran is just manufactured rubbish. 

[Edmilson 10,081]

9 minutes ago, Doo_liss said:

So popular music?

Fixed.

On 01/11/2013 at 9:35 AM, Doug Adams said:

Shore wrote every note you'll hear, same as ever. He writes themes away from picture, then writes the actual compositions to picture. It's the same process he's always used.

At the same time, he supervised the orchestration and the recording. This is a newer part process, however, he's implemented it to a lesser degree on his last couple of projects (going all the way back to Hugo), so it's not entirely new. No one noted a signifcant difference in sound then, and no one will notice one now.

Does the NZSO sound like a different ensemble to discerning ears? Sure, a bit -- but no more so than the sound of the LPO changed over the years as membership changed. The ensemble that played FOTR wasn't exactly the same as the ensemble that played TTT, etc. If you picked up on this, you'll notice a slightly different sound to the group. If you didn't notice this, you won't notice anything here. The engineers, etc. are all Middle-earth vets, so they've made sure the sound flows seamlessly.

Does the conducting change the sound? Well, not really, to be honest. Shore's principal job as a session conductor is to make sure that the ensemble understands the overall concept. So Shore worked with Pope through much of the summer -- and continuing through the fall -- to make sure he understood the concept. A session conductor is obviously not playing with tempo or even with interpretation, because that messes with the sync and the mix. It's a different gig. Even most of the balance comes from the ears in the booth.

And though it's getting silly, I will reiterate, Shore is entirely healthy. Saw him last month, and he looked better rested than I do on the Hobbit appendices ... speaking of ...

No, Shore did not sit down for a new face-to-face interview for the appendices. Part of that was due to schedule (most of the appendices material was shot during the spring and summer when Shore was working on DOS; part of that due to the fact that sometimes people just don't enjoy having a camera shoved in their face. Shore is a pretty private guy. Despite the fact that he knows everyone in the industry, his inner circle is relatively small. There's a reason he lives in a forest. He likes quiet. Many composers do, which is hardly surprising.

The musical emphasis in this years appendices was songs, anyway. That was always going to be the focus, Shore or no Shore. I was asked to speak a little about the songs and to speak a little more about Shore's work, which I was happy to do. I've watched the doc once with my wife, and I showed the first few minutes to my parents, and that'll probably be the last time I look at it. I hate seeing myself on camera. But, it's good! The emphasis is definitely on the songs, but I believe the tentative plan is to do more in-depth score discussion next year.

I know that these threads last longer and are more entertaining when we all resort to exaggeration, in-character posts, and negativity that requires responses, but please try to remember that this is how ugly rumors get started. And rumors are strong currency in the fan community. Making a joke of a person's health is never cool; there's no way to sugar-coat that.

I don't stop by here that often -- though I stop by often enough to see who's making fun of me ... gotta keep the "naughty list" up-to-date! But, if you have questions -- the type that I can actually answer -- feel free to flag me on Twitter (@DougAdamsMusic) or on the blog (www.MusicofLOTR.com)

I don't want to dissuade conversation here, but maybe all these "curious," "suspicious," "doom," posts could give way to actual material discussion if you'd just ask! I'm not scary. Just look at me in the appendices doc ... I'm really just a scrawny musician-type with access to interesting people.

Ok. Horse out.

That's an awesome post. 

[Meredith McKay 7,508]

4 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

Fixed.

I didn't know La Forêt was considered popular music.

[Edmilson 10,081]

Sorry about that.

 

54 minutes ago, Doo_liss said:

So very unpopular music?

Now it's fixed.

[Bilbo 3,959]

56 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

That's an awesome post

I forgot about the Horse nickname for old Doug 

[Meredith McKay 7,508]

3 minutes ago, Bilbo said:

I forgot about the Horse nickname for old Doug 

Doug:

[Doug Adams 511]

1 hour ago, Bilbo said:

I forgot about the Horse nickname for old Doug 

Yeah, that was great .... 

[Meredith McKay 7,508]

If I had to guess:

 

BloodBoal came up with it, and it was derived from the old idiom "straight from the Horse's mouth"

 

Basically indicating Doug as the source of information about Shore's scores.

[Bilbo 3,959]

18 minutes ago, Doug Adams said:

Yeah, that was great .... 

well here in Ireland calling someone horse would be a term of endearment! “Howerya goen horse?”