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

[crocodile 8,018]

Yeah, I thought it wouldn't be because you saw the film before me and mentioned it here. But then, it proved not to be the case. It cuts off at the exactly same moment.

Karol

No, it doesn't. The last 10-15 seconds were cut off. It was originall meant to end with the crescendo to the black screen.

Well, in any case, they made a good decision this time. Grand crescendos leading into black screens are horrible clichés.

Karol

[KK 3,307]

I watched the film again tonight with some friends. I'll share some thoughts/observations later, but I agree. I really liked how the music dialled out in the end this time around. What I didn't like was the cliché, dramatic, trailer boom that closed the film. I think they should have just left the silence to linger while Ed Sheeran's questionable song begins to play.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

It is an interesting step to take for a motion picture!

[mstrox 6,651]

The new issue of FSM Online has a cover story about DoS by Doug, if anyone is interested.

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

Martin Freeman shouldn't sing. That's taking it too far. But I still think it would be really cool if TABA ended with The Road Goes Ever On and On over the end credits.

[MedigoScan 324]

the order of soundtrack is even odder seeing it the second time around

'Durins Folk' begins with the ending part and ends with the beginning?

Now I am imagining Thorin robbing the armory after the Master gives him his welcome

[Glóin the Dark 1,222]

Now I am imagining Thorin robbing the armory after the Master gives him his welcome

Haha!

[gkgyver 1,645]

Has someone who has seen the film a couple of times figured out at which point the unedited album version of the Minas Morgul music would start? The film version omits half of it.

Btw, I think that piece could profit enormously from some, ahem, "epic" chorus.

[Bilbo 3,709]

I really dislike when scores aren't in chronological order. The standard edition should have been modified for "a better listening experience" with the Special Edition being as close to the film as possible.

Another thing that warrants a CR release for these films IMO. AUJ has loads of unreleased music, DOS has less but is all over the place chronology wise.

[MedigoScan 324]

Has someone who has seen the film a couple of times figured out at which point the unedited album version of the Minas Morgul music would start? The film version omits half of it.

Btw, I think that piece could profit enormously from some, ahem, "epic" chorus.

wait I thought the Minas Morgul music was one of the bits from 'Spell of Concealment' that didnt get cut?

[gkgyver 1,645]

It was used, but the first statement of Sauron's theme from 2:04 to 2:15 was edited out.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Question for Doug.

What's producing that lone drone at 3:40 in Smaug (Extended Version)?

[Incanus 5,715]

Has someone who has seen the film a couple of times figured out at which point the unedited album version of the Minas Morgul music would start? The film version omits half of it.

Btw, I think that piece could profit enormously from some, ahem, "epic" chorus.

I was thinking exactly the same thing! Time for an epic choral version of Sauron's theme or some seriously twisted chanting of the Power of Mordor! Or perhaps draw parallel to another Gandalf duel and use a similar choral line that was used in his confrontation with Saruman in FotR.

[gkgyver 1,645]

I've "updated" it with some choir, what's the best method to upload it? YouTube obviously doesn't allow it.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Soundcloud maybe?

[gkgyver 1,645]

https://soundcloud.com/user67985506/sauron-plus-chor

Embedding didn't work.

[Incanus 5,715]

Well that was rather excellent Georg! It really gave some epic ooomph to the whole thing.

[Bilbo 3,709]

Sounds pretty cool!

[gkgyver 1,645]

Slight alternate: https://soundcloud.com/user67985506/sauron-plus-chor-2

[Incanus 5,715]

I actually like how the final section now also has choir although it ends a bit abruptly. Very well done Georg! Now send word for London Voices to do a quick choral overlay over the weekend so we can put some of the real good stuff on to the orchestral track.

[gkgyver 1,645]

Well, it ends abruptly in the film

[crocodile 8,018]

Great, maybe Conrad Pope won't be needed next year.

Karol

[Jim Ware 526]

Question for Doug.

What's producing that lone drone at 3:40 in Smaug (Extended Version)?

My first thought was didgeridoo, but it sounds a bit too clean and pure for that.

[Doug Adams 494]

Question for Doug.

What's producing that lone drone at 3:40 in Smaug (Extended Version)?

My first thought was didgeridoo, but it sounds a bit too clean and pure for that.

Don't have the audio with me at the moment, but if I'm thinking of the correct passage, it's a tuned gong. Will check later.

D

[gkgyver 1,645]

A tuned gong? Orchestral music will never fail to amaze me.

[crocodile 8,018]

Recording sessions video blog.

Karol

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

PJ just posted the final production video (on the score) on Facebook. Linking to it on this phone eludes me at the moment.

Ah ha, beat me to it.

[Lewya 360]

Omg, too much awesomeness in one video. Lol at Pope by the way.

[crocodile 8,018]

It's a very nice video - probably the best one yet.

And a clean snippet of some unused music too. (Unused on album, I mean)

Karol

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Lovely to see his studio again.

[Lewya 360]

Did anyone else notice the bible? I have to watch it again.

[KK 3,307]

Shore has a beautiful writing studio.

I agree with croc, that was the coolest vid yet. I love Pope's dynamic spirit and charisma in the recording sessions! And for those who kept questioning Shore's health (I'm looking at you Steef!), he seemed in a rather cheery mood (compared to the grave solemnity of the recording sessions vid for AUJ). See the gamelan orchestra playing around was cool too!

I know its unlikely, but I'd love to see more of this!

[crocodile 8,018]

Shore has a beautiful writing studio.

I agree with croc, that was the coolest vid yet. I love Pope's dynamic spirit and charisma in the recording sessions! And for those who kept questioning Shore's health (I'm looking at you Steef!), he seemed in a rather cheery mood (compared to the grave solemnity of the recording sessions vid for AUJ). See the gamelan orchestra playing around was cool too!

I know its unlikely, but I'd love to see more of the recording sessions videos for this!

Let's hope for a proper 20-30 minute featurette on the EE next year.

Karol

[Doug Adams 494]

Our talk lasted a little over an hour, I think. I'm told that they'd like to use more of it elsewhere, so we'll see.

[Incanus 5,715]

Excellent production video log! Alternate passages of music! Excited Howard Shore! Doug Adams! This one has it all!

And Conrad Pope, despite the awful criticism showered on him by some, is one top bloke.

Oh my, the violinist who gets interviewed must be of Finnish descend. No one in the world can have name like Vesa-Matti Leppänen but a Finn (not Neil Finn but a Finnish person).

EDIT: Ah he is from Finland and is the concert master of NZSO. Hehehe a nice Finnish connection to DoS soundtrack right there.

Wow. I never knew that Pietari Inkinen, another Finn, is the musical director of NZSO.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

We need Pasi Tiitinen, Finlands great hornist to be in that orchestra next year!

Good docu, needs more of Shore though.

[Incanus 5,715]

We need Pasi Tiitinen, Finlands great hornist to be in that orchestra next year!

Good docu, needs more of Shore though.

I am hoping for a longer docu on the score for DoS EE next year and even a longer one for the eventual TABA EE.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The NZO seemed pretty buzzed to have the opportunity to record this score. I'm glad it was acknowledged that they were also used for parts of FOTR. (i always LOVED the Dwarrowdelf music).

Because Shore wasnt in NZ, he feels more detached from the rest of the crew the in the LOTR docu's.

[MedigoScan 324]

It's a very nice video - probably the best one yet.

And a clean snippet of some unused music too. (Unused on album, I mean)

Karol

Around when does this play? dont have time to watch the full vid right now

[crocodile 8,018]

5:29. I think it's one of those bits at the start of this chase scene.

Karol

[MedigoScan 324]

ah yes that bit I think plays when Legolas starts jumping from treebranch to treebranch

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Leggy moment #3 on the score sheet

[gkgyver 1,645]

I really wonder why they keep such lovely scoring documentation in the vast deep of the internet instead of putting it on the EE DVD. Sometimes I really don't understand these people.

Did I hear that right, 16 new themes in DoS?

[Lewya 360]

I almost wish I heard 60 Ye, 16 I think he said.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

An i alone in thinking Girions theme is far more interesting then Bards?

[gkgyver 1,645]

Well, technically, isn't the former a variation of the latter?

[Faleel 5,359]

I find Bards theme more hummable.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Sigh....

Another OCD sufferer! It must suck to me like that

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Question for Doug.

What's producing that lone drone at 3:40 in Smaug (Extended Version)?

My first thought was didgeridoo, but it sounds a bit too clean and pure for that.

Don't have the audio with me at the moment, but if I'm thinking of the correct passage, it's a tuned gong. Will check later.

D

Cheers. Would that have been recorded with at Wellington Town Hall with the full orchestra, or with the Gamelan ensemble we see in the vlog?

I'm guessing it's the gong ageng. Amazing sound!

BTW, what's the crazy spiral-shaped cymbal being bowed at 7:27 in the vlog? Never seen that before.