James Newton Howard - THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgIMutcOfK3/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

 

Newton Howard returning for The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes. The prequel to The Hunger Games.

 

Great!

[Edmilson 7,466]

I wonder which themes he'll reprise. Not many of them, I think, since the plot of this movie will be decades before Katniss, Rue, Peeta, etc., were born, but maybe he'll bring back the Snow theme?

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

7 hours ago, Edmilson said:

I wonder which themes he'll reprise. Not many of them, I think, since the plot of this movie will be decades before Katniss, Rue, Peeta, etc., were born, but maybe he'll bring back the Snow theme?

 

He might but in a different variation since it's about a young Snow. So he could use it faster of with instrument in the higher regiment

[Knight of Ren 789]

 

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 919]

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 789]

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 37,369]

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

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

It's a one-off

[Jay 37,369]

Thanks!

[Mr. Who 919]

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 2,966]

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 7,466]

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 3,694]

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 919]

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 7,466]

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 257]

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 2,136]

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 919]

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 2,136]

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 1,363]

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

[Edmilson 7,466]

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 919]

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 9,539]

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 4,370]

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.

[Edmilson 7,466]

 

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

[LSH 969]

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 1,038]

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

[LSH 969]

9 minutes ago, DangerMotif said:

Rue’s farewell

 

Yes, gorgeous cue. The only one I'm familiar with.

[Edmilson 7,466]

4 hours 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?

Well, the thing about the Hunger Games scores is that they, perhaps by design, are a lot less enjoyable and "crowdpleasing" in a traditional way than his many Disney/fantasy scores. The action music is less "fun" and more aggressive, harsh and modern - it's more Blood Diamond and Salt than Maleficent, for example. 

 

There are some emotional material and even a love theme for Katniss and Peeta but it's less melodic and more sad, filled with tragedy and regret. 

 

These, however, are my favorite part of the music for the franchise, like the famous Rue's Farewell:

 

 

Then, in Catching Fire, the cue below starts with Rue's Farewell but then it suddenly changes, first with some suspense strings and synth and then with a tragic string-led melody that is simply great - 3:26 to the end of the cue below is my favorite musical part of the saga:

 

 

This cue introduces what some fans called the "Mockingjay theme". It's always special when it appears, like here (after some rather strident and aggressive action music):

 

 

And here:

 

 

Here's the folksy Katniss+Peeta love theme:

 

 

And since the sequels had a bigger budget, JNH was able to make more traditionally orchestral (but still retaining the guitar) versions of the theme, like here:

 

 

And my favorite one (and one of my top 20 JNH cues, mostly because the coda to the love theme is so damn touching):

 

 

More emotional strings from JNH:

 

 

And I almost forgot this great, big and melodramatic theme here:

 

 

Back in 2015 I had a full catalogue of Hunger Games themes and motifs - the series is packed with them. Since then, I admit I haven't revisited these scores much, but they still hold a special place with me. There's so much cool stuff in the four scores, these highlights are just the ones I remember from my head 

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

The end credits suite from the final film is also really great!

 

Goes through a few of his themes

[Knight of Ren 789]

I would say the score for Mockingjay Pt. 2 serves as a good summary of the best the saga has to offer, since it reprises many of the different themes and motifs, and the big action set-pieces are all derived from action material from previous scores.

 

And I would say one of my favorite cues of the saga, and from Howard as a composer is Air Raid Drill, which offers a fantastic emotional action cue (and very similar to Rebels Attack from Mockingjay Pt. 2)

 

 

[Edmilson 7,466]

Yeah, this is what JNH excelled in his Hunger Games scores, especially the latter two: emotional and dramatic action music, highlighting how dreary and tragic all that war is instead of "woah, look how cool those special effects are!".

 

This is something I hope he will return in the prequel.

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

This looks pretty decent.

Mostly watching this for Viola Davis & Howard's score

 

 

[Jay 37,369]

According to an FSM poster, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is getting a physical 2-CD OST album from Sony Classical in the EU

 

2xCD - Sony Classical EU - November 17, 2023

EAN: 196588617621

 

https://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=148258&forumID=1&archive=0

[Drawgoon 100]

So, songs and score will be placed on the same album, as opposed to separate offerings they did for the previous installments?

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

It doesn't seem the case. Someone else found this Polish website.

It very clearly says "Original Motion Picture Score".

 

EDIT: Although, the main character of the show is a singer. So there might be some songs on there.

 

https://www.swiatksiazki.pl/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-igrzyska-smierci-ballada-ptakow-i-wezy-original-motion-picture-score-2-cd-7065758-muzyka.html

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

Some stuff about the music in this!

 

 

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

https://www.horizonsmusic.co.uk/products/james-newton-howard-the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-original-motion-picture-score-cd

 

Tracklist available!

1. The Dark Days
2. Anthem: Gem Of Panem (Instrumental)
3. Coryo In The Capitol
4. Assigning The Mentors
5. Meet The Mentor
6. Gamemaker
7. Sejanus
8. Hunger Is A Weapon
9. Strategy
10. Department Of War
11. The Arena
12. Saving Snow
13. Ideas Firing
14. Happy Hunger Games
15. Mercy
16. Seize The Opportunity
17. Cut The Feed
18. Open The Gate
19. Powerful
20. Afraid Of Water
21. Drone Attack
22. Inside The Duct
23. Under The Flag
24. Planting The Cloth
25. Rainbow Of Destruction
26. Get Her Out
27. The Sound Of Snow
28. Your Life Has Just Begun
29. You Are Safe
30. Trust Is Everything
31. I Can’t Stay Here
32. Cabin In The Rain
33. Lucy?
34. The Woods
35. Change Of Plan
36. Passed The Tests
37. Snow Lands On Top
38. I. Friendship* – Performed By Yuja Wang
39. II. Rue’s Farewell* – Performed By Yuja Wang
40. III. Victor* – Performed By Yuja Wang
*Solo Piano Suites

 

[MaxMovieMan 273]

Can’t wait for this. Hopefully he brings back a lot of the themes from the original series. The last theme in "The Tour" from Catching Fire I especially want to see back. 

[DangerMotif 1,038]

Sony Masterworks will release the official score album for the prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The album features the film’s original score composed by Academy Award nominee James Newton Howard (King Kong, The Sixth Sense, Signs, Maleficent, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Fugitive) who previously scored all four original The Hunger Games movies. Also included are three newly reimagined piano suites based on Howard’s past themes from the franchise performed by featured soloist Yuja Wang who also performs the piano on the new score. The soundtrack is set to be released digitally and as a 2-CD set on November 17. Check back on this page for the purchase links. Geffen Records has previously released lead actress Rachel Zegler’s rendition of The Hanging Tree as a digital single last week and full separate album featuring the Dave Cobb-produced songs from the film is expected to be announced soon. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is directed by Francis Lawrence and also stars Tom Blyth, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera and Jason Schwartzman. The movie is based on Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel and follows a young Coriolanus who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family, and is reluctantly assigned to mentor a tribute from the impoverished District 12. The dystopian action adventure will be released in theaters nationwide on November 17 by Lionsgate.

 

1. The Dark Days
2. Anthem: Gem of Panem (Instrumental)
3. Coryo in the Capitol
4. Assigning the Mentors
5. Meet the Mentor
6. Gamemaker
7. Sejanus
8. Hunger Is a Weapon
9. Strategy
10. Department of War
11. The Arena
12. Saving Snow
13. Ideas Firing
14. Happy Hunger Games
15. Mercy
16. Seize the Opportunity
17. Cut the Feed
18. Open the Gate
19. Powerful
20. Afraid of Water
21. Drone Attack
22. Inside the Duct
23. Under the Flag
24. Planting the Cloth
25. Rainbow of Destruction
26. Get Her Out
27. The Sound of Snow
28. Your Life Has Just Begun
29. You Are Safe
30. Trust Is Everything
31. I Can’t Stay Here
32. Cabin in the Rain
33. Lucy?
34. The Woods
35. Change of Plan
36. Passed the Tests
37. Snow Lands On Top
38. I. Friendship (Solo Piano Suite) – Performed By Yuja Wang
39. II. Rue’s Farewell (Solo Piano Suite) – Performed By Yuja Wang
40. III. Victor (Solo Piano Suite) – Performed By Yuja Wang

 

 

https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/10/23/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-score-album-details/

[LSH 969]

21 hours ago, MaxMovieMan said:

Can’t wait for this. Hopefully he brings back a lot of the themes from the original series. The last theme in "The Tour" from Catching Fire I especially want to see back. 

Of course a few references, sure, but I’d like to hear something overall new here, especially given that it is set in a much earlier era.

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

In the CD info above it says some small things about the sound of the score:

 

"Utilizing Baroque instruments like the viola de gamba and cello d’amore, Howard was able to evoke a more rural, folk feel to the score. Both a nod to the prequel’s earlier time period and also a stylistic extension of the original songs performed throughout by lead Rachel Zegler."

 

I'm hoping we get themes for the following characters:

Snow (maybe a reworking of his theme heard in the first 4)

Rachel Zegler's character

Viola Davis' villain

 

Maybe some themes or action motifs for the Hunger Games themselves + some typical Howard beauty of course!

[leeallen01 2,136]

40 pieces! Wow. Long. Unless they're all 30 seconds. 

 

I'm hoping it's a more smaller score in sound, as the description suggests. Of course we'll get massive dramatic moments, but hopefully the core of the score is HG 1 style where JNH was nicely minimal and it felt really personal.

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

Based on the length of the last Fantastic Beasts album, this will be around 100 and 120 minutes.

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

 

[PrayodiBA 517]

Sneak peek of JNH’s action music in this.

Sounds good. I just love JNH’s action writing

 

And It sounds similar to ‘Sewer Attack’, and that’s a great thing!

I hope we can get a long action cue like that one (but without the horrible dry mix please)

[Richard Penna 3,694]

I do like the swirly strings in that - nicely conveys a sense of panic. I'm not too hot on JNH when he goes really modern with action, or just does lots of brass/percussion stabs.

 

Am I alone in finding the wide-angled, handheld camera very effective, or am I just tolerating a modern filmmaking trend?  

[Cristian Lee 35]

James Newton Howard talking about The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

 

 

[ddddeeee 257]

I'm glad it sounds like it's different to the others. The thematic material is those scores is too muddy. I'm excited for this.

[Cristian Lee 35]

I'm also excited for this especially that it will be more orchestral than electronic. Great autumn for JNH fans with Night After Night, All the Light and soon a new Hunger Games score.