James Newton Howard - THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES

[PrayodiBA 517]

A track from the new Hunger Games score has been released:

 

Now that’s the JNH that I love.

It’s not just emotional writing, but there is a hint of ‘fantasy/mystery’ quality in it. That two combination is what I think to be the JNH’s staple that we all fond of.

 

Now I can’t wait for the score!

 

——

Anyway, there is also an expanded version of last week’s action clip with more JNH action music:

 

The action music sounds more organic than the previous entry. It sounds like King Kong. Can’t wait again

[Yavar Moradi 2,599]

On 5/11/2023 at 3:26 AM, Cristian Lee said:

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. 

I think he may be shaping up to be composer of the year…

 

Yavar

[Richard Penna 3,694]

That cue does indeed sound rather promising. Definitely goes with my belief that when he and similar composers write modern, boring action music, it's because they've been instructed to.

[Jay 37,369]

A song album is also coming out separately from the JNH score album

 

 

1. Can’t Catch Me Now – Olivia Rodrigo
2. The Hanging Tree – Rachel Zegler
3. Wool – Flatland Cavalry
4. Nothing You Can Take From Me – Rachel Zegler
5. The Garden – Sierra Ferrell
6. The Ballad of Lucy Gray Baird – Rachel Zegler
7. Bury Me Beneath the Willow – Molly Tuttle
8. The Old Therebefore / Singing at Snakes – Rachel Zegler & James Newton Howard
9. Burn Me Once – Bella White
10. District 12 Stomp – The Covey Band
11. Nothing You Can Take From Me (Boot-Stompin’ Version) – Rachel Zegler & The Covey Band
12. Cabin Song – Billy Strings
13. Lucy Gray (part 1) – Rachel Zegler
14. Pure As the Driven Snow – Rachel Zegler & The Covey Band
15. Winter’s Come and Gone – Charles Wesley Godwin
16. Keep On the Sunny Side – Josie Hope Hall & The Covey Band
17. Lucy Gray (part 2) – Rachel Zegler

[Yavar Moradi 2,599]

Well, considering the title a song album seems appropriate...

Yavar

[thestat 348]

Yeah JHN is definitely kicking it up this year. Never been much of a fan of the Hunger Games scores - they came at that deep dark RCP time for JNH but maybe I need to recheck. Do tell me what I should listen to outside of Rue's Farewell. I did not hear much of value in the films outside of the action music for the sewer scene

[Faleel 5,353]

42 minutes ago, thestat said:

Yeah JHN is definitely kicking it up this year. Never been much of a fan of the Hunger Games scores - they came at that deep dark RCP time for JNH but maybe I need to recheck. Do tell me what I should listen to outside of Rue's Farewell. I did not hear much of value in the films outside of the action music for the sewer scene

The Tour from Catching Fire

 

@Edmilson

[Mr. Who 919]

Air Raid Drill remains one of my favourite action cues from the series! The way he uses the emotional theme in the action is brilliant! President Snow’s theme is also great, really hope that it gets used in the new score!

[Edmilson 7,466]

43 minutes ago, Presto said:

The Tour from Catching Fire

 

@Edmilson

Yep, that's my favorite cue from the entire franchise (so far).

 

A while ago I posted some highlights of the four scores, I hope it helps more people appreciating them:

 

 

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

9 hours ago, thestat said:

 Do tell me what I should listen to outside of Rue's Farewell. I did not hear much of value in the films outside of the action music for the sewer scene

 

I would suggest the following tracks for each score so have explore the scores a bit.

This are most of my personal favorite cues, so others might disagree.

 

The Hunger Games

 

The Train

Rue's Farewell

Searching For Peeta

Tenuous Winner / Returning Home

 

Catching Fire

Just Friends

The Tour

Katniss Is Chosen

Bow And Arrow

We're A Team

Let's Start

Treetops

The Fog

I Need You

Arena Crumbles

 

Mockingjay, Pt. 1

The Mockingjay

Incoming Bombers

The Hanging Tree

Air Raid Drill

District 8 Hospital

Put Me On The Air

Victory

 

Mockingjay, Pt. 2

Send Me To District 2

Your Favorite Color Is Green

Sewer Attack

Rebels Attack

Snow's Execution

Primrose

There Are Worse Games To Play / The Hunger Games Suite

 

[Richard Penna 3,694]

17 hours ago, PrayodiBA said:

Now that’s the JNH that I love.

It’s not just emotional writing, but there is a hint of ‘fantasy/mystery’ quality in it. That two combination is what I think to be the JNH’s staple that we all fond of.

 

Now I can’t wait for the score!

 

Really does sound nice - a bit of Unbreakable, The Huntsman in there and a cameo of 'The Tour' as well. Roll on the full album!

[leeallen01 2,136]

17 hours ago, PrayodiBA said:

A track from the new Hunger Games score has been released:

 

 

 

 

 

Some returning themes! Lovely to hear. 

 

5:05 - 

 

 

 

Like you say, emotional mystery is such a good description of JNH, specifically his string writing. It always has feeling behind it, but sounds otherworldly.

[crocodile 8,017]

The first track sounds very promising.

 

Karol

[Edmilson 7,466]

On 07/11/2023 at 1:30 PM, PrayodiBA said:

A track from the new Hunger Games score has been released:

 

 

Seems like an arrangement with children choir of this:

 

 

I hope this isn't another Secrets of Dumbledore, where he repeated themes, motifs and cues of the first two scores so much that I found a bit annoying.

[Yavar Moradi 2,599]

@JNHFan2000 I like your list of recommended cues. While normally a complete scores kind of guy (and all of these do work well in film context), this is a rare case where I think a highlights approach put these scores in a better light on album. I also note that you suggest the fewest cues from the original Hunger Games, and the most cues from Catching Fire (my favorite film and score in the franchise) -- this fits my preferences exactly.

 

Yavar

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

15 minutes ago, Yavar Moradi said:

@JNHFan2000 I like your list of recommended cues. While normally a complete scores kind of guy (and all of these do work well in film context), this is a rare case where I think a highlights approach put these scores in a better light on album. I also note that you suggest the fewest cues from the original Hunger Games, and the most cues from Catching Fire (my favorite film and score in the franchise) -- this fits my preferences exactly.

 

Yavar

Same here. Cataching Fire is the best score throughout in my opinion.

 

The last score has some amazing highlights though

[Mr. Who 919]

1 hour ago, JNHFan2000 said:

Same here. Cataching Fire is the best score throughout in my opinion.

 

The last score has some amazing highlights though

Case someone who likes the first score a lot, I think the following 3 scores are definitively better. Catching Fire really introduces so much of the sound and thematic material that is used in the next 2 scores, while retaining the DNA of the first score. My favourite is Mockingjay Part 1 but it’s closely followed by CF and MJ2.

 

My only gripe with the last score is that there was only one appearance of the Hanging Tree theme. I still think that the Hanging Tree part in the third film is the best sequence in the entire film series, where JNH’s music really takes centre stage. Especially when the choir and the orchestra comes in.

[Edmilson 7,466]

10 hours ago, JNHFan2000 said:

Mockingjay, Pt. 1

The Mockingjay

Incoming Bombers

The Hanging Tree

Air Raid Drill

District 8 Hospital

Put Me On The Air

Victory

 

That's a nice playlist, but I'd include They're Back. It's one of the best emotional cues in the entire franchise. Also, I'm quite fond of Katniss' Nightmare, which has my favorite arrangement of the Katniss/Peeta love theme.

[Yavar Moradi 2,599]

48 minutes ago, Mr. Who said:

Case someone who likes the first score a lot, I think the following 3 scores are definitively better. Catching Fire really introduces so much of the sound and thematic material that is used in the next 2 scores, while retaining the DNA of the first score. My favourite is Mockingjay Part 1 but it’s closely followed by CF and MJ2.

 

My only gripe with the last score is that there was only one appearance of the Hanging Tree theme. I still think that the Hanging Tree part in the third film is the best sequence in the entire film series, where JNH’s music really takes centre stage. Especially when the choir and the orchestra comes in.

 

But JNH didn't write The Hanging Tree, right? Only provided some orchestral arrangement for it... similar to what Howard Shore did with the Misty Mountains song in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. In both cases I imagine if those had been songs written by the score's composer, they would have been better incorporated in the subsequent score(s). I agree it's a shame that they were kinda forgotten about because in both cases they were musical highlights of their respective films.

 

Yavar

[Jay 37,369]

13 hours ago, JNHFan2000 said:

I would suggest the following tracks for each score so have explore the scores a bit.

 

 

Thanks for this!  I put it into a playlist on Spotify and plan to check it out soon

 

 

[Faleel 5,353]

2 hours ago, Yavar Moradi said:

 

Howard Shore did with the Misty Mountains song in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.  I imagine if those had been songs written by the score's composer, they would have been better incorporated in the subsequent score(s).

I think that's more a case of, already having themes set for things, and that theme not really being necessary if that makes sense.

[MaxMovieMan 273]

12 hours ago, Edmilson said:

Seems like an arrangement with children choir of this:

 

 

I hope this isn't another Secrets of Dumbledore, where he repeated themes, motifs and cues of the first two scores so much that I found a bit annoying.

Yes I think you’re right. Would be cool if he takes some one-off motifs from the trilogy and makes them into full on themes. I personally love when composers do this.

 

Also in the “Mercy” track that was just released at 2:03 you can hear the final theme from “The Tour.” That gave me a rush of nostalgia as personally for me it’s one of my favorite themes and brings back memories of seeing “Catching Fire” in theaters back in 2013. The whole “Hunger Games” series is nostalgic for me at this point so I am very excited for this movie and score.

[Cristian Lee 35]

The album is 87:06 min.

 

1.    The Dark Days    1:55
2.    Anthem: Gem of Panem    0:43
3.    Coryo in the Capitol    0:44
4.    Assigning the Mentors    2:38
5.    Meet the Mentor    2:01
6.    Gamemaker    1:20
7.    Sejanus    1:58
8.    Hunger Is a Weapon    2:43
9.    Strategy    2:06
10.    Department of War    3:39
11.    The Arena    2:06
12.    Saving Snow    1:23
13.    Ideas Firing    4:23
14.    Happy Hunger Games    3:29
15.    Mercy    2:21
16.    Seize the Opportunity    1:18
17.    Cut the Feed    1:27
18.    Open the Gate    3:46
19.    Powerful    1:44
20.    Afraid of Water    1:18
21.    Drone Attack    3:20
22.    Inside the Duct    1:03
23.    Under the Flag    2:55
24.    Planting the Cloth    3:37
25.    Rainbow of Destruction    1:13
26.    Get Her Out    3:44
27.    The Sound of Snow    1:59
28.    Your Life Has Just Begun    1:03
29.    You Are Safe    1:46
30.    Trust Is Everything    1:20
31.    I Can't Stay Here    1:42
32.    Cabin in the Rain    1:31
33.    Lucy?    2:26
34.    The Woods    1:09
35.    Change of Plan    2:03
36.    Passed the Tests    3:36
37.    Snow Lands on Top    3:29
38.    I. Friendship (Yuja Wang)    2:05
39.    II. Rue's Farewell (Yuja Wang)    2:03
40.    III. Victor (Yuja Wang)    2:00

[DangerMotif 1,038]

1 hour ago, Cristian Lee said:

The album is 87:06 min.

 

1.    The Dark Days    1:55
2.    Anthem: Gem of Panem    0:43
3.    Coryo in the Capitol    0:44
4.    Assigning the Mentors    2:38
5.    Meet the Mentor    2:01
6.    Gamemaker    1:20
7.    Sejanus    1:58
8.    Hunger Is a Weapon    2:43
9.    Strategy    2:06
10.    Department of War    3:39
11.    The Arena    2:06
12.    Saving Snow    1:23
13.    Ideas Firing    4:23
14.    Happy Hunger Games    3:29
15.    Mercy    2:21
16.    Seize the Opportunity    1:18
17.    Cut the Feed    1:27
18.    Open the Gate    3:46
19.    Powerful    1:44
20.    Afraid of Water    1:18
21.    Drone Attack    3:20
22.    Inside the Duct    1:03
23.    Under the Flag    2:55
24.    Planting the Cloth    3:37
25.    Rainbow of Destruction    1:13
26.    Get Her Out    3:44
27.    The Sound of Snow    1:59
28.    Your Life Has Just Begun    1:03
29.    You Are Safe    1:46
30.    Trust Is Everything    1:20
31.    I Can't Stay Here    1:42
32.    Cabin in the Rain    1:31
33.    Lucy?    2:26
34.    The Woods    1:09
35.    Change of Plan    2:03
36.    Passed the Tests    3:36
37.    Snow Lands on Top    3:29
38.    I. Friendship (Yuja Wang)    2:05
39.    II. Rue's Farewell (Yuja Wang)    2:03
40.    III. Victor (Yuja Wang)    2:00

How did you get this?

[Jay 37,369]

https://www.soundtrack.net/album/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-score/

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

etc

[Cristian Lee 35]

23 minutes ago, DangerMotif said:

How did you get this?

https://www.soundtrack.net/album/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-score/

[Bounty95 558]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Czo5yaAO10K/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

Sounds promising... 

 

Quote

More classical

Quote

No electronics 

Quote

big action pieces 

 

[Jay 37,369]

Here's the same video on youtube for those who prefer that

 

 

[leeallen01 2,136]

Very excited. 

[Cristian Lee 35]

A director who ask for a more classical score with no electronics, in 2023, it's exciting and something to admire.

[Faleel 5,353]

22 minutes ago, Cristian Lee said:

A director who ask for a more classical score with no electronics, in 2023, it's exciting and something to admire.

Hot Take: neither of those things make a score good or bad.

[Richard Penna 3,694]

Not even sure what more classical really means in this context - less dissonance/tension?

 

Lack of electronics in the action music might make them more interesting, but not in other areas. Normal underscore can use synths very creatively.

[1977 1,743]

16 hours ago, Jay said:

Here's the same video on youtube for those who prefer that

 

 

Why does his forehead look like a Klingon's?

[Cristian Lee 35]

Samples here:

 

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9545748--the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-original-motion-picture-score

 

 

[Richard Penna 3,694]

Based on those samples I reckon I'm going to like this a lot more than Mockingjay and All The Light. Look forward to Friday!

[Thor 7,508]

On 09/11/2023 at 8:09 PM, Cristian Lee said:

https://www.soundtrack.net/album/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-score/

 

87 minutes....fuck me! Thank God I'm not really into this HUNGER GAMES thingie, and am content with the Silva compilation for all of the previous films.  That album is at a perfect 56 minutes, but I suppose I could tag on some 10-15 minutes from this without causing too much damage. How many films are there going to be, anyway?

[JNHFan2000 2,966]

In interviews the director & producer have said that this is just the one of prequel. And that they will only do more if Suzanne Collins (writer of the books) writes more books.

 

They are not (as of now) planning to do a Fantastic Beasts with Collins writing the scripts like Rowling did (which did not work out)

[Richard Penna 3,694]

48 minutes ago, Thor said:

87 minutes....fuck me!

 

Length and curation... neither are to be found here. Unfortunately for you, I think JNH has gone firmly down the path of releasing the bulk of the score for things lately.

 

Given that I rarely watch new cinematic releases, I tend to enjoy curation like you do and enjoy these things more as concept albums. I'm not gonna complain about more music being available though.

 

The first album is a nice concise 45 mins... the second I can just about swallow. By Mockingbird, he's lost me (partly because I didn't like the last film).

[Edmilson 7,466]

3 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

Unfortunately for you, I think JNH has gone firmly down the path of releasing the bulk of the score for things lately.

[Thor 7,508]

40 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

 

Length and curation... neither are to be found here. Unfortunately for you, I think JNH has gone firmly down the path of releasing the bulk of the score for things lately.

Indeed. Very sad.

[ddddeeee 257]

[Mr. Who 919]

Everyone is of course entitled to their opinion but man, if someone told me 5 years ago that people would complain that not enough of new scores are unreleased, I wouldn’t have believed it.

Longer albums is the best new trend in film music in my opinion and rather than think the new JNH ost is too long, I was disappointed that it wasn’t longer, given the number of tracks! 😄

 

Whenever I listen to a “curated” ost it always feels a bit inconsequential. When listening to scores I want to be engrossed in the musical journey of the full score and highlights style albums just don’t cut it. But of course, to each his own.

 

In a perfect world new scores would get a short album and a truly complete album (with alts suites etc).

[Jay 37,369]

13 minutes ago, Mr. Who said:

In a perfect world new scores would get a short album and a truly complete album (with alts suites etc).

 

Yes, I have always thought so.

[Richard Penna 3,694]

More composers should try the Isham model - releasing two editions of some of his smaller scores (probably the ones less affected by fees and legal faff): one curated, one complete. All digital of course.

 

And I too am surprised occasionally at complaints about albums being too long after decades of Varese-style hour-long CDs that left massive holes. You either want more music from the film available or you don't...

[Cristian Lee 35]

The whole score is on youtube:

 

 

 

[Thor 7,508]

I wouldn't even need two albums, if we're talking digital files. I could survive well by having a note or some form of suggested curation by the producer/composer, and then just organize my cues according to that note and delete the rest (rather than attempt some lameass playlisting myself, which also eats up unnecessary time). Maybe I'll suggest that to JNH somehow.

 

For physical, it's a different story. Then I'd like to just put on the CD, press play and have a nice, consise experience of some 30-50 minutes, like most other pop albums. I'm not interested in programming my CD player every time I put something on. So THEN we would need two separate albums.

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

9 minutes ago, Thor said:

For physical, it's a different story. Then I'd like to just put on the CD, press play and have a nice, consise experience of some 30-50 minutes, like most other pop albums. I'm not interested in programming my CD player every time I put something on. So THEN we would need two separate albums.

 

Most CD players have memory, you know.

[Thor 7,508]

8 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

Most CD players have memory, you know.

 

I know, but as I said -- programming the CD is completely out of the question.

 

I have this HUNGER GAMES thingie now, in file format. Gonna give it a sampling and see if it's worth owning and whittling....

[Knight of Ren 789]

I also agree that I prefer to have longer albums, even if it doesn't always make for the most entertaining listening experience. That way, you can then pick your favorite cues and arrange them into a shorter presentation or just listen to the full thing. I think that's a better way of releasing a score than having a 40-50 minute album that leaves out a great cue that you have to wait many years to hear properly outside the movie.

 

About this score, I feel that if you like JNH's scores for the saga you will enjoy this one, as it's basically an expansion on that sound, and on many of those themes and motifs, most of them returning on one way or another, even if it doesn't always make a lot of sense. I feel the album is missing some big action sequence, but I haven't watched the movie, so perhaps most of the action stuff is just left unscored. My other small complain is that I didn't catch any interesting new idea for the new characters. It's a bit of a disappointment in that aspect, but I'm sure that's just because it's only a first listen, and watching the movie and listening to the score a couple more times will help me appreciate it a lot more.

[Thor 7,508]

I've had a quick listen-through (skipping in some tracks, I admit), and didn't find much to latch on to other than the references to the themes from the previous films, which I already have covered by the Silva compilation. So as I'm no JNH completist, I can breathe a sigh of relief. No need to have it, no need to whittle it.