Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard - GLADIATOR - 25th Anniversary 3-CD Expanded Edition from La-La Land Records

[Richard P 4,752]

Not living in the States is having a major downside right now. Agh.

 

Someone at FSM posted that they'd received it but hadn't had time to listen yet... priorities, people!  Especially when us international people have at least a week before we get ours.

[Luke Skywalker 2,180]

53 minutes ago, Richard P said:

Not living in the States is having a major downside right now. Agh.

 

Someone at FSM posted that they'd received it but hadn't had time to listen yet... priorities, people!  Especially when us international people have at least a week before we get ours.

That happens with williams releases everytime 😅

[WampaRat 1,769]

3 hours ago, Richard P said:

Not living in the States is having a major downside right now. Agh.

As someone who lives in the states...there's uh...quite a few downsides here too, currently 😅. BUT I digress..

Got my notice that it's awaiting shipment. Very excited for this release! 

 

 

[StRuPiE 19]

On 13/04/2025 at 8:17 AM, Stéphane Humez said:

One thing I wanted to explain, don't bother too much about the label "film version" on some tracks. You might think "why is there a film version and no other version ?", but it's just a technicality to differentiate the tracks with the previously released ones (meaning they are not exactly the same, either longer unedited, or not crossfaded etc.). It doesn't mean they are alternates.

 

Like for instance Patricide was crossfaded in 2000 (they even made a tiny bridge of the string section that last a few seconds longer) while it's not the case here...

Ahhh yes, "film versions". There should be a speciality label that only focuses on these "edited/mixed" tracks, don't know if it's possible license-wise but I'm sure there's a market for that. I always wondered how that's accomplished by the speciality label btw (I know Mike M. likes mixing "film versions" of cues). I mean these "alternate" film created edits or mixed cues used in the movie, how are they accessed? Do these tracks actually exist on their own (like stored as a "film version" cue on tape or digital) or are they just created in the edit and mixed in the final cut or does one have access to the actual workflow/edit (like the protools assembly)? I sure think it's the second option as many things (including the music) gets changed last minute in post and are not for "commercial" release. I know for a fact that re-creating "film versions" is a very difficult and meticulous job that's very time consuming and I almost always prefer these tracks opposed to their "original or un-edited" tracks as released commercially. But that's a personal thing.

[Jurassic Shark 14,945]

8 minutes ago, StRuPiE said:

how are they accessed

 

In the multiverse of film versions. 

 

8 minutes ago, StRuPiE said:

I always prefer these tracks opposed to their "alternate or un-edited" tracks as released commercially. But that's a personal thing.

 

You prefer all the crude film edits in the SW sequel trilogy?

[Stéphane Humez 520]

1 hour ago, StRuPiE said:

Ahhh yes, "film versions". There should be a speciality label that only focuses on these "edited/mixed" tracks, don't know if it's possible license-wise but I'm sure there's a market for that. I always wondered how that's accomplished by the speciality label btw (I know Mike M. likes mixing "film versions" of cues). I mean these "alternate" film created edits or mixed cues used in the movie, how are they accessed? Do these tracks actually exist on their own (like stored as a "film version" cue on tape or digital) or are they just created in the edit and mixed in the final cut or does one have access to the actual workflow/edit (like the protools assembly)? I sure think it's the second option as many things (including the music) gets changed last minute in post and are not for "commercial" release. I know for a fact that re-creating "film versions" is a very difficult and meticulous job that's very time consuming and I almost always prefer these tracks opposed to their "original or un-edited" tracks as released commercially. But that's a personal thing.

 

The whole "Score as written" vs "Final dubmix of the score" is fascinating indeed. I'll dive more into that subject once a score I'm working on will be released (probably in a few months) because it's a great example.


But in the case of Gladiator, if you read me, "film version" does NOT mean it's the film dubmix. It's all as written beside one track (which was a real last min edit) : Opening - Fields.

[StRuPiE 19]

49 minutes ago, Stéphane Humez said:

 

The whole "Score as written" vs "Final dubmix of the score" is fascinating indeed. I'll dive more into that subject once a score I'm working on will be released (probably in a few months) because it's a great example.


But in the case of Gladiator, if you read me, "film version" does NOT mean it's the film dubmix. It's all as written beside one track (which a real last min edit) : Opening - Fields.

 

Thanks and great to have your insights in this.

 

What do you prefer yourself? In the case of Zimmer scores as written or edited in the final dubmix, I must say I always prefer the latter. For example, how Lee Scott edited the music for "The Thin Red Line" is just magical/epic. How he blended F.Lupica's "Cosmic Beam" with Hans' score is just pure genius (although Hans wasn't a great fan of that)... it just worked for the movie and that's how T.Malick intended it to be. Same goes for the classical pieces in this movie... take for example the opening of the film, a perfect mix between the "Cosmic Beam", Arvo Pärt's Annum per Annum and Hans' score.

[Stéphane Humez 520]

On 17/04/2025 at 11:32 AM, StRuPiE said:

 

Thanks and great to have your insights in this.

 

What do you prefer yourself? In the case of Zimmer scores as written or edited in the final dubmix, I must say I always prefer the latter. For example, how Lee Scott edited the music for "The Thin Red Line" is just magical/epic. How he blended F.Lupica's "Cosmic Beam" with Hans' score is just pure genius (although Hans wasn't a great fan of that)... it just worked for the movie and that's how T.Malick intended it to be. Same goes for the classical pieces in this movie... take for example the opening of the film, a perfect mix between the "Cosmic Beam", Arvo Pärt's Annum per Annum and Hans' score.

I prefer the score as written, but really it depends, cue by cue, what does it change ? What did the music editor and/or music mixer intend to do ? Is it interesting enough or did they mute 1 instrument ? Above all, is it even available ? Some studios can provide, some can't. Sometimes they have the score in 5.1 or 6.1 isolated from the rest of dialogues & effects, but sometimes everything's mixed like you'd find on a bluray.

Sometimes you'd love to have a film version with a 10 seconds insert that was done at the very last minute, but you just can't get it...

[Trope 1,185]

1 hour ago, Stéphane Humez said:

 

I'll dive more into that subject once a score I'm working on will be released (probably in a few months) because it's a great example.

AAAHHH my wallet will not survive the year with all these new epic projects!

[Richard P 4,752]

Hah, I can relax a tad because I'm out of Zimmers from pre-2005 

 

Although I do like the final couple of Thelma & Louise tracks and I've never owned it in physical form. Maybe if the rest of the score turns out to have some interesting parts I could be tempted...

[Trope 1,185]

3 minutes ago, Richard P said:

Although I do like the final couple of Thelma & Louise tracks and I've never owned it in physical form. Maybe if the rest of the score turns out to have some interesting parts I could be tempted...

You can have my NoteForNote version if you like! I bought it a few months back for not too much, but I can't say it's really grown on me very much... If you don't want it, I suppose I should put it up for sale online before LLL make any announcements! 

[Richard P 4,752]

38 minutes ago, Stéphane Humez said:

I prefer the score as written, but really it depends, cue by cue, what does it change ? What did the music editor and/or music mixer intended to do ? Is it interesting enough or did they mute 1 instrument ? Above all, is it even available ? Some studios can provide, some can't. Sometimes they have the score in 5.1 or 6.1 isolated from the rest of dialogues & effects, but sometimes everything's mixed like you'd find on a bluray.

Sometimes you'd love to have a film version with a 10 seconds insert that was done at the very last minute, but you just can't get it...

 

It's nice to see a more proactive view on this - i.e. orienting it around how interesting the difference is, and whether the elements are available to even consider including something.

 

The FSM thread on this subject had a fairly sharp divide between those who sometimes appreciate film edits (when well executed, and for a very good creative reason), and those who insisted that the composer's untouched vision was the only way one should listen to a cue - even if it meant abandoning a desire to hear something you've heard in a film for decades.

 

I find myself wanting the intended music 95% of the time. It's those 5% where something was done that significantly changes the character of a cue, where I think it's reasonable to interested in hearing such a construct. Thankfully I've never noticed anything significant in Gladiator - I can think of one tiny editorial moment somewhere near the end.

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,807]

1 hour ago, Stéphane Humez said:

 

The whole "Score as written" vs "Final dubmix of the score" is fascinating indeed. I'll dive more into that subject once a score I'm working on will be released (probably in a few months) because it's a great example.

 

Lukas Kendall has a Sony story about that.

[Stark 682]

Only a handful of editorial versions I would ever want and never never never in place of the as-written version.

[Richard P 4,752]

Editorial creations should always be in addition to, not in place of an as-written version. But they should also not be seen as inferior.

[HunterTech 1,502]

[Demondm810 434]

Been listening all afternoon-  Absolutely stunning release.  Sound quality is sublime.  Masterful job, everyone involved.  Very thankful. 

[Richard P 4,752]

I was listening again to the samples in Winamp and they sound punchier than the OST - some scores surprise you with how a remastering can make a difference. Especially given the recording of JP/// evidently didn't allow for much improvement.

 

Also, I'd clearly never paid attention to the opening of the film because the sample is different to the OST, and it just hit me that given the OST track is called Progeny, I guess the album producer put the almost identically sounding cue (albeit longer) from Commodus & Lucilla's scene before The Wheat. I always thought some track naming license had been taken (or the opening had been tracked in the film), but it looks like I've never heard the actual opening outside the film!

 

Now get the hell on with it, USPS! This wait is intolerable 

[Jurassic Shark 14,945]

I've been wondering - how large part of the Gladiator score is samples and how large part is real instruments?

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,807]

Is Oliver Reed's final line "shadows and dust" or "that is enough"? It always sounded like the latter to me.

[Alan 743]

13 minutes ago, Lady Dimitrescu said:

Is Oliver Reed's final line "shadows and dust" or "that is enough"? It always sounded like the latter to me.

 

It's "shadows and dust". Just a re-use or alternative take of the moment just after Maximus enters the Colosseum earlier in the film. 

[crocodile 9,168]

I know my arrived in the UK today hut there are no deliveries until Tuesday so next week it is.

 

Karol

[Alan 743]

Mine is still in an LA distribution centre. Welp!

[Richard P 4,752]

Actually, deliveries are normal tomorrow, and parcels/similar on Sunday (just looked it up).

 

Mine arrived at Heathrow this morning, so I'm absolutely praying to him upstairs that it gets here tomorrow. Really don't want to fritter away the entire weekend waiting for this....

[Jurassic Shark 14,945]

6 minutes ago, Richard P said:

Mine arrived at Heathrow this morning, so I'm absolutely praying to him upstairs that it gets here tomorrow.

 

You must have an influential landlord.

[Richard P 4,752]

My friend's phrases are rubbing off on me.... in this case referring to a divine being, rather than a purveyor of dwellings.

[crocodile 9,168]

10 minutes ago, Richard P said:

Actually, deliveries are normal tomorrow, and parcels/similar on Sunday (just looked it up).

 

Mine arrived at Heathrow this morning, so I'm absolutely praying to him upstairs that it gets here tomorrow. Really don't want to fritter away the entire weekend waiting for this....

Fingers crossed then (for both of us).

 

Karol

[Richard P 4,752]

My first thought upon seeing a 'late April' ship date was that it had better not land in the UK directly at Easter. Who needs chocolate anyway?

 

It takes hours to get from Heathrow to Gatwick (I'm near there) so there's no excuse.........right?

[Jfallon 48]

On 13/4/2025 at 1:17 PM, Tom Guernsey said:

Yes. When you put the cd in, you just select the tracks you want to combine and on the options on the top right of where the tracks are displayed you just select join tracks. Repeat for any other groups of tracks you want to combine. Rip disc. I only mostly use it for classical albums where long movements are split into separate tracks or it’s like a short symphony that plays without a break (like Sibelius’ 7th symphony). However I used it for a few older John Powell scores where he used to programme lots of short tracks to get round (I believe) reuse issues. It does combine all of the track names in the single track so you may want to edit that after it’s ripped. 
 

Thanks Tom it worked! So glad I can go back now and combine cues together. After Gladiator need to go back to World is Not Enough and combine those 2 pre title cues!

[bollemanneke 3,999]

'Rome.' My, goodness. And again a truly stunning sound mix.

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,807]

When you are in Rome

You do as the Romans dooooo

[Davis 3,949]

I would only want this as a gift. Too expensive to buy. 

[Luke Skywalker 2,180]

I always loved the music “a soldiers death” in this set, for the spanish flavour (totally anachronistic by the way). Nice to hear it without dialogue.

[Richard P 4,752]

When it's your grail, $40 is a bargain.

 

I echo others' thoughts on the sound - really spectacular; bold and enveloping. It's the sort of sonic upgrade that JP///'s recording evidently didn't permit.

 

I'll have further thoughts soon, but I'm thrilled by the initial impressions. So many great moments were edited out of the OST, and the third disc is a really interesting compendium - the single thing I will change is adding one of the source pieces by Synaulia.

 

Effectively, this is to me what Hook was to most here. (which I did buy as well, but for different reasons)

[WampaRat 1,769]

2 hours ago, Richard P said:

Effectively, this is to me what Hook was to most here.

I was thinking this as well. A landmark release for a landmark score!

For those who've already received it, I'm curious how the sound has improved. I assume it's not just "louder" but you can hear certain aspects of the score more clearly (specialty instruments/string lines/ percussion bits etc)?

[bollemanneke 3,999]

3 hours ago, Richard P said:

When it's your grail, $40 is a bargain.

 

I echo others' thoughts on the sound - really spectacular; bold and enveloping. It's the sort of sonic upgrade that JP///'s recording evidently didn't permit.

 

I'll have further thoughts soon, but I'm thrilled by the initial impressions. So many great moments were edited out of the OST, and the third disc is a really interesting compendium - the single thing I will change is adding one of the source pieces by Synaulia.

 

Effectively, this is to me what Hook was to most here. (which I did buy as well, but for different reasons)

Wouldn't it be great if Stéphane got his hands on the Lion King? And explained to Disney what music is supposed to sound like? That it has to BREATHE?

[Corellian2019 453]

Can anyone pinpoint where the cue at the start of this clip can be located on the new set? 

 

 

[Stéphane Humez 520]

3 hours ago, Corellian2019 said:

Can anyone pinpoint where the cue at the start of this clip can be located on the new set? 

 

 

 

It's an edit of "I'm Vexed".

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,807]

13 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

Wouldn't it be great if Stéphane got his hands on the Lion King? And explained to Disney what music is supposed to sound like? That it has to BREATHE?

 

What a letdown that set was.

[Jurassic Shark 14,945]

Isn't the OST sufficient in that case? @Thor?

[Thor 9,308]

55 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Isn't the OST sufficient in that case? @Thor?

 

Not quite. It's excellent, but only - what - 11 minutes of score amidst the Elton John songs. It could sustain about 20 minutes more. I have the Broadway version CD, though, if I want a little more LION KING in my life. (I have the unofficial NGW sequel score too, but only as files).

[Davis 3,949]

18 hours ago, Richard P said:

When it's your grail, $40 is a bargain.

 

[Jim Ware 586]

On 18/04/2025 at 11:30 AM, Jurassic Shark said:

I've been wondering - how large part of the Gladiator score is samples and how large part is real instruments?

 

The ensemble varies from cue to cue, but it was a big live orchestra with a hefty brass section (eight horns, six trombones, four trumpets, cimbasso occasionally), adulterated with synths and samples as you would expect. The mixing makes it sound more synthetic than it really is.

[badbu 167]

On 13/4/2025 at 8:54 AM, Stéphane Humez said:

 

It's specific to that case of Gladiator though. I mean I'm working on 2 scores at this moment and the "Film Version" listed are actually alternate film versions... 

please dark phoenix! The last grail from hans i need!!!

[Bilbo 3,998]

Just paid my customs charge so hopefully it will be out for delivery on Wednesday or Thursday. 

[Alan 743]

My copy arrived this morning! Can't wait to give it a listen (currently ripping).

 

I do wish that these sets that we pay a lot of money for wouldn't arrive looking second hand. The back of my case is really very scratched/scuffed. Clearly something that happens at manufacture since it was well packaged for shipping and wrapped but most of the CDs I get these days from LLL and Intrada etc look like this. A minor gripe though!

 

 

[Richard P 4,752]

So, three films got me into scores, back in 2000/2001.

 

All are now expanded  Took just four years for the first, 17 years for the second, and 24 for the last one!

 

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,807]

All it took for me was

 

[Trope 1,185]

4 minutes ago, Lady Dimitrescu said:

All it took for me was

 

Awesome contribution. Keep up the great posts!

[crocodile 9,168]

34 minutes ago, Richard P said:

So, three films got me into scores, back in 2000/2001.

 

All are now expanded  Took just four years for the first, 17 years for the second, and 24 for the last one!

 

For me:

 

 

Karol