Score Sample - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Time to kick off my first blog of the year. I figured I'd start with a post on the newest film score in my collection, Howard Shore's wonderful music to The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. True to form Shore has crafted another fine score filled with various themes, some old and some new. What I really enjoy about this score over the previous one, is the large variance of tones and textures. Nearly every new location in the film is reflected in the music, sounding different enough but still holding the musical identity of Middle Earth that Shore created back in 1999 when the Lord of the Rings films were first entering production. 

While my favorite theme in this score has to be the music for the dragon Smaug, I have to say that one of the best tracks is the final one, used during the end credits. The track is called Beyond the Forest and it includes two new themes for the elves of Mirkwood. One is specific to the new elf character Tauriel. These new elven themes fit perfectly with the elf themes created for Rivendell and Lothlorien in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Score Sample - Ed Wood

When you think of director Tim Burton, then you can depend on a musical score by Danny Elfman. But in 1994 Burton and Elfman took a bit of a hiatus from each other (the reason for this is still a mystery). So when Burton was working on his film Ed Wood he turned to Howard Shore who is best known these days for his work on Lord of the Rings, but at that time Shore was the regular collaborator with David Cronenberg, so he seemed like a strange pick. Well there was no reason to fear, Shore nailed the score to the film providing some wonderful takes on the classic 1950s movie sound. Check out album version of the main theme with extra Theremin and bongos!

Soundtrack Sample - Hugo - Howard Shore

Here is one of the tracks from Howard Shore's score for "Hugo". A wonderful mix of fantasy and Parisian styling.  Enjoy!