Have you heard of the 2009 movie "The Red Canvas"? How about the composer of the score, James Peterson? I had not heard of either until today. The movie is a martial arts fight flick, but what is unexpected is the quality of the score. Frankly, I have not heard the full score. I have only heard the samples on the record label's (MovieScore Media) website, but what I hear briefly is an orchestral powerhouse and an amazingly talented composer to keep an ear on. I am particularly intrigued by the track titled "Ballet for Brawlers," which has garnered praise on various message boards. The score is available to download via Paypal through MovieScore Media's website for $9.99 or can be purchased in CD format at online retailers such as SAE for $17.95. Oh, I wish I could afford to buy all these scores.

DArtagnan - Michael Kamen

Fresh off his success for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Michael Kamen took on scoring duties for Walt Disney's adaptation of The Three Musketeers. In contrast to the latter score, which provides a fantastic opening theme, but lackluster score innards, Michael Kamen's Three Musketeers provides a stellar theme and more enjoyable listening experience across the entire album. Probably my favorite cue on album is "D'Artagnan," which is used to introduce an idealistic youth of the same name who sets out to join the famed Musketeers. On his way to Paris he manages to bring down the ire of several men in a family who think he has blemished their sister's honor. The cue begins as D'Artagnan quickly flees on horseback and features a rousing and playful fanfare, propulsive percussion, a nice baroque sentimentality (especially the trumpet work) appropriate to the time period, and a memorable theme.

View the music in context of the film on Youtube (starting at 1:14).
Hear the full score: imeem
Purchase: Amazon (starting at less than $1 used!)

Milan Records, a record label with a track record of releasing soundtracks, has issued a press release that it will be releasing in digital download format out of print soundtracks and soundtracks not previously available in the United States. Check out Amazon.com for Milan's current selection. Sadly, Milan does not distribute through one of my favorite digital outlets: eMusic.

Some might say I got it backwards when I purchased Klaus Badelt's film score to the 2002 movie "The Time Machine" and then after an awestruck listening experience I watched the movie. However, if I could go back in time, I would do the same thing except I would have bought the score sooner than a year after its release. The movie retells the story of H.G. Wells famous book of the same name, with a few new twists, turns, and plot devices thrown in for good measure.

As is the case with many movies over the years, The Time Machine's score elevated the movie beyond it's mediocrity. I don't know how Badelt did it, but the man was inspired! There is something for everyone on this score from Professor Alexander Hartdegen's noble theme for piano, strings, and choir (best represented in "Professor Alexander Hartdegen," "The Time Machine," "I Don't Belong Here," and "Godspeed"), to the romantic theme for Emma ("Emma"), to the intense action writing for the Morlocks ("Morlocks Attack"), and finally to the inspiring pop/choral theme for the Eloi ("Eloi," "Stone Language," and "Godspeed"). Each of these themes gets liberal treatment throughout the nearly 58 minute album. My favorite cue on the album is "I Don't Belong Here." The cue starts out subdued and then quickly launches into an inspiring brass fanfare with cymbal crescendos accompanied by triumphant strings. The piece highlights one of my favorite parts of the movie when Professor Hartdegen starts up the time machine, looking longingly at a picture of his deceased love, Emma, and goes forward in time for the first time. The music begins to air triumphant as the date dial starts to move forwards and his surroundings morph around him in quick succession as time accelerates. The cue ends as the professor deactivates the time machine while gazing awestruck at his futuristic surroundings. A clip of this sequence can viewed on Youtube. Klaus Badelt hit all the right notes with this score, and in fact, it is his best work to date and a classic film score worthy of any collection. My recommendation is to obviate the need for a time machine and pick this one up on CD with all deliberate haste at Amazon.com. Here's hoping the reported sequel will be scored by Badelt.

Rating: *****


I Dont Belong Here - Klaus Badelt

As the December 15 release date for James Horner's Avatar draws near anticipation is building with the release of trailers, music on the movie's website, discussion on message boards, and the release of a track from a new record label site promoting the score. Some nice fellow has set the brief track to some images from the movie on Youtube. The track begins with a drum beat gigue. The drum work is reminiscent of that done in Horner's previous work, Mighty Joe Young. In addition to the drum work, some exotic instruments can be heard. About 1'13" the Na'vi (name for an alien race featured in Avatar) choir starts belting it out with a trumpet anthem accompaniment. I am even more excited about the full score release having heard this short clip and I have already pre-ordered from Amazon.

UPDATES:
Reelzchannel.com recently posted an interview with James Horner discussing his work on Avatar where Horner reveals that in contrast to the industry standard four to six weeks, he worked on Avatar for over a year.

Today, while surfing around various message boards I came across a post mentioning Mike Verta. A quick visit over to Verta's website reveals a bunch of free music downloads with which to explore this score composer with whom I am not familiar. So far I have listened to one cue and that cue has made want to hear more. Check out the music for yourself at www.mikeverta.com.