Joel McNeely: Music Blog

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Requests

Thanks to Greta for adding the link to the picture of the Soldier Brass! I hadn't seen that before. Too bad we didn't get the whole group in there.

At the risk of spoiling you folks, I'm adding a few more Soldier cues. Only a portion of the score was done with the brass orchestra and sometimes cues from the full symphony and the brass were combined. But the one I'm adding, called (because I can't remember where it fit in the score) 'A Whole Lotta Brass', is a good example of this unique instrumentation. You can really hear the separate brass choirs in all of their antiphonal glory.

I'm also adding the requested Lincoln cues (which are sure to roil even the most jaded into a patriotic fervor, something not so easily done these days....) The 'America the Beautiful' arrangement was actually done by my long-time partner in the trenches, Dave Slonaker. Dave and I went to Eastman together and there is no better orchestrator and arranger that I know. And I'm adding the Gettysburg Address cue, which along with Dave's arrangement features the 'Disney Choir' in all of it's majesty. (Actually, there is no such thing as the Disney Choir, just Bobbi Page and her magnificent singers who can sight-read anything perfectly.)

As for the request for more Dark Angel, I'm not ignoring that, it's just that there is so much of it and I don't really know what to put up. In the two seasons there was close to 40 hours of music. Most of it was done with synths at my studio and honestly, I'm partial to the orchestral cues from the pilot, which I've posted a few of.

Posted by Joel McNeely on April 6, 2007 5:02 PM | Permalink

Comments (3041)

Antony:

Joel, thanks so much for the newly posted cues.

And on the Dark Angel front, hey...you're the one doing us big favors. I no complain. I just really enjoyed your work on that show. Like you, I'm partial to the score on the pilot ep. (Notable cues for me are when Max first breaks into Logan's penthouse, and the 'space needle' theme.)

If you ever feel like putting any additional cues up, may I suggest something from the finale? It'd make a nice companion to the pilot score, to contrast the beginning and end. Y'know, that or more pilot. (Sorry, can't help but be greedy.) :-)

By the way, I'm loving the new Soldiers cues...especially the final minute of 'Abandoned'

Cheers!

Posted by Antony | April 8, 2007 1:21 AM

Posted on April 8, 2007 01:21

David:

Joel, thanks for posting the extra SOLDIER cues! More of that score is definitely appreciated. You're right, the brass experimentation is really quite unique in "A Whole Lotta Brass." Great cue title by the way! =)

Posted by David | April 8, 2007 2:16 PM

Posted on April 8, 2007 14:16

Mark Buys:

Joel,

Wow, You have yourself a very impressive and comprehensive website! I am familiar with selections of your work but I can see that I'll be getting more familiar via the mp3's and project titles listed. I'm constantly amazed at the lengths we composers have to go to to get our first film gig... $25 and a lottery ticket... very nice! If I can pry you away from your music or your cooking please feel free to check out some of my music. And lastly a culinary question for you, have you heard of Lamingtons? An Australian sweet (sort of), it has a rather unique history.

Cheers,

(Aussie) Mark

Posted by Mark Buys | April 8, 2007 4:42 PM

Posted on April 8, 2007 16:42

Jim:

Joel,

Many thanks for the additional LINCOLN cues. I especially love the main theme. I'm a huge fan of your 'Americana' scores (BUFFALO SOLDIERS, SALLY HEMINGS, SQUANTO) and I have been hoping in vain for a release of at least some of GREAT MOMENTS WITH MR. LINCOLN since I first experienced the attraction. Another poster requested the underscore to the preshow -- if you can bear to dig that out I would also be grateful.

The other day you posted a thoughtful blog entry regarding Bernard Herrmann. I found it fascinating, but now it seems to have disappeared. Is there a technical glitch here?

Thanks again for sharing your lovely music here with us.

Jim

Posted by Jim | April 10, 2007 5:51 PM

Posted on April 10, 2007 17:51

Jarrod Roberts:

Dear Joel:

I absolutely love all of your music. You are one of my very favorite film composers of all time. And I'm so blessed to be here at your website just to hear you. I love it all!

As you know, I am a concert band composer. And I write my own music for concert band with contains piano, harp, full band, everything.

I look forward to meeting and working with you sometime in the future writing and composing music together in the studio.

Keep-in-touch!

Your friend,
Jarrod Roberts- Composer

Posted by Jarrod Roberts | May 10, 2007 6:09 PM

Posted on May 10, 2007 18:09

Dave:

Hallo, Mr.McNeely, i´m a huge fan of yours,love all your scores,but squanto is missing completely.it would be fantastic if you would upload some tracks of it,the themes and the great action cues.loved the score in the movie, searched the whole world for it but nothing.an many thanks for all the cues here, especially the soldier extra tracks.we need more of them.everyone loves soldier.

Posted by Dave | October 9, 2007 12:30 PM

Posted on October 9, 2007 12:30

Albina-id:

phil town

Posted by Albina-id | December 28, 2007 8:24 PM

Posted on December 28, 2007 20:24

Albina-id:

phil town

Posted by Albina-id | December 28, 2007 8:24 PM

Posted on December 28, 2007 20:24

Albina-id:

phil town