Snow Files of the Week

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: Suite from The X-Files episode "Post-Modern Prometheus" (1997).

For this episode, Snow composed a very unusual score. The main theme, a circus-dance-music-piece, is something, that you would expect from Danny Elfman, not from Snow. But Mark combines this music with a more somber tone for the grief of "The Great Mutato", who is looking for something we all do: Love. And during Mutato's speech at the end of the episode, Mark again uses a piece of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" within his score. This specific piece can also be heard in the MillenniuM episode "Lament".

The music was released as a promotional disc at first, later it got an offical release on La-La Land Records' first volume box of The X-Files music. There is also a single disc with music from The X-Files, that was released by BUYSOUNDTRAX.COM. "The X-Files 20th Anniversary" contains music from various seasons of the show, including the "Post-Modern Prometheus" music as a re-recording. The CD is limited to 1000 copies and is also available digitally.

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "M. Magdalene/Divine Daughter" from "MillenniuM", episode "Anamnesis" (1998).

This is one of the two episodes in the entire series, where Frank Black takes a step back and leaves the stage for his wife Catherine. She teams up with Lara Means to investigate the possibility that a schoolgirl experiencing visions may be biologically descended from Jesus Christ.
Mark's music fits the religious tone of the episode. There is a soft piano theme for the schoolgirl and etheral choir work to accompany her visions. Also, the sampled flute sound from the episode "Luminary" returns in this score.

The tracks are taken from the second volume of MillenniuM music from La-La Land Records. The set is limited to 2.000 copies.

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Grow up Superboy/Ferris Wheel" from "Smallville" (2001).

The show ran for ten seasons, but after season 6, Mark left the show and his former music editor Louis Febre took over for the remaining three seasons. It was Mark's decision, since he was so busy doing the music for "Smallville" and "Ghost Whisperer" at the same time, with additional movies in between (like the second X-Files movie in 2008), that he just wanted to have more time with his family.

The music for "Smallville" shows Mark again as a master of haunting themes and melody. His distinctive sound is easy to recognize. A digital album was released with music from the show, before La-La-Land Records released a 2-CD-Set, containing all tracks from the digital album, as well as a second CD with even more music from the show. It also has tracks by Louis Febre from the later seasons. The CD was limited to 3000 copies and is now sold out.

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Prayer/Suicide Exam" from the X-Files episode "Die Hand Die Verletzt (1995)".

A remarkable piece of music by Mark for this episode. The story around satanic rituals, belief and possession inspired Mark to this very dark and gothic score. The brooding ambient music sets the mood for the chilling events that occur at a high school. Mark also brings some satanic chants into the music, making this one of the most memorable scores of the entire show.

"Die Hand Die Verletzt" is german for "The Hand that wounds". The term can be heard in the satanic prayer the teachers are doing at the beginning of the episode. Ironically the episode got another title in Germany, where it's called "Satan".

Music from "Die Hand Die Verletzt" was released on the second volume of the X-Files 4-Disc-Box-Set by La-La Land Records. The set is limited to 3.000 copies.

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Journey North/Northern Lights" from "MillenniuM", episode "Luminary" (1997).

Another fan favourite, this episode takes Frank Black to Alaska in search of a missing young man. His dead body has already been found, but Frank senses, that there is more to it and that the man is still alive.

Mark scores this episode with one of the most oustanding music of the whole show. His use of a flute sound and an etheral choir accompanies Frank's journey into the harsh nature, right up to the luminary that Frank witnesses at night.

The music was released on the second volume of MillenniuM music by La-La Land Records. The set is limited to 2.000 copies.

Enjoy!

 

[Darth Paul]

Beautiful!

[SadEyes]

Snow files of the Week: "Damascus/The Subject", from "MillenniuM", episode "Owls" (1998).

As members of the MillenniuM group find a piece of wood in Damascus, that was a part of the cross, on which Jesus was crucified, the group gets divided into two parties, the "Owls" and the "Roosters". While the "Owls" don't believe in the apocalypse coming with the year 2000, but in cosmic events, that will start with the year 2000 and change the world 60 years later, the "Roosters" are convinced that the end is near. Things get more complicated as a third party is trying to get its hands on the piece of the cross.

Mark's music accompanies the group members killing each other over the piece of wood in Damascus, as well as giving the episode a religious tonality in "The Subject".

These tracks are featured on the first volume of MillenniuM music by La-La Land Records, that was released in 2008. The first edition was limited to 2.000 copies and sold out in 2010. In 2015, this edition was reissued, now limited to just 1.000 copies.

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "The New Life/Resolution", from the tv movie "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All" (1994).

 

This score is further proof that Mark has indeed the capability to deal with an orchestra. His lush melodies and a charming main theme for solo violin make this score a worthwhile listening experience.

 

The score was released by Milan Records in 1994 and you can still find the CD used for good prices.

 

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Chernobyl/Saviour" from "MillenniuM", episode "Maranatha" (1997).

This episode from season one of "MillenniuM" steps further into the show's mystic story arc. Frank Black sees himself confronted with Yaponchik, the russian Boogeyman so to speak. The beginning of this episode shows the meltdown in the nuclear power plant in the russian city Chernobyl, which happened in 1986. Yaponchik can be seen leaving the plant just prior to the explosion, assuming he caused it. Later in the episode Yaponchik also fulfills a biblical prophecy by surviving a gunshot to the head. At the end he can get away, chased by Frank, leaving in a helicopter which carries the number 666.

Mark's music is big and bold. Almost referencing old biblical movies from the 50's and 60's he adds some massive choir to his score, underlining the battle between the dark and the light. Most of the time the big choir is used to transport Yaponchik's theme, while a softer choir accompanies Frank's battle against evil, as it can be heard at the beginning of the track "Saviour".

The tracks are taken from the first volume of music from "MillenniuM", released by La-La Land Records. It was limited to 2.000 copies and sold out some years ago. In 2015 it was re-released, now limited to just 1.000 copies.

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Go Home/Cold Heart/Contrast" from "You ain't seen nothing yet" (2012).

This movie marks the third collaboration between Mark and legendary french director Alain Resnais. After working together on "Private Fears in Public Places" in 2006, Mark became Resnais' composer for three more films. His movies are full of melancholy and strange happenings, which Mark perfectly captured with his scores. The music for "You ain't seen nothing yet" is no exception. Mark composed beautiful lush themes and haunting sounds, including the violin sound from "MillenniuM".

The album was released digitally, as well as on a double CD set paired with the second Snow-Resnais collaboration "Wild Grass". This double CD set was only released in France and is already a very hard to find collector's item.

Enjoy!