Snow Files of the Week

[Gotham Gal]

On 11/22/2023 at 9:15 AM, SadEyes said:

Snow Files of the Week: "Ernest Saves Christmas/Christmas Spirit" from the movie "Ernest Saves Christmas" (1988).

It's that time of the year again and Mark Snow joins the celebration with this jolly score. Performed by an orchestra this score shows Mark in perfect Christmas spirit, very different from his more darker ambient stuff.

The score hasn't been released officially yet, there is only a promotional CD out there. Maybe someday we'll see a proper release.

Enjoy!

 

 

On 9/7/2023 at 9:23 AM, SadEyes said:

Snow Files of the Week: "Catalogued/Deny Everything/Blood on Paper" from The X-Files, episodes "Duane Barry" and "Ascension" (1994).

A classic X-Files two-parter from the second season of the series. And with Duane Barry one of the most distinctive figures in the X-Files universe, played in a disturbingly manic way by Steve Railsback. For a long time Barry has been haunted by aliens at night who repeatedly carry out experiments on him. When another visitation is imminent, Barry goes crazy and takes some hostages in an office building. The police thinks he's a dangerous lunatic, of course, but Mulder is interested in the visits.

Mulder manages to outsmart Barry and he is shot and rushed to the hospital. But Barry only plays along on the pretense, breaks out of the hospital and kidnaps Scully, whom he wants to leave to the visitors for their experiments in his place. He takes her to Skyland Mountain at night, from where he was kidnapped for the first time. When Mulder arrives, he only notices a bright light in the sky and finds Barry alone. Scully has disappeared.

Mark Snow accompanies this double episode with very melancholic-mystical sounds. The short motifs for the Cigarette Smoking Man and the conspirators appear again, as they of course also have their fingers in the game. The tracks are from LLL's fourth set of X-Files music. The set is limited to 2,000 copies.

Enjoy listening!

 

 

On 11/10/2023 at 2:54 AM, SadEyes said:

Snow Files of the Week: "My Name Is Not Buddy/Rod Serling Appears/A True Fan/Dr. Wuzzle/ Dr. Thaddeous They/The Untold History of The X-Files/To Find Each Other/Remember How It Was" from The X-Files, episode "The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat" (2018).

 

Another wacky episode written by Darin Morgan, this one deals with the "Mandela Effect". Or the "Mengele Effect", which one you prefer. It describes the feeling of remembering something in a specific way, even though it was never like that. The episode is another example of Darin Morgan's sense of humour, making fun of the show without disrespecting it.

It was another occasion for Mark to write some wacky music. Like the theme for Reggie or the sort of parodistic hommages to The Twilight Zone. At the end of the episode, Mark's "Home" theme from the second movie "I Want To Believe" can be heard.

 

The music was released on a 2CD set, containing more music from season 11, by La-La Land Records. The set is limited to 3.000 copies.

 

This is meant to post under Sadeye's Nov. 10 post. Little confused here, sorry. "The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat" by Darin Morgan was always a favorite episode for me and MS as usual got the musical tone spot on.

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Santos Elves/The Way it was" from "MillenniuM", episode "Omerta" (1998).

 

"Omerta" is the Christmas episode from the third season of "MillenniuM". The story evolves around two young women living in the woods, away from civilization. Their names are Lassa and Rose, Lassa has healing powers.

For his score Mark used operatic vocal samples, providing a magical touch to the music. Mark mixes his brooding ambient music with the wonderful theme for Lassa and Rose, making "Omerta" one of the most outstanding scores in the three years run of "MillenniuM".

 

The tracks can be found on the fist volume of music from "MillenniuM", released by La-La Land Records. The volume is limited to 1.000 copies.

 

Enjoy!

 

On 11/27/2023 at 7:34 AM, Gotham Gal said:

Wonderful, but I admit I prefer his darker, moodier stuff.

Glad we can have both. 🙂

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Suite" from The X-Files, episode "Christmas Carol" (1998).

 For this season 5 episode of The X-Files, Mark composed a very haunting and sometimes eerie score. But I guess that's what it's like celebrating Christmas with Mulder and Scully.

 The music was released on a promotional disc first, which also contains music from the episode "Post-Modern Prometheus". Later, some of it was also featured on the first 4-CD-Box-Set from La-La Land Records, limited to 2.000 copies.

 One re-recorded track from "Christmas Carol" also found it's way onto the album MUSIC FROM THE X-FILES: 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, that was released by BUYSOUNDTRAX.COM. This CD is limited to 1000 copies and is also available digitally.

 The suite contains music from the promotional release, as well as music from the first 4-CD-Set.

 Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Search your heart/Passing the Torch" from "Ernest Saves Christmas" (1988).

And we continue the celebration of the Christmas spirit with two more tracks from Mark's Christmas score. Mark gets in the mood for Christmas with warm and lush strings and combines that with some big brass moments.

While we're waiting for an offical release of this score, let's be happy that there is a promotional release with this wonderful music.

Enjoy!

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Delete/Branches-Angels" from "MillenniuM", episode "Midnight of the Century" (1997).

"Midnight of the Century" is the Christmas episode from the second season of "MillenniuM". It's been a fan favourite ever since, that fans keep rewatching over the holidays. The episode deals with the death of Frank Black's mother when he was a child and the broken relationship with his father. A very touching and moving episode, even for viewers who didn't watch every MillenniuM episode.

Mark's music adds to the overall melancholic and magical feeling of the episode. He uses a soft theme for strings, combined with etheral choir sounds, to accompany Frank's quest into his past. The track "Delete" was already used in the X-Files episode "Emily". It got a slightly different arrangement for "MillenniuM" by Mark's music editor Jeff Charbonneau.

The tracks are featured on the first volume of MillenniuM music by La-La Land Records, which is limited to 1.000 copies.

Merry Christmas!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "The Smell of Zombies/The End of the Crusade" from the X-Files episode "Millennium" (1999).

 

Chris Carter's second show "MillenniuM" ended before the year 2000 came along. So Carter and his team were looking for a way to bring the story of Frank Black and the MillenniuM Group to a closure. This happened with an X-Files/MillenniuM crossover in the seventh season of "The X-Files".

 

As disappointing this crossover for many fans was (after three seasons of "MillenniuM" it ends with Mulder and Frank Black shooting zombies in a cellar), as outstanding was Mark's score for the episode. It gave him the opportunity to combine the mourning violin from "MillenniuM" with the soundscapes of "The X-Files". And as Mulder and Scully finally kiss while watching the celebration of the new year 2000 on TV, Mark introduces the traditional "Auld Lang Syne" into his score and a rare statement of the X-Files theme at the end of the scene.

The music was released on the first limited 4-CD-Set of X-Files music from La-La Land Records, limited to 2.000 copies.

 

Happy New Year!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Choices/Finis" from "Private Fears in Public Places (aka Coeurs)" (2006).

This movie marked the first collaboration between Mark and french director Alain Resnais. Resnais had the rough cut of the movie temp tracked with Mark's music from "The X-Files" and "MillenniuM". It's therefore no surprise, that the final score sometimes reminds the listener of these shows.
Mark's score is very melancholic and soft overall, matching the movie's tone, where it's constantly snowing. The movie follows a group of people, that are essentially looking for love, in one way or another, but after all, it's really a movie about loneliness.

Mark's score was pretty much butchered in the final movie. Resnais only used 10 to 20 second bits of the music between certain scenes, leaving the main part of the score out of the movie.

The score can therefore only be heard entirely on the album, which was released by Buysoundtrax Records, limited to 1000 copies.

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Threnody in X/Quitting/Plague (Alternate Segment)" from the movie "The X-Files - Fight the Future" (1998).

For the first X-Files motion picture, Mark took his electronic soundscapes and put them into orchestral music. He even surprised the producers, when he conducted his music, because for them he was just the "synthesizer guy". Some bits of the films score also appear in the tv show, like in the final episode of season five, "The End".

A score album was released with the movie. Sadly it has some sound issues. The stereo channels are reversed, which leads to an overall muffled and flat sound. La-La Land Records released an expanded album of the score, which not only solved the sound problems of the original release, but there is also more music on it and a very informative booklet with not one, not two, but three interviews with Mark. This release is limited to 3.000 copies and is sold out.

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "The Seeds Of Mistrust", from "The X-Files", episode "Kitten" (2018).

 

In this season 11 episode, we learn a little more about Assistant Director Skinner. During the Vietnam War, Skinner served in the Marines. Together with his fellow soldier and friend John "Kitten" James he is to escort a crate marked MK-NAOMI. They are attacked and both have to hide in a hut with civilians. While Skinner is helping a wounded soldier, the crate is hit by bullets and a green gas leaks out, which John is exposed to. When Skinner returns to the cabin, he sees that "Kitten" murdered all civilians. In the present, Mulder and Scully are put on the trail of Skinner, who has disappeared without a trace. Something from the past has reappeared.

 

In this piece Mark shows his melancholy side again. A ghostly choir sings over the gentle strings and piano motifs, the X-Files theme briefly emerges before the piece ends with a wistful solo trumpet. The tracks come from the 2CD set by La-La Land Records, which is limited to 3,000 units.

 

Enjoy listening!

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Hypothermia/Scully's Discovery/Mulder's Email Message/Skinner helps Scully", from "The X-Files", episodes "Colony" and "End Game".

Several pieces of music from these two classic season two episodes. A comatosed Mulder is brought to an Arctic hospital, suffering from hypothermia. Scully arrives just in time to see Mulder's heart monitor flatline. Mark's music starts slow and becomes more driving and urgent as Scully arrives.

The rest of the tracks underscores a series of scenes from "End Game". Scully discovers a strange retrovirus in the alien bounty hunter's blood. Scully desperatly needs to inform Mulder, just before Skinner has an elevator fight with X and delivers more informations to Scully.

The music was released on the second volume of X-Files music from La-La Land Records. The set is limited to 3.000 copies and is sold out.

Enjoy!