Snow Files of the Week

[The Old Man]

Very festive!

[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: "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!

 

[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: "Joyride" from "Windham Hill's Winter Solstice On Ice" (1999).

And now for something completely different. This piece of music was composed by Mark for an ice skating special, featuring professional skaters like Brian Boitano, Yuka Sato, and Rahkamo & Kokko. It was released on the compilation album "Winter Solstice On Ice", together with the other compositions for the special.

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: "Prologue/Main Title/The Boys Find The Cave/The Kiss/Happy Ending" from the tv movie THE LITTLE KIDNAPPERS (1990).

For this Disney Channel production Mark again could get his hands on an orchestra. The "Main Title" begins with a solo flute and transforms into a wonderful, soaring piece of music. The theme presented here also makes its way into the rest of the score, with happy child adventures music like "The Boys Find The Cave". The score again shows Mark's abilities to create memorable music outside of the X-Files universe.

The score was released, together with Mark's music for IN THE LINE OF DUTY: SMOKE JUMPERS, on the "Mark Snow Collection Volume 1" by Dragon's Domain Records. The CD is limited to 500 copies.

Enjoy!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: Suite from "Shadows Of Desire" (1994).

 

Another tv movie that Mark scored while he was already working on the X-Files. Although his trademark sounds can also be heard here, the score has a rather folky feel. This is ensured by the solo violin, which sounds different here than the violin sampled two years later by Snow for "MillenniuM". In addition, there is an acoustic guitar and harmonica samples, which round off the whole thing. Nevertheless, the main theme is reminiscent of that of the "Millennium" episode "Luminary" from the second season.

 

The music comes from Volume 3 of the "Mark Snow Collection" from Dragon's Domain Records. The CD is limited to 500 copies.

 

Enjoy listening!

 

[SadEyes]

Snow Files of the Week: "Lifeboat / Wolf At The Door" from "The X-Files", episode "Død Kalm" (1995).

 

This episode is another classic episode in the series. A mutiny apparently occurs aboard the USS "Ardent". Parts of the crew leave the ship in a lifeboat. When they are found a few hours later, they have aged rapidly, some of them have already died. Mulder and Scully investigate what was happening on the ship and soon become victims of a rapid aging process themselves.

 

Snow's score is truly freezing. To do this, he uses a dull, echoing percussion, which significantly increases the feeling of being trapped underwater in the vast ocean.

 

The tracks are from the fourth set by La-La Land Records. The set is limited to 2,000 copies.

 

Enjoy listening!