Best scores of 2013

V, have you heard the absolutely amazing re-take , re-recording of SALAMANDER, by Jerry Goldsmith, re-arranged, re-visited and re-recorded by LEIGH PHILLIPS for Prometheus and Tadlow, http://www.examiner.com/article/rebuild … h-phillips ? This tops it all in this category for 2013 i think.

Forgot that Salamander was released this year as well. Yeah, both that and QBVII are outstanding!

-Erik-

Indeed, my phrasing was poor. Haven't heard QBV-whatever yet, is it as good as Salamander?

Erik, you better not forget the Salamander in this year's votings!

You don't know the music from QB VII at all? Klick the link by all means! "Kaddish for the Six Million" is a cue any film music enthusiast should know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3CurXHXKLc

Volker

My second "geographical" film score article takes a look at the best film scores released in France in 2013, with capsule reviews of 5 releases. The scores covered are:

- FLIGHT OF THE STORKS by Éric Neveux
- JEUNE ET JOLIE by Philippe Rombi
- JIMMY P. by Howard Shore
- MA MAMAN EST EN AMÉRIQUE, ELLE A RENCONTRÉ BUFFALO BILL by Fabrice Aboulker
- QUAI D’ORSAY by Philippe Sarde

http://moviemusicuk.us/2014/01/18/best- … ic-france/

Check them out - I especially recommend QUAI D'ORSAY (an energetic, spry and witty comedy score) and JEUNE ET JOLIE (an elegant and romantic drama very typical of Rombi's style).

My choices for the overall best of 2013:

http://moviemusicuk.us/2014/01/20/movie … ards-2013/

Jon

I may or may not read this. Thanks!

Good read, James. Thanks for taking the time to write down your thoughts!!

-Erik-

You could almost listen to one of the Hobbit scores in that time!

My third "geographical" film score article takes a look at the best film scores released in Eastern Europe in 2013: six are from Poland, one is from Russia, and one is from France, but it was released in theaters in Poland before anywhere else. The scores covered are:

- AMBASSADA by Bartosz Chajdecki
- BACZYÑSKI by Bartosz Chajdecki
- CZAS HONORU by Bartosz Chajdecki
- GAGARIN: FIRST IN SPACE by George Kallis
- LORD OF THE CARPATHIANS by Bartlomiej Gliniak
- OSZUKANE by Bartlomiej Gliniak
- SYBERIADA POLSKA by Krzesimir Dêbski
- VENUS IN FUR by Alexandre Desplat

http://moviemusicuk.us/2014/02/02/best- … rn-europe/

Hope you like them!

Jon

My fourth "geographical" film score article takes a look at the best film scores released in Spain in 2013. The scores covered are:

- EL TIEMPO ENTRE COSTURAS by Cesar Benito
- GRAND PIANO by Víctor Reyes
- ISABEL by Federico Jusid
- LA MULA by Oscar Navarro
- LAS BRUJAS DE ZUGARRAMURDI by Joan Valent
- THE LAST DAYS by Fernando Velazquez
- ZIP & ZAP AND THE MARBLE GANG by Fernando Velazquez

http://moviemusicuk.us/2014/02/09/best- … sic-spain/

Some great music here!

Jon

I've finally decided what my favorite scores from 2013 were. It seems like kind of a moot point after all the much more important people who've already shared their picks, but in case any of you needed a second or third witness that you should look into a score you might have missed, here are my favorites of the 200+ scores I heard from 2013.

1. SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA: MISSION OF HOPE – Blake Neely
This is the score to a PBS documentary about the final mission of Space Shuttle Columbia. The uplifting score is just lovely, with solo woodwinds, cello, violin, harp and especially piano, accompanied by a full orchestra, conveying the story of the first Israeli astronaut in space. The majority of the score is soft and beautiful with lots of piano solos over warm strings. Multiple beautiful themes anchor the score and their repetitions are just often and varied enough to make them welcome at every appearance. A few tracks are very somber, conveying the tragic loss of the shuttle and the horrors of the holocaust. The highlight of the score, and one of the finest compositions of the year, is “The Scroll Carries the Man.” It begins quietly, crescendos inspirationally, and climaxes with a gorgeous statement from the strings before cutting off abruptly. This is a beautiful score, and I’ve only come to appreciate more as I’ve played it again and again.

2. ROMEO & JULIET – Abel Korzeniowski
This score is rapturously beautiful, similar to his fantastic 2011 score to the film W./E., a fact made even more admirable when considering the very short time Korzeniowski had to compose this score. “Forbidden Love,” “A Thousand Times Good Nights,” and “Come, Gentle Night,” are the highlights for me, and they are gorgeous. As the score progresses the music appropriately shifts in tone, moving from the glorious to the tragic, though it is never less than beautiful. Fans of lush romance need look no further than this score.

3. COPPERHEAD – Laurent Eyquem
Laurent Eyquem’s score is consistently serene from start to finish. It’s gorgeous, but it’s a very quiet beauty. Don’t expect epic sweep or spine-tingling crescendos, but the music is so peaceful and calming. It’s possible that the only downside is that the score isn’t varied enough – it might be a little too serene. But if you can’t get enough musical serenity, then this is the score for you! My favorite tracks are the first and last, in which Eyquem lets the orchestra swell a little more than through most of the rest of the album.

4. NO SE ACEPTAN DEVOLUCIONES (INSTRUCTIONS NOT INCLUDED) – Carlo Siliotto
Carlo Siliotto’s score is wonderful, uplifting, and sweet. You almost always have to go away from Hollywood to find filmmakers who aren’t embarrassed to have big happy themes in their films anymore. This score wears its heart on its sleeve and it is a joy to listen to.

5. WINNIE MANDELA – Laurent Eyquem
I had never heard of Laurent Eyquem before this year, but out of nowhere he composed two very good scores and really impressed me. He’s a promising new talent and I hope he gets many more projects in the years to come. “Enchantment,” “Dreams,” “A Wedding Song,” and “Separation/Isolation” are beautiful. Other cues convey the turbulent life Mrs. and Mr. Mandela lived. Even then the music is very nice.

6. AUSTENLAND – Ilan Eshkeri
Eshkeri’s score for this quirky romantic comedy is totally classical-sounding. Each movement of his four movement symphony is very well composed and the score as a whole plays just like a symphony (imagine that!). The first two movements are my favorite. It’s all very good, and fans of classical music will especially enjoy it.

7. SUMMER IN FEBRUARY – Benjamin Wallfisch
Benjamin Wallfisch scored quite a few films in 2013 (five of them, and a short film), and they are all very different. This is his most beautiful and features Yuja Wang on piano, whose staggering virtuosity is on display in several of the tracks here (see “The Races” for a great example of this, also “The Storm”). This is just very pretty music. Wallfisch is a rising star, and 2013 is the best evidence of his considerable talents so far.

8. THE BOOK THIEF – John Williams
The score is not very noteworthy when placed next to most of his work, but even an average score by Williams’s standards is better than most everything else composed this year. Anyone who is familiar with and enjoys his score to ANGELA’S ASHES will find much to enjoy here (though if you’re contemplating buying this score and haven’t purchased that one, buy it first (not the U.S. version, though, as it has dialogue that gets in the way). This score is mostly quiet, but so Williamsy! And having grown up watching films scored by this man, his music sounds like home to me. So I will admit my bias and also declare this score to be one of the best of the year. His music is like comfort food for my ears.

9. LEGENDS OF CHIMA – Anthony Lledo
Who would have thought that the best adventure score of the year would come from a cartoon network Lego show? But so it is. Lledo’s score is a throwback to great adventure film scores of the 80s and 90s. Parts of it are reminiscent of John Williams, parts of James Newton Howard, parts of Hans Zimmer. It’s just really great fun.

10. CZAS HONORU (TIME OF HONOR) Season 6 – Bartosz Chajdecki
The score is at times weighty, elegant, and unexpected (using a tango as action music!). The boy soprano in one track reminds me of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, in the best way. The finale track is has great forward movement to it and builds to incredible heights. I would like to see what kind of scene in a tv show would merit music like this. Mr. Chajdecki turned out several very good scores this year. I’m excited to see where his career goes. I hope nowhere but up.

There were enough quality scores in 2013 that I’ll list 15 more that deserve a mention. If any of these had been written last year, they would have been in my top 10 for 2012. (actually, technically one of them was recorded in 2012, but since it was just released this year, I’m counting it. . . .)

11. THE GREAT GATSBY – Craig Armstrong
12. SAVING MR. BANKS – Thomas Newman
13. LUMIKUNINGATAR (THE SNOW QUEEN) – Tuomas Kentelinen (this is a ballet score, but it belongs on the list)
14. BELLE ET SEBASTIEN – Armand Amar
15. O TEMPO E O VENTO – Alexandre Guerra
16. THE PARADISE – Maurizio Malagnini
17. RED WING – Lorne Balfe
18. STANDING UP – Brian Tyler
19. ISABEL – Federico Jusid
20. OSTWIND – Annette Focks
21. STALINGRAD – Angelo Badalamenti
22. AFRICA – Sarah Class
23. GIRL RISING – Lorne Balfe
24. THE ULTIMATE LIFE – Mark McKenzie
25. BACZYNSKI – Bartosz Chajdecki

Well, that’s it. If you’ve read this whole thing I award you 10 points! I welcome your thoughts about any of my choices or any film music you think I left out.

Yeah, good list. Many of those are on my list too.

There's a distinct lack of more action-oriented scores on your list which causes it to not resemble my own list very much. A lot of the scores you mention there I heard and enjoyed, but ultimately filed away into the "nice but forgettable" category (I'm one of those who thought Copperhead didn't have enough variety, and the two Balfe scores didn't do a whole lot for me either). I guess we just have very different sub-niches of film music that we prefer.