Cool News
ScoreKeeper Sheds Light On Upcoming BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Concerts and Season Four Soundtrack CDs
Greetings! ScoreKeeper here appeasing your craving for live scores by spotlighting an upcoming series of concerts led by Bear McCreary, composer for BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (2004-2009) and CAPRICA (2009). I had the distinct pleasure of attending a similar concert last year at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. It was truly a spectacular night of music and one that I will never forget. You can read about my escapades HERE.
Yes, it was uber-cool but a pair of concerts at the Roxy is so 2008. This year, Bear has lined up a series of concerts multiplying the coolness factor exponentially. In addition to the concerts, Bear will be celebrating the release of two new soundtracks: the double-disc BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SEASON FOUR and CAPRICA score CDs released on June 21st and June 16th respectively by La-La Land Records.
The mini concert tour will consist of a Los Angeles show on June 13th and three shows at the House of Blues in San Diego from July 23rd through the 25th during Comic Con.
Fans of the show…this is your opportunity to soak up the spirit of the series through live performances of McCreary’s music. It is a surprisingly rare occurrence to have television scores performed live. The infrequency of the opportunity coupled with the shear power and magic the music provides the show makes these concerts must-see events.
For more information check out the press release below.
Taiko Drums To Start Summer With A Bang -- SO SAY WE ALL!!!
(May 27, 2009- Burbank, CA) – Battlestar Galactica and Caprica composer Bear McCreary will have a busy summer, with the release of two soundtrack recordings and concert performances. On June 13 the music from Battlestar Galactica will kick-off the 2009 Grand Performances Series at California Plaza. Three days later, on June 16, La-La Land Records will release the soundtrack for Caprica.
Bear McCreary will again conduct the music from Battlestar Galactica for three nights at the House of Blues in San Diego from July 23-25th – during Comic Con! The concerts will celebrate the July 21 release of a special 2-CD set, Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.
Battlestar Galactica began as an original SCI FI Channel mini-series in 2003. Billions of human lives were consumed by nuclear fires as the Cylons, intelligent robots created by man, rebelled against their makers. A small, rag-tag fleet of survivors escaped and fled into the outer reaches of the universe in search of the mythical, lost "13th colony" — Earth.
The SCI FI series celebrated its finale in March of 2009, having received boundless critical acclaim and awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award as well as special recognition from the United Nations. A few weeks later, the prequel Caprica, set 50 years before the events of Battlestar Galactica, was released on DVD by Universal Home Entertainment. Caprica will begin airing in early 2010 on the SCI FI Channel. The series chronicles an astonishing scientific breakthrough taking shape on the planet Caprica. The rapidly evolving spheres of human and mechanical engineering have collided, along with the fates of two families. Joined by tragedy in an explosive instant of terror, two rival clans led by powerful patriarchs, Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) and Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz) duel in an era of questionable ethics, corporate machinations and unbridled personal ambition as the final war for humanity looms.
On June 16, 2009 La-La Land Records will release the soundtrack for Caprica, composed by Bear McCreary, one of the top young composers working in Hollywood. His work on the television series Battlestar Galactica has been described as offering “some of the most innovative music on TV today,” by Variety, and his blog, which features in-depth inside looks at the process of scoring Battlestar Galactica, was called "one of the best blogs in the business. It's a fascinating look at the process of making music for film and television and the care he takes with aligning the score with the twists and turns of each character's plot lines," by The Hollywood Reporter.
Bear McCreary’s feature film credits include Wrong Turn 2 and the Rest Stop films. He also scores the series Eureka and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and will be scoring the upcoming SCI FI series Caprica and the Capcom video game Dark Void. McCreary was among a handful of select protégés of late film music legend Elmer Bernstein and is a classically trained composer with degrees in Composition and Recording Arts from the prestigious USC Thornton School of Music.
In 2005 La-La Land Records released the soundtrack for Battlestar Galatica: Season One, which quickly became the top selling release by the label. One year later, the second season was released and was celebrated with Bear McCreary’s first sold-out concert performance in Los Angeles. In 2008 the concerts moved to a larger venue selling out two nights at the famed Roxy on the Sunset Strip. The two-CD Season Four soundtrack will be released on July 21st. The first disc features music from seasons 4.0 and 4.5, with the music from “Daybreak”, the stunning series finale, featured on the second disc.
The Caprica original soundtrack will be available in stores or from www.lalalandrecords.com on June 16, 2009. Battlestar Galactica: Season 4 will be available on July 21st.
The Music of Battlestar Galactica Performances:
Grand Performances 2009 Summer Series at California Plaza
June 13, 2009 at 7PM, Downtown Los Angeles
Free concert
Comic Con
The House of Blues San Diego (1055 Fifth Avenue)
July 23, 24 and 25
Ticket information visit www.bearmccreary.com/blog
Enjoy!
ScoreKeeper!!!
Taiko Drums To Start Summer With A Bang -- SO SAY WE ALL!!!
(May 27, 2009- Burbank, CA) – Battlestar Galactica and Caprica composer Bear McCreary will have a busy summer, with the release of two soundtrack recordings and concert performances. On June 13 the music from Battlestar Galactica will kick-off the 2009 Grand Performances Series at California Plaza. Three days later, on June 16, La-La Land Records will release the soundtrack for Caprica.
Bear McCreary will again conduct the music from Battlestar Galactica for three nights at the House of Blues in San Diego from July 23-25th – during Comic Con! The concerts will celebrate the July 21 release of a special 2-CD set, Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.
Battlestar Galactica began as an original SCI FI Channel mini-series in 2003. Billions of human lives were consumed by nuclear fires as the Cylons, intelligent robots created by man, rebelled against their makers. A small, rag-tag fleet of survivors escaped and fled into the outer reaches of the universe in search of the mythical, lost "13th colony" — Earth.
The SCI FI series celebrated its finale in March of 2009, having received boundless critical acclaim and awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award as well as special recognition from the United Nations. A few weeks later, the prequel Caprica, set 50 years before the events of Battlestar Galactica, was released on DVD by Universal Home Entertainment. Caprica will begin airing in early 2010 on the SCI FI Channel. The series chronicles an astonishing scientific breakthrough taking shape on the planet Caprica. The rapidly evolving spheres of human and mechanical engineering have collided, along with the fates of two families. Joined by tragedy in an explosive instant of terror, two rival clans led by powerful patriarchs, Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) and Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz) duel in an era of questionable ethics, corporate machinations and unbridled personal ambition as the final war for humanity looms.
On June 16, 2009 La-La Land Records will release the soundtrack for Caprica, composed by Bear McCreary, one of the top young composers working in Hollywood. His work on the television series Battlestar Galactica has been described as offering “some of the most innovative music on TV today,” by Variety, and his blog, which features in-depth inside looks at the process of scoring Battlestar Galactica, was called "one of the best blogs in the business. It's a fascinating look at the process of making music for film and television and the care he takes with aligning the score with the twists and turns of each character's plot lines," by The Hollywood Reporter.
Bear McCreary’s feature film credits include Wrong Turn 2 and the Rest Stop films. He also scores the series Eureka and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and will be scoring the upcoming SCI FI series Caprica and the Capcom video game Dark Void. McCreary was among a handful of select protégés of late film music legend Elmer Bernstein and is a classically trained composer with degrees in Composition and Recording Arts from the prestigious USC Thornton School of Music.
In 2005 La-La Land Records released the soundtrack for Battlestar Galatica: Season One, which quickly became the top selling release by the label. One year later, the second season was released and was celebrated with Bear McCreary’s first sold-out concert performance in Los Angeles. In 2008 the concerts moved to a larger venue selling out two nights at the famed Roxy on the Sunset Strip. The two-CD Season Four soundtrack will be released on July 21st. The first disc features music from seasons 4.0 and 4.5, with the music from “Daybreak”, the stunning series finale, featured on the second disc.
The Caprica original soundtrack will be available in stores or from www.lalalandrecords.com on June 16, 2009. Battlestar Galactica: Season 4 will be available on July 21st.
The Music of Battlestar Galactica Performances:
Grand Performances 2009 Summer Series at California Plaza
June 13, 2009 at 7PM, Downtown Los Angeles
Free concert
Comic Con
The House of Blues San Diego (1055 Fifth Avenue)
July 23, 24 and 25
Ticket information visit www.bearmccreary.com/blog
ScoreKeeper!!!
-
+ Expand All
-
Wait, this isn't the Avatar talkback. My mistake.
-
would anybody actually go to this?
-
"what the frak?"
"that's his song..." -
They show the scenes the music was written for.
I once saw Micheal Nyman perform music from Gattaca, mixed in with his other stuff. It was pretty cool when they had scenes from the movie playing on a screen while the orchestra played live.
Having said that, part of me wished I'd stayed home & watched the movie instead.
-
If anyone has to ask why anyone would see this, you either 1) haven't heard the music of BSG, or 2) you're an idiot.
I only wish the tour would expand beyond California. Or even the U.S. -
Any idea if he is going to release one of the concerts on DVD? I know he was talking about it when they did the live performance last year.
-
When you have the BALLS to visit more than half a state you may be able to call it a tour. In the meantime, Bear, call it what it is, an ego trip!!!
-
Let it go.
-
who is also a bear
-
And some woman wailing?
-
I really dug the music to BSG, moreso than most shows. Lost also has great music, but I don't know that I'd need to hear it in a symphony. But I would definitely get tickets to this if it came to Pittsburgh. The music really elevated the drama in BSG for me.
-
... so you're going to this performance and close your eyes and imagine spaceships and slutty robots?
-
.........(sheepish) i like slutty space robots..
-
I'd love to see this. It's not just a great underscore, the music created for this series is genuinely in a world of it's own, which is to say it's unique. There has not been any underscoring in film or television that combined a variety of instrumentation from around the world in a way quite like this. That alone makes it well worth seeing in a live performance. But the music is fabulous on top of that. If some of you trolls can't stop hating long enough to appreciate that, it's your loss.
-
he should play Sarah Connor's theme. Just for ol' time sake. ;)
-
Bear M = The Dogs Bollocks and you all know it.Come to the UK
-
Mr McCreary could take some tips from that, or if he makes it a showcase of world-music instruments I can see that pretty much any conservatorium student would want to check that out. Either way, he's done it before to (I think) sell out shows. Looks like he knows what he's doing.
-
With one of the most annoying, most totally fucking shit endings in tv show history? Fuck this.A V A T A R. December. All that matters.
-
Really good. 16 people on a small stage blasting away. check it out on youtube.
-
...While the movie is projected on a screen behind them.
Very soul stirring. -
Sorry, I still can't get over that.
-
So what, do you always think of Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham when listening to Mozart? Music is music, and can be listened to for its own sake. While there's a reason why film and television scores don't get a lot of respect (they tend to be choppy and underdeveloped), those reasons disappear if the composer re-arranges his music for the concert experience.
I wish more people had an interesting in listening to things like that, leading to CDs/DVDs of those performances. Even more than that, I wish soundtracks weren't so slavishly devoted to the way the music was in the film. Give me an awesome suite that properly develops a theme or several but doesn't fit any one scene anytime over several tracks that are carbon-copies of what accompanied the action on screen. -
"Do you watch Battlestar Galactica?"
"No."
"Then you are an idiot." -
I guess you've got a good point about the possibility of the composer re-arranging the music for the performance, and I guess, OK, as a point of interest, going to see this concert might be kinda neat, but I doubt that it's a free performance, so count me out. I personally am just unable to separate a tv/film score from the material it's usually associated with. I mean, you wouldn't go to a special screening of Star Wars that celebrates the cinematography by playing the film without sound, right? Neither the visuals or the music were ever designed to be experienced alone. I thought the music in BSG was great and did serve the show extremely well. I seriously get chills every time the opening theme starts playing. But I really feel that the reason for that is the context provided by some simple imagery of spaceships blowing up and a sad lady putting her hand on a book. Without that, it's just a sad sounding song followed by jungle drums that makes me wish I was just watching the show instead. I feel this way about almost every film score I've ever heard, no matter how mind-blowingly awesome they've been (but I make an exception for Koyanisqaatsi, which I cannot get enough of. But that's Phillip Glass for you...).
-
Why do people make a point of coming on here just to be haters.
First off, Bear McCreary's music for Battlestar Galactica is much more then just drums and some woman wailing. The music in this series is some of the most diverse, creative and eclectic of any series on television now. sitars, ethnic woodwinds like duduk, guitars, violins, bagpipes and many more regularly grace the music of the series beyond just the occasional cue. There is a reason his soundtracks for the series regularly end up on many "best of" lists for the years in which they are released. Most criticism for the music comes from people who decided long ago that the show wasn't for them and thus dismiss everything that has anything to do with it and thats fine. But lets not criticize what we haven't heard or don't understand.
Secondly, many people go to these shows. In fact, he had only scheduled one show at the Roxy last year and the tickets sold out so quickly that he had to add a second show which sold out nearly as fast with fans coming from as far as Malaysia to see it. As for the idea of projecting the scenes the music was written for while the music is played, it isnt a viable idea. Many of the songs Mr. McCreary plays in these concerts are either extended/altered/rearranged for the concert atmosphere. It isn't your average score concert, thats for sure.
And thirdly, to the criticism that it can't be called a "tour" because he isn't leaving Southern California, there is one simple point to make. Mr. McCreary is currently working on multiple projects as are many of the members of his concert band. For instance, Steve Bartek who plays guitars on both the soundtracks and live in concert who also works as Danny Elfman's lead orchestrator and is constantly working on projects beyond just Bear's. Or Paul Cartwright, the violinist who on top of being a member of Bear's studio and live bands, is also in numerous other bands around LA. Or percussionist MB Gordy who also plays both in studio and in concert for Bear, but also operates his own recording studio in LA and plays on the albums of many popular recording artists. The idea of asking these people to leave behind their other projects for a few months to travel the country/world for a tour so many people on this forum has voiced is pointless seems like a bit of a stretch. Doesn't it seem much wiser to play three shows during the San Diego Comic Convention when people from all over the world are in town anyway? It seems like a much more reasonable solution to me.
Either way, anyone who attended last year's show knows that this is going to be a kick ass show. Its rare that a concert works so well as both a wonderful tribute to the fans and a great experience for newcomers. -
"I doubt that it's a free performance".
Check out the flyer for the performance in Los Angeles. Below the part where it says "California Plaza". Where it says "Free admission". Mind if I call you Sherlock?If you can't separate film and tv underscoring from the images associated with them, that's fine, but why do you think people who don't have that automatic association should care what your personal association is and not jump at the chance to see a live performance of exceptional, unique music? These concerts are there for people who want them and believe me, there will be plenty. There's already been live performances of Bear McCreary's BSG music and there wouldn't have been more if those weren't smashing successes. -
DogSoup, I admire you enthusiasm concenring the legendary prodigious sexual exploits of one Mr. ScoreKeeper, but as one who intimately knows him going all the way back to 1988, I can unequivocally state that although he does indeed have the MAN SAUCE and potency to indeed do such a thing I believe his lovely and gracious wife would destroy him within seconds, reducing him to a smoldering pile of ash within 6 seconds of finding out... Hence, Mr. ScoreKeeper only beds one women in one bed...
-
Wow, I'm very, very sorry that my rude, totally unreasonable and completely hate-filled posts have offended so many people here. I was under the impression that this was a place where people could discuss the live performance of the BSG score, no matter what their opinion might be. My mistake.
-
I have no problem with an open discussion, but being mean spirited without provocation is a different story. While I felt that your first response was a little rude, your second one was actually very well stated. If you cant separate the visuals from the sound, so be it. But did you notice how you were able to voice your feelings on the matter without calling those of us who really enjoy film/television scores as their own entities losers for enjoying them? Thats the general problem I have with the talkbacks. Just because I may dislike something doesn't mean that I have to completely hate it and all of those who don't share that opinion with me. In my opinion, discussion is welcome, name calling is not and lets face it, that is what most people on these forums do. There is a reason why studios rarely listen to the fanboy community and its that all they see is a bunch of spiteful people with nothing better to do then tear each other apart.
-
I really don't recall calling anybody anything. Are you sure you've been following the same talkbalk? Yeah, the aicn talkbacks can get a little ridiculous, but sometimes what people write isn't too far off from what they might actually say to their friends in real life. I never called anybody a loser. i said this thing sounds lame. Which is a great way to get people to write about why they think it ISN'T lame, which is what I wanted to hear in the first place. No one thinks you're a loser. We're all friends here.
-
..THAN IMAGINING A BUNCH OF COMPLETE TARDS WITH A TOUCH OF THE DOWN SITTING AROUND AND LISTENING TO BSG THEME MUSIC.
-
now that on the other hand...
-
You aren't the real offender. You have made valid arguments for your case and most of what you have said has been towards the point of validating your opinion. My beef is with those who post for the sake of being whole heartedly negative. Although this particular forum hasn't gotten nearly as ridiculous as some of them I've read here at AICN, it has already begun to gather those pointlessly negative talkbackers. As far as Im concerned, you are golden. You've stated your case with eloquence and although you don't fall on the same side of the fence that I do, you were able to do it without insulting the fans of this music. Thusly, I say good show, sir.
-
Would I watch a sound-free picture celebration of STAR WARS? No. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, now, that might be a worthy experiment. And I could hardly appreciate audio commentaries if I wasn't willing to separate a film's various elements.
Look, since you watched the series, you know that McCreary's music evolved beyond the style in the opening sometime during season 2. It became a lot more classical and a lot more listenable without context. Granted, it helps that I'm not a native English speaker and thus need to concentrate more on the dialogue; a direct link between certain musical segments and certain scenes was never formed, because the dialogue was bale-ishly distracting.
And if you do need images, well, McCreary produces a limited-run free-form ballet (yes, a ballet!) featuring BSG music in Germany. It started earlier this year to phenomenal reviews, and I'm considering going during summer break (I probably won't, because while I'm European, it's still not exactly a short distance; I'm hoping for one of the little-watched German cultural networks to broadcast a recording someday, they do that sometimes). -
You're getting some backlash for the comment about people who want to see the concert needing to close their eyes and imagine spaceships and slutty robots. You can't deny that was condescending and snarky. But you're not alone there so don't take it so personally. This is an open forum but it tends to be dominated not by discussion but by disrespect for those with different opinions, which is silly given the subjective nature of film or in this case music. Why should the value of a concert be questioned when it's clear people are interested. There are bands I don't like and would never want to see live in concert, but I don't question why they have the concerts simply because I don't appreciate the music.
-
actually sounds like it could be kinda cool.
-
was supposed to be a joke. A lame joke, maybe, but still... I had no idea it would cut you right to the core, so I guess I apologize... i am a monster.
-
Actually, I was OK with that comment. Im cool with a good razzing. The "this is lame" thing bothered me more, but that was mostly because it read like negativity for negativities sake. But whatever. Im over it now.
And although I didnt get to see it live, the ballet was actually very cool. If you happen to be in LA, come to the California Plaza performance. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the type of show it it. And hey, its free so it won't cost you anything but time. -
There's a bunch of whiny idiots posting in this thread about who would go to see this.
Ignoring my first response, which is "if I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand", I will attempt to illustrate in a manner that these poor souls who lead of life of complaining will understand.
Bear McCreary recently married a very hot woman whom he met through his work on BSG. She's also a singer. I know this will come as a shock to some on here - those who can't understand why women aren't falling all over themselves for pathetic haters posting in talkbacks, but many women are rather attracted to men who have creative impulses.
Bear's judgment in this matter is sound as well, as singers, ballet dancers and women who speak fluent French tend to have superior performance in bed.
There. Have I reduced this artistic endeavor down to the lowest common denominator for some to understand? -
To be fair, they arent married yet. They just got engaged.
-
I saw that LoTR symphony in '04 and it was wonderful. Score music can stand on its own just fine. It was directly responsible for me renewing my season subscription to the Atlanta Symphony. I would love to see McCreary perform live some of these pieces. And if there are expanded versions of them I would be thrilled. Shore/LoTR came out with the complete recordings in the last year or so and I have those. Yes, the imagery of certain scenes are always going to be in there for you when you listen, but that's not a bad thing. I would love it if McCreary got more work, interesting work, out of these gigs, and his scores on BSG. I mean, who knew about Giacchino (sp?) before LOST? He did ROAR for Cloverfield and now the Star Trek score.
-
Nah, it didn't cut me to the core. I'm with tangent here, just reflexively reacting to the general snarkiness of talkbacks. If you weren't trying to be snarky, fair enough.
-
His best work to date IMHO. Although Fringe is pretty cool.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 273 total posts 271 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 92 total posts 92 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 160 total posts 69 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 151 total posts 63 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 67 total posts 59 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 60 total posts 57 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 484 total posts 49 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 69 total posts 42 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 120 total posts 32 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 183 total posts 24 posts