Peter Pan
Intrada Special Collection Volume ISC 487 Expanded Edition

Premier 2-CD expanded release of spectacular symphonic score by James Newton Howard! Lavish, sincere yet still magical filming of timeless books & stageplay by James M. Barrie gets 2003 release.

Premier 2-CD expanded release of spectacular symphonic score by James Newton Howard! Lavish, sincere yet still magical filming of timeless books & stageplay by James M. Barrie gets 2003 release.

Columbia Pictures & Universal Pictures with Revolution Studios presents, Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Richard Briers, Olivia Williams, Lynn Redgrave head cast, Ludivine Sagnier plays Tink, P.J. Hogan directs & scripts with Michael Goldenberg, Industrial Light & Magic creates the visual wonders. James Newton Howard scores for large orchestra plus chorus, fashions music that melds soaring flight music, mystical Tinkerbell moments with powerhouse action sequences - many of them omitted from previous highlights album issued at time of film’s release. Beloved characters include Peter Pan, Wendy, the fairy Tinkerbell and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook, who lost his hand to a crocodile.

Howard offers truly wall-to-wall scoring that presents richly thematic material that evolves, changes throughout with stunning array of ideas both large and small.
Contrast of material is stunning! Opening celeste, xylophone, strings are joined by female chorus to establish perfect tone to launch with quotes of darker Hook material soon making appearance, followed by twittering flute for Tink, triplet figure suggesting gentle love story to unfold ahead and heard more fully during “Is That A Kiss?”.

Back-to-back “Learning To Fly” and “Flying” are early, rousing set-pieces, with “Flying” rising to especially grand peroration for full orchestra with chorus. “Fetch Long Tom” ushers in excitement, “Castle Swordfight” furthers action with lively rhythms, rousing statement of main theme in fanfare-treatment, climaxing in deadly serious, aggressive moment for crocodile encounter, a previously unreleased highlight.

Lilting waltz-like idea alternating between major and minor builds in deliberate fashion, becomes emotionally rich “Fairy Dance”. Highlights abound in Howard’s massive, lengthy opus: “Please Don’t Die” offers powerful chords in orchestra and chorus, building to dramatic finish, dynamic low brass rhythmic procession as “Wendy Walks The Plank”.

Latter portion of score is packed with energy: “Into The Rigging” opens with powerful 4/4 action motif then later erupts in chopping motif for brass, “He’s Mine” launches with riveting horn motif then becomes an action highlight for entire orchestra replete with brass fanfares, glissandi trombones, everything but the kitchen sink.

When all is said and done, Howard bids farewell to Think in moving quote, then brings Peter’s soaring theme to the fore for climax of “Peter Returns” and finally melts with quiet, beautiful major-key finish. Unusually long “End Title/End Credits” sequence in film incredibly is all Howard, with over ten minutes of material both drawn from score and recorded specifically for closing suite, a magnificent wrap-up.

Entire 112-minute score presented direct from digital two-track stereo session mixes made by Shawn Murphy in October & November 2003, colorful flipper-style package from Kay Marshall, detailed notes from Frank DeWald include new comments for this release by the composer.

Intrada Special Collection 2-CD release available while quantities and interest remain!

( - Intrada Records - )

More info at: Official Web Site Intrada Records

More info at: Composer James Newton Howard on Youtube Music

Intrada announces the release of one of James Newton Howard's finest fantasy scores—the 2003 live-action telling of Peter Pan.

Intrada announces the release of one of James Newton Howard's finest fantasy scores—the 2003 live-action telling of Peter Pan.

In cooperation with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Universal Pictures, this new release expands dramatically upon the original issue released at the time of the film. Director P. J. Hogan's Peter Pan may be a live-action picture, but it is scored very much in the manner of an animated film. Howard’s music is quicksilver and inventive, changing direction at the drop of a hat. His themes are malleable, their use kaleidoscopic.

The score is mostly symphonic, with a leading role given to woodwinds, both solo and in combination. At times, Howard goes beyond the boundaries of the standard symphonic set-up by employing non-orchestral instruments such as pan pipes and mandolin. He also uses wordless chorus—employing the voices of both children and adults.

Howard also departs from traditional symphonic scoring in the all-important flying sequence—the first music he wrote for the picture.
Here, he introduces rock elements, including the use of drums to propel the action and a reliance on ostinato figures that move the music forward.
The result is an epic work that soars. Whether you're flying to Neverland, accompanying Peter on his grand adventures, or saving a fairy’s life, the score is thrilling from start to finish.

Over 112 minutes of colorful music carries the drama, assists the charm, underlines the ageless characters and illuminates the story from one end of the picture to the other.

The score fills 2 CDs and is presented from the digital stereo film mixes made by Shawn Murphy at Todd-AO Scoring.
The score was recorded at the Sony Scoring Stage in Culver City, California, during late October and early November 2003.

More info at: Official Web Site Intrada Records

More info at: Composer James Newton Howard Official Site