The Dark Knight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard

Released on 14/07/08 by Warner Sunset - Warner Records
Main artists: Hans Zimmer James Newton Howard
Genre: Film Soundtracks

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Even high-budget Hollywood movies generally get by with one A-list composer, but the renewed Batman series that kicked off with Batman Begins under the direction of Christopher Nolan in 2005 used two, Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, both of whom return for the second installment, The Dark Knight. Although Zimmer and Howard are co-credited with each of the cues (with Lorne Balfe given a credit for unspecified "additional music"), their styles are sufficiently distinct that their individual contributions don't seem hard to delineate. The highly percussive synthesized music, much of it seemingly already mixed in with sound effects, sounds like Zimmer; the more conventional orchestral passages, sometimes giving way to solo piano, sound like Howard (who is, in fact, credited with playing piano on the soundtrack). Both approaches are combined in these sometimes lengthy cues, however. Those pounding, thunderous drums (or synthesized percussive effects) are never absent for long, even if certain tracks, notably Harvey Two-Face, Blood on My Hands. and Watch the World Burn, have a pastoral, classical feel. Other tracks, such as I'm Not a Hero and A Little Push, in which the percussion dominates, may be more Zimmer than Howard. Still, the two work well together on a score that, by definition, is "dark," laden with ominous sounds and relentlessly rhythmic accompaniments to the fast-paced action in the film.

© TiVo

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The Dark Knight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Hans Zimmer

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Why so Serious? (Album Version)

00:09:13

Brad Dechter, Orchestration - Matt Dunkley, Conductor - Maurice Murphy, Trumpet - Henry Jackman, Arranger - Simon Chamberlain, Piano - Lorne Balfe, Additional Music, CoProducer - Richard Watkins, Horn - Randy Kerber, Orchestration - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestral Contractor - Alan Meyerson, Mixer - mary Scully, Upright Bass - Chris Barrett, AssistantEngineer - Elizabeth Finch, Orchestration - Howard Scarr, Synthesizer Programmer - Jacob Shea, Synthesizer Programmer - Mel Wesson, Music - Suzette Moriarty, Orchestration - Thomas Broderick, Additional Programmer - Walter Fowler, Orchestration - Hans Zimmer, Composer, Producer, Synthesizer Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist - Alex Gibson, Music Editor, CoProducer - Geoff Foster, Recorded by - Kevin Kaska, Orchestra - Owen Slade, Tuba - Peter Lale, Viola - Jeff Atmajian, Orchestration - Gary Kettel, Percussion - Pete Davies, Trombone - Heitor Pereira, Additional Musicians - Ryeland Allison, Additional Musicians - Bruce Fowler, Conductor, Orchestration - James Newton Howard, Composer, Producer, Piano, MainArtist - Martin Tillman, Additional Musicians - Gavin Greenaway, Conductor - Anthony Pleeth., Cello - Louie Teran, Masterer - Jeff Biggers, AdditionalEngineer - Charlotte Matthews, Orchestral Contractor - Chris Bacon, AssistantEngineer - Claudius Bruse, Samples - Frank Ricotto, Percussion - Greg Vines, AssistantEngineer - Katia Lewin, AssistantEngineer - Mark Wherry, AdditionalEngineer - Michael Hobe, Samples - Michael Levine, Additional Musicians - Noah Sorota, Additional Programmer - Paul Clarivs, Percussion - Peter "Oso" Snell, Engineer - Rose Warren-Green, Orchestra Leader - Ryan Rubin, AssistantEngineer - Satnam Ramgotra, Additional Musicians - Stuart Thomas, Engineer - Zain Effendi, Samples - Daniel Pinder, Music Editor

© 2008 Warner Records Inc. for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside the U.S. Motion Picture Artwork and Photography (C) 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) DC ℗ 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

I'm Not a Hero (Album Version)