Lux Aeterna (Mansell)

Summary

Lux Æterna (Classical Latin: [ˈluːks ae̯ˈtɛrna], Ecclesiastical Latin: [ˈluks eˈterna]; "eternal light") is an orchestral composition by Clint Mansell. Performed by the Kronos Quartet, it forms a leitmotif in the 2000 film Requiem for a Dream, and is the penultimate piece in the movie's soundtrack.[1]

"Lux Æterna"
Composition by Clint Mansell
from the album Requiem for a Dream soundtrack
Released2000
Recorded2000
Genre21st-century classical music
Length3:54
LabelNonesuch Records
Songwriter(s)Clint Mansell
Producer(s)Kronos Quartet

A re-orchestrated version of the composition, titled "Requiem for a Tower", was created for the trailer of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in 2002.[2][3]

In popular culture edit

Both "Lux Aeterna" and the re-orchestrated version, "Requiem for a Tower" that was created for the trailer of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, have been used in multiple forms of media, including the film trailers for The Da Vinci Code, I Am Legend, Sunshine and Babylon A.D.; trailers for the video games Assassin's Creed and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King; advertising campaigns for such products as Canon PowerShot cameras, Molson Canadian and Canadian wireless carrier Telus; and on television such as in the series So You Think You Can Dance as well as a promo spot the series Flash Forward.[4]

Requiem for a Tower edit

Corner Stone Cues Presents: "Requiem For A Tower"
 
Soundtrack album by
Released26 March 2006[5]
GenreTrailer Score
Soundtrack
Length24:46
ProducerCorner Stone Cues, Howling Entertainment

A re-orchestrated version of "Lux Aeterna", titled "Requiem for a Tower", was arranged by composers Simone Benyacar, Dan Nielsen and Veigar Margeirsson for the trailer of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.[2][3] "Requiem for a Tower" features a choir and full orchestra.[2]

Although never intended for release, after considerable demand by fans the re-recording(s) were made available as part of the Requiem for a Tower album release from Corner Stone Cues.[6] While the release was originally made physically,[7] production was discontinued indefinitely with increased digital sales of the album on major electronic music distributors iTunes[8] and Amazon MP3.[9]

Corner Stone Cues release edit

Corner Stone Cues Presents: Requiem For A Tower (24:46)
No.TitleLength
1."Requiem For A Tower Mvt II" (Veigar Margeirsson / Clint Mansell)0:57
2."Requiem For A Tower Mvt III" (Simone Benyacar / Craig Stuart Garfinkle / Clint Mansell)0:49
3."Requiem For A Tower Mvt IV" (Dan Nielsen / Clint Mansell)0:41
4."Wicked" (Simone Benyacar / Craig Stuart Garfinkle /)2:39
5."J.B.D."2:26
6."Betrayal & Redemption"2:40
7."Threshold"2:03
8."Shining Path (L.U.2.P.)"2:39
9."Leather Tomb"1:58
10."Ghost in the Trees"2:06
11."Azure"4:16
12."Forest Chase"1:34

References edit

  1. ^ Hischak, Thomas S. (2015). The Encyclopedia of Film Composers. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 440. ISBN 9781442245501. Their second collaboration, the psychological drama Requiem for a Dream, includes in its score a string piece titled "Lux Aeterna" performed by the Kronos Quartet.
  2. ^ a b c Greiving, Tim (2020-10-16). "Requiem For A Theme: Film Composer Clint Mansell On The Sound Of Sadness". NPR. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  3. ^ a b Makalintal, Bettina (2020-10-06). "How the 'Requiem for a Dream' Song Became the Default Sound of Epic Drama". Vice. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  4. ^ Peters, Mitchell (2010-05-22). "Notes From The Underground". Billboard. p. 22. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  5. ^ Album release date http://music.163.com/#/album?id=405864 Archived 2017-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Jonathan, Jarry (2006-11-08). "Corner Stone Cues Presents: "Requiem For A Tower"". SoundtrackNet. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  7. ^ "Requiem For A Tower: Corner Stone Cues: Music". Amazon. 2009-09-09. Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  8. ^ "iTunes - Music - Corner Stone Cues Presents: Requiem for a Tower by Various Artists". Itunes.apple.com. 2009-03-26. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  9. ^ "Corner Stone Cues Presents: Requiem For A Tower: Corner Stone Cues: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-03-07.