I wrote my first cue for Battlestar Galactica: Season 4 in August, 2007 and finished scoring the series finale in February, 2009. Earlier this year, I posted a blog entry asking all you fans what you wanted on the album. And, wow, you guys certainly responded!
I kept that blog post handy while I was making my selections for the album. In fact, several of the tracks that made the final cut were ones I wouldn’t have considered were it not for an astute fan mentioning it here on this blog.
Narrowing the selections down to only two discs was difficult enough, but then my entire team and I spent months recording, mixing, editing and compiling that two years’ worth of effort into the ultimate listening experience. I even composed or expanded several pieces specifically for the album, and spent weeks compiling material for the expanded 20-page CD booklet that will accompany each album. And I spent this week at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles, putting the finishing touches on this epic journey, in preparation for a July 21, 2009 release date! (UPDATE: The release date is now July 28th.)
Now, I can finally announce the official album track list and provide a glimpse of the cover:
Battlestar Galactica: Season 4
Music Composed By Bear McCreary
DISC 1:
1. Gaeta’s Lament
Featuring Alessandro Juliani, vocals
Words by Michael Angeli, Music by Bear McCreary
From the Episode “Guess What’s Coming to Dinner”
2. The Signal
From the Episode “Revelations”
3. Resurrection Hub
From the Episode “The Hub”
4. The Cult of Baltar
Featuring Raya Yarbrough, vocals
Words and Music by Bear McCreary
From the Episodes “He That Believeth in Me” and “Escape Velocity”
5. Farewell Apollo
From the Episode “Six of One”
6. Roslin Escapes
From the Episode “Blood on the Scales”
7. Among the Ruins
From the Episode “Sometimes a Great Notion”
8. Laura Runs
From the Episode “A Disquiet Follows My Soul”
9. Cally Descends
From the Episode “The Ties That Bind”
10. Funeral Pyre
Featuring Kandyse McClure, vocals
From the Episode “Sometimes a Great Notion”
11. Roslin and Adama Reunited
From the Episode “The Hub”
12. Gaeta’s Lament (Instrumental)
From the Episode “Guess What’s Coming to Dinner”
13. Elegy
Performed by Bear McCreary, piano
From the Episode “Someone to Watch Over Me”
14. The Alliance
From the Episode “Revelations”
15. Blood on the Scales
From the Episodes “The Oath” and “Blood on the Scales”
16. Grand Old Lady
From the Episode “Islanded in a Stream of Stars”
17. Kara Remembers
From the Episode “Someone to Watch Over Me”
18. Boomer Takes Hera
From the Episode “Someone to Watch Over Me”
19. Dreilide Thrace Sonata No. 1
Performed by Bear McCreary, piano
From the Episode “Someone to Watch Over Me”
20. Diaspora Oratorio
Words and Music by Bear McCreary
From the Episode “Revelations”
DISC 2: “Daybreak”
1. Caprica City, Before the Fall
2. Laura’s Baptism
3. Adama in the Memorial Hallway
4. The Line
5. Assault on the Colony
Featuring Raya Yarbrough, vocals
6. Baltar’s Sermon
7. Kara’s Coordinates
8. Earth
9. Goodbye Sam
10. The Heart of the Sun
Contains “Theme from Battlestar Galactica”
by Stu Phillips and Glen A. Larson
11. Starbuck Disappears
12. So Much Life
13. An Easterly View
14. The Passage of Time
Rest assured that these tracks are nice and long. The second disc includes virtually every second of the Daybreak score. In fact, “Assault on the Colony” alone runs OVER FIFTEEN MINUTES! It is an epic battle cue intended to sit alongside Season 1’s “Battle on the Asteroid,” Season 2’s “Prelude to War” and Season 3’s “Storming New Caprica.” (We’re tweaking the mix of “Assault” right now, as I write this. I realize it has actually become my favorite BSG action cue. I can’t wait for you guys to hear it!)
The best place to pick up copy is at one of our live “Music of Battlestar Galactica” concerts at the House of Blues in San Diego, July 23, 24 and 25. Tickets are on sale now!
Once the record comes out, I’ll write an entry going into detail about the individual tracks. But I knew you guys would want to see the track list early. A big thanks goes out to all the fans who chimed in on the blog here and helped me pick these cues.
Also, I’m on TWITTER now! Follow @bsglive for concert updates and the most current information on special guests, surprise announcements, etc.
See you in San Diego next month!
-Bear
UPDATE 6-20-09: I forgot to mention that I’m being interviewed tomorrow night (Sunday, June 21) on NPR’s “ALL THINGS CONSIDERED,” discussing my score for “Battlestar Galactica.” The show airs between 5:30 and 6:00pm, although that can change depending on time zone. Check local listings. Also, it will be on the NPR website starting at 7pm ET.
Wow, that’s quite an impressive tracklist. Right now, I can’t think of any particular musical piece I miss.
From what I’ve heard in the episode itself, I tend to agree with your statement that Assault on the Colony is your best action cue ever. And 15 minutes, that’s gotta be by far your longest piece ever for BSG.
I already know what’s going to be my most played album this summer. 32 days to go…
Left by Thomas on June 19th, 2009