FIRST MAN Soundtrack to Feature Score from Justin Hurwitz
By: Kaitlin Milligan Oct. 05, 2018
Back Lot Music will release the original motion-picture soundtrack to Universal Pictures' First Man day and date with the film's theatrical release on October 12. The soundtrack will feature new music from two-time Academy Award winner Justin Hurwitz, as well as a recording of Leon Bridges performing "Whitey on the Moon," in character as Gil Scott Heron. As of today, fans who pre-order the soundtrack will get the tracks "Quarantine" and "The Landing" immediately.
On the heels of their six-time Academy Award -winning smash,La La Land, Oscar -winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam forFirst Man, the riveting story behind the first manned mission to the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the decade leading to the historic Apollo 11 flight. A visceral and intimate account told from Armstrong's perspective, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the film explores the triumphs and the coston Armstrong, his family, his colleagues and the nation itselfof one of the most dangerous missions in history.
For First Man, Chazelle reteams with familiar faces from hisLa La Landcreative crew. In addition to Hurwitz, they include Oscar -winning director of photography Linus Sandgren (American Hustle), costume designer Mary Zophres (True Grit), and Academy Award -winning editor Tom Cross (Whiplash). Chazelle collaborates for the first time with lauded production designer Nathan Crowley (Dunkirk,The Greatest Showman), in addition to Oscar -winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert (Blade Runner 2049,The Huntsman: Winter's War).
The film's harmonious score features orchestra mixed with vintage electronics, including the Theremin. Regarding that choice of instrumentation, Hurwitz said: "As soon as I found the main theme at the piano, Damien suggested using a Theremin to express that melody throughout the movie. I got one and started learning to play it, and loved how emotional and expressive the instrument could be. With its wailing quality, we were able to capture the type of cosmic pain that suited Neil's story."
Hurwitz graduated from Harvard University in 2008, where he studied music composition and orchestration. He composed the music for Chazelle's first three films: Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, Whiplash and La La Land, earning two Academy Awards , two Golden Globes, two Critics' Choice Awards, two Grammys and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for film music for his work on La La Land. Hurwitz lives in Los Angeles.
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