Tyler Bates scores Watchmen

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Dan Goldwasser



This past fall, composer Tyler Bates was at the Eastwood Scoring Stage to record his score for the highly anticipated film adaptation of the classic graphic-novel Watchmen. Directed by Zack Snyder, the film stars Carla Gugino, Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Goode and Stephen McHattie.


Tim Williams conducts Watchmen

Bates’ score was conducted by orchestrator Tim Williams with an 87-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony. One of the main themes heard in the film has a very strong ascending brass melody, backed by rhythmic orchestrations that hint at the steady momentum of a ticking clock.


Brian Kilgore plays timpani

Led by concertmaster Belinda Broughton, the orchestra had a good energy about them, and a unique layout, with the basses and French horns split in two, and put on both sides of the stage – with the brass in the middle. There was also a nice moment of celebration when two birthdays were celebrated (for violinist Bruce Dukov and pianist Randy Kerber).


Concertmaster Belinda Broughton

The brass section

Randy Kerber and Bruce Dukov’s birthday cake!

Thumbs up!

In the booth, Gustavo Borner was handling the score mixing duties, and Bates was giving feedback to the stage. Also lending a hand were copyist Ross DeRoche, assistant engineer Justin Moshkevich, ProTools operator Jason Newman and music editor Darrell Hall.


Composer Tyler Bates and scoring mixer Gustavo Borner

Copyist Ross DeRoche watches the orchestra from the booth

A visitor, assistant engineer Justin Moshkevich, ProTools operator Jason Newman and music editor Darrell Hall

Watchmen will be released by Warner Bros. on March 6, 2009. A score album will be released by Reprise Records on March 3, 2009.

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