Howard Shore

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1. #001

   A rule change at the Academy Awards in 2004 barred scores containing music previously used in earlier films from being nominated. The rule prevented the score for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) from being submitted to the Academy. The new regulation drew heavy criticism from both Academy members and film fans, since applying it in the past would have invalidated many nominated scores, such as those for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones sequels. After the scandal, the Academy was forced to return to its old rule.

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2. #002

   While composing the music for the Lord of the Rings films, Howard Shore drew inspiration from Richard Wagner, particularly from the Ring of the Nibelung opera cycle. There was one scene, however, where he moved beyond that influence: the Shelob's Lair sequence in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). Director Peter Jackson pushed him toward an unusual tone, telling Shore to 'go and pretend you're doing another film for David Cronenberg; it should sound like The Fly (1986)!' That direction helped create the scene's tense and unsettling atmosphere.

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3. #003

   Howard Shore and Danny Elfman share striking parallels in their careers. Both began their music careers in hit bands: Shore with the Blues Brothers and Elfman with Oingo Boingo. Both then scored Tim Burton films; Shore with Ed Wood (1994) and Elfman with many of Burton's films. They also both worked with Peter Jackson: Shore composed the music for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, while Elfman scored The Frighteners (1996). Finally, both contributed to the Hannibal Lecter series: Shore with The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Elfman with Red Dragon (2002).

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4. #004

   Early in his music career, Howard Shore worked closely with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi and played an important role in forming the original lineup of the Blues Brothers Band. This experience helped him develop his musical versatility and his talent across different genres. Shore's early collaboration laid the groundwork for the success he would later achieve in film music.

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5. #005

   James Woods, the lead actor of Videodrome (1983), described Howard Shore as 'the Bernard Herrmann of the synthesizer.' The comparison is a tribute honoring Shore's innovative and atmospheric compositions created with electronic instruments. Woods's words highlight the impact Shore had, particularly in the horror and thriller genres of film music.

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6. #006

   Howard Shore achieved a feat rarely seen in cinema history by composing the music for four separate Academy Award Best Picture winners. Those films were, in order, The Silence of the Lambs (1991), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), The Departed (2006) and Spotlight (2015). This achievement shows he is a composer able to adapt to productions of different genres and give each one a distinctive musical identity.

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7. #007

   In the extended DVD edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), two Oscar-winning figures appeared on camera: composer Howard Shore and re-recording mixer Michael Semanick. The pair joined the victory celebration in the Golden Hall as Guards of Rohan and stood out in the drinking game scene between Legolas and Gimli. These two guards, standing right behind the Elf Legolas, were a pleasant surprise for fans of the film. The cameo appears in the scene titled Chapter 5, 'The Return to Edoras.'.

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8. #008

   Howard Shore served as music director in the original cast of Saturday Night Live (1975). Shore and the show's future producer, Lorne Michaels, met at a summer camp in Canada during their youth. Together they staged shows that included their own musical and comedy revues, which they called the 'Fast Show.' This early collaboration laid the foundation for the pair's later professional relationship.

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9. #009

   Since 1979, Howard Shore has composed the music for nearly all of director David Cronenberg's feature films; the only exception was The Dead Zone (1983). Shore and Cronenberg were hometown compatriots, as both were born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This long-running collaboration is regarded as one of the most productive director-composer partnerships in cinema history.

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10. #010

    Howard Shore began his music career in the early 1970s by playing in the horn section of the Canadian band Lighthouse. This experience allowed him to develop his musical abilities and to work with different instruments. His role in Lighthouse was an important step toward the success he would later achieve as a film music composer.

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11. #011

    Howard Shore achieved the feat of composing the music for two of the three sequels that won the Best Picture Oscar. The first was The Silence of the Lambs (1991), a sequel to Manhunter (1986). The second was The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), the finale of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003). Both productions enjoyed great critical and commercial success in cinema history.

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12. #012

    Howard Shore coordinated with Hollywood Bowl conductor John Mauceri for national performances of his six-movement work 'The Lord of the Rings Symphony.' This collaboration allowed Shore to bring his film music into concert halls and reach a wide audience. The symphony reinterpreted the unforgettable themes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in an orchestral arrangement.

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13. #013

    Howard Shore received his music education at Berklee College of Music in Boston, in the United States. This prestigious school played an important role in developing his musical knowledge and technical skills. His education at Berklee laid the foundation for the success he would later achieve in film music.

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14. #014

    Howard Shore is the uncle of Ryan Shore, who is also a composer. Ryan Shore followed in his uncle's footsteps and has composed music for film and television. Howard Shore's success had an inspiring effect on his nephew and helped carry on the family's musical tradition.

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15. #015

    In 2017, Howard Shore became the third winner of the Lifetime Achievement Kilar Award presented at the FMF Krakow Film Music Festival. The award is named after the late Polish composer Wojciech Kilar and is given to figures who have made outstanding contributions to film music. Shore's receipt of the award is a sign that his career has been recognized internationally.

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