Silva Screen Records release a 15 track collection of James Newton Howard's music from The Hunger Games saga. performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic. The compilation gives an organic overview of the understated yet lush soundtrack to the dystopian world of Panem. The cut-throat action makes up a large part of the story, yet Howard achieves something singular here by producing an admirably restrained score...

While I'm a fan of James Newton Howard's work, his scores for The Hunger Games movies have somehow passed me by. I'm not sure who was responsible for choosing the tracks to go on this compilation album, but they've done an excellent job of picking some incredible themes. It could be that the original albums were bursting with epic themes, or it could be that what's represented here are the only parts worth reproducing - I have no idea. But as a taster for the full scores, this works a treat.

From the haunting and rustic melody of The Hunger Games theme, pomp and circumstance of 'Horn of Plenty', the quasi-religious 'Arena Crumbles' and spine-tingling centrepiece 'The Hanging Tree', to the wonderful 'Air Raid Drill' driven by throbbing string ostinatos and soaring voices and ironic and non-triumphant 'Victory', this is a score that uses strings, guitar, dobro, choirs and solo voices to create a singular sound world in counterpoint to images.

Of this album's 15 tracks (55 min, 06 sec) personal highlights include the rousing 'Horn of Plenty'; 'Tenuous Winners / Returning Home'; the Bernard Herrmann-esque 'Air Raid Drill'; and 'Your Favorite Color Is Green'.

In fact, this album made such an impression on me that I'll be seeking out the original albums as soon as I can.

01 - 'The Hunger Games' (From The Hunger Games)
02 - 'Horn of Plenty' (From The Hunger Games)
03 - 'Rue's Farewell' (From The Hunger Games)
04 - 'Tenuous Winners / Returning Home' (From The Hunger Games)
05 - 'The Tour' (From The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
06 - 'Katniss Is Chosen' (From The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
07 - 'I Need You' (From The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
08 - 'Arena Crumbles' (From The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
09 - 'The Mockingjay' (From The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1)
10 - 'The Hanging Tree' (From The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1)
11 - 'Air Raid Drill' (From The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1)
12 - 'Victory' (From The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1)
13 - 'Your Favorite Color Is Green' (From The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 2)
14 - 'Primrose' (From The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 2)
15 - 'There Are Worse Games to Play / Deep in the Meadow / The Hunger Games Suite' (From The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 2)

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Darren Rea