Clint Mansell – Lux Aeterna (aka “Requiem for a Tower”)

Clint Mansell (born Clinton Darryl Mansell, 7 January 1963, in Coventry, England) is a musician and composer. Mansell was the lead singer and guitarist of the British band, Pop Will Eat Itself. Mansell also broke into the world of film scoring when his friend, director, Darren Aronofsky, gave him the opportunity to score his debut film, “Pi”.

Despite some acclaim, Mansell’s score went widely unnoticed by both fans and critics. However, the soundtrack release, placing Mansell’s work alongside tracks from Autechre, Aphex Twin, Orbital and Roni Size, did win many fans from the IDM and electronica communities.

Mansell’s score for π was followed up by his score for the next Darren Aronofsky film, Requiem for a Dream. The score became a cult hit, as it was appreciated by scores of composers. The music is notable for its use of sharp, often staccato ‘un-vibrato-ed’ string instruments to create a cold and discomforting sound from instruments frequently used for their warmth and softness (an effect pioneered in film soundtracks by Bernard Hermann). Reportedly Kronos Quartet asked for a very reasonable fee which, according to Aronofsky, suited him well; Aronofsky also stated that the music inspired him during the editing process.
The trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers used a remixed version of the track “Lux Aeterna”, re-recorded with a full orchestra and choir. The song, named “Requiem for a Tower”, was made just for the trailer (it was not featured in either Requiem for a Dream or The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) and was composed by Simone Benyacar, Dan Nielsen, and Veigar Margeirsson. In October 2006, the cue was released on the iTunes album release from Corner Stone Cues, appropriately titled “Requiem for a Tower”.