Looking Ahead – So Say We All
I will never forget the summer of 2009, when my unique band, The BSG Orchestra, rocked out on a crowded stage in San Diego during Comic Con, performing my score for Battlestar Galactica, just months after the epic series finale aired. The venue was bursting with my brilliant musicians, many of the cast, crew, writers, producers, and executives, as well as fans from around the world. Together, we experienced a collective euphoria, because we all loved the show with the same intense passion. After the last encore, the crowd erupted into an unprompted chant of “So Say We All,” a moment that remains one of the most magical and memorable of my life. As the house lights came up and the crowd dissipated, I collapsed into a sweat-soaked heap on the couch in the greenroom and realized that, for the first in my life, I had no new cues for the show to write. Battlestar Galactica had been the most significant part of my life for six years, and now, with this concert complete, it was over.
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Remembering Richard Hatch
Richard Hatch was my friend. And tonight he is gone.
I first met the dynamic actor, who played Captain Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica and Tom Zarek in its reincarnation a quarter century later, while I was scoring the new series’ second season. He was the first actor on the show I had the pleasure of meeting, when he interviewed me for a fan website. He quickly put my starstruck nerves at ease with his obvious passion for storytelling. I instantly recognized him as a man for whom art was a spiritual experience. A genuine curiosity about life, music and story radiated from him.
- Published in Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica Other, Blog, Personal
Holiday Gift Guide 2013
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Hoping to make your holiday shopping a bit easier, I’ve compiled all the records and merch that I’ve put out this year into one blog entry. Any soundtrack geek on your ‘Nice’ list will dig this stuff. And geeks on your ‘Naughty’ list as well! 🙂
T-SHIRTS:
I’m thrilled to announce that Sparks & Shadows has released t-shirts of my iconic “Bear McCreary: Thirteen Notes” design. Originally unveiled during my 2009 “Music of Battlestar Galactica” tours, these notes are in the frakkin’ ship! 🙂 Fans have been asking for shirts for years and thanks to the good folks at S&S, its finally happening!
CLICK HERE TO ORDER. Shirts are available for $21.98, in a wide variety of sizes and colors, and they ship internationally.
- Published in Albums, Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica Albums, Blog, BSG Albums, Caprica, Da Vinci's Demons, Defiance, Europa Report, Other
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome
Tonight, the “Battlestar Galactica” prequel film “Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome” airs on SyFy. After premiering on Machinima’s YouTube channel last November, it will finally have a DVD/BluRay release on February 19th. Later this spring, my scores to both “BSG” prequels will be released by La-La Land Records, starting with a limited edition CD of “Blood & Chrome” in March and a comprehensive “Caprica” album in April (click here for details).
In tonight’s video blog, you’ll hear exclusive score clips, and get a look at my recording sessions for this long-awaited prequel film:
All of this has happened before…
When scoring “Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome,” I found myself returning once more to the musical universe of pounding taikos, minimalist strings and ethereal vocals I created for “Battlestar Galactica.”
BSG Piano Book Fan Performances Awards
Last year, I worked with Hal Leonard Publishing to release the “Battlestar Galactica” piano solo sheet music book. The book contains my own personal piano arrangements of the most memorable and significant cues from the series. I knew that BSG fans wanted to connect more directly with the score and the piano book gave them the basic DNA to reconstruct the music on their own instruments.
YouTube had already become a forum for fans to post their own performances of my music, even before there was any sheet music released. So, I was pleased to see a virtual explosion of material pop up on the site after the book was released. The videos range from the sublime to the ludicrous — some are genuinely skilled performances, others creatively entertaining short films, and everything in between. A common love of the music of “BSG” threaded through them all.
I began assembling my personal favorites in a special playlist on my new YouTube channel. And now, I’m presenting my official… 
(more…)
- Published in Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica Other, Blog, Other
EMP BSG Galactibash
This weekend I was honored to take part in the closing celebration of the EMP Science Fiction Hall of Fame’s “Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition.” For the past 18 months, the museum has had remarkable memorabilia on display, including two vipers, a cylon raider, costumes and many props from “Battlestar Galactica,” as well as recorded interviews from dozens of the series’ cast and crew.
(photo courtesy of Jill Watson)
For the “Galactibash” last Friday, the EMP invited cast and crew for a QnA panel. On hand were such alumni as Tahmoh Penikett (“Helo”), Luciana Carro (“Kat”), David Weddle (writer / producer), Bradley Thompson (writer / producer), Michael Nankin (director), Mark Verheiden (writer / producer), Glenne Campbell (costume designer) and myself. (more…)
- Published in Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica Other, Other
“Prelude to War” For Accordion Orchestra
My first single as a solo accordionist is out today! Presenting…
“Prelude to War” For Accordion Orchestra:
- Published in Albums, Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica Albums, Blog, BSG Albums
Battlestar Galactica Solo Piano CD
Since the book’s release last spring, I have been continually amazed at the overwhelming response to my Battlestar Galactica Solo Piano Book. Throughout the summer, as we’ve shot a few videos of my performances for my YouTube channel, the response has been equally enthusiastic. And through it all, one question has remained constant: when are you going to release a CD of your BSG piano arrangements?
The answer is: today.
BuySoundtrax Records and I have collaborated to produce a complete recording of the songbook. The album is available beginning today from iTunes (in separate volumes I and II), from Amazon Mp3 (volume I and II) or as a physical CD from the label’s website.
- Published in Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica Albums, Blog, BSG Albums
BSG Piano Book Videos
My long-awaited “Battlestar Galactica” Piano Music Book is finally available, thanks to Hal Leonard and Universal Music Publishing. To celebrate the release, I have started an official YouTube Channel for fan-made “BSG” music performances: http://www.youtube.com/bearmccreary
Every two weeks, I will upload a new video of me performing a piece from the “BSG” Piano Music Book, at my own living room piano. Let’s kick off with one of my favorites, “Prelude to War:”
This channel isn’t just for me. You are all invited to take part in this “online living room concert.” If you create a YouTube video of your own “BSG” music performance, I want to feature it. Just post a link to your video in the comments section in this blog entry, or email it to us at “staff @ bearmccreary .com.”
- Published in Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica Other, Blog
EXCLUSIVE: BSG Piano Book Song List
It’s finally here! The official collection of Battlestar Galactica Piano Solo Music is available for pre-order at Amazon.com! (Ships Feb.9)
- Published in Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica Other, Blog