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Composer Howard Shore may be competing with himself for a 2002 Academy Award, which he won for The Lord of the Rings soundtrack in 2001.  His Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers continues the Tolkien flavor and now Shore goes to 19th century New York City for this story of American history. The film centers on the conflict between Amsterdam (Leonardo Di Caprio) and Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis). Bill killed Amsterdam's father (Liam Neeson) years before, and Amsterdam is now driven by revenge. 

Since New York City was (and is) a melting pot of nationalities, music from this time period includes spirituals, Chinese, Irish, American frontier and a touch of something akin to ragtime. The story of "Gangs of New York" is a tragic one, so, as with "The Two Towers," much of the music is foreboding and in a minor key.

Shore's main theme, "Brooklyn Heights," comes in three versions---tracks one, eleven, and eighteen. Each time the theme is introduced, it is changed slightly and "Americanized" just as the immigrants become adjusted to their new country. The lead song typifying how immigration changed America is by U2 and called "The Hands That Built America." It is an ode to the common worker.

The Irish theme is carried through with "Dark Moon, High Tide," performed by Afro Celt Sound System, "Shomy She Wokkle," by the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band, "Dionysus," written and performed by Jocelyn Pook, "Morrison's Jig," by Mariano De Simone, "Devil's Tapdance" by Vittorio Schiboni, Massimo Giuntini, Rodrigo D'Erasmo and Mariano De Simone, and "Paddy's Lamentation," sung by Linda Thompson. In this musical grouping, the standout is "Dark Moon," which uses drums and brushes, guitar, fiddle, and tin whistle for pounding, rhythmic effect. 

Gospel music is incorporated in "Breakaway," by Sidney Stripling, which uses banjo and sounds like something from an old Gramophone. "Gospel Train" has whistle and percussion for spiritual effect, akin to "The Murderer's Home," which includes the lyrics, "Lord, pray for me"

Oriental mode includes "Durgen Chugaa" by Shu-De using drums and chant, while the "Beijing Opera Suite" by Da-Can Chen and Anxi Jiang has cymbals, tin trumpet, and drum in stylized fifths with the singers using open vowels for effect.

Another highlight is Peter Gabriel's "Signal To Noise," which sounds for all the world like the music from "Last of the Mohicans." There is an unusual percussion instrument here imitating a sort of cricket chirp. The piece starts out slower and methodic, and just when you think it will end, erupts into rock including acoustic guitar. I think just about every instrument in the orchestra is used here for a great jam session.

The Gangs of New York film is a violent story of a war within a war---street gangs fighting each other against the backdrop of the Civil War. Howard Shore's soundtrack includes the nationalities that made up the gangs, plus the by-standers and everyone who called him or herself American. 

Copyright 2003 Marie Asner
Submitted 1/20/03