E.S. Posthumus

Infobox musical artist
Name = E.S. Posthumus
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre = Orchestral
Electronic
Years_active = 2000 – present
Label = Wigshop Records
URL = [http://www.esposthumus.com www.esposthumus.com]
Current_members = Franz Vonlichten
Helmut Vonlichten

E.S. Posthumus (also known as "ES Posthumous") is an independent music group that produces cinematic style music. It is a form of epic classical that fuses intertwined drum beats with orchestral and electronic sounds. Their music is inspired by the Pythagorean Philosophy which states that "music is the harmonization of opposites; the conciliation of warring elements". The "E.S." is an acronym for "Experimental Sounds" while "Posthumus" is a word that represents "all things past". [ [http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/5/prweb236515.htm eMediaWire - E.S. Posthumus Unearthed press release] 5 May 2005]

According to the group, E.S. Posthumus was formed in 2000 by brothers Helmut and Franz Vonlichten. Helmut and Franz studied piano with their mother. After graduating from high school, Franz worked in recording studios while Helmut attended and graduated from UCLA, with a degree in archaeology.

E.S. Posthumus' music has been licensed by many movie and television production studios; being included in numerous movie trailers and television shows. For instance, the song "Posthumus Zone" was composed for the CBS Sports TV programs "The NFL Today" and "The NFL on CBS". E.S. Posthumus have so far released two albums.

Unearthed

Infobox Album | Name = Unearthed
Type = Album
Artist = E.S. Posthumus


Released = Limited: 1st January 2001
Wide: 3rd May 2005
Genre = Orchestral
Label = Wigshop Records
Recorded = ?
Length = 58:13
Producer = E.S. Posthumus
Reviews =
* [http://www.tracksounds.com/reviews/unearthed.htm TrackSounds]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wxfoxqu0ldje All Music Guide]
* [http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=2862 SoundtrackNet]
Last album =
This album = "Unearthed"
(2001)
Next album = "Cartographer"
(2008)

"Unearthed", the first album composed by E.S. Posthumus, was originally made available for purchase online through the CDBaby website in January 2001. It became the third-biggest selling album in CDBaby's history. The success of the album prompted the wide re-release to retail in May 2005 through Wigshop and 33rd Street Records/Bayside Distribution.

A key piece to the distinctive sound of the music comes from working with the Northwest Sinfonia. In an interview with SoundtrackNet, the band said "we wanted the chance to blow an ungodly sum of cash working with a big orchestra". [http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=148 SoundtrackNet - "Unearthing Pythagoras" Franz Vonlichten interview] 26 May 2005] Other musicians performing on this CD include Pedro Eustache, Michael Landau, Matt Laug, Lance Morrison, Davy Spillane and Efrain Toro.

Track listing

In keeping with the theme of "all things past", each of the thirteen tracks on the album are named after an ancient or long-standing city.

#"Antissa"
#"Tikal"
#"Harappa"
#"Ulaid"
#"Ebla"
#"Nara"
#"Cuzco"
#"Nineveh"
#"Lepcis Magna"
#"Menouthis"
#"Estremoz"
#"Pompeii"
#"Isfahan"

Media usage

Many tracks from "Unearthed" have been featured in various movie trailers and television shows. It has been used in the trailers for movies such as " Unfaithful" and "Vanity Fair" thanks to its escalating structure, which makes it well-suited for the dramatic montages building towards the credits in the aforementioned trailers.

An excerpt from the track "Nara" is used as the main theme for the CBS television show "Cold Case". A vocal rise performed by a female solo singer leads into the opening title, where one of the verses of "Nara" is then played for the remainder of the sequence, concluding with a short melody from a woodwind instrument. At the time Executive Producer Jerry Bruckheimer chose the song to be used in the show, he had never actually met the Vonlichten brothers in person. Additionally, Michael A. Levine, a musical composer for television shows and advertisements, created a reworked version of "Nara" that is played during the show's closing credits as provided by the studio (though not as shown on CBS).

The list below provides details on movie trailers that have used tracks from the "Unearthed" album.

1999
* "Boondock Saints" - "Pompeii"

2001
* "Planet of the Apes" - "Menouthis" and "Pompeii"
* "Spy Game" - "Pompeii"
* "The Affair of the Necklace" - "Harappa"

2002
* "Antwone Fisher" - "Nara"
* "Minority Report" - "Tikal"
* "Spider-Man" - "Pompeii" and "Nineveh"
* "The Recruit" - "Menouthis"
* "The Time Machine" - "Tikal"
* "Tuck Everlasting" - "Cuzco"
* "" - "Nara"
* "Unfaithful" - "Nara"
* "xXx" - "Harappa" and "Tikal"

2003
* "" - "Nara"
* "Cold Case - "Nara"
* "Daredevil" - "Lepcis Magna" and "Tikal"
* "" - "Menouthis"
* "" - "Tikal"
* "The Matrix Reloaded" - "Ebla"

2004
* "Catwoman" - "Pompeii"
* "National Treasure" - "Menouthis" and "Nara"
* "" - "Harappa" and "Tikal"
* "The Clearing" - "Nara"
* "Vanity Fair" - "Nara"
* "SWEPT" - "Menouthis"

2005
* "Two for the Money" - "Nineveh"
* "" - "Harappa"

2006
*"Curse of the Golden Flower" - "Pompeii"
*"Breaking and Entering" - "Nara"
*"The Last King of Scotland" - "Tikal"

2007
*"Partition" - "Nara"
*"" - "Nineveh"
*"The Irony of Fate 2" - "Nara"

2008
*"The Other Boleyn Girl" - "Nara"

Cartographer

Infobox Album | Name = Cartographer
Type = Album
Artist = E.S. Posthumus


Released = 14th January 2008
Genre = Orchestral
Label = Wigshop Records
Recorded = ?
Length = 2:14:05
Producer = E.S. Posthumus

Last album = "Unearthed"
(2001)
This album = "Cartographer"
(2008)
Next album =

"Cartographer", the second album from E.S. Posthumus, was proposed to make its release sometime in 2006, though was later released in early 2008. The delay from the original release date can so far only be attributed to the brothers Vonlichten's ill concern with deadlines.

Upon the album's release on the CDBaby website, it came accompanied with the following album description:

"In 1929, the ancient map "Piri Reis" was discovered in Constantinople. The map is extraordinary because it depicts bays and islands on the Antarctic coast which have been concealed under ice for at least 6,000 years. What civilization was capable of such exploration that long ago?

On "Cartographer", we imagine that these explorers were from the tiny island of Numa in the Southern Indian Ocean. As advanced seafarers, they navigated every corner of the Earth. We have created a language unique to them and tell stories through song that describe their creation, discoveries and ultimate demise.

This is a 2 CD collection with Vocal and Remix versions of every song. The Remix CD also contains 2 bonus tracks."

The vocal tracks are sung by Luna Sans, while the remix versions replace her vocals with instrumental solos and choir melodies, much in the style of Posthumus's first album, "Unearthed".

As of 17 January 2008, a [http://www.esposthumus.com/cartographer/cartographer.html new section] was added to the official website of E.S. Posthumus with the focus being on the new album.

Track listing

Disc 1 - Luna Sans (Vocal)

#"Nolitus" - 4:30
#"Isunova" - 5:29
#"Vorrina" - 6:12
#"Selisona" - 5:05
#"Marunae" - 4:53
#"Mosane" - 4:14
#"Decifin" - 4:37
#"Sollente" - 5:11
#"Caarano" - 3:35
#"Raptamei" - 5:20
#"Oraanu" - 3:57
#"Nivaos" - 5:12
#"Nasivern" - 5:35

Disc 2 - Piri Reis Remixes (Remix)

#"Ashielf Pi" - 1:32
#"Oraanu Pi" - 3:38
#"Marunae Pi" - 4:52
#"Mosane Pi" - 4:16
#"Isunova Pi" - 5:41
#"Nasivern Pi" - 5:29
#"Selisona Pi" - 4:31
#"Raptamei Pi" - 5:54
#"Caarano Pi" - 3:35
#"Nivaos Pi" - 5:13
#"Sollente Pi" - 5:12
#"Decifin Pi" - 4:36
#"Vorrina Pi" - 6:14
#"Nolitus Pi" - 4:26
#"Odenall Pi" - 5:06

Media usage

The list below provides details on movie trailers and television programs that have used tracks from the "Cartographer" album.

2008
*"Lost" - "Ashielf Pi"
*"The Masters" - "Oraanu Pi"

New Album, "Unearthed 2" (Tentative)

In an interview with Globecat on 15 August 2008, the brothers revealed that they are currently working on a followup to Unearthed by themselves. [ [http://globecat.blogspot.com/2008/08/interview-es-posthumus.html Globecat: ES Posthumus Interview ] ]

Rise to Glory (Single)

Rise to Glory is a single released in September 2005 featuring the vocals of rappers DJ Quik and Bizarre. The song "Rise to Glory" is recognized as a sung remix and an extended version of "Posthumus Zone." It is most commonly recognized as the theme song to the NFL on CBS since the 2005-2006 season.

* Posthumus Zone

Unstoppable (Single)

Unstoppable is another single which has been released by E.S. Posthumus. Like most of their other work it is available through both iTunes and CD Baby. A YouTube video with the song as its soundtrack can be seen by going to this link [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StDNxdmnCz4 Youtube - E. S. Posthumus "Unstoppable" Afc Tease ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.esposthumus.com E.S. Posthumus - Official Website]
* [http://www.soundtrack.net/trailers/composer-trailer.php?id=843 SoundtrackNet - E.S. Posthumus Movie Trailer Usage]
* [http://www.sportsline.com/u/cbs/sports/news/090203nflmusic.htm CBS Sports - CBS.SportsLine.com] News Item
* [http://cdbaby.com CDbaby Website]
* [http://esposthumusfans.proboards60.com/index.cgi E.S. Posthumus Fan Discussion Forum]