> I stumbled across some very interesting (and somewhat disturbing)
> information at the German film score forum SoundtrackBoard today:

>
> http://www.soundtrack-board.de/topic/14028-var%C3%A8se-sarabande-marco-beltrami-the-woman-in-black-angel-of-death/?hl=brandon+roberts#entry351188

> The meaty stuff starts with a post by the user Siddl, who from what I can
> gather knows and/or works with Beltrami's orchestration team. I'll
> translate for you.

> Siddl: Beltrami doesn't compose alone anymore for over 50% of his music
> - no matter the project. I don't think it's that conspicuous, though. Buck
> Sanders has been by his side forever and Marcus [Trumpp] knows his
> style pretty well too - after all, he wrote over half of Die Hard 5, the
> other half is by Brandon Roberts. Two cues by Marco.

> sami: The cast and crew list says something very different, though. And
> the CDs don't say otherwise either, which would be quite something at over
> 80%...

> Siddl: A lot of the time these people don't like to be named - Marcus is
> very modest and gives Marco all the credit. James McKee Smith wrote cues
> for John Powell for years and never wanted any credit or acknowledgment.
> Unfortunately, if ever, they only are credited on cue sheets in order that
> royalties are paid properly. Some of the cue sheets I've come across have
> been downright scary.

> Lars Potreck: Is the 'family theme' at the end of Die Hard 5 ['It's
> Hard to Kill a McClane'] by Beltrami? It certainly sounds like a
> typical Beltrami finale.

> Siddl: That's by Brandon Roberts. Marco's pieces are '1M3 - Phone
> Booth/Killing Anton' [that's 'Jack Makes the Call' from the score
> album] and '8M1 - McClane's Brain'.

> Lars Potreck: Thanks for the information. He's got Beltrami's sound down
> perfectly, then.

> There's a bit more discussion about that particular cue, and then some
> tangential discussion about Jerry Goldsmith and Joel McNeely on Air
> Force One, then it gets back to Die Hard 5.

> Sebastian Schwittay: So there are only two pieces by Beltrami in A GOOD
> DAY TO DIE HARD? That comes as quite a shock - after all, it's one of the
> best 'Beltrami' scores of the past two, three years. Are you sure
> that Beltrami handed over complete control of all the other cues?
> And 'Triple Vodka Rhapsody' isn't by him either?

> Siddl: Believe me, that's how it is. 'Triple Vodka Rhapsody' is by Marcus.

> Sebastian Schwittay: Did Beltrami not at least do early conceptual work on
> major cues?

> Lars Potreck: That the music is sold as a purely Beltrami score is pretty
> outrageous. Not even Hansi Zimmer does that.

> Siddl (to Sebastian's question): I can ask again specifically about that -
> but I'd imagine they'll be mum on the particulars. Not without reason, I'd
> say.

> Okay...so :o :o :o !!!!

> I totally agree with Sebastian. One of the best 'Beltrami' scores I've
> ever heard, and not it's not just not entirely by Beltrami (which I'd
> assumed)...but rather Beltrami appears to have next to nothing to do with
> it at all!

> Does anyone know more about this? I mean, holy hell!

Huh, reminds me a bit of the so much talked about John Ottman situation as he also uses quite a lot of additional composers, but, at least, has an excuse of also being one of the top notch film editors today.

However, I do not believe this story as it seems totally over the top and unreal. C'mon, only two cues of the whole score by Beltrami? Yeah, right. Sure, these three are life long collaborators and definitely split the work, but Marco has to be the captain on the boat. Not buying this story till more proof is clearly evident.