Lux Aeterna (Mansell)

This article is about the leitmotif of Requiem for a Dream. For other musical compositions called Lux Aeterna, see Lux Aeterna.

Lux Æterna (Classical Latin: [ˈluːks ae̯ˈtɛrna], Ecclesiastical Latin: [ˈluks eˈterna]; "eternal light") is an orchestral composition by Clint Mansell. Performed by the Kronos Quartet, it forms a leitmotif in the 2000 film Requiem for a Dream, and is the penultimate piece in the film's soundtrack.^[1]

"Lux Æterna"
Composition by Clint Mansell
from the album Requiem for a Dream soundtrack
Released	2000
Recorded	2000
Genre	21st-century classical music
Length	3:54
Label	Nonesuch Records
Songwriter(s)	Clint Mansell
Producer(s)	Kronos Quartet

A re-orchestrated version of the composition, titled "Requiem for a Tower", was created for the trailer of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in 2002.^[2][3]

In popular culture

Both "Lux Aeterna" and the re-orchestrated version, "Requiem for a Tower" that was created for the trailer of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, have been used in multiple forms of media, including the film trailers for The Da Vinci Code, I Am Legend, Sunshine and Babylon A.D.; trailers for the video games Assassin's Creed and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King; advertising campaigns for such products as Canon PowerShot cameras, Molson Canadian and Canadian wireless carrier Telus; and on television such as in the series So You Think You Can Dance as well as a promo spot for the series Flash Forward.^[4]

Requiem for a Tower

Corner Stone Cues Presents: "Requiem For A Tower"
Soundtrack album by Corner Stone Cues
Released	26 March 2006[5]
Genre	Trailer Score Soundtrack
Length	24:46
Producer	Corner Stone Cues, Howling Entertainment

A re-orchestrated version of "Lux Aeterna", titled "Requiem for a Tower", was arranged by composers Simone Benyacar, Dan Nielsen and Veigar Margeirsson for the trailer of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.^[2][3] "Requiem for a Tower" features a choir and full orchestra.^[2]

Although never intended for release, after considerable demand by fans the re-recording(s) were made available as part of the Requiem for a Tower album release from Corner Stone Cues.^[6] While the release was originally made physically,^[7] production was discontinued with increased digital sales of the album on major electronic music distributors iTunes^[8] and Amazon MP3.^[9]

Corner Stone Cues release

Corner Stone Cues Presents: Requiem For A Tower (24:46)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Requiem For A Tower Mvt II" (Veigar Margeirsson / Clint Mansell)	0:57
2.	"Requiem For A Tower Mvt III" (Simone Benyacar / Craig Stuart Garfinkle / Clint Mansell)	0:49
3.	"Requiem For A Tower Mvt IV" (Dan Nielsen / Clint Mansell)	0:41
4.	"Wicked" (Simone Benyacar / Craig Stuart Garfinkle /)	2:39
5.	"J.B.D."	2:26
6.	"Betrayal & Redemption"	2:40
7.	"Threshold"	2:03
8.	"Shining Path (L.U.2.P.)"	2:39
9.	"Leather Tomb"	1:58
10.	"Ghost in the Trees"	2:06
11.	"Azure"	4:16
12.	"Forest Chase"	1:34