October 31, 2012
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Soundtrack Composers
So I’ve been mulling this one for awhile now. I used to collect soundtracks. There was something about the score of the movie that gave me the chills sometimes. I still find soundtracks great, but I don’t quite have the same enthusiasm as I used to. Part of this has to do with the fact that I don’t go to the theatre as often, but also because I just don’t collect anymore. I don’t know the new composers, only the vanguard of composers past. That said, I’ve been listening to some soundtracks recently, and want to share the observation that a lot of the time, you can tell a composer by the soundtrack.
Here’s one analysis: Aside from the coincidental coloration of both movie albums for National Treasure and Remember the Titans, Trevor Rabin has a distinctive style. I’ve linked some music for you to compare the stylistic as well as melodic similarities from the two movies.
National Treasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olg4i1Z8N8k (Interrogation).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KDfVB1g9BQ (Treasure)
Remember the Titans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkAeSl3CXfs (Titan’s Spirit)
Rabin changes tempo a lot in his tracks. In general, the fast tempos are “big sound” and generate suspense. Examples of this are at 2:30 in Interrogation, 2:30 in Treasure, and 2:40 in Titan’s Spirit. The slow tempos are mostly relaxing but then lead to more suspense. Note that for the slower tempos, there are melodic similarities. These can be found at the beginning of Interrogation, 0:50 of Treasure, and 3:20 of Titan’s Spirit. Also, probably due to his days at YES, Rabin includes some synthetic/electric guitar in places, but doesn’t over do it. The tracks are still symphony driven, lots of bottom for the “big sound,” but high, high strings too.
For comparison, Rudy, which was scored by Jerry Goldsmith, is much more symphonic for a dramatic football movie. It’s more similar to Star Trek First Contact. Note some of the similarities in his use of French horn. Well, maybe…..or I just LOVE the French horn part in Star Trek.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHInW9C9kNo (Final Game)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhoa7oWPPhk (First Contact)
So there you have it. You can do this also with James Horner. Compare Glory, Bicentennial Man, and of course Titanic.
Finally, just for kicks, compare this from Armageddon to Rabin’s other score material.
