Composed by Hans Zimmer
(music soundtrack)
Released by Walt Disney Records, 2007
Audio CD
$9.99
Content Summary
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is another original score created by the musical genius of Hans Zimmer. Many of the themes written in just a two-day period that originated in the original score for the first movie carry through into this soundtrack as well: Davy Jone's organ and Calypso's music box, to name two. The entire audio cd contains thirteen tracks, and begins with the key song: "Hoist the Colours", written in a collaboration between Zimmer and Gore Verbinski, and sung by the pirates.
Even dirge-like pirate songs, with Zimmer at the helm, can become stirring anthems with as much of the dramatic as its actors in the film, and always moving the plot forward. Zimmer's themes may seem simple, but if one listens more closely they will find themselves drawn into the story, not questioning the absurd or ridiculousness presented by Depp and his cast of pirates while the score maintains a strong sense of humor while allowing for a number of dramatic possibilities.
Critical Evaluation
Because it is the third installment, Zimmer is constantly considering the expectations of others: to be brilliant for the film, to extend the storyline, to inspire even more high school orchestra students. For those paying close attention, they may notice that Zimmer snuck in several bits from the first tract: "Hoist the Colours" throughout the entire collection.
Information about the Composer
Hans Zimmer was born in Germany in 1957, and his early career was with a few bands before he had his first big success having written the music for the film Rain Man in 1988. Since then, Zimmer has written musical scores for dozens of films including The Lion King, Gladiator, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, The Da Vinci Code, The Holiday, Pearl Harbor, Madagascar, and many others (Amazon, Zimmer, 2011). Zimmer has received four Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Classical BRIT Award (Zimmer, 2011).
Why Included
The music from any of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies is still some of the most popular played, on the Internet and performed by school orchestras across the country, including ours. We have a small, yet dedicated grades 5 - 12 orchestra who love performing these pieces as each musical scores allow for a solo or two and is guaranteed to be recognized by their non-musician friends.
Composed by Howard Shore
(music soundtrack)
Released by Silva Screen Records, 2004
Audio CD
$19.99
Content Summary
"Lord of the Rings" is another original musical score created by the highly respected composer Howard Shore.
Shore's musical scores give life and add abundant depth and width to the folklore, magic, and adventure bringing substance to the dreams and nightmares conjured from the mental imagery in the story and supported in the film -- with its weird and heinous creatures offset by the colorful, magical new landscapes.
Performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Nic Raine, with a 1,000 piece choir and various vocal soloists, the 2-compact disc set offers five or six pieces from each of the three movies, some lengthy at 7:26, 8:30 and 16:17 minutes. With three bonus tracks, the 90-minute suite format allows for Shore's compelling scores representing The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King to be shared, and relived by fans, readers, fantasy lovers, and our district orchestra students who love some of these scores.
Critical Evaluation
The musical arrangements lend not only to the plot of the film, but as a soundtrack moves listeners with its dark, mysterious creations to dramatic storytelling and vibrant beats creating imagery of mystical lands and fabled stories. In the same way, it took brilliance to bring Tolkien's classic stories to life in film - it took the greatness of Shore's powerful musical score to support it.
Fans of the original scores, recordings and orchestra may not like this orchestra and conductor's performance as it has a different flavor and feel than Shore's original leading the London Philharmonic. I still think it is quite beautiful, offering a deeper understanding and a new perspective.
Information about the Composer
Howard Shore was born in Canada in 1946, and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, which prepares students for a career in contemporary music. Shore was the musical director of Saturday Night Live in 1975, and wrote the music for his first film in 1979. His compositions for film include The Silence of the Lambs, Ed Wood, Gangs of New York, Philadelphia, The Departed, The Last Mimzy, and Twilight: Eclipse. Since writing the music for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Shore has taken the music on tour around the world, making orchestral adaptations allowing for the best vision and performance for each location (Amazon, Shore, 2011).
Why Included
One of my all-time favorite fantasy trilogies, and this musical composition adds another, deeper connection to the storyline that I wish I had had playing in the background as my seventh grade English teacher read us these amazing books.
