Hidden Strings: The World of Film Scores
Since its inception, the film industry has found ways to sway our emotions and impact our lives through a seemingly impersonal medium— the screen. While we may attribute this to talented actors and directors, the rest of the crew tends to fly under the radar of our attention. One of the most instrumental components of a film lies in its score, or its background and theme music. Just as important as acting, film scores are the hidden vessels of raw emotion woven into your favorite entertainment.
Setting The Tone
Film scores have an inextricable link with the emotions portrayed on-screen. They set the tone using a blend of various instruments and vocals to portray immense emotion during a scene. One of the most fascinating aspects of this link is how one instrument can represent completely different facets of emotion. For example, the flute is used as a warm, softly-joyous instrument in Howard Shores’ “The Shire” from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, the flute is used in a melancholic, dramatic way to portray purpose and grief in Hans Zimmer and John Powell’s “Oogway Ascends” from Kung Fu Panda. Both pieces strongly exhibit two opposite emotions using the same instrument, and they show how intricate the job of a composer can be to perfectly use an instrument in a given scenario.
Film Score Heroes
Hans Zimmer:
Known as a composition veteran, Hans Zimmer has scored a myriad of keystone films including Interstellar, Gladiator, Inception, Dune: Part I and II, The Lion King (1994), Pirates of the Caribbean, and so many more. It would be incredibly difficult to have not experienced a film in your lifetime brought to life by his compositions. His strong ties with world-renowned directors such as Christopher Nolan and Ridley Scott have allowed him to showcase his signature build and swell in his compositions—best portrayed in the track “Time” from Inception.
John Williams:
As the pioneer for orchestral film scores, John Williams set the stage for each and every successor in the business. He forced the world to recognize the importance of film scores with his work in the Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter (first 3 films), and Indiana Jones franchises, respectively. His use of the french horn marks his signature sound that is most prevalent in his Star Wars and Harry Potter scores. However, what truly put him on the map was his work in Jaws (1975), and his ability to manipulate just two notes to create one of the most recognizable theme songs ever created.
Howard Shore:
Howard Shore is best known for creating the timeless and beloved score for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His expert blend of fantasy, world-building, and lightness perfectly encapsulates author J.R.R Tolkien's works, bringing the film to life. His use of exotic folk instruments coupled with director Peter Jackson’s ability to transport an audience created a truly unique film trilogy with a cult following.
Harry Gregson-Williams:
This list would not be complete without the recognition of one of my personal favorites: the mind behind the Shrek and Narnia film series’ scores. While he is most known for his collaborative efforts with composer John Powell for the Shrek score, he should be better known for his work on the Narnia trilogy. He perfectly uses thematic elements, reprises, and heavenly chorus vocals to make an other-worldly fantastical sound.
Wendy Carlos:
Wendy Carlos is known for her work on The Shining, Tron (1982), and A Clockwork Orange. Her choice to blend electronic music and film scores during the 20th-century made one of the most iconic horror film themes to date. She was credited as the pioneer of electronic music in the mainstream. Carlos’ musical style was regarded as ahead of her time and broke the tradition of the typical unified film score.
Ludwig Görranson - The Next Generation:
Widely regarded as the “next Hans Zimmer,” Ludwig Görranson has taken up major films such as Oppenheimer, Sinners, Black Panther, and the upcoming Christopher Nolan film The Odyssey. His work on Oppenheimer truly skyrocketed him into mainstream fame as a prodigy in the world of film scores, and he was praised most for his piece “Can You Hear The Music.” More recently, his compositions in Sinners have placed him in conversations as the successor to the legendary Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan’s next right-hand man.
The Hidden Strings
While these composers have shaped our love of entertainment for decades, they have not received the credit they deserve in mainstream media. Even when writing this article, I was surprised at how I had never seen the faces of a few of the individuals on the list and would not recognize them walking down the street. Film composers are such an integral and vital part of the industry, yet remain hidden behind the scenes. Luckily, discussions of film scores and their importance are slowly becoming more and more prominent in the next generation as people look to figures such as Ludwig Görranson and Hans Zimmer for reasons to highly anticipate an upcoming film.
There are so many more composers that deserve to be recognized as the vital assets they are in the film industry, and they play such a central role in our enjoyment of the entertainment industry. I encourage you to look beyond the lead actors and directors of your favorite movies to see who else has allowed your favorite pieces of entertainment to come to life on your screen.
About the author: Sophia Butsch is a senior studying Business Administration and Media Studies. She was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and loves the PNW more than anything. She loves exploring topics surrounding pop culture, feminism, and the film industry.
Sources:
Cover - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/790029959677104700/
Hans Zimmer - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/790029959677104580/
John Williams - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/790029959677104604/
Howard Shore - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/790029959677104584/
Harry Gregson-Williams - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/790029959677104608/
Wendy Carlos - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/790029959677104611/
Ludwig Görranson - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/790029959677104615/