Hans Zimmer begins the composing process for all of his film compositions by meeting with the film director to discuss the film's concepts and themes. They talk about the many emotions that need to be conveyed as well as the sound textures that will be overlaid over the visual.
Rather than having a set of standards for what the instrumentation 'should' be, Hans Zimmer chooses colours that complement what is portrayed on screen. For example, the music in Pirates of the Caribbean may not have been deemed "pirate" music, and Hans Zimmer was strongly reprimanded by the audience as a result. Although the music for Pirates of the Caribbean was a modern classical composition, the usage of instrumentation did complement the 'pirate' concept.
The composition was performed and recorded live with a full orchestra, with the movie playing in front of them for reference. Stringed instruments, accordion, and trombone were used throughout, and the music was often in ¾ or 6/8 time, producing an old waltz and swinging flair. Throughout the picture, there is a bed of sound (or a wild track) of dark drones and creaking boats that adds to the eerie atmosphere. There is also a recurring variant of the primary motif, which keeps the main theme rolling throughout the film.
Hans Zimmer concentrated on specific sections in the film to accentuate various aspects of the visual, such as crucial sequences and characters. For example, when the pirates initially turned into skeletons, the music was sped up by a third, increasing the speed without making it clear to the viewer. This is done by producers in practically all genres of music, but generally by one or two b.p.m (beats per minute) to make the song 'feel' quicker without making it evident to the listener.
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A Synopsis Of Hans Zimmer's Primary Theme Music From Pirates Of The Caribbean
03.02.2022
Mini Music Studies
