I have not done one of these posts for a while, and wanting to turn my attention to the music world seemed like the opportune time to resurrect a Top 5 post (see previous Memorable Musical Moments and Best Ballet Bits). Conductor Leopold Stokowski once said “a painter paints pictures on canvas, but musicians paint their pictures on silence”, and I think movie music in particular exemplifies this idea. There are so many fantastic scores out there to choose from, and I am sure there are plenty that should be considered as the top few, but I have narrowed it down here to my personal favourites.
The Man in the Iron Mask – Surrounded (Nick Glennie-Smith)
The theme from The Man in the Iron Mask (it kicks in here at around 1:34) is just so wonderfully epic in its grandeur and heroic quality that I cannot help but love it. Combined with a tale of valiant musketeers and a corrupt king it is the perfect example of a soundtrack for a classic action-adventure film, and this excerpt from the climax of the story is the best in a wholly memorable score.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Song of the Lonely Mountain (Neil Finn/Janet Roddick/David Donaldson/Stephen Roche/David Long)
I am a fan of the credit music from all three of The Hobbit films (it was a tough call between this and ‘I See Fire’ from the second film), but I had to settle for ‘Song of the Lonely Mountain’ in the end. I chose this over the similar song that is actually used within the film, as I prefer this full and complete version. The strings that come in at 2:41 are a particularly beautiful addition, and the repetition of the main melody means it is an easy song to get stuck in your head (in a good way!).
The Other Boleyn Girl – The Execution (Paul Cantelon)
It was this piece of music that was the only thing I remembered vividly after seeing The Other Boleyn Girl for the first time. Whilst the film scene that accompanies this piece of music is rife with historical inaccuracies, the music itself is nevertheless incredibly haunting. The moment of sudden silence at 5:35 in the middle of a moving phrase creates a rather unsettling feeling, an appropriate sensation given the subject matter.
The Great Gatsby – Young and Beautiful (Lana Del Rey/Rick Nowels)
Prior to seeing Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby I was aware that the choice of contemporary music throughout the film could be a maker or breaker, but I have to say I believe it worked. This piece, which I suppose is the “love song” of the film, shares a morose yet entrancing quality with Gatsby and Daisy’s story, which helps to capture their relationship perfectly.
Pirates of the Caribbean – He’s a Pirate (Klaus Badelt)
I do not care if this is an obvious choice, the Pirates of the Caribbean theme is and always will be an all-time favourite for me. I have mentally choreographed many a dramatic dance number to this piece of music over the years, and so I heartily salute Mr Badelt for composing such an intense and exhilarating piece of music.
All the World's a Stage 