Tortall OST?

[boosette]

So, you're making a soundtrack for whichever book is being made into a hypothetical movie - which songs do you choose for what scenes?

I wouldn't use songs from other OSTs, although I might well pick a composer based on their work in other films/musicals. ("I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan is pretty awesome for a cross-dressing girl joins the military training sequence, but it's such a strong song in its own right that I hesitate to use it; I definitely *would* like a song in that same vein/genre for one of the training sequences, though.)

I definitely set the Sweating Sickness montage to The Swine Flu (likewise the Briar's Book plague montage; does someone want to duplicate this tread over in Emelan?).

[Anaroriel]

Ooh, hard.

I think I would pick John Williams for the Soundtrack for the Immortals series. His work tends to have more "fantasy-like" themes to it, and that works well with the level of fantasy in that book compared to others. (He's done things like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Hook, etc)

I think I'd pick Hans Zimmer for Kel's books and Alanna's books. They have a lot of battle scenes in both of their books, and he's done a lot of time pieces in the past. (He's done Pearl Harbor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, etc)

*Is a bit of a soundtrack nerd*

[Lisa]

Whoa - don't give Hans Zimmer all the credit for Pirates of the Carribean!! Klaus Badelt did the music for the first movie, and Zimmer expounded upon that.

I'm NOT a fan of John Williams much, since he uses his own musical themes repeatedly (the duel music in Chamber of Secrets having already been used in the third Indiana Jones movie, for example) - but I think he could do some decent work.

My favorite soundtrack composer is Thomas Newman (who did Little Women, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Wall-E, American Beauty, etc., etc.) - but I think he's probably better suited to Emelan - though he could EASILY do any of them.

Patrick Doyle is another one I love for sweeping fantasty - he did the music for Goblet of Fire, Sense & Sensibility, Nim's Island, Gosford Park - he could do a heck of a lot.

Trevor Jones & Radny Edelman (Last of the Mohicans) are amazing at fight music - I would love to see them work on a movie about medieval(ish) fighting.

*soundtrack nerd doesn't even begin to cover it*

[Anaroriel]

Ooh! I love Thomas Newman. ^^ But his stuff tends to be a little repetitive, IMO.

I like John Williams because his music tends to be rather complex and interesting to listen to. Like, if you ever listen to the Hook soundtrack, it blows your mind in the finale all the levels of music and themes and instruments just interweaving throughout the piece. There's always so much going on.

I'm curious, how do you feel about Danny Elfman?

[Lisa]

I'm torn on Elfman. I love some of his stuff, but not others. He's got range - most people think of him as Tim Burton's henchman qith quirky stuff, but he also has a good dramatic range - Good Will Hunting, Fable.

I find Williams to be predictable. I love a lot of his pre-Jurassic Park music, and every so often he surprises me with newer work. (when his name appeared at the end of Memoirs of a Geisha, I shocked the little old ladies in front of me by shouting "no effing way!). But he always has the same sweeping French horn lines, the same use of high woodwinds. He's quite capable, but I'm just not as fond of composers who always sound the same to me.

(which is why I find it surprising that you say Newman is repetitive when Williams is the definition of repitition in my book - I suppose we're looking for different things and will have to agree to disagree!)

The composer I love to mock the most, though, is James Horner. OMG, you can always tell something bad is happening because he has the low chord of doom, occasionally followed by the ding of a triangle. And he uses frenetic keyboards to depict insanity. You always recognize the crazy bad guy as soon as he appears.

Who are some others you think could work Tortall? I think Howard Shore could do it, since he's done plenty that's less Tolkein-y (though most of his soundtracks are quite modern).

I think Philip Glass could actually bring some amazing things to Aly's story, though I generally wouldn't call myself a fan of his work. Same thing goes for John Corgliano (The Red Violin), though he's kind of jerky in real life.

[Anaroriel]

Agreed on James Horner. Lol, your description is utterly perfect for classifying his music.

Howard Shore has some good stuff, but he's not my favorite.

James Newton Howard maybe? I admit, I like his music for the M. Night Shyalaman movies, especially the Village. He's not my favorite, but I like some of his pieces. I could see him do Daine's or Kel's story pretty well.

Philip Glass? I feel like I've played something of his orchestrations (the name sounds really familiar) but I can't remember what he's done.

[Strapless]

Can I put in a vote for Trevor Morris? He composed the music for The Tudors, which is just gorgeous. The main theme gives me the shivers every time.

[ubiquitous]

I'd have to say Mychael Danna's 'The Blood of Cuchulainn' makes me think of Haven, but that might be cos I just read Lady Knight.

[Maia]

I'd like to put in another vote for Philip Glass - he's done the soundtrack for The Hours, The Illusionist, Notes on a Scandal, and Kundun, among others.

Rachel Portman has done some pretty good work, as well.

[Anaroriel]

I listened to the Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian soundtrack the other day, and I thought that the guy who did that one could do Aly's really well, or perhaps Kel's for the later books.

[Fox]

Harry Gregson-Williams? *nods* I haven't heard the Prince Caspian soundtrack, but The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is pretty good, and he also did Kingdom of Heaven which has some gorgeous pieces on it.

And Strapless, I've just had a listen to some of The Tudors online and it is lovely!