Help me find some music similar to Cloud Atlas
December 17, 2012 8:06 PM Subscribe
Help me find some music similar to Cloud Atlas (classical music suggestions)
After seeing the film Cloud Atlas, I went out and bought the score. I really enjoyed the music throughout the film, but specifically the title piece, as well as the end credits. I like most of the score, but those pieces really stick out for me.
I have a lot of film scores by different composers, but for the most part I feel like they fall short because the pieces aren't long enough. There might be an amazing melody and feel, but it only lasts for 1-2 minutes. The Lord of the Rings is a great example, there's a lot of great themes and melodies done in different ways, but it always feels like a lot of short pieces.
What I'd love to find is some classical music that has a very modern cinematic feel in a longer form. The title track and end credits from Cloud Atlas hit the feel I'm interested in exactly. Very melodic, moody, with a definite sense of motion and of things happening. If those pieces were an hour long I would really love it.
Also, to be clear, I'm not talking about the huge epic bombastic film music stuff with tons of taiko drums and crazy percussion with a choir from hell chanting along(although a little of that in a piece wouldn't be a bad thing). Think beautiful and emotional.
I do have some classical music in my collection, but none of it has that cinematic feel. The Holst Planets is probably the closest, and I listen to that from time to time.
So, classical music fans who also know a good film score when you hear it: Can you help me out?
After seeing the film Cloud Atlas, I went out and bought the score. I really enjoyed the music throughout the film, but specifically the title piece, as well as the end credits. I like most of the score, but those pieces really stick out for me.
I have a lot of film scores by different composers, but for the most part I feel like they fall short because the pieces aren't long enough. There might be an amazing melody and feel, but it only lasts for 1-2 minutes. The Lord of the Rings is a great example, there's a lot of great themes and melodies done in different ways, but it always feels like a lot of short pieces.
What I'd love to find is some classical music that has a very modern cinematic feel in a longer form. The title track and end credits from Cloud Atlas hit the feel I'm interested in exactly. Very melodic, moody, with a definite sense of motion and of things happening. If those pieces were an hour long I would really love it.
Also, to be clear, I'm not talking about the huge epic bombastic film music stuff with tons of taiko drums and crazy percussion with a choir from hell chanting along(although a little of that in a piece wouldn't be a bad thing). Think beautiful and emotional.
I do have some classical music in my collection, but none of it has that cinematic feel. The Holst Planets is probably the closest, and I listen to that from time to time.
So, classical music fans who also know a good film score when you hear it: Can you help me out?
I think Sibelius fits your bill. Try his second symphony, especially the last movement.
posted by lmindful at 8:58 PM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by lmindful at 8:58 PM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Lord of the Rings soundtrack was also scored into a 6-movement symphony/cantata; I performed it with the Seattle Symphony several years ago. Dunno if that's available as a recording, though.
Oh hey, it is.
you might also check out ballet scores; Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe, or Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
posted by KathrynT at 10:47 PM on December 17, 2012
Oh hey, it is.
you might also check out ballet scores; Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe, or Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
posted by KathrynT at 10:47 PM on December 17, 2012
I am pretty sure Carl Nielsen's symphonies will do it for you. There are 6 of them.
posted by dfan at 7:28 AM on December 18, 2012
posted by dfan at 7:28 AM on December 18, 2012
I might suggest also looking at some concertos, which are structured sort of like symphonies, but are also defined by a prominent solo part. I'm not a music expert but to my ear it sounds like many film soundtracks have taken a big influence from Beethoven in particular. Here's his violin concerto.
Even more so I might recommend Mendelssohn's second violin concerto, if for no other reason, then because it gets to business right away and you'll probably tell from the first notes whether you'll like it :)
posted by Anything at 11:33 AM on December 18, 2012
Even more so I might recommend Mendelssohn's second violin concerto, if for no other reason, then because it gets to business right away and you'll probably tell from the first notes whether you'll like it :)
posted by Anything at 11:33 AM on December 18, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fake at 8:29 PM on December 17, 2012