- Find out how to make music for an animation.
- Learn about using themes in film music.
- Discover composer Hans Zimmer and his Ten Pieces composition Earth.
Introducing Zimmer's film music
Music in a film has a big impact on the mood. It can change what you feel when you watch. But how do you get started making film music?
Composer Hans Zimmer has made lots of soundtracks for films like The Lion King, Madagascar and Batman. He uses instruments, voices, recorded samples and electronic sounds in his work.
He has made a new piece of music called Earth especially for Ten Pieces and has a challenge for you to make your own composition in response.
Watch this film to find out how Hans Zimmer composed Earth using some simple ideas.
Hi, I'm Hans Zimmer,
and I'm thrilled that the BBC asked me
to be part of Ten Pieces: Trailblazers.
Hans Zimmer is one of the most famous composers in the world,
creating music for films like The Lion King and Madagascar,
as well as TV programmes like Blue Planet II.
Hans grew up playing rock 'n' roll guitar
and experimenting on electronic synthesisers.
His film music combines the sound of traditional instruments
with electronic and synthesised samples,
allowing an orchestra to take us on new and bigger musical journeys-
journeys full of hypnotic chord patterns,
driving rhythms, and deep emotion.
Audiences love Hans Zimmer's music,
and it's changed the sound of film, TV, and games forever.
What a trailblazer.
Now Hans has written a brand new piece especially for all of you
taking part in Ten Pieces.
It’s called “Earth.”
“You realise that this little, blue dot
in the middle of this universe, which we call home,
is the only thing we've got and it's sort of worth celebrating.
It's sort of worth taking care of.
Especially because the next generation of kids
are going to inherit the mess that my generation made.
I thought it might be a nice thing to actually do something
which humbly celebrates this great planet we live on.”
Well, the way it usually works is, you know, you play one note…
then you add another one…
And you just play and things start happening.
“I use the language of music to tell a story.”
This musical story, which can be performed live in concerts,
is all about imagining how our precious planet looks from space.
Like his film music,
Hans composed Earth by playing with ideas on the piano.
Those ideas are then arranged for all the instruments of the orchestra.
Electronic samples, that Hans also creates,
are recorded and then played at the same time alongside the orchestra.
A children’s choir has a really important role in Earth.
“I love using the human voice. I love using choirs,
because I think there's something amazing about hearing
or feeling the breath.
The being alive.”
“I love big drums, I love making a big racket with big drums.
You just have to have it.
It's the heartbeat of the music.”
So how can we all get composing like Hans?
“The secret really is, the music allows you to be playful,
and play and just never stop playing.
And sometimes you can pretend, and you can say to the grown-ups,
‘I'm actually doing some work,’ when you're really playing.”
It doesn’t always have to be pretty.
Everybody tells you that there are rules and regulations,
and this, and that, and the other in music.
There isn’t.
Anything goes.
“You know, if you think it makes you happy, go and play it.”
Now it’s your chance to play and get creative with Hans’ new piece.
“I'm going, ‘OK, here's a piece of music,’
now go and play with it.
Go and do with it whatever you want to do.
Do a remix, improvise across it, you know.
Hack it up, do whatever you wanna do with it.
It's not finished. I've just given you something to go and play with.”
“It's like a dialogue we're having.
The piece of music that I've written
is just the beginning of the sentence.
I want you guys to finish it.
Everybody's got a voice, everybody's got a story to tell.”
Hans is right.
What musical story will you create?
Music for Earth
In Earth there is an orchestra and a childrens’ choir.
Watch the performance and listen out for the different sounds.
Notice how the music starts with a simple melody. It develops by changing the instruments and the patterns as it repeats.
Watch this performance of Earth, composed by Hans Zimmer and performed by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus.
Compose your own music for Earth
Now it's your turn to start composing. You can download an animation about Earth here and follow some steps below for how to make music for it.
Watch the one minute animation for Earth (no sound).
1. Start composing - make a plan
Watch the one minute animation and describe the different sections using words or colours. This could be captured in a table or a drawing as in these examples:
2. Start to play
Play or sing this theme from Earth.
3. Make new variations
Play or sing the theme again then make some changes to create new variations.
Fit these melodies to the mood and structure you wrote out before.
Here are some ideas for changing the theme by playing it backwards or adding notes.
Listen to the theme from Earth played backwards.
Listen to the theme from Earth with an added repeated note.
Listen to a variation of the Earth theme with an added note at the start.
Listen to the theme ending on a different note.
4. Bring it together
Link the theme and variations together to fit the structure you made earlier.
Here are some ideas for linking the patterns:
- Play one after another.
- Repeat one or more of the patterns.
- Start the pattern a few notes higher or lower.
- Change the tempo - try it slower or quicker.
Play the piece with the film.
Does it fit the film or do you need some changes?
Perform your piece, record it and listen back.
How to play your composition
You can play your composition in a few different ways. Create the separate parts in music software, play the parts as a group or play each part yourself.
Record your music
When you have finished, create a recording:
- Export your track from the music software.
- Record instruments playing your piece.
- Make a video, putting your music to the film.
Quiz
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