Titus (soundtrack)
Encyclopedia
Titus is the original soundtrack
to the 1999
motion picture Titus
. Elliot Goldenthal
wrote the score for the film, an adaptation of Shakespeare's first, and bloodiest, tragedy Titus Andronicus
; written and directed by Julie Taymor
, Goldenthal's long-time friend and partner. The only non-Goldenthal piece is an old Italian song called "Vivere" performed by Italian singer Carlo Buti.
, like all of his other work, and the first piece "Victorius Titus" is reminiscent of The Imperial March
by John Williams
in its imposing, martial nature, and (unlike imperial march) in addition uses an archaic male choir chanting in Latin
.
The score blends orchestral, jazz, rock and electronica styles and complements Taymor's unique and off-beat adaptation of the Shakespearean play. In keeping with many other Goldenthal scores the orchestra used was the British London Metropolitan Orchestra
. The score also contains samples from earlier Goldenthal scores- the most glaring being a reworked version of "Wreckage and Rape" from Alien 3, which plays during the dinner table fight scene.
The score, according to Goldenthal himself, sums up his film scoring career up to that point; "This score is a culmination of my style. It sums up the type of work I've been doing for the past ten years."
He explains it saying,
, composed by Tyler Bates
became the subject of much criticism regarding the somewhat liberal use of other composers' orchestrations (at times note for note) including pieces from Goldenthal's Titus score; in particular "Victorius Titus" and "Finale". Warner Bros. Records
released a statement clarifying the matter with regards to the similarities to Goldenthal's work:
The imposing, martial opening cue used in the credits as Titus and his legions enter the arena.
The romantic and slow paced piece used at the end of the film that slowly rises to a dramatic crescendo.
An example of the jazz fusion used in the party scene at the Imperial Palace.
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to the 1999
1999 in film
The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
motion picture Titus
Titus (film)
Titus is a 1999 film adaptation of Shakespeare's revenge tragedy Titus Andronicus, about the downfall of a Roman general. It was the first film of the play . The film was made by Overseas Filmgroup and Clear Blue Sky Productions and released by Fox Searchlight Pictures...
. Elliot Goldenthal
Elliot Goldenthal
Elliot Goldenthal is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was a student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, and is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various musical styles and techniques in original and inventive ways...
wrote the score for the film, an adaptation of Shakespeare's first, and bloodiest, tragedy Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, and possibly George Peele, believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. It is thought to be Shakespeare's first tragedy, and is often seen as his attempt to emulate the violent and bloody revenge plays of his contemporaries, which were...
; written and directed by Julie Taymor
Julie Taymor
Julie Taymor is an American director of theater, opera and film. Taymor's work has received many accolades from critics, and she has earned two Tony Awards out of four nominations, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design, an Emmy Award and an Academy Award nomination for Original Song...
, Goldenthal's long-time friend and partner. The only non-Goldenthal piece is an old Italian song called "Vivere" performed by Italian singer Carlo Buti.
The Score
It is extremely experimentalExperimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
, like all of his other work, and the first piece "Victorius Titus" is reminiscent of The Imperial March
The Imperial March
"The Imperial March " is a musical theme present in the Star Wars franchise. It was composed by John Williams for the film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back...
by John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
in its imposing, martial nature, and (unlike imperial march) in addition uses an archaic male choir chanting in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
.
The score blends orchestral, jazz, rock and electronica styles and complements Taymor's unique and off-beat adaptation of the Shakespearean play. In keeping with many other Goldenthal scores the orchestra used was the British London Metropolitan Orchestra
London Metropolitan Orchestra
London Metropolitan Orchestra , founded in 1994, is a London-based studio orchestra whose primary function is to record music for film, television, and other multimedia projects...
. The score also contains samples from earlier Goldenthal scores- the most glaring being a reworked version of "Wreckage and Rape" from Alien 3, which plays during the dinner table fight scene.
The score, according to Goldenthal himself, sums up his film scoring career up to that point; "This score is a culmination of my style. It sums up the type of work I've been doing for the past ten years."
He explains it saying,
Track listing
- "Victorius Titus" – 2:58
- "ProcessionProcessionA procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
& Obsequis" – 3:00 - "RevengeArchenemyAn archenemy, archfoe, archvillain or archnemesis is the principal enemy of a character in a work of fiction, often described as the hero's worst enemy .- Etymology :The word archenemy or arch-enemy originated...
Wheel" – 0:54 - "Tribute & SuffrageSuffrageSuffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
" – 4:17 - "Arrows of the GodsRoman mythologyRoman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
" – 1:33 - "An Offering" – 2:04
- "Crossroads" – 3:24
- "VortexVortexA vortex is a spinning, often turbulent,flow of fluid. Any spiral motion with closed streamlines is vortex flow. The motion of the fluid swirling rapidly around a center is called a vortex...
" – 1:34 - "Swing Rave" – 1:53
- "Ill-Fated Plot" – 2:20
- "Pickled Heads" – 5:05
- "Tamora's PastoralePastoraleFor Beethoven's Pastoral symphony, see Symphony No. 6 Pastorale refers to something of a pastoral nature in music, whether in form or in mood....
" – 1:13 - "Titus' Vow" – 3:43
- "Mad Ole Titus" – 2:27
- "PhilimelagramPhilomelaIn Greek mythology, Philomela was a daughter of Pandion I and Zeuxippe, and a sister of Procne. Despite Ovid's fanciful etymology as "lover of song" , the name means "lover of fruit," "lover of apples," or "lover of sheep."-Myth:Procne's husband, King Tereus of Thrace In Greek mythology,...
" – 1:46 - "Pressing Judgement" – 3:32
- From A Time to KillA Time to Kill (soundtrack)Elliot Goldenthal scored the movie A Time to Kill in 1996. Its emotional, sweeping themes are typical of Goldenthal's other scores with, often, intense and/or stark emotional motifs....
- From A Time to Kill
- "Aaron's Plea" – 2:01
- "Coronation" – 1:54
- "ApianApianApian or Apianus may refer to:*19139 Apian, asteroid named after Peter Apian*Apianus , on the Moon named after Peter ApianPeople:*Apian or Aphian, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox saint...
Stomp" – 1:32 - "AdagioTempoIn musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
" – 2:25 - "Finale" – 8:34
- "Vivere" – 3:33
- By Carlo ButiCarlo ButiCarlo Buti was an Italian interpreter of popular and folk music. He was known as "the Golden Voice of Italy", and was possibly the first superstar of Italian music in the twentieth century. He recorded 1574 songs during his career.-Biography:Buti was born in Florence...
- By Carlo Buti
300 score controversy
The score for the 2007 film 300300 (film)
300 is a 2007 American fantasy action film based on the 1998 comic series of the same name by Frank Miller. It is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. The film was directed by Zack Snyder, while Miller served as executive producer and consultant...
, composed by Tyler Bates
Tyler Bates
Tyler Bates is a music producer and composer for films. His most known work includes "The Hangman's Song" and various other tracks from the zombie horror film Dawn of the Dead, and 2008's Day of the Dead...
became the subject of much criticism regarding the somewhat liberal use of other composers' orchestrations (at times note for note) including pieces from Goldenthal's Titus score; in particular "Victorius Titus" and "Finale". Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
released a statement clarifying the matter with regards to the similarities to Goldenthal's work:
Audio
As mentioned above, the score blends several styles of music; below are some examples of this including the two tracks concerned in the controversy with the "300" score.The imposing, martial opening cue used in the credits as Titus and his legions enter the arena.
The romantic and slow paced piece used at the end of the film that slowly rises to a dramatic crescendo.
An example of the jazz fusion used in the party scene at the Imperial Palace.
Crew/Credit
- Teese Gohl - Producer
- Joel Iwataki - Engineer
- Joel Iwataki - Mixing
- Richard Martinez - Electronic Music Producer
- Stephen McLaughlin - Engineer
- Stephen McLaughlin - Orchestration
- Vladimir Meller - Mastering
- Jonathan Sheffer - Conductor
- Elliot GoldenthalElliot GoldenthalElliot Goldenthal is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was a student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, and is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various musical styles and techniques in original and inventive ways...
- Producer - Elliot Goldenthal - Liner Notes
- Elliot Goldenthal - Orchestration
- Vic Fraser - Music Preparation
- Curtis Roush - Music Editor
- Julian Broad - Cover Photo
- Robert Elhai - Orchestration
- Lawrence Manchester - Engineer
- Lawrence Manchester - Music Editor
- Steven Mercurio - Conductor
- Julie Taymor - Liner Notes
- Andy Brown - Orchestra Contractor
- London Metropolitan Orchestra - Orchestra
- Page HamiltonPage HamiltonPage Hamilton is a guitarist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet...
, Mark Stewart, Andrew Hawkins, David Reid, Eric Hubel - "Guitar Orchestra" Deaf Elk - Carlo Buti - "Vivere"
- Daryl Kell - Music Editor