Brief Summary
This video explores how composers use music to represent heroism in superhero themes, focusing on the importance of expressing what a hero stands for through musical elements. It examines the use of brass, marches, and specific musical styles, such as those of Aaron Copland, to create iconic themes like Superman's. The video also discusses how themes can be adapted to reflect a hero's unique characteristics, as seen in Batman's theme, and the challenges of creating cohesive themes for ensemble superhero films.
- Heroic themes often rely on brass instruments due to their historical association with power and ceremony.
- A successful hero theme musically expresses what the hero stands for, using elements like marches to convey truth, justice, and American ideals.
- Composers like John Williams draw inspiration from American musical styles, such as Aaron Copland's, to create relatable and iconic superhero themes.
- Themes can be modified to reflect a hero's darker or more complex nature, as demonstrated by the contrast between Superman's and Batman's themes.
- Creating themes for ensemble superhero films presents challenges in balancing individual character representation with a cohesive group identity.
The Sound of Heroism: Why Brass?
Composers often use brass instruments to create a heroic sound, but this approach can lead to generic results due to overuse. Brass instruments have a long history associated with heroic and powerful figures, originating from the use of animal horns for signaling during hunts and warfare. These horns were later adopted for ceremonial events, representing monarchs and powerful figures. The association of brass with heroism was solidified by composers like Wagner, who used brass for the themes of his opera heroes.
Superman's Theme: Expressing Truth, Justice, and the American Way
To create a distinctive superhero theme, it's crucial to express what the hero stands for musically. Superman's theme, composed by John Williams, exemplifies this by using two key elements: a march and a specific musical style. The march form, rooted in military tradition and American culture, conveys a sense of martial power and nostalgic Americana. Williams's personal experience conducting for the U.S. Air Force Band likely influenced his choice of the march.
Aaron Copland's Influence: Defining the American Sound
The second critical element of Superman's theme is its musical style, which draws heavily from the work of Aaron Copland. Copland, known as the "Dean of American composers," defined the sound of American music by incorporating traditional folk elements into accessible compositions. His piece "Fanfare for the Common Man," written during World War II, is a culturally significant example of American music. Williams used Copland's vernacular style to make Superman feel like a representation of America and the American way of life.
Batman's Theme: A Dark Reflection of Heroism
In contrast to Superman's theme, Danny Elfman's theme for Batman uses brass less prominently and deviates from traditional march form. The theme is written in a minor key, using the lower register of the orchestra and chromatic textures to create a sense of chaos and darkness. Batman's theme sounds like a corrupted march, reflecting the character's traumatic past and his actions, which differ significantly from Superman's.
Spider-Man's Responsibility: A Theme of Sacrifice
Spider-Man's theme represents his responsibility through a recurring musical passage that plays whenever he faces a sacrifice due to his powers. This light motif, consistently used throughout the films, gains power through its associative properties. In "Spider-Man: Homecoming," where Spider-Man's motivation is more about seeking approval, the film uses the original 1967 cartoon theme to represent the character as a cultural icon.
Group Themes: Guardians of the Galaxy and the Challenge of Individual Representation
"Guardians of the Galaxy" uses older pop music to emphasize Peter Quill's character and his inability to cope with his mother's death, represented by a specific light motif. However, creating themes for group superhero films presents challenges. Composers often write a lowest-common-denominator theme that represents the collective motivations of the group, sacrificing individual character expression.
Civil War: Conflicting Musical Representations
In "Captain America: Civil War," it would have been interesting to see conflicting musical representations for Captain America and Iron Man, reflecting their differing ideologies. However, many characters have multiple themes or are represented collectively by the Avengers theme, making it difficult to establish a powerful musical expression for each hero. Despite these challenges, maintaining consistent musical characterization is important, as seen in the Batman films.
Conclusion: Analyzing Superhero Themes
When listening to a superhero theme, consider what the character stands for, what they fight for, and how the score represents that. Analyze what makes the hero's theme different from others and why the composer made those choices. Even for darker characters like the Punisher, consider how traditional heroic elements like marches and brass might be used to create a complex and meaningful theme.
