Gladiator

Question 1

who wrote the music?

Gladiator

Answer 1

Hans Zimmer

Question 2

what is the piece called?

Gladiator

Answer 2

The battle

Question 3

what’s happening in the scene?

Gladiator

Answer 3

• preparation and the battle
• maximus, prepares the army
• change in music comes when someone in the army is killed
• change when battle starts
• change again when they have won

Question 4

Gladiator

melody

Answer 4

• 4 bar melodic phrases giving question and answer

• less predictable part after ‘horde say no’ avoiding regular ostinato figures creating anticipation
• Increased use of Sound effects including wind and wave sounds and a tonic pedal played four times with Delay
• as they prepare for battle opening theme is heard and the bass registered the strings transforming its effect from anticipation to a sense of foreboding of the action to come
• melodic shapes become increasingly chromatic and chaotic
• trumpet fanfare calls with imitation in the lower strings, battle like

Question 5

Gladiator

harmony

Answer 5

• opening rhythmic aug with Neapolitan key makes the move 2 to E♭ major chord more effective and intensifies harmonic pallet
• diatonic functional harmony modulates too the subdominant G minor via a perfect cadence before re introducing everything C sharp to move back to D minor through another perfect cadence
• towards the end more chordal writing with suspensions 4-3 and 9-8 As well as first inversion chords
• rising chromatic scale in violins help raise excitement of the unfolding action
• after ‘horde say no’ low male vocal sounds with vibrato, singing F E F G sharp create a sense of harmonic unease singing nonsense syllables in a moaning, pained fashion
• briefly moves to major key – triumphant and excitement as they prepare for battle
• pedals and inverted pedals with brass underneath evoking hunting horns - heightens effect of battle
• when victory is said tonal shift too C major marks the turning point of the main battle
• slower harmonic rhythm
• use of suspension cords who dash 3 and sharpened 4 dash 3 evoking the lydian mode
• Dominant pedal on G which lacks resolution as it resolves to an A minor chord creating an interrupted cadence
• The music with the use of a minor key shows despite the victory the Romans have suffered heavy losses and the music evokes that sadness
• modal ending using E minor to A progression

Question 6

Gladiator

rhythm

Answer 6

• Militaristic Percussion, crotchet-crotchet-crotchet triplet which evokes anxiety
• after ‘horde say no’ low guitar using semiquavers evoking anxiety
• as they prepare for battle rhythmic drive and ostinato figures- excitement
• cross rhythm and accented weak beats to ‘destabilise’ the time signature heighten the effect of the battle
• end of battle: slower harmonic rhythm
• expensive use of dotted minims creating a feeling of space

Question 7

Gladiator

tempo

Answer 7

• pace of the music continues to increase as they prepare for battle
• use of 5/4 with accents on beats 1 and 3 and two quavers on beat 5 to heighten suspense of the battle

Question 8

Gladiator

instruments

Answer 8

• timpani, drums, militaristic percussion

- horns, fanfare, importance

Question 9

Gladiator

dynamics

Answer 9

• surging crescendos diminuendos and trills in strings create anxiety and excitement, adding to the battle

Question 10

Gladiator

timbre

Answer 10

-

Question 11

Gladiator

texture

Answer 11

• multiple changes
  opening; melody and percussion
  change at 1:00, thin texture, solo singing with sound effects coming in and out
  1.25 texture begingen to increase begging building tension for the battle