The Grey Ending Soundtrack. (Composition Overview)

The Ending to the film 'The Grey' was chosen to be utilised for the final practical assignment of the project. The video would be used for the questionnaire and dissertation as well as the end of year showcase. Therefore the level of detail had to be greater than that of the practice based compositions previously created. The video had to be engaging and therefore it was decided , that the original dialogue and audio should be salvaged from the original 5.1 mix in order to make the composed music seamlessly interact with both sound effects and dialogue making the viewing experience more natural.

The video can be found at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/srm4lkgb3a9cuo2/AABLeZGcJ8iiVm-l8N4Wtc8Da

Each Theme was written up as a score separately and then placed into one final score which detailed the correct spacing between each theme in relation to the video so that if it was played with real instruments the recording would fit perfectly to the visuals.

The film has emphasis on varying emotions, such as sadness, fear, anger and love, therefore the score had to emphasis each emotion within such a context that they would seamlessly merge and relate, allowing for a smooth transition into each thematic idea.

Theme 1 (Desolate Theme). 

This themes intent was to emphasis the locations emptiness and desolate atmosphere in which the character finds themselves in. Three instruments were utilised in order to produce this feeling, The Cello, French Horn and Piccolo, there characteristics and timbre added to the motif implied. The instruments played long sustaining notes with emphasis on dynamics and subtle volume control. This technique is seen in the case studies ' The Skeleton Theme' and 'Humanity Theme', where both composers utilised slow, elongated notations which provided tension and suspense through anticipation.

  Figure 1. Excerpt from Desolate Theme Score.

Theme 2 (Sad Theme).

The 'Sad Theme' plays throughout the longest scene in the video clip. It plays over a lengthy section which has minimal emphasis on sound effects and dialogue and therefore the music had to make the scene hold together and imply a motif without becoming boring. Therefore the theme was split into two section, the first a slow build up which utilises a piano as the main focus with underlying orchestra strings, the second parts focus on the orchestral string section without the piano. This change in focus should prevent the lengthy theme from appearing overstated and boring. Dynamics were also key in emphasising the emotions implied.

 Figure 2. Excerpt from Sad Theme Score.

Theme 3 (Wolf Theme).

The 'Wolf Theme' has the most drastic change throughout the piece as it transforms from the sad themes into an imposing and fear driven score. This was produced by creating dissonance in such a way that it related to the overall key of each theme, making the change drastic and unexpected which should challenge the listeners expectations and cause them to respond emotionally to this technique.  The theme was played over sections of sound effects and dialogue, therefore careful attention to dynamics was applied to the score, ensuring that the music never imposed and overthrew the main focus on 'Dialogue', 'Sound Effects' and 'Major Plot Points'. In these cases the music was intended to just be an underlying ambience which would alter the emotions of the viewers without them taking too much notice of the effect.

Figure 3. Excerpt from Wolf Theme Score.

Theme 4 (Wife Theme). 

The 'Wife Theme' had to provide the motif of love yet impose some elements of sadness and mournfulness, as it is established during this scene that the characters wife had passed away. This was achieved through the soft textures of the piano utilised for this theme. The emphasis on slow and mournful, sustained sound was presented throughout the piece, whilst ending on a resolution which provides a soft texture that shows the character finding inner piece and happiness derived from his memories.

  Figure 4. Excerpt from Wife Theme Score.

Theme 5 (Into The Frey Theme)

Appropriately named after the main emphasis of the film (The Poem, which crops up several times and is referenced throughout the film.) This theme is the final theme of the film clip and is where the character finally realises the underlying meaning of his fathers poem, which provides him with the courage to continue fighting for his life against all odds. This theme was the most drastically changed when compared with the original soundtrack. Its intent was to make as much of an emotional impact as possible to build up to a climactic ending and to feel bold and powerful. The theme emphasises the ferocity and brutality of the film and utilises powerful instrumentation to imply this motif. The theme is an alteration of the previously instated 'Wife Theme' showing that his reflections on the past have given him the courage to fight the alpha wolf. The alteration is in the time signature, changing from a 4/4 time signature to a 3/4 time signature, skipping the rest within he melody to speed up the theme, the more powerfully articulated piano parts also help the theme take on a new emotional disposition.

Each theme will be described in depth throughout the methodology section of the dissertation.