Film Music Competition

The Hero's theme is only really featured three times. Once after the first battle sequence, the pause, and then the melody is first presented. (F-C F-Eb) is the main motif of the theme. The second time is at around 3:29, where the glockenspiel, low strings, and piano create a dreamlike sound that is meant to be the Hero succombing to the Villian's powers or whatever. The melody transforms four times with the different soli (sax, violin, flute and trumpet), and each one of the melodies changes the key, and in each key, there are actually four keys going at once. A little polytonality that actually doesn't sound horrible! The third time would be at 6:35, where the trumpets start calling, then the woodwinds honk out the signature motif (F-C F-Eb) thing, which is interlaced (flutes) with the (F-Eb-Gb) motif from the Villian's theme. That starts into (6:46) the last battle(which I agree is not nearly long enough...I was running out of time), which has both motifs going on alltogether. Also, at 7:14, the saxes and strings have the signature Hero motif again, this time in C (C-G-C-Bb), which then the woodwinds turn into the Love Interest's theme, with the (B- A-G#-B- AG#F# ).

Anyway, there's me defending my piece. I agree it's not perfect, and Sean's right, I did not deal with the Hero's theme quite enough. But, I did include it other places than the first appearance, it is just slightly hidden. Oh well. I did my best. Oh, and Sean, you mention glissandi in the Hero's theme...there is none. That's the Villian's theme. Ok, here I have attached a pdf of the themes, maybe that'll make this easier to understand. And don't worry, buddy, I listen to many soundtracks and read many comic books as well. I know what you mean!

Also, I have attached the MIDI for my piece.

Thanks for posting a midi, Nick. It seems you painted your scene well.

I won't offer any criticism to anyones work I see here. A good composer already knows his strengths and weaknesses and any criticism offered he should have already given to himself.

From what I have heard all the pieces are good and display the composers intentions well. I would not wanna be the conductor having to chose out of these. I think the winner will ultimately come down to playability. Unless they have a certain filmish theme they are looking for.

I surely can't assume who will win or even whose piece is best.

That was the Villains theme? Well that makes more sense of why it would be so topsy-turvy and whatnot. I suppose it's kind of shocking to me to hear anything but the hero's theme first off. Every film I've ever seen features the hero theme right off the bat, even before the credits start rolling (WB does it alot). That's probably where my confusion stems.

I think your confusion stems from not realizing that I was not trying to emulate every superhero movie score generality, but making my own piece out of it. Also, the program notes state that the Villian's theme was first. Way to go.

Are we gonna hear what you have written (if anything), Sean?

ps. Superman (I) doesn't start off with Superman's theme. I win.

(Buh bu bu bu Buh.... Buh Buh Buh) That's not Superman's theme?

It DOES show up before the credits... though it isn't necessarily the very first thing you hear. And I wasn't implying that you had to write your score like everyone else does, that would be foolish. And I stated before that I didn't read the program notes because I wanted to see if I could figure out what was going on without them (a true mark of a great film score).

The movie starts off with the Krypton theme if I'm not mistaken...(D......GCGCD...EC......etc., in the solo trumpet)

Anyway, I'm glad you found some worth in the piece, as I am 75% proud of it! The ending could've been better...alas.

I quit towards the end of the competition, so this is all I've got:
[attachmentid=4376]

ps: I don't know how to make mine a pdf file.

Nick told me how earlier in the entry thread. Do a Google search for PrimoPDF and download and install it on your computer. Once that's done, you can use Finale's (or, I expect, any program's) "Print" command to create a PDF file - just change the printer to "PrimoPDF" and it's automatic.

pdf. file:
[attachmentid=4379]

I'm pleased to report that the five finalists are putting up a good fight I think we've narrowed it down to the top three but I won't post anything yet until things are definite.