This has got to be my favorite movie this year - er, aside from Iron Man and Prince Caspian. Good story, casting, scenic landscapes, great camera action. I love the music on this one - by Hans Zimmer and John Powell.

The Music

It incorporates a lot of oriental elements - Chinese gongs, drums, maybe even an Erhu here and there. What makes it extraordinary, aside from the excellent themes, is the seamless blend of orchestra and electronic elements, which I think is a specialty of the two composers involved. I thought I could hear some Stylus RMX samples in the background (?). The film has everything you'll look for in a Hollywood score - superb action sequences , humor, big festive sequences, grand and sweeping music for the scenic landscapes, a bit of drama/sentiment (the music for Oogway Ascends had a solo violin, played Asian style, it made me cry - but then again it might just be hormones too)...


My Thoughts on Asian Music in General...


Chinese music, as well as many other kinds of Asian music have a very distinct stamp, that even non-Chinese composers can make their compositions acquire the characteristics of that music. Moreover, their traditional music is very much still alive and well-supported.

I know that Filipino traditional music - gongs, chants and drum music of the North and South regions also has its own intricacies which cannot be found anywhere else. It just makes me sad that this aspect of our culture is not something which permeates our daily consciousness. Or should I speak for myself - Filipino traditional music is not something that comes naturally to me. Because of the minimal exposure that I have towards it, if I'd need to create a score or an arrangement which should sound "Filipino", it will take more effort for me to come up with one, than if I were just to make a regular score.

But I don't think it's too late to delve into it, in my case. It's really my long-term goal to immerse in these traditions, and come up with music - whether compositions, scores, or arrangements - that will be influenced by these traditions. Bob Aves, a superb composer/arranger/guitar player has made it his life's work, as well as Angel Pena.

Though I don't know yet how far I'd like to go into it, I just feel that I don't want the traditional music to go to waste. I'm also not ascribing any notions of nobility into my individual venture. I just really want it to be a major influence.

The thoughts I've mentioned above were for me as an individual composer/arranger. As a group, though, FILharmoniKa, with a lot of help from the best people (you know who you are, he he) has taken a very big step towards that goal - with the recent recordings and performances featuring Filipino works, a lot of which feature Filipino folk songs and traditional music. With those alone, I think we're all in for a brighter future for Filipino music.

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Tags: film music,Music,asian music