Matt C 453 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I'm referring to instruments mainly used for color or atmosphere, ones you'd wish more film scores would use more often or integrate as a main part (Thomas Newman and Alexandre Desplat seem more willing than others). It can range from the usual ethnic flutes to the Chinese ditzi or something like the glass harmonica.I love that otherworldly sound of the glass harmonica, one Debbie Wiseman used to excellent effect in Arsene Lupin. Another one is the hammered dulcimer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Cimbalom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 ClarinetViolinsAlmost unheard of in the scores of Hans Zimmer and his ilk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Ware 526 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Theremin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilal 569 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Monochord and saxophone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 ClarinetViolinsAlmost unheard of in the scores of Hans Zimmer and his ilkToo busy inventing new ones. Diego Stocco's experibass is amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck 154 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 The tsungi horn. Never been used in a film score before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilal 569 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I would love to image what Jerry could have done with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus 390 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 What I would like to hear more, as it has all but disappeared from the film scoring arena, is the sound of separate sections. So many scores seem caught in the "eternal tutti", which makes great tutti writing stand out to less effect. What I'd love to hear more of, is economy. Bring on unusual, colorful combinations in duos, trios etc. Or even entire set pieces conceived for winds alone or brass alone. The funny thing is it won't necessarily sound smaller or less "epic". Another thing I'd like to hear (or write myself, if the opportunity is alloted), is an entirely choral (a cappella) score. And scores for solo instruments, even. Delorean90 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Agree 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I want more pizzicato! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilal 569 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I want pizza's! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,193 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Can't have enough waterphone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwig 1,120 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Solo piano. Like over the end credits of E.T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Solo piano is hardly unusual in film scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brónach 1,302 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Great examples there.Theremin, clarinet (sweetest sound in existence), cymbalon, waterphone and similar ideas to the waterphone. I'll add that I'd like some more bassoon, and also old intruments like oud, cithara, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,347 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Electric Violin, Blaster Beam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,802 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Baritone sax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt C 453 Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 Another thing I'd like to hear (or write myself, if the opportunity is alloted), is an entirely choral (a cappella) score. And scores for solo instruments, even.I noticed a few silent film scores that were played entirely by organ (another underutilized instrument). I forgot the name(s), though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 155 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 There should be more trombone solos/solis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Love those.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brónach 1,302 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,524 Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 A Mellotron Mk II - The Black Bitch... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendal_Ozzel 36 Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Goat testicles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck 154 Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 The harp. Anyone here knows a film score where the harp is the primary central instrument? airmanjerm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry B 50 Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Another thing I'd like to hear (or write myself, if the opportunity is alloted), is an entirely choral (a cappella) score. And scores for solo instruments, even.I noticed a few silent film scores that were played entirely by organ (another underutilized instrument). I forgot the name(s), though.Yes, please, let's have some more organ. I think the reputation of this instrument has been decimated just by the cliché of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor in horror films. It's seriously an amazing instrument, though. The original synthesizer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,193 Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 The harp. Anyone here knows a film score where the harp is the primary central instrument?Herrmann's Beneath the 12-Mile Reef. Well, not one harp... nine of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,012 Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 I want more pizzicato!Like this? And wait, wait, there are woodwinds in it as well! And it doesn't seem like a likely candidate of a movie for this type of instrumentation. Karol - who would like to hear more woodwinds (basoon, clarinet) in a non-comedic vein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt C 453 Posted December 25, 2012 Author Share Posted December 25, 2012 CimbalomI love that! I think a score written for cimbalom, choir, hammered dulcimer, and organ is possible. It'd be challenging, but I'd love to hear something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 155 Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 The harp. Anyone here knows a film score where the harp is the primary central instrument?Herrmann's Beneath the 12-Mile Reef. Well, not one harp... nine of them.It's fairly prominent in Herrmann's "Journey to the Center of the EArth" also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brónach 1,302 Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 It's fairly prominent in Herrmann's "Journey to the Center of the EArth" also.That reminds me... scores without a string section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanner251 17 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Gamelan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,524 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Doesn't "Solaris" (2002) use a gamelan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkgyver 1,645 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Ocarina.Solo piano. Like over the end credits of E.T.Piano is something I definitely want to hear LESS of in todays film scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt C 453 Posted December 26, 2012 Author Share Posted December 26, 2012 Piano is something I definitely want to hear LESS of in todays film scores.Wait, what? If the score is well-written and properly orchestrated, why should there be less? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,347 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 "More pianos the better!" ~ John Williams (or something like that) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delorean90 42 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Piano is something I definitely want to hear LESS of in todays film scores.Wait, what? If the score is well-written and properly orchestrated, why should there be less?I think it's more the fact that, when piano is used today, it's more often than not in a really obvious and pedestrian way. I would have no problem with a piano sensitively and intelligently used in a score, though; if someone can come up with another The Conversation, bring it on.As for unusual instruments, I'd love to hear Harry Partch's instruments used in (a) film score(s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkgyver 1,645 Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Piano is something I definitely want to hear LESS of in todays film scores.Wait, what? If the score is well-written and properly orchestrated, why should there be less?I think it's more the fact that, when piano is used today, it's more often than not in a really obvious and pedestrian way. Exactly.I hate it when a piano is used for just some unobtrusive tingling.I loved it in Amazing Spider-Man. But then, it's James Horner. Most other composer today simply ... aren't James Horner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,524 Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 More picollos, but don't tell Franklin J. Schnaffer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 harpsichord like Johnny Mandel used in his score for Deathtrap.That score is one of the many gems from 1982, a wonderous year for film and film scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Cimbalom I'm starting to feel that the cimbalom is already starting to overstay its welcome in today's film scores, considering its now become a standard element of MV/RC repertoire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 155 Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 I'd like to hear more prominent but accompaniement piano parts, like in Snowy's theme. I love a solo piano, but I feel a lot of times people forget that it can be very effective in supporting or interacting with other sections of the orchestra. Delorean90 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,524 Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 I'd like to hear more prominent but accompaniement piano parts, like in Snowy's theme. I love a solo piano, but I feel a lot of times people forget that it can be very effective in supporting or interacting with other sections of the orchestra....such as "Corey In Jeopardy"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,012 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Doesn't "Solaris" (2002) use a gamelan?Alexandre Desplat's The Golden Compass uses gamelan to a great effect.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Doesn't "Solaris" (2002) use a gamelan?It's some sort of steel drum or hang drum. A great sound but overused these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Yes. Goldsmith used a Dukuk for The Russia House in the early 90s and it sounded fresh and unique. After Gladiator everyone started using one and it became old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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