RAMIN DJAWADI

The 4th season didn't have any of the big thematic "finale"-type cues that the first three seasons all did (the first one's finale, the second one's "Mother of Dragons" and the third one's "Mhysa"). "The Children" was kind of an attempt at that but sounds so similar to "Mhysa" that it didn't really have the same impact. Other than that it's generally even darker and murkier than the previous seasons. Not a very enjoyable album at all.

He hasn't seen the show? Well, I am surprised!!

I see. Then, maybe, this is why i like it the most. More restrained, and darker I thought that Djawadi does those solemn, choir-led pieces pretty good (Same as his medal of honor first score) and got4 was a continuation of that sound. I usually find his more epic stuff (apart the glorious got main theme) a bit off for my tastes.

I'm currently listening to this on Google Music. Just starting, organic, with sprinklings of electronics, but nothing to get excited about. I'm thinking that this will skew more toward the GoT sound.

Review of Dracula Untold:

http://www.movie-wave.net/dracula-untold/

Review of Warcraft:

http://www.movie-wave.net/warcraft/

Because it's a general mistake people make in terms of the adaptation (which I haven't seen yet)... from what it all seems, the film is not an adaptation of the MMORPG game (which reviews do suggest), but rather the early strategy games, which are one of the first RTS (real-time strategies) games ever. If I understand the plot outlines/summaries I've seen, it is based on the first game, basically being an origin story of the races and conflict.

The design of the knights ("footmen") in the trailer also hints at that.

My review of THE GREAT WALL, for anyone who's interested:

https://moviemusicuk.us/2017/02/28/the- … n-djawadi/

Jon

Not at all surprising to me that the music for this show takes on a new life when a few highlight cues are taken from each season. Looking at the tracklist it seems they have done a pretty excellent job selecting those highlights, too. I don't usually hold with compilations but this definitely looks worth checking out (especially if, as you say, it transcends the often shoddy-sounding performances of especially the earlier season scores).

Also - who is Gerald, and what is his theme?

I want to buy that GoT Symphony as I generally love the Prague Philharmonic. I have lots of their recordings and I consider them one of the top orchestras. Also to have something of a 'best of' of Djawadi's scores and not having to buy the complete seasons, which I'm not interested in.

In this case Volker I think it's worth considering actually getting the recording, though, as the Game of Thrones scores do sound kind of crappy with the synth overdubbing and all.

Shitty string samples are a "unique sound" now?

I agree with the captain here, synth and all, it's part of the sound Djawadi created for the series. Also, I thought the Symphony was cringe worthy, the orchestral performance doesn't sound right at all and very small, as opposed to the original recording and mixing.

I listened to it on SPotify and I kinda agree. It seems to be recorded with a small ensemble and limited in scope and sound. It's a selection of the best tracks though, so as a compilation it's quite okay.

The reasoning behind it doesn't really change the way I feel about it: whichever way, Djawadi created a sound for Game of Thrones that I find really fits the series, that has the right amount of epicness, and we have come to associate with the world. Also, the fact that Djawadi never changed the opening theme, even though he slightly enriched it over the seasons when the budget grew, and continues to use synths throughout newly composed music (even though in other parts use of organic instruments grew, thanks to the budget) shows this is part of his intended sound. Even if you'd say, well, he might've just stuck with it to ensure continuity, he also used this mix for World of Warcraft, so it's most probably his preferred mix of instruments. The "frightening" bit, you say.

I'm also a firm believer of 'I don't care what makes the sound, as long as it works', and Thrones to my opinion definitely works. I really don't get all the talk of is it an orchestra, is it sampled, is it electronic... is it a good composition? Synthetic elements are simply another part of a composers toolbox; he may use brass, he may use a piano, or synths, as long as it gets a vision across, and even when it's budget constrained (and I find it completely unfair to judge a composers music based on the budget he is given), it's how he uses it. The RC sound of sampled elements and synths comes with a different sound and feel that fits a different type of film than one which requires a fully modern score, and this different sound can be beautiful, cool and powerful in its own way.

In regards to this so called "symphony": there's also a difference between doing it right or doing it lifeless, with a small orchestra and not really hitting the right marks, of which I greatly prefer the original mixing than a "real orchestra".



There is no irony there. Orchestral or electronic, as explained above, both have its advantages and can sound great. Both sound different whether it's lossless or compressed, and yes, when you listen to an orchestra it shines more in lossless.