Music has the power to move each of us in different ways. Whether it is a musical, movie soundtrack, symphony, opera, famous song or a simple childhood tune taking us back to a memorable time and place, music can invoke a wide range of emotions. It can even tell a story.
Our hero gets the girlWhen we set out to create Azul our goal was to use elements from Viva as the DNA or building blocks for the framework which this story revolves. We started with the popular pre-show performer as our hero who is transformed by their wondrous interactions with the inhabitants of this magical world.
In his "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" Joseph Campbell refers to this as the Hero's Journey where the hero faces a number of challenges and tests eventually to awaken, realize and integrate with his true self. A famous example of this is the tone poem "Also Sprach Zarathustra" - Richard Strauss' musical setting of Frederick Nietzsche's same titled poem. You can either listen to an orchestral excerpt of listen to the opening to the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey".
French Horn with photo credit by m.giffordAnother more modern example is John Williams' score to the Star Wars films. Many of the characters have themes that accompany them. From the "Imperial March" also known as Darth Vader's Theme to the beautiful horn solo sounding Leia's theme and even a theme for the Force...as Luke contemplates his fate looking over a binary sunset on his home planet. Heard in the horns who can forget this brooding melody?
OK I must admit I am partial to the horn. In a former life I played horn professionally and have found some of the most important and powerful themes are given to the horns - listen to Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, John Williams and you will see what I mean (click the blue arrows to play mp3 clips in the web page or click the song title to download and play on your computer directly)...
Back to the story...
Our hero's theme is derived from the finale of Viva. Listen to the trumpets as they soar above the orchestra...
The composer of this original score, Marc Ouellette adapts the melody heard in the strings, voice and trumpet. Listen as our hero answers the call accepting the invitation to enter this magical world.
The melodic line follows the original melodic arc and is broadened into one of the most notable themes as our hero discovers love for the first time...
At the precise moment he is shot off the Russian Swing we hear the transformed theme as he passes through a Rite of Passage. Soaring above the water the hero awakens to his true self. As he progresses through his dives he realizes his full potential.
The finale is not just about the hero arriving, but becoming fully unified with his true self. The transformation is complete. Symbolizing his integration with this magical world the composer plays the original theme from the beginning (heard in the strings and later in the trumpets and guitar) in counterpoint with the new competed hero's theme heard in the horns.
See what did I tell you - not only the most difficult instrument to play, but the one most used by composers to make a strong statement - Star Wars and Star Trek...
The actions happening in and around the water are reflected in the musical score. So, the next time you visit the park check out Azul again and see if you experience our story through actions and music.
I look forward to reading your comments and further discussions on this topic...cheers!
Chris Jordan
