Gladiator

Gladiator
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Most modern Hollywood films have musical "temp tracks" laid in as they're edited, usually classical standards or music from other soundtracks that helps shape the dramatic and emotional intentions of works in progress. Sometimes these temp tracks become the score (as in "2001"), but more often they serve as a template for the film's eventual scorer. That said, we'll boldly climb out on a limb and opine that director Ridley Scott was listening to a whole lot of Holst's The Planets as he was cobbling together his modern gladiator epic. Credit Hans Zimmer for taking "Mars, the Bringer of War" and hammering its familiar harmonic and rhythmic Sturm und Drang into something serviceably fresh; cohort Lisa Gerrard generally handles the more ethereal, atmospheric passages. As epic in scope as its thematic inspiration (and with enough occasional nods to "authenticity" to make it work), this is nonetheless a work of often surprising nuances, and one that recasts the traditional heroic orchestral score in deliciously dark and ominous tones. Warning: repeated listening may inspire the invasion of neighboring countries. --Jerry McCulley

Album Tracks
1. Progeny
2. The Wheat
3. The Battle
4. Earth
5. Sorrow
6. To Zucchabar
7. Patricide
8. The Emperor is Dead
9. The Might of Rome
10. Strength and Honor
11. Reunion
12. Slaves to Rome
13. Barbarian Horde
14. Am I Not Merciful?
15. Elysium
16. Honor Him
17. Now We Are Free

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