The animated film 9, produced by Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov, and directed by Shane Acker, has benefited from a rich and robust score by Deborah Lurie, whose talent for large-scale orchestral works has been proven in her compositions of additional music for such films as Spider-Man 3 and Wanted, while orchestrating and arranging for such composers as John Ottman, Danny Elfman, and Mark Snow.
But she has a flourishing career as a composer in her own right, as shown in her scores to films such as An Unfinished Life, Imaginary Heroes, and Sydney White. 9 is easily her biggest, most powerful work yet, however, and it definitely stands out as a superior action score.
Themes and Motifs in 9 Soundtrack
The score is characterized by solid orchestrations and a compelling narrative structure first, and by melodic themes second. The themes are composed by none other than Danny Elfman, but given the brevity and simplicity of the themes, they don’t stand out as immediately as typical Elfman themes do. Having said that, Elfman’s unique compositional voice is definitely evident in this score, though not to any worrisome extent: Lurie is very much the woman of the hour.
One theme is a short, almost fanfare-like figure, often represented by lonely French horn (as in “Finding Answers”) but also heard on gorgeous flute in “Burial” (buoyed by some lovely string layers) and soft piano in “Out Three” and “Reunion,” which also offers an attractive passage for acoustic guitar and recorder. It resembles Elfman’s own bold fanfare for Terminator Salvation more than anything, although it is shorter and tonally less heroic, seeming more somber and even slightly despairing.
The second theme is a short ascending motif, often performed on bold muscular brass in the more thunderous cues (and on solo French horn in reflective passages), but sometimes heard in almost lullaby-like tones, such as in “Twins,” perhaps the score’s lightest cue.
The way in which Lurie sprinkles and weaves these short melodies throughout the body of the score is quite intriguing; sometimes in ways so subtle that the casual listener may even miss the references, though they are unmistakable when proper attention is given to the music.
Action Cues by Deborah Lurie
Although the tones of the score are quite varied, the predominant mood of the album is action: and such action! Though many of the action sequences are fairly brief, they stir up a level of excitement rarely heard in modern cinema, much less in animated films.
In fact, the level of orchestral activity and color at work in these cues rivals the epic inventiveness of Elliot Goldenthal’s masterpieces, with massive choral chants, menacing electronic effects, blasting brass, and heart-pounding percussive work (best heard in “The Seamstress”). An occasional passage of shrieking dissonance provides horrific emphasis (as in “Reawakening”), but the quality and structure of the music is never compromised.
Narrative Structure in Lurie's Score
Although the score contains very few weak moments and is overall quite strong in orchestration and thematic continuity, perhaps its greatest asset is its narrative quality: the music seems to tell its own story as it plays back on album, with a clear beginning, middle, and conclusion. It is an album which leaves the listener satisfied, thrilled, and contemplative.
The score ends on a particularly lovely note with the track “Release,” one of the most stunningly beautiful choral finales heard all year. As a bonus, the album also contains the heavy rock song “Welcome Home” by Coheed & Cambria, which appeared in the film’s trailers.
Summary
It is a fine score to accompany a fine film, and Deborah Lurie is to be commended for her solid work here. Collectors of action scores and fans of Danny Elfman alike should seek out this score: in doing so they will hear much of what they like best while discovering a promising and talented young composer. 9 comes highly recommended.
David Abraham Dueck - I live in MN and do not surf or collect Hello Kitty paraphernalia. I instead play ice hockey, write articles for my blog, read tons of ...
