Analysis of Music for FMP

Music Analysis for FMP

BBC Atlantis 'Journey To Aegina'

The music I have decided to use for my FMP is a track from the BBC show Atlantis. It's composed by my composer friend Stuart Hancock, which he kindly gave me permission to use it in my FMP.  I chose to use this track because it really goes with the theme of my nature video. The score comes across very beautiful, atmospheric and is exactly what I want to show the beauty of nature in spring and new beginnings.

The track is split into three parts (three act structure). At the beginning the tempo is very smooth and calming with just strings (0:12). It feels like the start of something big, like the journey your never going to forget. This then gradually fades out and cleverly merges into act 2 with the beginning of multiple string melodies with a bass pad ticking along in the background. This creates a rhythmic pace of momentum and enriches the music (1:08), which gradually builds and creates tension. As well as some distant voice pads running through starting at (1:59), which really creates the atmosphere and power.

The main melody beginnings at (2:04) with a soloist violinist taking the lead. Here you really feel the power of the orchestra and flows very nicely into a calming beautiful melody. The bass pad and string melody is still present in the background and gives us a real sense of adventure and continuation. I particularly like this part at (2:57) as the key changes into more of a softer emotional romantic melody. (3:07) is where act 3 starts as you feel the whole orchestra come together with added french horns, voice pads and a harp now and then. This soon comes to a swift end as parts of the orchestra fade out in till we just hear strings, as we started with. This closes the track perfectly and really feels like you've just had the journey of a life time.

I can imagine really well that this will fit my nature video.  At the start of the track its very soft and quiet, so for example I could have dramatic sun rises over hills and mountains, early morning animals coming to feed, sun rays shining through the trees, like its the start of a brand new day in spring. Then when we get to act 2 we can have more exciting clips of like a bird of prey in flight, powerful waterfalls, a dragon fly over a lake, panning woodland shots etc. As this is when the orchestra comes together, so really footage and music working in harmony. I would end it with a sun set, that will close the video nicely. I want to make the video very colourful and interesting to look at, with good focus, lighting, framing and pacing of the video. Making it colourful is very important because I want to show the magic of spring, even if I enhance the hue-saturation.

Who is Stuart Hancock?

Link to his website - http://www.stuarthancock.com/

Stuart is a British award winning Composer for film, TV and concert music. He is well known for the music behind Series 2 of BBC Atlantis. Also he's composed Crazyhead, Hawk, The Last Belle and recently 'Were going on a Bear Hunt', which was broadcasted on Christmas Eve 2016.   

Some of his Music...