MUSIC FROM THE TRAILER OF FROZEN PLANET
Two Steps from Hell - Heart of Courage
watch the video below to see my thoughts on what makes this music EPIC!
THE FACTS
- The composers of this music are Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergersen who, as Two Steps from Hell, compose music specifically for video and film trailers.
- Here is their Wiki entry.
- They have a Facebook fan page.
- The album ” Invcincible” can be downloaded at iTunes - this includes the track Heart of Courage.
- ” Illusions” and ”Archgangel” are also now available with other albums due soon.
- Update page on Trailer Music News.
- Their music can be sampled at Extreme Music
- Here is their web site
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Nick Phoenix Thomas Bergersen
So what is it about this particular piece of music which has prompted so many people from all around the world to seek information about it? Many people, including myself, heard it for the first time in the trailer for “Frozen Planet”, the remarkable David Attenborough series running at the moment on BBC television. I wrote about it here.
Undoubtedly it fires the imagination and stirs the emotions of many types of listener. This particular track, Heart of Courage has been used for other film trailers such as The Chronicles of Narnia and several TV shows as well as the DVD of Avatar, so it is possible that it is vaguely familiar. But there is definitely something about the sound and the form of the composition which makes the most commonly used adjective EPIC. It has inspired many to attempt cover versions on various instruments ( look on YouTube but be prepared to be dismayed in some instances ) and it certainly moved hundreds of people to search on the internet.
It is really tempting to analyse this music to see what strategies can be used to compose epic music. Here are my thoughts.
Heart of Courage by Two Steps from Hell
But, let’s face it, you can analyse and dissect all you like but the fact remains that this music appeals, inspires, uplifts, stirs and, when combined with fantastic film footage, is unforgettable.
Pretty remarkable for 1.57 of music.
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Your recipe is so good! It is a wonder to hear and see this through your Eyes. The first period is so poetic before the heart beat… I would love it even longer . The beauty of it all is fantastic. Thanks for making ‘epic ‘easier.
And thank you for your kind comments Yvette. It puzzled me why SO many people were attracted to this piece – I agree with them of course but people from Orkney to Australia are gripped by it, so, kudos to the composers!
I love this one here from Finland too! Sounding so great and big in my headphones and I love the heartbeat (need more). Now I understand what epic music means, thank you!
You are most welcome! These are only my thoughts, however, and other musicians may have different ideas. Thank you for visiting my blog
It is not the music I would really notice( apart for the first movement), but with your steps and explainations, it is more attractive, it is matching the pictures, fitting exactly what is to be centered . Compared to Sibelius ‘s Luonnotar it is rather ‘light’ . Would you call this ‘epic’ too?
Off to rehearsal just now but will enjoy this when I get back. Thank you!
Back now. Oh, my. What a work to digest. I am completely new to this and need to give it some attention. I am comparing the two versions on YouTube and, on first playing, I find the gorgeous film in the first rather distracting so I cannot listen properly so I will try without the images.
Will be back with thoughts tomorrow. Au revoir.
I love this analysis, Eyes!
How easily we are manipulated! Play us the tinkly piano and we’re in a rom-com in an instant.
Here’s my two cents: ‘epic’ music must be tonal. Dissonance will deflate pomposity and chest-swelling.
Voice component must be choral. The more numerous chorus sounds, the more ‘epic’.
So obviously, I don’t hear Yvette’s sample as epic at all (though it’s good, and intriguing, much more intriguing than the ‘epic’ one up there, and makes you think, while the ‘epic’ one just inflates you like a balloon, against your will).
Some of Bjork’s music could probably be seen as epic, although I like Bjork, and Vespertine album is the least epic of her creations.
This is going to boil down to our individual interpretations of the word epic, isn’t it?
I may be wrong but I think the young folks out there use ( or overuse ) the word in different contexts from the original meaning. This can be seen on some of their comments on the YT channels and the fan pages.
You people who are good with words ( that’s all of you, not me! ) can we arrive at common ground on the word’s meaning before we examine musical examples?
Yvette – I’m still exploring the Sibelius ….
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Mar07/Luonnotar.htm
DtO. Which Bjork is best to explore for a novice?
I was thinking of Joga, for example:
Try as I might I just don’t “get” this and find the vocal irritating. Perhaps if I were more accustomed to this genre I would feel differently about this particular track.
Any thoughts anyone else?
I was driving to work one day when this came through my radio… I loved it! (it is a remake from an american singer who died not long ago… can’t recall her name, this version is … epic!!!)http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x274cu_bjork-it-s-oh-so-quiet_music
I gave your link a go, Yvette and looked on YT for the American singer. Was it perhaps Betty Hutton.?
I’m still struggling with the song though!
Yes that is the singer! struggle with noise that is why! (sorry I should not have inflicted this upon you… !)
love the analysis (too!)
. i think beethoven 9th 4th mov has all the criteria met too, hair rising thick string section, soaring tune building up slowly from bass to violin, “wave crashing” sound, immediate withdraw to silence, heart-thumping “ta ta, ta ta, ta ta” before chorus + everything else lauching in for “finale” (this is like fantastic homework session Eyes 
)
All this listening to do
Interesting to see if our opinions are the same.
@ Yvette. I have read and understood the background to the Sibelius but I am still struggling. The complexity of the work inhibits immediate connection ( but perhaps that is me ) Do you know this piece well and does it therefore “grow on you” ?
It is interesting that both the Sibelius and the Bjork have grandiose landscape illustrations for the video component.
It all happened because some years ago I stayed in Helsinki for a while. I had to get introduced to their ancient legends because each time I visited a gallery or a Museum I was confronted to their Myths just like we are here with Greek Mythology. So I bought a book of Kalevala
and read the tales. When I visited Ainola, I undestood how much Sibelius (and his friend the painter Akseli Gallén-Kallela) wanted to illustrate these ancient myths as a matter of founding Finish identity. I am fascinated by this creation of the world in true Nordic style . Kalevala is a huge book, strange and full of poetry and violence ( I read it in English as Finland seems to be a bilingual country, Finish being such a difficult language). This passage is like a poem to me. In fact the images are in the epic style, the music is not. it is like an ancient tune. Thank you for this very interesting topic ‘epic music’! (my opinion is coming late but I was lost in Bel Canto as I wrote to Smorgy, to excuse myself)
I’m sure there’s some pretty epic Bel Canto too!
Now I am going to read your link and learn more about it in details. Your site is so good. By the way I love this Joga song, Bjork is epic in herslf!
I’m with you, Yvette — Bjork is epic and brilliant. I hear her latest multi-media release Biophilia is a sort of a musicological attempt to give everybody the basics of musical education and opportunity to compose, in addition to being an album of songs.
I somehow missed her a cappella album Medulla, must catch up with that too.
i spent my whole week searching for that epic music,which i first heard with the trailer of frozen planet. the best piece of music heard in my whole life. A MUST LISTEN FOR EVERYONE
I’m pleased you found the music and I agree – it’s a fabulous piece. Spread the word!
Sst next to a couple of young Polish guys, first time at symphony (Mahler 2) at Royal Festival Hall a while back, as we reached the finale they were wound like steel springs and at the climactic moment they both leapt up punching the air like football fans whose team had just scored the winning goal. Was fantastic.
Brilliant! I wonder if we will ever see a Brit do that?