
Category Four - Music;
The music used in the selected opening is titled Underground, written and sung by David Bowie. This piece was commissioned especially for the film soundtrack, but only a portion of the full song is used in my extract.
(for a link to the full six minute version click here)
Underground was a musical experiment for Bowie, but it did an excellent job of portraying the mood the way Jim Henson envisioned it.
The song uses a lot of electronically created sounds. In addition to the basic acoustic piano, blues guitar played by Albert Collins and a rhythm section, Bowie has made great use of the Hammond organ - an electronic organ used for jazz, blues and gospel music, amongst a few others.
Keyboard, as well as programmed xylophones, flute, drums and harp were used. Underground also featured a saxophone (in the extended version) and a large gospel chorus. The piece is heavily synthesized in some parts and also very ornamental, with the use of scales, trills, glissandi, etc.
The selection of instruments picked for Underground, whether they be live or electronic, echoed and mirrored the fantasy genre perfectly. Flute and harp used together effectively imitates old Celtic tunes, which has a very mystical and sometimes dark sound.The large gospel chorus used to back up David resonates the reflection idea in an aural form. The piece as a whole sounds magical and deep, and depicts the strong visual elements of the film opening perfectly.
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