Now we all know that Hans Zimmer is a master in making a "catchy epic" song.
I've been given the task on my highschool to make a music in style of hans zimmer and i think i already got the vsts and aus i need.
Now, my question is, to write a hans zimmer score (in general) i would have to stick a little bit to the pop formula with orchestral instruments right? Basically making a catchy melody and a good chord progression (most of the times a well known chord progression, without jumping from tones to other tones and stuff like that) and make it dynamic and epic with the instrumentation and the dynamics of the instruments (i've realize that hans loves to make the melodic part in the cello for example).
Basically i am starting with a chord progression in the key of D minor, very simplistic and then adding layers and contraposition instruments to make it more interesting, sometimes i change 1 chord on that 4 chord progression. Am i on the right track here?

 

Very rythmic, built on some kind of simple motif that layers on, percussive hardly to no woodwinds at all (modern Zimmer). I'd say, technically his themes sound more like motif's in definition.

 

It is basically electronic music, but with acoustic instruments; just add lots of brass to make it sound epic.
And it's not dynamic at all - if you don't have to turn up or down the volume knob like on many classical concert recordings, it's not really dynamic at all.
Something like Don Davis score for the Matrix is a more advanced version of this language - he uses way more complex harmony/dissonances, rhythms and all kinds of orchestral textures (lifted directly from 20th century pieces)

 

Well it is kinda dynamic...

 

Mh, not audible or recognizable woodwinds and no woodwinds at all can be a significant difference. Woodwinds are often used to fill a sound gap between the strings and the brass, to glue them together. So I wouldn't skip this section right from the start.

Additionally at one point of your track(s), maybe even for the most parts, 'gigantism' is what is characteristic for HZ. So you'll probably need 3 - 4 orchestral libraries and layer the shit out of them.

 

I understand your point of view, 'cos what you're saying is ok (woodwinds has an expressive function too, not only reinforcement). But I have already noticed in Zimmer orchestral grids scores that don't contain woodwind section. So, he was really notable for "deleting" a session that has an important function to create his custom color palette (see Magnus Rex, from The Dark Knight Rises, that contains 8 french horns, 3 trombones, 2 bass trombones, contrabass trombone, tuba, cimbasso, percussion, piano and string session, only). But you are right, he doesn't completely discard the use of woodwind section (as can be seen in Rango or Sherlocks scores).

 

Last edited: Jan 14, 2021