Composer	
  as	
  a	
  storyteller,	
  
Music	
  as	
  the	
  spoiler.	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
Zeev	
  Perry	
  
	
  
Master	
  in	
  Scoring	
  for	
  Film,	
  TV	
  and	
  Video	
  Games	
  
Berklee	
  Valencia	
  	
  
July	
  2014	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

	
  

INDEX	
  
	
  
1.1	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Abstract	
  	
  	
  …………………………………………………………………………………	
  	
  	
  3	
  
1.2	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Synopsis	
  	
  	
  ………………………………………………………………………………...	
  	
  	
  3	
  
1.3	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Composer,	
  Director	
  and	
  general	
  background	
  of	
  making	
  the	
  film	
  	
  ...	
  	
  6	
  
Music	
  score:	
  
2.1	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  The	
  sound:	
  landscape/	
  atmosphere	
  created,	
  harmonic	
  language,	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Instrumentation………………………………………………………………………..	
  	
  	
  9	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
2.2	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Score	
  Narrative	
  analysis:	
  themes,	
  motives	
  and	
  significant	
  cues	
  ….	
  	
  	
  11	
  
2.3	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Cue	
  List	
  	
  	
  	
  ………………………………………………………………………………	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  15	
  
3.1	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Conclusions	
  	
  	
  …………………………………………………………………………..	
  	
  	
  	
  22	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

	
  

2	
  

	
  
Abstract	
  
In	
  this	
  paper	
  I	
  will	
  try	
  to	
  examine	
  though	
  the	
  Film	
  “The	
  Imaginarium	
  of	
  Doctor	
  
Parnassus”,	
  whether	
  the	
  fact	
  in	
  which	
  the	
  composer	
  knows	
  the	
  ending	
  of	
  the	
  
movie,	
  reflects	
  in	
  the	
  music	
  from	
  the	
  very	
  start.	
  
In	
  order	
  to	
  do	
  that	
  I	
  will	
  start	
  with	
  a	
  short	
  synopsis	
  of	
  the	
  film,	
  I	
  will	
  then	
  get	
  to	
  
know	
  the	
  creative	
  souls;	
  the	
  director	
  and	
  the	
  two	
  composers,	
  a	
  short	
  background	
  
of	
  the	
  movie	
  will	
  then	
  take	
  place	
  for	
  giving	
  the	
  prospective	
  and	
  a	
  certain	
  taste	
  of	
  
the	
  film	
  unusual	
  circumstances.	
  After	
  do	
  so,	
  I	
  will	
  examine	
  the	
  music	
  referring	
  it	
  
as	
  	
  “sound”,	
  as	
  whole	
  auditory	
  experience,	
  though	
  relations	
  between	
  narrative	
  to	
  
music,	
  themes	
  and	
  variations	
  and	
  instrumentation.	
  I	
  hope	
  that	
  with	
  the	
  
knowledge	
  and	
  the	
  information	
  I’ll	
  will	
  gain	
  about	
  the	
  film	
  and	
  it’s	
  creators	
  and	
  
by	
  going	
  though	
  the	
  themes	
  and	
  the	
  course	
  they’re	
  moving	
  in	
  the	
  film,	
  I	
  will	
  have	
  
enough	
  material	
  to	
  state	
  whether	
  the	
  music	
  was	
  telling	
  the	
  end	
  from	
  the	
  start	
  or	
  
not.	
  
	
  
	
  
The	
  Imaginarium	
  of	
  Doctor	
  Parnassus	
  	
  
Synopsis	
  
Our	
  story	
  begins	
  just	
  before	
  Valentina	
  turns	
  sixteen,	
  “the	
  age	
  of	
  counsel”	
  in	
  her	
  
words.	
  It’s	
  London	
  and	
  the	
  picture	
  is	
  dark,	
  the	
  weather	
  is	
  awful,	
  the	
  characters	
  
seem	
  as	
  if	
  they	
  just	
  came	
  out	
  of	
  a	
  nice	
  dirty	
  deep	
  in	
  a	
  big	
  pile	
  of	
  waste.	
  	
  Alcohol,	
  
filth	
  and	
  torn	
  rags	
  as	
  if	
  cloths	
  to	
  wear.	
  Smoke,	
  fog	
  and	
  a	
  big	
  monstrous	
  carriage-­‐	
  
caravan-­‐	
  rolling	
  theatre	
  all	
  in	
  which	
  follow	
  the	
  story	
  from	
  the	
  start	
  gives	
  us	
  the	
  
viewers	
  a	
  sense	
  uneasiness,	
  uncertainty,	
  mystery	
  and	
  magic.	
  

	
  

3	
  

Doctor	
   Parnassus,	
   Valentina’s	
   father,	
   is	
   immortal	
   and	
   a	
   bating	
   kind	
   of	
  
man.	
   He	
   is	
   immortal	
   because	
   he	
   likes	
   to	
   bet	
   and	
   he	
   likes	
   to	
   bet	
   because	
   he’s	
  
immortality.	
  One	
  night	
  in	
  his	
  old	
  carriage,	
  Doctor	
  Parnassus	
  takes	
  Valentina	
  for	
  a	
  
talk.	
   He	
   wants	
   to	
   tell	
   her	
   the	
   truth,	
   a	
   tale	
   that	
   will	
   reveal	
   how	
   he	
   became	
  
immortal.	
  
A	
   few	
   decades	
   ago	
   Parnassus	
   was	
   a	
   young	
   monk	
   who	
   lived	
   on	
   top	
   of	
   a	
   big	
  
abandoned	
   mountain,	
   his	
   believe	
   and	
   his	
   routine	
   was	
   very	
   simple	
   and	
   like	
   the	
  
rest	
   of	
   the	
   monks	
   there	
   all	
   he	
   did	
   was	
   telling	
   the	
   eternal	
   story,	
   the	
   story	
   that	
  
sustains	
  the	
  universe.	
  One	
  day,	
  a	
  strange	
  looking	
  man	
  who’s	
  called	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  came	
  
to	
   the	
   monastery;	
   he	
   wore	
   a	
   suit	
   and	
   a	
   top	
   hat,	
   he	
   smoked	
   a	
   cigar	
   and	
   used	
   what	
  
seemed	
  to	
  be	
  an	
  old	
  recorder.	
  	
  After	
  hearing	
  from	
  Parnassus	
  his	
  believe	
  and	
  the	
  
reason	
  he	
  and	
  the	
  monks	
  are	
  staying	
  there,	
  he	
  proved	
  him	
  wrong,	
  in	
  a	
  way.	
  Or	
  at	
  
least	
   gave	
   him	
   some	
   food	
   for	
   thought	
   by	
   silencing	
   the	
   monastery	
   and	
   stopping	
  
the	
  eternal	
  story	
  from	
  being	
  told.	
  This	
  action	
  shook	
  Parnassus	
  world	
  and	
  that’s	
  
when	
  he	
  made	
  his	
  first	
  bet	
  with	
  the	
  strange	
  looking	
  man,	
  who	
  turned	
  out	
  to	
  be	
  
the	
  devil	
  itself.	
  This	
  bet	
  led	
  him	
  to	
  a	
  series	
  of	
  other	
  bets,	
  which	
  caused	
  him	
  to	
  win	
  
his	
  immortality,	
  his	
  slavery	
  and	
  later	
  to	
  loosing	
  his	
  daughter	
  at	
  the	
  age	
  of	
  sixteen.	
  
Doctor	
  Parnassus	
  doesn’t	
  get	
  to	
  the	
  part	
  in	
  the	
  story	
  about	
  betting	
  on	
  his	
  
daughter	
   because	
   the	
   carriage	
   stops	
   and	
   Valentina	
   runs	
   out	
   to	
   find	
   a	
   man	
  
hanging	
  by	
  his	
  throat	
  from	
  a	
  bridge.	
  With	
  the	
  help	
  of	
  Percy,	
  the	
  Doctor’s	
  assistant	
  
and	
  Anton,	
  who’s	
  another	
  actor	
  in	
  the	
  Doctor’s	
  show,	
  they	
  save	
  Tony	
  who’s	
  about	
  
to	
  take	
  a	
  lead	
  role	
  in	
  the	
  bet	
  between	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  to	
  the	
  Doctor.	
  
Tony,	
   a	
   charismatic	
   crook	
   who	
   stole	
   money	
   from	
   a	
   charity	
   organization	
  
and	
  got	
  involved	
  with	
  the	
  local	
  mafia,	
  lies	
  about	
  his	
  true	
  identity	
  to	
  the	
  carriage	
  
personal	
   and	
   starts	
   to	
   take	
   part	
   as	
   an	
   actor	
   in	
   their	
   daily	
   routine.	
   	
   The	
   daily	
  

	
  

4	
  

routine	
   of	
   Doctor	
   Parnassus	
   and	
   the	
   others	
   is	
   having	
   a	
   street	
   show	
   by	
   opening	
  
the	
   caravan	
   to	
   a	
   small	
   theatre	
   and	
   offering	
   the	
   spectators	
   to	
   go	
   inside	
   Doctor	
  
Parnassus’s	
   Imaginarium.	
   Which	
   means,	
   walking	
   though	
   a	
   magical	
   door	
   that	
  
leads	
   to	
   the	
   Doctor’s	
   mind	
   and	
   by	
   that	
   exploring	
   your	
   imagination,	
   getting	
   to	
  
know	
  it	
  and	
  experiencing	
  it	
  in	
  an	
  exciting	
  yet	
  dangerous	
  way.	
  
Charismatic	
  Tony	
  brings	
  a	
  new	
  and	
  fresh	
  vibe	
  to	
  the	
  unsuccessful	
  show	
  of	
  
the	
   Doctor	
   and	
   the	
   others.	
   With	
   his	
   sharp	
   tough	
   and	
   his	
   unique	
   charm	
   he	
  
manages	
  to	
  make	
  the	
  imaginarium	
  show	
  just	
  a	
  tad	
  more	
  appealing	
  to	
  the	
  public.	
  
Doctor	
   Parnasus	
   and	
   Valentina	
   are	
   swept	
   away	
   by	
   Tony,	
   they	
   have	
   complete	
  
confident	
  that	
  he	
  will	
  give	
  them	
  the	
  chance	
  they	
  need	
  in	
  life	
  right	
  now;	
  Valentina	
  
falls	
  for	
  him	
  and	
  wants	
  to	
  believe	
  he’ll	
  take	
  her	
  away	
  from	
  her	
  twisted	
  reality	
  of	
  
living	
   with	
   her	
   father	
   and	
   his	
   midget	
   in	
   a	
   crazy	
   moving	
   theatre	
   to	
   a	
   sane,	
   normal	
  
and	
  stable	
  life.	
  The	
  Doctor	
  believes	
  that	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  send	
  Tony	
  as	
  a	
  part	
  of	
  another	
  
bet	
  that	
  might	
  give	
  him	
  a	
  chance	
  of	
  saving	
  his	
  daughter.	
  
Mr.	
   Nick	
   does	
   notice	
   the	
   new	
   presents	
   of	
   Tony	
   and	
   offers	
   Parnassus	
  
another	
   bet	
   with	
   a	
   chance;	
   the	
   first	
   one	
   who	
   will	
   win	
   five	
   souls	
   will	
   take	
  
Valentina.	
   Every	
   person	
   that	
   decides	
   to	
   participate	
   the	
   show	
   of	
   the	
   Doctor	
   and	
  
goes	
  inside	
  the	
  imaginarium	
  will	
  enter	
  his	
  own	
  imagination;	
  experience	
  a	
  world	
  
of	
  magic	
  that	
  comes	
  into	
  real	
  life.	
  In	
  this	
  experience,	
  walking	
  in	
  the	
  imagination,	
  
among	
   many	
   fantastic	
   and	
   beautiful	
   things	
   the	
   participant	
   will	
   come	
   across;	
  
there	
   will	
   be	
   a	
   decision	
   to	
   make,	
   a	
   choice	
   between	
   right	
   and	
   wrong,	
   good	
   or	
   bad.	
  
That	
  decision	
  will	
  define	
  if	
  the	
  soul	
  goes	
  to	
  the	
  Doctor	
  or	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  and	
  will	
  later	
  
affect	
  Valentina’s	
  fortune.	
  
	
  
	
  

	
  

5	
  

The	
  Composers,	
  Director	
  and	
  general	
  background	
  of	
  making	
  the	
  film	
  
	
  

Jeffrey	
  W.	
  “Jeff”	
  Danna	
  
Born	
  1964,	
  Jeff	
  is	
  a	
  Canadian	
  composer.	
  Although	
  primarily	
  noted	
  for	
  his	
  
film	
   music,	
   Jeff	
   is	
   an	
   active	
   TV	
   composer	
   and	
   in	
   addition	
   wrote	
   two	
   albums	
   of	
  
Celtic	
   music,	
   influenced	
   by	
   the	
   Celtic	
   folk	
   tales	
   of	
   “Deirdre”	
   and	
   “Liadain	
   and	
  
Curithir”.	
   Both	
   of	
   these	
   two	
   Albums	
   were	
   written	
   by	
   Jeff	
   and	
   his	
   older	
   brother	
  
Mychael	
   Danna,	
   a	
   collaboration	
   which	
   went	
   on,	
   in	
   different	
   formats,	
   on	
   few	
  
projects	
  such	
  as:	
  “Tideland”,	
  “Life	
  of	
  Pie”,	
  “Antwone	
  Fisher”	
  and	
  “Green	
  Dragon”.	
  
Jeff,	
  who	
  began	
  his	
  musical	
  journey	
  on	
  the	
  age	
  of	
  eight	
  as	
  a	
  piano	
  student,	
  later	
  to	
  
become	
   a	
   guitarist	
   as	
   well,	
   was	
   making	
   his	
   way	
   as	
   a	
   music	
   performer.	
   An	
  
unfortunate	
  hand	
  injury	
  at	
  the	
  age	
  of	
  twenty-­‐three	
  opened	
  him	
  a	
  path	
  to	
  become	
  
the	
  composer	
  that	
  he	
  is	
  now-­‐	
  days.	
  	
  
Other	
   Film	
   and	
   TV	
   series	
   scores	
   include	
   a	
   long	
   list	
   of	
   divergent	
   projects	
  
such	
   as:	
   “All	
   Saints	
   Day”,	
   “Fracture”,	
   “Resident	
   Evil:	
   Apocoypse”,	
   “Miss	
   Spider”,	
  
“Silent	
  Hill”,	
  “Closing	
  the	
  Ring”	
  and	
  “Lakeview	
  Terrace”.	
  
	
  

Mychael	
  Danna	
  
Born	
  1958,	
  an	
  academy	
  Award-­‐	
  winning	
  composer,	
  mostly	
  known	
  for	
  his	
  
score	
  for	
  the	
  film	
  “Life	
  of	
  Pi”,	
  Mychael	
  Danna’s	
  music	
  language	
  is	
  mostly	
  unique	
  
for	
  it’s	
  interesting,	
  evocative	
  and	
  rich	
  textures	
  of	
  blending	
  eastern	
  and	
  western	
  
musical	
   worlds.	
   Mychael	
   studied	
   at	
   the	
   University	
   of	
   Toronto;	
   there	
   he	
   earned	
  
the	
  school’s	
  inaugural	
  Glenn	
  Gould	
  Composition	
  award.	
  During	
  that	
  time	
  he	
  also	
  
began	
   scoring	
   for	
   student	
   theatre	
   groups	
   as	
   well	
   as	
   starting	
   his	
   artistic	
  

	
  

6	
  

partnership	
  with	
  Egoyan.	
  Mychael	
  has	
  scored	
  all	
  of	
  Egoyan’s	
  films	
  since	
  1987’s	
  
“Family	
  Viewing”.	
  
Mychael	
   earned	
   the	
   2013	
   Golden	
   Globe	
   and	
   the	
   2013	
   Oscar	
   for	
   scoring	
  
Ang	
   Lee’s	
   “Life	
   of	
   Pi”	
   and	
   his	
   credits	
   include	
   a	
   long	
   list	
   of	
   other	
   films	
   such	
   as:	
  
“Moneyball”,	
  “Capote”,	
  “Mira	
  Nair	
  on	
  Vanity	
  Fair”,	
  “Monsoon	
  Wedding”,	
  “Shattered	
  
Glass”	
   and	
   “Little	
   Miss	
   Sunshine”,	
   for	
   which	
   he	
   shared	
   a	
   Grammy	
   Award	
  
nomination	
  for	
  Best	
  Compilation	
  Soundtrack	
  Album.	
  
Danna	
  says	
  his	
  approach	
  is	
  to	
  “making	
  music	
  an	
  integral	
  part	
  of	
  the	
  storytelling,	
  
not	
   simply	
   repeating	
   what	
   is	
   happening	
   onscreen,	
   but	
   adding	
   unexpected	
  
dimension	
  and	
  insight	
  that	
  enrich	
  the	
  experience	
  of	
  the	
  director’s	
  vision”.	
  
	
  
	
  
Director	
  and	
  general	
  background	
  of	
  making	
  the	
  film	
  
Terence	
  Vance	
  “Terry”	
  Gilliam	
  
Film	
   director,	
   screenwriter,	
   animator	
   and	
   actor;	
   Gilliam	
   is	
   a	
   unique	
   figure	
  
in	
   the	
   world	
   of	
   visual	
   art.	
   Born	
   (1940)	
   and	
   raised	
   in	
   Minnesota	
   in	
   what	
   he	
  
describes	
   as	
   a	
   Huckleberry	
   Finn/	
   Tom	
   Sawyer	
   type	
   of	
   childhood,	
   later	
   his	
   family	
  
and	
  him	
  moved	
  to	
  LA	
  when	
  he	
  was	
  eleven	
  years	
  old,	
  Terry	
  started	
  too	
  draw	
  his	
  
first	
   cartoons	
   as	
   a	
   kid	
   at	
   that	
   time.	
   He	
   went	
   to	
   Occidental	
   College,	
   studying	
  

Physics	
   and	
   afterwards	
   changing	
   to	
   Politics.	
   At	
   the	
   last	
   year	
   of	
   college	
  
Terry	
   send	
   a	
   share	
   of	
   his	
   college	
   magazine	
   work	
   to	
   the	
   Magazine	
   “help!”	
   in	
  
New	
  York,	
  they	
  liked	
  what	
  he	
  sent	
  and	
  that	
  was	
  the	
  first	
  step	
  in	
  the	
  world	
  
of	
  visual	
  arts.	
  

	
  

7	
  

Gilliam	
  was	
  part	
  of	
  the	
  Monty	
  Python	
  troupe	
  as	
  an	
  actor	
  and	
  as	
  an	
  
animator;	
  his	
  animations	
  had	
  a	
  special	
  role	
  creating	
  the	
  visual	
  concept	
  and	
  
language	
   of	
   the	
   successful	
   group.	
   By	
   the	
   time	
   the	
   group	
   broke	
   up,	
   each	
  
going	
   each	
   own	
   direction,	
   Gilliam	
   gained	
   enough	
   experience	
   and	
  
knowledge	
   to	
   direct	
   and	
   screen	
   write	
   his	
   trilogy	
   about	
   “the	
   age	
   of	
   man”,	
  
featuring	
   “Time	
   Bandits”	
   (1981),	
   “Brazil”	
   (1985)	
   and	
   the	
   “Adventures	
   of	
  
Baron	
  Munchausen”	
  (1988).	
  Additional	
  credits	
  include:	
  “Tideland”	
  (2005),	
  
“The	
   Meaning	
   of	
   Life”	
   (1983),	
   “Life	
   of	
   Brian”	
   (1979),	
   “Twelve	
   Monkeys”	
  
(1995).	
  
Gilliam’s	
  theme	
  in	
  his	
  work	
  throughout	
  the	
  years	
  is	
  discussing	
  or	
  putting	
  
to	
  awareness	
  the	
  question	
  of	
  reality	
  and	
  imagination.	
  	
  
“Well	
  I	
  really	
  want	
  to	
  encourage	
  a	
  kind	
  of	
  fantasy,	
  a	
  kind	
  of	
  magic.	
  I	
  
love	
   the	
   term	
   magic	
   realism,	
   whoever	
   invented	
   it	
   –	
   I	
   do	
   actually	
   like	
   it	
  
because	
  it	
  saiys	
  certain	
  things.	
  It’s	
  about	
  expanding	
  how	
  you	
  see	
  the	
  world.	
  
I	
  think	
  we	
  live	
  in	
  an	
  age	
  where	
  we’re	
  just	
  hammered	
  to	
  think	
  this	
  is	
  what	
  
the	
  world	
  is.	
  Television’s	
  saying,	
  everybody	
  saying	
  ‘That’s	
  the	
  world’.	
  And	
  
it’s	
   not	
   the	
   world.	
   The	
   world	
   is	
   a	
   million	
   possible	
   things.”	
   	
   Terry	
   Gilliam,	
  
Salman	
  Rushdie	
  talks	
  with	
  Terry	
  Gilliam.	
  	
  	
  
When	
   Gilliam	
   describes	
   the	
   process	
   of	
   creating	
   the	
   film	
   “The	
  
Imaginarium	
  of	
  Doctor	
  Parnassus”,	
  he	
  explains	
  that	
  conceiving	
  the	
  idea	
  or	
  
theme	
   of	
   the	
   movie	
   came	
   from	
   the	
   vision	
   of	
   the	
   Caravan	
   of	
   Doctor	
  
Parnassus.	
  “A	
  strange	
  oversize	
  wagon	
  comes	
  in	
  and	
  opens	
  up,	
  kind	
  of	
  like	
  a	
  
fold-­‐	
  out	
  dolls	
  house	
  or	
  a	
  theatre…	
  and	
  I	
  thought	
  it’s	
  just	
  magic.	
  Pulled	
  by	
  

	
  

8	
  

horses,	
   it	
   doesn’t	
   belong	
   in	
   our	
   world.	
   If	
   you	
   go	
   to	
   it,	
   you	
   might	
   discover	
  
things	
  about	
  yourself”.	
  In	
  that	
  wagon	
  there’s	
  the	
  Imaginarium,	
  “a	
  place	
  you	
  
go	
   though	
   that	
   mirror	
   to	
   discover	
   whether	
   you	
   have	
   an	
   imagination	
   to	
  
begin	
  with,	
  and	
  then	
  let	
  it	
  flower,	
  let	
  it	
  grow,	
  let	
  it	
  take	
  you	
  places…”	
  
During	
  the	
  filming	
  of	
  the	
  movie,	
  star	
  actor	
  Heath	
  Ledger	
  (Tony)	
  died	
  
of	
   accidental	
   intoxication	
   from	
   prescription	
   drugs.	
   When	
   Gilliam	
   was	
  
informed	
  by	
  a	
  phone	
  call	
  that	
  Ledger	
  had	
  died	
  he	
  is	
  initial	
  thought	
  was	
  to	
  
cancel	
  all	
  the	
  shooting.	
  After	
  giving	
  it	
  some	
  time	
  and	
  thought	
  he	
  decided	
  to	
  
keep	
   on	
   shooting	
   the	
   movie	
   and	
   dedicate	
   it	
   to	
   Ledger,	
   it	
   was	
   then	
   when	
   he	
  
recruited	
   Johnny	
   Depp,	
   Collin	
   Farrell	
   and	
   Jude	
   Law	
   to	
   replace	
   Ledger	
   by	
  
using	
   the	
   concept	
   of	
   giving	
   Tony	
   (Ledger’s	
   character)	
   different	
   and	
  
transferred	
  versions	
  in	
  different	
  magical	
  world	
  while	
  keeping	
  the	
  footage	
  
of	
  Ledger	
  to	
  represent	
  Tony	
  in	
  the	
  real	
  world.	
  	
  
“So	
   we	
   create	
   a	
   world	
   that	
   isn’t	
   true	
   to	
   a	
   realistic	
   naturalistic	
   world,	
   but	
   is	
  
truthful”	
  Terry	
  Gilliam.	
  
	
  

2.1	
  The	
  sound:	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Landscape	
  created,	
  harmonic	
  language,	
  Instrumentation.	
  
As	
  there	
  is	
  a	
  certain	
  trademark	
  to	
  certain	
  directors,	
  as	
  for	
  composers	
  or	
  
any	
  artist	
  in	
  general.	
  I	
  believe	
  there	
  is	
  a	
  certain	
  sound,	
  a	
  unique	
  and	
  complete	
  
auditory	
  experience,	
  which	
  represent	
  certain	
  movies.	
  The	
  sound	
  of	
  a	
  movie	
  is	
  all	
  
the	
  elements	
  that	
  complete	
  the	
  spectators’	
  auditory	
  experience;	
  the	
  harmonic	
  
language,	
  instrumentation,	
  sound	
  effects	
  and	
  sound	
  design,	
  texture	
  and	
  relation	
  

	
  

9	
  

between	
  dialogue	
  to	
  other	
  audio	
  elements,	
  spotting	
  and	
  usage	
  of	
  music	
  during	
  
the	
  film.	
  
“The	
  Imaginarium	
  of	
  Doctor	
  Parnassus”	
  is	
  a	
  movie	
  that	
  brings	
  a	
  sound	
  
that	
  works	
  very	
  well	
  with	
  the	
  image.	
  The	
  movie	
  as	
  only	
  a	
  visual	
  is	
  very	
  complex	
  
and	
  even	
  Samuel	
  Hadida,	
  the	
  producer	
  mentioned	
  that	
  it	
  was	
  an	
  big	
  challenge	
  to	
  
try	
  a	
  visualized	
  the	
  movie	
  when	
  it	
  was	
  presented	
  by	
  Gilliam	
  to	
  him.	
  Costumes,	
  
makeup,	
  setting	
  and	
  of	
  course	
  the	
  animation	
  are	
  making	
  the	
  movie	
  what	
  it	
  is.	
  
In	
  order	
  to	
  accompany	
  these	
  great	
  colours	
  and	
  visuals	
  on	
  the	
  screen,	
  the	
  sound	
  
accordingly	
  is	
  varied	
  and	
  dynamic.	
  
Though	
  the	
  entire	
  sound	
  track	
  of	
  the	
  film	
  we	
  hear	
  mainly	
  an	
  orchestra	
  
and	
  orchestral	
  scores	
  fro	
  the	
  scenes.	
  The	
  ensembles	
  are	
  changing	
  from	
  cue	
  to	
  
cue,	
  but	
  there’s	
  a	
  certain	
  balance	
  in	
  between	
  three	
  instrument	
  sections:	
  
woodwinds,	
  brass	
  and	
  strings.	
  All	
  three	
  mentioned	
  are	
  very	
  dominant,	
  each	
  one	
  
of	
  the	
  section	
  gets	
  leading	
  and	
  accompanying	
  parts	
  during	
  the	
  score,	
  in	
  addition	
  
an	
  occasional	
  use	
  of	
  percussion	
  and	
  Celtic	
  folk	
  instruments	
  adds	
  more	
  variation.	
  
Although	
  the	
  picture	
  and	
  plot	
  keep	
  on	
  changing	
  to	
  either	
  the	
  reality	
  world	
  or	
  the	
  
Imaginarium	
  and	
  the	
  visuals	
  changes	
  from	
  to	
  animation	
  and	
  back	
  in	
  a	
  very	
  
sudden	
  way,	
  the	
  music	
  stays	
  very	
  coherent	
  and	
  adjust	
  to	
  the	
  picture,	
  using	
  the	
  
same	
  instrumentation	
  in	
  both	
  worlds.	
  
The	
  harmony	
  stays	
  tonal	
  throughout	
  the	
  film,	
  melodies	
  and	
  themes	
  are	
  
generated,	
  phrases	
  and	
  harmonic	
  progressions,	
  most	
  of	
  themes	
  of	
  the	
  score	
  are	
  
written	
  in	
  a	
  minor	
  scale	
  but	
  still	
  there’s	
  a	
  certain	
  flavor	
  that	
  comes	
  from	
  the	
  
melodies,	
  the	
  orchestration	
  and	
  the	
  contemporary	
  use	
  tension	
  which	
  gives	
  the	
  
movie	
  its	
  unique	
  sound.	
  
	
  

	
  

10	
  

2.2	
  Score	
  Narrative	
  analysis:	
  	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Themes,	
  motives	
  and	
  significant	
  cues.	
  
Main	
  Theme	
  
The	
  first	
  time	
  the	
  main	
  theme	
  is	
  mentioned	
  is	
  at	
  the	
  first	
  time	
  we	
  come	
  across	
  
the	
  Imaginarium	
  and	
  its	
  powers,	
  the	
  brass	
  play	
  just	
  the	
  first	
  three	
  notes	
  of	
  the	
  
theme	
  as	
  dissonant	
  clusters.	
  When	
  we	
  leave	
  the	
  Imaginarium	
  the	
  melody	
  plays	
  a	
  
bit	
  longer	
  and	
  in	
  a	
  more	
  tragic	
  and	
  expressive	
  way	
  by	
  the	
  celli.	
  
The	
  first	
  time	
  the	
  main	
  theme	
  presented	
  is	
  just	
  a	
  fragment	
  of	
  it.	
  Just	
  a	
  motive,	
  the	
  
brass	
  playing	
  the	
  first	
  three	
  notes	
  accompanying	
  by	
  strings	
  as	
  we	
  first	
  enter	
  the	
  
imagenarium	
  and	
  it’s	
  not	
  the	
  only	
  time	
  this	
  theme	
  appear	
  in	
  that	
  way.	
  The	
  main	
  
theme	
  walks	
  us	
  throughout	
  the	
  entire	
  film	
  and	
  apart	
  from	
  changing	
  key,	
  tempo,	
  
instrumentation	
  and	
  harmony	
  it’s	
  a	
  very	
  common	
  way	
  of	
  using	
  the	
  theme	
  to	
  
generate	
  the	
  plot	
  in	
  different	
  variations,	
  just	
  by	
  using	
  a	
  fragment	
  of	
  it	
  to	
  remind	
  
us	
  the	
  viewers	
  the	
  context	
  of	
  the	
  scene.	
  	
  
	
  
Opening	
  Theme	
  
Starts	
  as	
  celli	
  duet,	
  this	
  theme	
  open	
  the	
  film	
  and	
  gives	
  it	
  a	
  heavy	
  and	
  dark	
  flavor.	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

11	
  

The	
  use	
  of	
  the	
  close	
  microphone	
  to	
  record	
  the	
  celli	
  and	
  the	
  fact	
  in	
  which	
  it’s	
  
synced	
  in	
  the	
  first	
  scene	
  to	
  the	
  clock	
  tower	
  sound	
  and	
  the	
  wheels	
  of	
  the	
  caravan	
  
keeps	
  a	
  nice	
  tension	
  between	
  the	
  fact	
  that	
  it	
  is	
  right	
  in	
  our	
  faces	
  and	
  on	
  the	
  other	
  
hand	
  at	
  the	
  background	
  accompanying	
  the	
  motion	
  of	
  the	
  Caravan.	
  In	
  this	
  scene,	
  
when	
  the	
  picture	
  opens	
  up	
  and	
  the	
  movie	
  starts	
  the	
  harp,	
  strings	
  and	
  bassoon	
  
are	
  joining.	
  A	
  violin	
  plays	
  this	
  melody:

	
  
	
  Next	
  time	
  the	
  opening	
  theme	
  will	
  play	
  again	
  will	
  be	
  at	
  the	
  very	
  end	
  when	
  Doctor	
  
Parnassus	
  will	
  start	
  over	
  his	
  life,	
  from	
  the	
  lowest	
  spot-­‐	
  as	
  a	
  dirty	
  beggar	
  on	
  the	
  
street.	
  
The	
  sixteen	
  notes	
  accidentals	
  that	
  open	
  the	
  theme	
  on	
  the	
  cello	
  and	
  the	
  close	
  
microphones	
  that	
  catch	
  fingers	
  and	
  wood	
  noises,	
  both	
  gives	
  this	
  tune	
  a	
  very	
  dirty	
  
character.	
  The	
  slow	
  rhythmic	
  movement	
  of	
  each	
  of	
  the	
  instruments	
  participating	
  
as	
  well	
  as	
  the	
  warm	
  timbre	
  of	
  the	
  celli	
  creates	
  a	
  heavy	
  feeling,	
  like	
  something	
  old	
  
and	
  tried.	
  In	
  a	
  way	
  it	
  reminds	
  of	
  the	
  caravan	
  or	
  Doctor	
  Parnassus	
  are	
  being	
  
presented	
  visually	
  in	
  the	
  film.	
  
	
  
Imaginarium	
  Theme	
  
The	
  Imaginarium	
  theme	
  is	
  played	
  only	
  twice	
  in	
  the	
  film	
  from	
  beginning	
  to	
  the	
  
end	
  but	
  still	
  is	
  a	
  very	
  dominant	
  theme	
  in	
  the	
  film.	
  Because	
  the	
  Imaginarium	
  is	
  a	
  
place	
  that’s	
  build	
  upon	
  the	
  imagination,	
  it	
  is	
  a	
  colorful	
  experience	
  in	
  the	
  movie	
  in	
  
the	
  visual	
  and	
  the	
  auditory	
  way.	
  The	
  music	
  supports	
  in	
  that	
  way,	
  blends	
  with	
  the	
  

	
  

12	
  

sound	
  effects	
  and	
  stands	
  as	
  a	
  contrast	
  to	
  the	
  real	
  world.	
  	
  The	
  melody	
  is	
  played	
  by	
  
the	
  trumpet,	
  doubled	
  by	
  the	
  violins	
  and	
  accompanied	
  with	
  Celesta,	
  timpani,	
  celli,	
  
choir,	
  chimes,	
  woodwinds	
  and	
  brass.	
  	
  The	
  trumpet	
  that	
  reaches	
  its	
  high	
  register,	
  
the	
  triadic	
  harmony	
  that	
  offers	
  tension	
  and	
  release	
  and	
  the	
  major	
  scale	
  it’s	
  
playing	
  at.	
  This	
  theme	
  is	
  stating	
  the	
  obvious-­‐	
  the	
  Imaginarium	
  is	
  a	
  good	
  place	
  to	
  
be,	
  it’s	
  welcoming	
  and	
  the	
  music	
  is	
  very	
  bright	
  and	
  smooth.

	
  

	
  
	
  
Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  Theme	
  
	
  
Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  Theme	
  is	
  a	
  theme	
  that	
  correspond	
  Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  appearance,	
  it’s	
  
instrumentation	
  and	
  it’s	
  narrative	
  approach	
  to	
  the	
  visual	
  are	
  solid	
  and	
  don’t	
  
varies	
  as	
  much	
  as	
  the	
  other	
  themes	
  in	
  the	
  picture.	
  Danna’s	
  (both	
  composers)	
  
approach	
  to	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  (the	
  devil)	
  fallows	
  the	
  subtext	
  that	
  Gilliam	
  is	
  transmitting	
  
during	
  the	
  movie.	
  The	
  devil	
  isn’t	
  that	
  bad,	
  it’s	
  just	
  cool.	
  Like	
  Tom	
  Waits	
  who	
  
plays	
  it.	
  When	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  is	
  there	
  the	
  theme	
  is	
  played,	
  a	
  slow	
  and	
  sensual	
  jazz-­‐	
  
waltz,	
  the	
  melody	
  is	
  played	
  by	
  the	
  tenor	
  saxophone	
  in	
  a	
  very	
  expressive	
  way	
  in	
  
it’s	
  higher	
  register,	
  a	
  accompanied	
  by	
  a	
  drum-­‐	
  set	
  (brushes)	
  and	
  a	
  walking	
  bass	
  
(double-­‐bass)	
  which	
  add	
  to	
  it’s	
  jazzy,	
  rugged,	
  dark-­‐smokey	
  jazz	
  club	
  in	
  New	
  York	
  
sort	
  of	
  feeling.	
  	
  

	
  

13	
  

	
  
When	
  Parnassus	
  tells	
  Valentina	
  about	
  his	
  first	
  encounter	
  with	
  the	
  devil,	
  we	
  see	
  a	
  
black-­‐coated	
  rider,	
  covered	
  to	
  protect	
  himself	
  from	
  an	
  awful	
  snow-­‐	
  storm,	
  riding	
  
a	
  black	
  horse	
  on	
  a	
  very	
  high	
  an	
  abandoned	
  mountain;	
  a	
  very	
  powerful	
  image.	
  
This	
  image	
  is	
  being	
  contrasted	
  by	
  a	
  dark	
  jazz	
  waltz,	
  Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  theme.	
  This	
  scene	
  
setts	
  up	
  the	
  mystery	
  and	
  the	
  complexity	
  of	
  the	
  devil	
  in	
  the	
  plot.	
  We	
  hear	
  the	
  dark	
  
shde	
  of	
  the	
  music,	
  we	
  know	
  its	
  dark	
  and	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  is	
  not	
  a	
  saint	
  but	
  we	
  still	
  like	
  
him	
  for	
  the	
  tension,	
  contrast	
  and	
  humor	
  he’s	
  bringing	
  to	
  the	
  table.	
  
	
  
Immortality	
  Theme

	
  

	
  
This	
  theme	
  appears	
  when	
  there	
  is	
  a	
  scene	
  involving	
  Mr.	
  Nick,	
  Parnassus	
  and	
  
Tony;	
  characters	
  that	
  bring	
  the	
  death	
  and	
  life	
  tension	
  to	
  the	
  plot.	
  Tony	
  is	
  playing	
  
with	
  death;	
  his	
  whistle	
  gives	
  him	
  the	
  possibility	
  off	
  living	
  between	
  these	
  two	
  
worlds.	
  In	
  the	
  scene	
  when	
  Tony	
  wakes	
  up	
  in	
  the	
  back	
  of	
  the	
  caravan	
  the	
  
immortality	
  theme	
  is	
  played	
  in	
  a	
  humorous	
  way	
  by	
  the	
  strings	
  (pizzicato),	
  vibes	
  
and	
  accordion	
  for	
  example	
  and	
  when	
  the	
  theme	
  is	
  played	
  in	
  a	
  dramatical	
  more	
  
orchestral	
  way	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  and	
  Parnassus	
  are	
  taken	
  the	
  lead	
  role.	
  The	
  theme	
  is	
  
played	
  in	
  a	
  minor	
  key	
  (the	
  first	
  time	
  in	
  F#	
  minor)	
  and	
  most	
  off	
  the	
  times	
  it	
  will	
  be	
  
played	
  as	
  a	
  direct	
  continuation	
  to	
  Mr.	
  Nicks	
  theme.	
  	
  

	
  

14	
  

Valentina’s	
  Theme	
  and	
  Anton’s	
  Theme	
  
Both	
  of	
  these	
  themes	
  appear	
  only	
  a	
  couple	
  of	
  times	
  and	
  are	
  presented	
  in	
  a	
  very	
  
straightforward	
  way.	
  Valentina’s	
  theme	
  is	
  in	
  a	
  major	
  key,	
  very	
  lyric	
  and	
  sweet,	
  
where	
  Anton’s	
  theme	
  has	
  a	
  melancholic	
  character	
  which	
  works	
  with	
  Anton’s	
  
image	
  as	
  the	
  day-­‐	
  dreamer	
  and	
  in	
  love	
  flavor	
  he	
  adds	
  to	
  the	
  story.	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
Cue	
  List	
  
	
  
Cue	
  name	
  
1.	
  Opening	
  cue	
  

Thematic	
  

Instrumentation	
  and	
  

material	
  	
  

comments	
  	
  

Opening	
  

Strings,	
  Bassoon,	
  

Theme	
  

harpsichord,	
  harp.	
  

Cue	
  Time	
  
0:	
  46-­‐	
  1:42	
  

2.	
  Introduction	
  to	
   Caravan	
  

Tuba,	
  trombone,	
  trumpet,	
  

the	
  show	
  

tune	
  

violin,	
  piano.	
  

3.	
  1st	
  time	
  in	
  the	
  

Main	
  Theme	
   (A)	
  Strings,	
  celesta/music	
  

(A)	
  4:53-­‐	
  5:50	
  

Imaginarium	
  

/	
  	
  

(B)	
  6:04-­‐	
  8:02	
  

box,	
  brass	
  reminding	
  a	
  

Main	
  Theme	
   motive	
  from	
  theme.	
  

2:17-­‐	
  3:53	
  

(C)	
  8:20-­‐8:40	
  

(B)	
  Creepy	
  pads,	
  wood	
  
sounds,	
  choir,	
  Mr.	
  Nick’s-­‐	
  
blues	
  piano.	
  
(C)	
  Cello	
  solo,	
  strings,	
  
bassoon	
  
4.	
  Kid	
  in	
  the	
  

Imaginarium	
   Celesta/music	
  box,	
  strings,	
  

Imaginarium	
  

Theme	
  

choir,	
  chimes,	
  woodwinds,	
  
brass.	
  Imaginarium	
  theme	
  
played	
  by	
  the	
  Trumpet.	
  

	
  

15	
  

10:30-­‐	
  11:20	
  
	
  

5.	
  Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  first	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  

Woodwinds,	
  strings,	
  Brass,	
  

12:49-­‐	
  14:14	
  

appearance	
  

Theme	
  /	
  

alto	
  flute	
  and	
  flute	
  playing	
  a	
  

	
  

Main	
  theme	
  

motive	
  of	
  the	
  theme.	
  Sax	
  
plays	
  Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  theme,	
  
drum-­‐set	
  with	
  brushes,	
  
double-­‐bass	
  pizzicato.	
  

6	
  Anton	
  and	
  

Anton’s	
  

Alto	
  flute,	
  bassoon,	
  piano,	
  

Valentina	
  

theme	
  

strings,	
  harp,	
  Anton’s	
  theme	
  

15:00-­‐	
  16:30	
  

played	
  by	
  the	
  flute.	
  
	
  
7	
  Parnassus’s	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  

Strings,	
  drums	
  with	
  

Tale	
  

theme	
  /	
  

brushes,	
  sax,	
  horns,	
  bass	
  

Immortality	
  

drum,	
  brass,	
  synths,	
  choir.	
  

Theme	
  

Sax	
  plays	
  both	
  themes	
  and	
  

17:15-­‐	
  18:10	
  

horns	
  doubles	
  on	
  the	
  
Immortality	
  Theme.	
  
	
  
8	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  

WW,	
  strings,	
  Brass,	
  Sax	
  with	
   18:30-­‐	
  19:40	
  

theme	
  	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  Theme,	
  drums,	
  
clarinet	
  with	
  Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  
theme	
  pizz,	
  doublebass.	
  	
  
	
  

9	
  “My	
  first	
  bet	
  

Main	
  theme	
  

with	
  the	
  Devil”	
  

Appearance	
  of	
  motive-­‐	
  harp	
   21:52-­‐	
  22:30	
  
and	
  after	
  with	
  piano,	
  
strings,	
  celesta,	
  accordion	
  
plays	
  the	
  theme.	
  
	
  

10	
  First	
  

Mr.	
  Nick	
  

Bass	
  drum,	
  brass,	
  strings,	
  

(A)	
  24:00-­‐	
  

encounter	
  with	
  

theme	
  

Woodwinds,	
  Mr.	
  nicks	
  

25:22	
  26:06-­‐	
  

motive	
  with	
  sax	
  and	
  

27:20	
  

Tony	
  

ensemble.	
  
	
  

	
  

16	
  

11	
  Tony	
  meets	
  

Immortality	
  

Vibes,	
  woodwinds,	
  snare,	
  

the	
  gang	
  

theme	
  

accordion,	
  Celesta,	
  strings,	
  

28:00-­‐	
  29:00	
  

piano,	
  low	
  strings	
  pizzicato.	
  
12	
  Valentina	
  

Valentina’s	
  

Flute	
  plays	
  Valentina’s	
  

appears	
  

theme/	
  

theme,	
  harp,	
  bassoon,	
  

Opening	
  

pizzicato	
  celli,	
  accordion,	
  

theme	
  

woodwinds,	
  strings,	
  

29:30-­‐	
  31:35	
  

plucked	
  Celtic	
  harp,	
  
Opening	
  theme	
  played	
  by	
  
the	
  violin	
  and	
  the	
  bassoon.	
  
13	
  Parnassus	
  is	
  

Caravan	
  

Drunk	
  

Tune	
  

14	
  Half	
  the	
  price	
  

Caravan	
  

Guitar,	
  piano,	
  brass,	
  strings.	
   31:36-­‐32:37	
  
Guitar,	
  piano,	
  brass,	
  strings.	
   34:00-­‐35:43	
  

Tune	
  
15	
  Anton	
  is	
  hurt	
  

Anton’s	
  

Strings	
  and	
  WW	
  

35:50-­‐	
  36:20	
  
36:25-­‐	
  38:15	
  

Theme	
  
16	
  Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  last	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  

Strings,	
  double	
  bass	
  pizz,	
  

bet	
  

theme/	
  

Tenor	
  Sax,	
  brass,	
  oboe,	
  

Immortality	
  

glock.	
  

theme	
  
17	
  Tony’s	
  

Main	
  theme	
  

Identity	
  

Strings,	
  mentioning	
  the	
  

39:	
  49-­‐	
  41:30	
  

main	
  theme	
  with	
  the	
  flute,	
  
counter	
  melody	
  with	
  the	
  
violin,	
  celesta	
  
accompanying,	
  timpani	
  

18	
  Tony’s	
  upset,	
  

Main	
  theme	
  

Double	
  bass,	
  bassoon,	
  

44:20-­‐	
  46:05	
  

Parnassus	
  and	
  

strings,	
  Celtic	
  harp,	
  

	
  

Percy.	
  

mentioning	
  the	
  main	
  theme,	
  
harp,	
  strings	
  pizz,	
  Percy	
  
theme,	
  main	
  theme	
  with	
  the	
  
clarinet,	
  contra	
  melody	
  
cello.	
  

	
  

17	
  

19	
  Two	
  girls	
  at	
  

Caravan	
  

Tuba,	
  trombone,	
  trumpet,	
  

the	
  same	
  time	
  

Tune	
  

violin,	
  piano.	
  

20	
  Forced	
  

Main	
  theme/	
   Piano,	
  brass,	
  strings,	
  main	
  

inside	
  the	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  

theme	
  fast	
  played	
  with	
  

Imaginarium.	
  

theme/	
  

horns	
  and	
  trombones,	
  snare	
  

	
  Anton	
  and	
  Tony	
  

Anton’s	
  

drum,	
  harmonica	
  playing	
  

theme	
  

the	
  theme	
  afterward.	
  	
  

46:05-­‐	
  47:42	
  
(A) 47:42-­‐
49:00	
  	
  
(B) 49:15-­‐	
  	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  theme	
  on	
  the	
  sax.	
  
(B)	
  Main	
  theme	
  with	
  the	
  
celli,	
  accompanying	
  	
  by	
  
strings.	
  
Anton’s	
  theme	
  clarinet,	
  
harp,	
  flute,	
  strings,	
  chimes,	
  
piano.	
  
21	
  

Main	
  

(A)	
  Theme	
  in	
  the	
  accordion,	
   (A)	
  52:30-­‐

Parnassus’s	
  

theme	
  

mentioning	
  theme	
  violin,	
  

54:00	
  

Tale	
  about	
  

brass	
  clusters/	
  fluttered.	
  

	
  

Valentna’s	
  

Theme	
  violin,	
  major	
  

(B)	
  54:34-­‐

mother.	
  

variation	
  (harmonic	
  

55:15	
  

	
  	
  

change),	
  strings	
  tremolo	
  

	
  Tony	
  and	
  

mainly.	
  

Valentina	
  

(B)	
  Clarinet	
  and	
  oboe	
  with	
  
melody,	
  harp,	
  strings,	
  
harmonica,	
  accordion,	
  flute.	
  

22	
  Anton	
  running	
   -­‐	
  Anton’s	
  

(A)	
  Flute	
  solo,	
  extreme	
  

(A)	
  58:	
  04-­‐	
  

away	
  	
  

theme	
  	
  

dynamic	
  changes	
  strings,	
  

58:32	
  

	
  	
  

-­‐	
  New	
  source	
   low	
  string	
  pizzicato	
  ,	
  Anton	
  

(B)	
  58:35-­‐

music	
  

59:30	
  

theme	
  and	
  then	
  soft	
  WW.	
  

-­‐	
  Mentioning	
  
Beethoven’s	
  
9th	
  
23	
  Tony	
  in	
  the	
  

	
  

Imaginarium	
   Imaginarium	
  theme	
  

18	
  

1:01:40-­‐	
  

imaginarium	
  

Theme	
  /	
  

trumpet,	
  timpani,	
  strings,	
  

Main	
  theme	
  

violin	
  with	
  theme,	
  brass,	
  	
  

1:07:28	
  

Piano,	
  bandoneon,	
  violin,	
  
harmonica,	
  chimes,	
  strings,	
  
accordion,	
  harp,	
  clarinet,	
  
choir.	
  
Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  blues-­‐piano,	
  main	
  
theme	
  with	
  the	
  dead	
  on	
  the	
  
violin,	
  piano	
  accompanying,	
  
melodic	
  and	
  harmonic	
  
change,	
  brass,	
  mentioning	
  
the	
  theme	
  which	
  was	
  
played	
  in	
  the	
  beginning	
  of	
  
the	
  cue.	
  
24	
  Rich	
  woman	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  

after	
  Imaginarium	
  	
  	
   theme	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  motive	
  with	
  the	
  

1:07:45	
  

harp	
  and	
  violin,	
  bad	
  guys	
  
come-­‐	
  brass,	
  piano,	
  
doublebass,	
  woodwinds.	
  

25	
  Chasing	
  Tony	
  

Chasing	
  

Melody	
  on	
  clarinet,	
  strings,	
  

1:10:20-­‐	
  

in	
  the	
  

Tony	
  Theme	
   oboe,	
  piano,	
  brass.	
  

1:12:42	
  

	
  

Strings,	
  bassoon,	
  brass,	
  

1:13:00-­‐	
  

clarinet,	
  mentioning	
  irish	
  

1:15:45	
  

imaginarium	
  
26	
  Still	
  in	
  the	
  
Imaginarium	
  

music-­‐	
  whistle.	
  
Police	
  song-­‐	
  piano,	
  
woodwinds,	
  and	
  marching	
  
band.	
  
27	
  Tony	
  to	
  

Anton’s	
  

Woodwinds,	
  accordion,	
  

1:18:50-­‐	
  

Anton-­‐	
  the	
  truth	
  

Theme	
  

harp,	
  flute,	
  clarinet,	
  

1:20:00	
  

harmonica,	
  strings.	
  	
  
28	
  Knock	
  of	
  Mr.	
  

Mr,	
  Nick’s	
  

Strings,	
  bassoon,	
  clarinet	
  

1:21:15-­‐	
  

Nick	
  

Theme	
  /	
  

and	
  oboe,	
  Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  theme	
  

1:26:45	
  

	
  

19	
  

Immortality	
  

with	
  bassoon	
  and	
  later	
  with	
  

Theme	
  /	
  

sax,	
  immortality	
  theme	
  with	
  

Valentina’s	
  

clarinet.	
  

Theme	
  

Valentina’s	
  theme	
  played	
  by	
  
woodwinds,	
  main	
  theme	
  
played	
  by	
  strings,	
  Alto	
  flute,	
  
harp.	
  

29	
  Don’t	
  believe	
  

	
  

Brass,	
  strings	
  

what	
  you	
  read	
  in	
  

1:29:00-­‐	
  
1:30:20	
  

the	
  news	
  papers.	
  
30	
  Tony	
  and	
  

Main	
  Theme	
   Alto	
  flute,	
  strings,	
  harp,	
  

Valentina	
  on	
  the	
  

theme	
  with	
  different	
  

boat.	
  

harmony.	
  

31	
  9th	
  of	
  

Sourse	
  

Beethoven	
  and	
  

music	
  

	
  

1:31:10-­‐	
  
1:31:40	
  
1:32:50-­‐	
  
1:34:00	
  

choir	
  
32	
  Small	
  Anton	
  in	
   Chasing	
  

(A)	
  Woodwinds	
  dissonant,	
  

(A) 1:34:25

the	
  Imaginarium	
  

Tony	
  

brass.	
  Low	
  strings,	
  	
  

-­‐

Theme/	
  

(B)	
  chasing	
  Tony	
  theme	
  by	
  

1:35:40	
  

Main	
  theme	
  

piano	
  and	
  brass	
  

(B) 	
  

(C)	
  main	
  theme	
  played	
  by	
  

1:36:07	
  

strings	
  accompanying	
  by	
  	
  

(C) 1:37:50	
  

piano	
  and	
  woodwinds.	
  

(D) 1:39:10	
  

Brass	
  mentioning	
  the	
  main	
  
theme.	
  
(D)	
  Tango:	
  piano,	
  clarinet	
  
and	
  sax	
  with	
  melody,	
  vibes,	
  
percussion	
  (highs-­‐	
  shaker	
  
and	
  etc.)	
  ,	
  woodwinds	
  
33	
  Mr.	
  Nick	
  and	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  

Brass,	
  strings,	
  sax	
  is	
  playing	
   1:40:00	
  

Parnassus	
  on	
  the	
  

Theme	
  /	
  

Mr.	
  Nick’s	
  theme,	
  drum	
  set	
  

cliff.	
  

Immortality	
  

with	
  brushes,	
  walking	
  bass,	
  

	
  

20	
  

Theme	
  

strings,	
  high	
  pitched	
  
whistle,	
  brass,	
  bass	
  drum,	
  
timpani.	
  

34	
  Parnassus	
  lost	
   Main	
  theme	
  

	
  Woodwinds,	
  strings,	
  Main	
  

in	
  desert	
  

theme	
  played	
  by	
  English	
  

1:45:45	
  

horn,	
  bassoon,	
  harpsichord,	
  
glock,	
  strings.	
  Main	
  theme	
  
by	
  bassoon,	
  horns,	
  oboe	
  and	
  
strings.	
  
35	
  Parnassus	
  

Opening	
  

	
  Cello	
  duet	
  

1:47:00	
  

begs	
  	
  

Theme	
  

36	
  Valentina’s	
  

Valentina’s	
  

The	
  theme	
  played	
  by	
  alto	
  

1:47:20	
  

passes	
  by	
  

Theme	
  

flute,	
  brass,	
  harp,	
  strings,	
  
woodwinds.	
  

37	
  Percy	
  shows	
  

Main	
  Theme	
   Cello	
  plays	
  the	
  theme	
  

up	
  

1:49:20	
  

bassoon,	
  chimes,	
  harp,	
  
strings.	
  

38	
  Back	
  to	
  start	
  

Caravan	
  

Brass,	
  guitar,	
  piano,	
  double	
  

Tune	
  

bass,	
  trumpet	
  and	
  violin	
  
with	
  melody.	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

21	
  

1:49:40	
  

Conclusion	
  
	
  
In	
   this	
   paper	
   I	
   tried	
   to	
   examine	
   whether	
   the	
   music	
   in	
   the	
   movie	
   “The	
  
Imaginarium	
   of	
   Doctor	
   Parnassus”	
   reveals	
   or	
   suggests	
   the	
   end	
   of	
   the	
   movie	
  
before	
  we	
  as	
  viewers	
  are	
  watching	
  it.	
  
As	
   composers	
   we	
   experience	
   a	
   unique	
   task,	
   telling	
   the	
   story,	
   supporting	
  
the	
  moment	
  but	
  also	
  we	
  give	
  our	
  own	
  input	
  and	
  interpretation.	
  While	
  we	
  know	
  
the	
  characters	
  and	
  the	
  plot	
  in	
  a	
  way	
  no	
  viewer	
  will	
  ever	
  know,	
  we	
  live	
  with	
  these	
  
characters	
  and	
  images	
  from	
  the	
  movie	
  and	
  we	
  go	
  on	
  a	
  special	
  journey	
  with	
  them.	
  
Sometimes	
   we	
   develop	
   feeling	
   for	
   them	
   because	
   we	
   went	
   on	
   a	
   long	
   way	
   with	
   the	
  
film	
   and	
   we	
   also	
   know	
   the	
   future	
   of	
   these	
   characters	
   and	
   plot,	
   this	
   is	
   where	
  
sometime	
   we	
   write	
   music	
   to	
   describe	
   the	
   subtext	
   and	
   sometimes	
   we	
   are	
   even	
  
ask	
  to	
  do	
  so.	
  
In	
   several	
   projects	
   I	
   did	
   this	
   past	
   year	
   with	
   a	
   few	
   directors	
   this	
   subject	
  
came	
   up,	
   supporting	
   the	
   moment	
   or	
   supporting	
   the	
   things	
   which	
   yet	
   to	
   be	
  
revealed	
  in	
  the	
  movie.	
  Some	
  directors	
  sometimes	
  will	
  ask	
  for	
  it,	
  to	
  write	
  music	
  
that	
  brings	
  a	
  different	
  and	
  hidden	
  significance	
  and	
  some	
  of	
  them	
  will	
  ask	
  you	
  to	
  
support	
  the	
  scene	
  as	
  if	
  it	
  was	
  the	
  only	
  thing	
  existed.	
  	
  In	
  the	
  score	
  of	
  the	
  film	
  “The	
  
Imaginarium	
   of	
   Doctor	
   Parnassus”	
   I	
   came	
   to	
   notice	
   that	
   the	
   music	
   mostly	
  
support	
  the	
  moment,	
  if	
  the	
  scene	
  has	
  a	
  fast	
  and	
  upbeat	
  tempo	
  the	
  music	
  will	
  be	
  
act	
   accordingly;	
   in	
   a	
   dramatic,	
   tensed	
   and	
   dark	
   scene	
   the	
   music	
   will	
   feel	
   the	
  
same.	
   No	
   contrast	
   what	
   so	
   ever.	
   The	
   dialogue	
   in	
   the	
   film	
   though,	
   has	
   a	
   very	
  
present	
  subtext	
  and	
  irony,	
  it	
  brings	
  up	
  many	
  moral	
  issues	
  handeling	
  mainly	
  the	
  
way	
   our	
   capitalist	
   society	
   we	
   live	
   in	
   works.	
   Our	
   ideal	
   life,	
   the	
   race	
   we	
   all	
  
participate	
   to	
   achieve	
   the	
   Ikea	
   world.	
   The	
   music	
   is	
   so	
   ironic	
   by	
   being	
   so	
  

	
  

22	
  

straightforward,	
   as	
   if	
   the	
   only	
   the	
   moment	
   counts.	
   I	
   a	
   way,	
   by	
   supporting	
   the	
  
moment	
  only,	
  the	
  music	
  supports	
  the	
  subtext	
  as	
  well	
  or	
  a	
  better	
  way	
  to	
  put	
  it	
  is	
  
to	
   say-­‐	
   by	
   being	
   so	
   straightforward	
   the	
   music	
   reveals	
   the	
   subtext	
   of	
   the	
   film	
  
because	
  its	
  contradicted	
  to	
  it.	
  
By	
  studying	
  the	
  score	
  of	
  the	
  film	
  “The	
  Imaginarium	
  of	
  Doctor	
  Parnassus”	
  I	
  
learned	
  so	
  much	
  about	
  instrumentation,	
  orchestration	
  but	
  mainly	
  I	
  learned	
  how	
  
to	
   approach	
   the	
   image	
   and	
   how	
   to	
   interpret	
   the	
   motion	
   of	
   the	
   plot.	
   I	
   think	
   this	
   is	
  
always	
  the	
  greatest	
  challenge	
  of	
  all-­‐	
  telling	
  the	
  story.	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  	
  

	
  

23