Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Cue List
Note: Names given to cues were created by myself and are not official

00:26-02:17 - Title Theme

• “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” theme introduced in solo erhu
• Tutti, with big drums at hit point on main title
• MX-out solo, decrescendo at beginning of Li Mu Bai + Shu Lien’s
conversation

02:38-05:04 - Failed Meditation

• Solo over harp ostinato and string pad
• Subtle dizi solo

05:05-06:33 - Scene Glue 01

• Connects multiple cuts under one small story arch: traveling to Bejing
• Orchestra used to create large size, particularly upon revealing Bejing
• MX-out during beginning of Shu Lien + Sir Te’s conversation

11:20-11:49 - Scene Glue 02

• Smooths cuts to transition to next scene

11:54-12:32 - Sword Sound Design

• Sound effect for drawing the sword
• Singing bowls mixed with electronic sounds and effects
• Blends into the music

15:05-21:10 - Sword Thief Battle

• Starts out as ‘scene glue’
• Evolves into sneaky thief music

• Builds tension, then hard cut to solo hand drums
• Jen vs. Shu Lien no. 01
• Abrupt ending with large reverb tail

22:47-23:08 - Source Music 01

• Various music at the market

23:40-23:55 - Sharpening Blades

• Foreboding music: tension created by string section
• Use of Chinese gongs

27:43-29:11 - Scene Glue 03

• Connects multiple cuts under one story arch, then transitions to new
scene

33:27-39:04 - Jade Fox vs. Inspector Tsai

• Tension builds from Jade Fox revealing herself, then into battle music
• Orchestra used to indicate gravity of the danger from Jade Fox
• Percussion still key element in supporting choreography
• Moments of calm to make room for dialogue

42:22-43:10 - Scene Glue 04

• Smooths transition of one long scene through a short scene into
another longer scene

43:31-47:05 - Thief Returns Sword

• Jen vs. Li Mu Bai No. 1: music suitable for lots of dialogue in the scene
• Supports the teacher-student element in the scene as Li Mu Bai
attempts to convince Jen to become his disciple

• Harp ostinato, dizi solo, very mild string accompaniment

48:54-52:17 - Li Mu Bai + Shu Lien’s Love Theme

• Transitions into Li Mu Bai practicing his sword fighting
• Solo erhu and cello: call and response

53:02-56:21 - Desert Raid

• Strings: Introduction of Lo’s Song in the form of one of it’s variations
• Orchestra used to create large size
• Rawap timbre used as “desert sound”

57:36-59:46 - Jen vs. Lo

• Solo rawap with hand drum accompaniment

• Playful in nature

1:01:18-1:01:36 - Source: Lo’s Song No. 01

• Lo sings his song briefly to himself before getting knocked out by Jen
• Song uses harmonies that sound unique to the desert

1:02:08-1:02:48 - Jen Escapes

• Introduction of Jen and Lo’s love theme
• Jen passes out of dehydration after traveling far from Lo’s cave

1:05:04-1:05:53 - Source: Lo’s Song No. 02
• Jen bathes
• Acapella voice

• Voice gets further as he walks away from cave

1:07:53-1:09:31 - Jen + Lo’s Love Theme

• Jen and Lo make love
• Reintroduction of love theme

1:09:48-1:12:42 - Mountain Legend

• Jen + Lo’s love theme variation: more hopeful rather than before
• Returns from flashback

1:13:22-1:16:42 - Source: Parade/Score: Lo’s Desperation

• Source: Wedding parade music
• Score: Lo attempts to send Jen a message to be with him
• Battle drums mixed with Jen + Lo’s love theme

1:18:08-1:18:43 - Scene Glue 05

• Standard scene glue
• Uses chord progression/harmonies of Li Mu Bai + Shu Lien’s love theme

1:20:17-1:22:09 - Source: Restaurant

• Live restaurant music
• Stops when a fight becomes immenent

1:23:25-1:25:09 - Bar Fight

• Jen defeats a horde of men seeking a lesson
• Hand drums to support choreography

• Solos referencing previously introduced themes

1:25:56-1:27:52 - Source: Market/Score: Scene Glue 06

• Source: various market performers’ music
• Score: scene glue with dialogue leading to Jen appearing at Shu Lien’s
home

1:30:24-1:34:49 - Jen vs. Shu Lien

• Again, solo hand drums no accompaniment
• Sword sound design tuned to music

1:35:04-1:39:22 - Tree Top Confrontation

• Jen vs. Li Mu Bai No. 2: music a variation of the music from their first fight
in “Thief Returns Sword”
• Master vs. Lost student

1:43:50-1:47:43 - Poison & Antidote

• Tension builds to final confrontation
• Variation on other battle with “Jade Fox vs. Inspector Tsai”
• Gradual fade in + fade out

1:49:07-credits - Dying Breath

• Very emotional scene using Li Mu Bai + Shu Lien’s love theme
• Very emotive solo cello and erhu, with harp accompaniment