!

Avatar&Music&Analysis&
by&Xueran&Chen&
MMus&in&“Scoring&for&Film,&Television&
and&Video&games”&candidate&

2014

Introduction*
!
!!!!The!groundbreaking!technical!and!directorial!abilities!of!Director!James!
Cameron!can!be!experienced!in!his!breathtaking!visual!world!of!Pandora!in!
"Avatar".!This!never!before!seen!world!is!filled!with!landscapes,!creatures,!and!
civilizations!that!have!also!never!been!heard!before!by!audiences.!
!!!!Bringing!to!life!the!sounds!of!Pandora!is!not!as!easy!as!a!normal!film.!There!is!a!
huge!music!team!working!day!and!night!for!past!year,!little!by!little!building!the!
sound!of!Na'vi!and!their!amazing!world.!!
!!!!Avatar!is!my!favorite!film!ever.!Now!I!have!time!to!sit!down,!watch!it!hundred!
times!and!analysis!how!James!Horner!built!this!amazing!music!project!from!
scratch.!!
!!!!The!first!thing!I!do!is!analysis!cue!by!cue,!what's!instrumentation!he!used!and!
how!the!music!functions!in!film.!Then!from!my!note!and!transcription,!I!trying!to!
learn!the!way!he!orchestrate!the!piano!version!of!the!cue!to!a!full!orchestra!
music,!even!adds!more!nonJorchestra!instruments.!I!trying!to!figure!out!how!he!
use!themes!in!this!film!and!how!he!develop!them!to!different!cues!and!function!
differently.!Then!I!search!on!Internet!about!the!team's!working!flow,!trying!to!
figure!out!their!workflow!and!how!they!cooperate.!Also,!the!amazing!and!
complex!production!is!always!worth!to!learn.!
!!!!Then!I!focus!on!the!relationships!between!cues!and!try!to!understand!how!the!

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music!editor!editing!the!soundtracks.!How!he!use!"Repetition”,!“Using!existing!
music!material!to!create!new!music"!and!other!editing!techniques.!!
!!!!All!these!analysis!and!researching!makes!me!have!a!basic!idea!about!how!they!
bringing!to!life!the!sounds!of!Pandora.!
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Table*Of*Contents*
Introduction*
Part*I:*Movie*Background*
• Project!information!
• Composer’s!information!
• Synopsis!
Part*II:*Music*Analysis*
• Overlook!of!the!music!
• Three!main!functions!in!this!film!
• Specific!Analysis:!
i) –Orchestration.
ii) –Themes.
iii) 1Development.
iv) –Production.

• Music!Editing!
i) 1Repetitions.
ii) –Using.existing.music.material.to.create.new.music.
iii) 1Source.music.

References*
Full*Film*Music*Analysis*Chart

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Part*I:*Movie*Background*
• Project.information.
Avatar!is!an!epic!science!fiction!action!film!directed!by!James!Cameron.!
Composer!James!Horner!scored!the!film;!this!is!his!third!collaboration!with!
Cameron!after!Aliens!and!Titanic.!Horner!recorded!parts!of!the!score!with!a!
small!chorus!singing!in!the!alien!language!Na'vi!in!March!2008.!He!also!worked!
with!Wanda!Bryant,!an!ethnomusicologist,!to!create!a!music!culture!for!the!alien!
race.1!
!
“Development!of!Avatar!began!in!1994,!when!Cameron!wrote!an!80Jpage!
treatment!for!the!film.!Filming!was!supposed!to!take!place!after!the!completion!
of!Cameron's!1997!film!Titanic,!for!a!planned!release!in!1999,!but!according!to!
Cameron,!the!necessary!technology!was!not!yet!available!to!achieve!his!vision!of!
the!film.!Work!on!the!language!of!the!film's!extraterrestrial!beings!began!in!
summer!2005,!and!Cameron!began!developing!the!screenplay!and!fictional!
universe!in!early!2006.!Avatar!was!officially!budgeted!at!$237!million.!Other!
estimates!put!the!cost!between!$280!million!and!$310!million!for!production!and!
at!$150!million!for!promotion.!The!film!made!extensive!use!of!cutting!edge!
motion!capture!filming!techniques,!and!was!released!for!traditional!viewing,!3D!
viewing!(using!the!RealD!3D,!Dolby!3D,!XpanD!3D,!and!IMAX!3D!formats),!and!
for!"4D"!experiences!in!select!South!Korean!theaters.!The!stereoscopic!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1!Wikipedia,!The!Free!Encyclopedia,!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Horner!
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filmmaking!was!touted!as!a!breakthrough!in!cinematic!technology.!
the!film!broke!several!box!office!records!and!became!the!highestJgrossing!film!of!
all!time,!as!well!as!in!the!United!States!and!Canada,!surpassing!Titanic,!which!had!
held!those!records!for!twelve!years!(and!was!also!directed!by!Cameron.!It!also!
became!the!first!film!to!gross!more!than!$2!billion.”2!
!

• Composer’s.Bio.
!!!!“James!Roy!Horner!(born!August!14,!1953)!is!an!American!composer,!
conductor,!and!orchestrator!of!film!music.!He!has!been!well!known!by!his!
beautiful!melody!line!and!integration!of!choral!and!electronic!elements!in!his!
music!He!also!using!Celtic!musical!elements!in!his!film!score!frequently.!He!has!
the!best!selling!orchestral!film!soundtrack!of!all!timeJ!score!for!the!1997!film!
Titanic.!
!!!!Horner!was!born!in!Los!Angeles,!the!son!of!Austrian!Jewish!immigrants!Joan!
(née!Frankel)!and!Harry!Horner,!who!was!a!production!designer,!set!designer!
and!occasional!film!director.!
!!!!Horner!started!playing!piano!at!the!age!of!five.!His!early!years!were!spent!in!
London,!where!he!attended!the!Royal!College!of!Music.!He!subsequently!
attended!Verde!Valley!High!School!in!Sedona,!Arizona.!He!received!his!bachelor's!
degree!in!music!from!the!University!of!Southern!California.!After!he!earned!a!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2!Wikipedia,!The!Free!Encyclopedia,!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(2009_film)!
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master's!degree!he!started!working!on!his!doctorate!at!the!University!of!
California,!Los!Angeles,!where!he!studied!with!Paul!Chihara,!among!others.!After!
several!scoring!assignments!with!the!American!Film!Institute!in!the!1970s,!he!
finished!teaching!a!course!in!music!theory!at!UCLA!and!turned!to!film!scoring.!
!!!!Horner!has!scored!over!100!films,!frequently!collaborating!with!directors!such!
as!James!Cameron,!Mel!Gibson!and!Ron!Howard.!!
!!!!Horner!has!won!two!Academy!Awards,!two!Golden!Globe!Awards,!three!
Satellite!Awards,!three!Saturn!Awards,!and!has!been!nominated!for!three!British!
Academy!Film!Awards.!His!body!of!work!is!also!notable!for!including!the!scores!
to!the!two!highestJgrossing!films!of!all!time:!Titanic!(1997)!and!Avatar!(2009).”3!
!

• Synopsis.
!!!!!Avatar,!a!story!happened!in!2154,!tells!about!human!start!“Avatar”!plans!to!get!
the!recourse!from!planet!“Pandora”.!
!!!!!In!the!future,!advanced!technics!make!outside!space!not!mysterious!for!
human!anymore.!PandoraJJ!a!planet!has!trees!taller!than!900!feet,!mountains!
flouting!in!the!air,!millions!kinds!of!plants!and!animals.!However,!what!makes!
human!extremely!exciting!is!not!because!of!the!possibility!of!life!could!happen!on!
the!planet,!but!the!precious!ores!which!worth!2!millions!per!kilogram.!
!!!!!In!order!to!get!those!resources!from!Pandora,!“Avatar”!plans!starts.!To!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3!Wikipedia,!The!Free!Encyclopedia,!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Horner!
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facilitate!their!work,!the!humans!use!a!link!system!that!projects!a!person's!
consciousness!into!a!hybrid!of!humans!and!Pandora's!indigenous!humanoids,!the!
Na'vi.!This!humanJNa'vi!hybrid!–!a!fully!living,!breathing!body!that!resembles!the!
Na'vi!but!possesses!the!individual!human's!thoughts,!feelings!and!personality!–!is!
known!as!an!"avatar."!!
!!!!!Jake!Sully,!the!hero!in!this!story,!offered!the!chance!to!control!an!Avatar!body!
made!by!his!brother’s!DNA.!In!his!new!avatar!form,!this!former!Marine!who!
confined!to!a!wheelchair!could!once!again!stand!up.!He!is!given!a!mission!to!
infiltrate!the!Na'vi,!who!have!become!a!major!obstacle!to!mining!the!precious!
ore,!and!then!tell!them!to!leave!after!get!trust!by!those!people.!!
!!!!In!the!laboratory,!Jake!opens!his!eyes!and!saw!his!blue!toes.!He!starts!to!do!
research!with!Grace's!team!in!the!deep!jungle.!Once!they!are!in!the!jungle,!Jake!
meets!some!trouble!and!separated!from!his!team.!Navi's!princess!Neytiri!saved!
him!and!brought!him!to!her!tribe.!It!brings!a!whole!new!level!to!Jake!to!
understand!those!people!and!the!planet.!He!starts!to!learn!the!ways!of!living!
from!Navi's!people!and!becoming!one!of!them.!
!!!!!While!Jake!begins!to!bond!with!the!native!tribe,!he!quickly!falls!in!love!with!
the!people,!the!forest,!and!Neytiri.!Unfortunately,!Jake!has!to!take!a!stand!since!
the!restless!Colonel!moves!forward!and!plans!to!destroy!the!beautiful!world!on!
this!planet.!After!Grace's!death,!Jake!decides!to!call!all!the!clans!on!Pandora!to!
come!together!and!starts!a!epic!war!for!save!this!planet.!

Part*II:*Music*Analysis*
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• Overlook.of.the.music.
.
!!!!Personal!speaking,!I!think!the!music!working!very!efficient!in!this!film.!
Functionally,!they!mainly!work!in!three!functions:!Create!atmosphere,!give!
emotion!to!scene,!and!underline!score.!Of!course!the!music!also!works!as!many!
other!functions,!such!as!connecting!scenes,!revealing!character's!unspoken!
thought!in!some!part!of!the!film.!For!example,!The!beginning!music!give!audience!
a!feeling!about!the!big!forest!picture!and!give!audience!a!sense!about!what!kind!
of!place!and!environment!the!story!happened!in.!Function!as!giving!location,!
period!and!concept!of!the!story.!But!those!three!main!functions!appear!the!most.!
Musically,!the!soundtracks!are!very!beautiful.!James!Honor!applies!electronic!
music!elements!to!orchestra!music!perfectly!in!this!film.!Some!soundtrack!such!
as!"Jake's!first!flight",!has!really!beautiful!melody!line!and!amazing!arrangement,!
many!people!also!enjoy!listening!the!soundtracks!alone.!Technically,!"Avatar"!is!a!
huge!project;!the!music!is!a!very!big!project,!too.!In!a!video!on!Internet,!James!
Horner!and!his!team!members!talked!about!their!workflow,!how!they!
cooperated!and!glued!their!things!together.!Compare!to!normal!film!music!
project,!this!one!is!definitely!more!complex.!!
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• ....Three.main.functions.in.this.film.
!
Create!atmosphere!
!!!!This!is!a!very!important!function!of!music!for!this!film.!Using!music!create!
acoustic!feeling!about!the!whole!new!environment!in!this!film!is!challenging,!but!
James!did!a!great!job!of!this!point.!!!
!!!!The!first!example!would!be!at!beginning!!(00:00:54J00:03:58)!when!it!cuts!to!
the!space.!The!music!creates!a!boundless!and!vacuum!atmosphere!to!the!picture,!
extends!the!environment!out!of!the!picture.!
!!!!The!most!important!example!of!this!function!would!be!soundtrack!"Pure!
spirits!of!the!forest".!(00:37:07J00:39:35)!There!is!no!hit!point!or!emotion!in!the!
music,!the!music!really!well!functions!as!"creates!an!atmosphere".!This!cue!is!
very!subtle!and!beautiful,!it!perfectly!blind!in!to!the!amazing!pretty!world!of!the!
night!in!jungle,!makes!the!environment!even!more!fantastic!than!picture.!When!
Jake!starts!to!notice!the!environment,!music!come!in!with!picture,!becomes!one!
part!of!the!environment.!!
!!!!The!third!example!would!be!the!cue!every!time!they!talking!in!the!meeting!
room.!The!music!is!just!a!soft!low!synth!pad!and!some!small!electronic!sounds,!
but!it!adds!a!clean,!cold,!highJ!technique!feeling!to!the!environment!very!well.!
This!cue!appears!almost!every!time!they!talking!in!the!meeting!room!of!the!
human!base.!It!creates!such!difference!between!beautiful!nature!environment!
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and!cold,!iron!human!base.!

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Give!emotion!to!scene!(commenting)!
!!!!This!function!appears!very!often!in!films!generally.!So,!it!works!a!lot!in!
this!film,!too.!The!basic!idea!of!this!function!is!using!music!rendering!a!
mood!to!the!scene,!give!emotional!information!to!audience!about!what's!
the!story!going!on.!For!instant,!in!this!film,!the!most!obvious!cue!of!this!
function!is!"The!distraction!of!Hometree".!(01:44:33J!01:48:16)!when!
Hometree!down,!Na'vi!people's!crying!and!shouting,!the!music!creates!a!
tragedy!mood!to!the!scene.!Then,!when!it!cuts!to!Na'vi!people!immigrating,!
the!music!gives!a!sad!and!hopeless!feeling!to!the!picture.!!
!!!!The!next!important!example!would!be!"Become!one!of!the!people".!The!
music!is!so!touching!and!moving,!just!makes!you!to!cry!when!Jake!going!
through!the!ceremony!that!he!finally!won!his!position!among!the!people,!
becoming!one!of!Na’vi!(01:19:35J01:24:36).!The!music!emphasizing!the!
emotion!in!the!picture,!and!rendering!a!very!touching!mood!to!bring!
audiences!tear,!and!it!works!really!efficient.!!
!!!!Then,!the!moment!when!Jake!gives!his!speech!to!Na'vi!people,!music!
raise!audience's!emotion!again!and!again,!cheering!everyone.!This!cue!
"Gathering!all!the!Na'vi!clans!for!battle"!is!one!of!my!favorites,!because!this!
cue!works!so!well.!Every!time!I!watching!this!part!of!the!film!I!feel!so!

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moving!and!cheering,!then!I!find!that!it's!the!music!makes!me!feel!that!
way.!
!
Underline!score!
!!!!Underline!score,!another!very!common!and!important!function!in!film!
music.!Underline!score!contain!a!big!range!of!functions,!most!important!
two!are!"underline!action"!and!"underline!audience!reaction".!
!!!!A!very!good!example!of!underline!action!in!this!film!would!be!the!cue!
"Chasing"!(00:27:08J00:31:05).!Jake!leaves!his!team!and!start!play!with!
the!big!rolling!flower.!Suddenly!all!flowers!closed!and!a!big!animal!appear.!
The!big!animal!run!back!to!its!grope,!but!the!real!danger!appears,!the!giant!
tiger.!Then!the!tiger!start!chasing!him.!The!first!part!of!the!score!functions!
as!enhance!audience!reaction!by!underlining!the!situation.!The!second!
part!is!a!very!tension!and!fast!cue!(the!chasing!part).!Function!as!an!
underline!action!score.!With!many!hit!point.!Create!a!tension!feeling!and!
underline!the!chasing!action.!
!!!!Another!example!would!be!cue!"Neytiri!fighting!with!Quaritch",!Music!
start!with!Neytiri!riding!fast,!fast!percussion!underline!her!fast!riding!
speed.!Quaritch!is!going!to!destroy!Jake’s!lab.!At!that!moment,!Neytiri!
appears!and!stopped!him.!During!the!fight,!her!tiger!killed!by!Quaritch.!
Music!underlined!the!fighting!with!many!hit!point!and!a!very!tension!

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feeling.!
!!!Then,!underline!audience!reaction!is!a!little!bit!different.!I!will!say!cue!
"Viper!wolves!attack"!(00:32:08J00:36:21)!is!a!good!example.!Music!starts!
when!the!viper!watching!Jake.!Then!the!viper!is!going!to!kill!Jake.!
Suddenly,!a!seed!of!soul!tree!floats!in!sight!and!stops!on!her!arrow.!!At!
first,!percussions!give!a!feeling!of!dangerous!to!audience.!And!then!the!
strings!crescendo!is!create!a!tension!emotion!for!the!viper!attacking.!When!
the!soul!seed!appear,!music!change!and!tell!audience!that!situation!is!
changing,!she!will!not!attack!him.!Music!dragging!audience!reaction!all!the!
time!and!enhance!their!feeling.!

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• Specific!Analysis:!
.
Orchestration*

!!!!“Once!the!music!has!been!written,!it!must!then!be!arranged!or!
orchestrated!in!order!for!the!ensemble!to!be!able!to!perform!it.!The!nature!
and!level!of!orchestration!varies!from!project!to!project!and!composer!to!
composer,!but!in!its!basic!form!the!orchestrator's!job!is!to!take!the!music!
written!by!the!composer!and!"flesh!it!out"!into!instrumentJspecific!sheet!
music!for!each!member!of!the!orchestra!to!perform.”4!
!!!!James!Honor!is!a!piano!player.!Usually,!he!find!motive!and!write!music!
on!piano,!then!orchestrates!it!to!a!full!orchestra;!sometimes!he!also!
directly!write!orchestra!on!paper.!In!this!project,!he!is!the!main!
orchestrator;!team!with!Nicholas!Dodd,!Jon!Kull,!J.A.C.!Redford!and!Gary!K.!
Thomas!doing!the!orchestration!together.!!
!!!!He!has!already!improvised!and!composed!few!scenes!by!piano!before!
any!thing!been!written.!!While!he!composing,!he!think!about!he!will!adds!
more!nonJorchestra!instruments!play!nonJorchestrally!later.!After!finished!
the!orchestra!part,!they!dubbed!some!synth!and!sample!drum!on!the!
orchestra!music.!!!
!!!!For!example,!James!wrote!this!piano!piece!first!(p!2J1).!Then!he!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4!Samuel!Adler!(1982,!1989,!2002):!The!Study!of!Orchestration.!

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orchestrates!it!to!the!orchestra!version!(p!2J2)!and!records!it.!!
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p2J1!!!!!Jake’s!first!flight!(part)!–!piano!version!

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!!!!Through!my!analysis,!I!found!that!he!use!piano!to!get!all!the!important!
parts!of!the!music!such!as!melody,!harmony,!tempo,!rhythm!and!main!
background!movement.!

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!!!!In!this!example,!part!of!one!of!the!most!beautiful!sound!track!“Jake’s!first!
flight”,!we!could!see!he!written!down!all!harp’s!movement,!which!is!the!
main!background!movement.!Then,!in!the!piano!version,!we!cloud!also!find!
the!melody!and!harmony,!which!played!by!strings!later!in!orchestra!
version.!!
!!!!Then!things!that!haven’t!written!in!the!piano!version!are!male!voice,!
piccolo!and!percussion.!The!voice!and!piccolo!are!just!effects,!outside!the!
main!body!of!the!music.!The!percussion!is!one!important!part!of!the!music.!
As!a!composer,!we!all!know!that!if!we!already!have!the!tempo,!time!
signature!and!rhythm,!we!could!dub!some!percussion!or!drum!on!the!track!
easily.!So!I!think,!he!already!has!how!the!percussion!plays!in!mind.!After!
orchestration,!he!records!the!percussion!and!dubs!it!on!the!orchestra.!
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p2J1!!!!!Jake’s!first!flight!(part)!–!piano!version!

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16!!

Themes!*

“In!music,!a!theme!is!the!material,!usually!a!recognizable!melody,!upon!
which!part!or!all!of!a!composition!is!based.”5!
James!Horner!used!several!themes!for!this!movie,!they!appear!in!different!
kinds!of!scenes,!work!as!different!functions.!Those!are!three!themes!that!
he!used!a!lot!in!this!film.!There!are!other!themes!like!“become!one!of!the!
people”!theme,!“Jake’s!first!flight”!theme!and!so!on,!but!they!are!not!been!
used!so!often!than!these!three.!





































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5!Drabkin,!William!(2001).!"Theme".!The!New!Grove!Dictionary!of!Music!and!Musicians,!second!edition,!
edited!by!Stanley!Sadie!and!John!Tyrrell.!London:!Macmillan!Publishers.!

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!Development!

!!!!“In!classical!music,!musical!development!is!a!process!by!which!a!musical!
idea!is!communicated!in!the!course!of!a!composition.!It!refers!to!the!
transformation!and!restatement!of!initial!material,!and!is!often!contrasted!
with!musical!variation,!which!is!a!slightly!different!means!to!the!same!end.!
Development!is!carried!out!upon!portions!of!material!treated!in!many!
different!presentations!and!combinations!at!a!time,!while!variation!
depends!upon!one!type!of!presentation!at!a!time.!In!this!process,!certain!
central!ideas!are!repeated!in!different!contexts!or!in!altered!form!so!that!
the!mind!of!the!listener!consciously!or!unconsciously!compares!the!
various!incarnations!of!these!ideas.”6!
!!!!James!Horner!developing!themes!in!different!ways;!rendering!different!
color!to!the!melodies!to!achieve!different!functions!of!the!music.!There!are!
tons!of!different!developments!James!did.!I!will!choose!few!examples!from!
them!and!explain!how!I!understand!his!developments.!
!
Main.Theme.Development.
!!!!The!“main!theme”!has!been!used!everywhere!in!the!film,!a!big!
percentage!of!music!are!using!the!main!theme.!Here!are!two!example!of!
the!development!of!main!theme.!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6!Benward!&!Saker!(2009),!Music!in!Theory!and!Practice:!Volume!II,!p.138J39.!Eighth!Edition.!ISBN!978J0J
07J310188J0.!

18!

!

!!!!!The!first!main!theme!development!is!when!after!Neytiri!teaching!Jake!
about!what!is!an!Ikran!and!start!flying!with!it.!When!Neytiri!start!to!fly,!the!
music!change!big!and!glorious!which!function!as!creates!a!mood!that!
indicates!audience!“this!is!really!awesome!”!The!music!using!the!main!
theme,!but!develop!to!be!very!freedom,!has!the!feeling!of!flying.!!
!










































































































!

!
!!!!The!second!example!would!be!soundtrack!“become!one!of!the!people”.!
The!music!starts!with!the!song’s!theme.!When!Nytiri!and!Jake!swim!in!a!
river!during!a!beautiful!night,!music!turns!to!main!theme!but!develops!into!
a!very!subtle!and!romantic!way.!
!

19!

!






































































































































!
!
Victor.Theme.Development.
!!!!The!first!example!of!developments!of!“Victor!Theme”!would!be!part!of!
cue!“Attack!!Warriors!”!When!Jake!diving!to!attack!the!enemy,!brasses!play!
the!victor!theme!out.!This!development!gives!the!melody!a!lot!of!energy!
and!power.!
!



























!

20!

!

!!!!This!theme!melody!could!also!adds!magnificent!feeling!to!scene!by!the!
following!development.!Jake!following!Neytiri!to!sees!her!Ikran,!this!theme!
punching!in!when!it!cuts!to!the!image!of!the!huge!Hometree.!!
!




























.

.
.
Production.

!!!!James!Horner!said!that!Avatar!has!been!one!of!the!most!challenging!
projects!he!has!ever!been!involved!with,!and!he!has!never!worked!so!
closely!with!a!group!of!musicians!as!he!did!on!this!film.!They!spent!past!
year!doing!the!mockup,!editing!the!music!as!he!writing!and!orchestrating!
the!music!each!day.!As!the!music!develop!with!the!film!together,!it!allowed!
them!give!Cameron!a!facsimile!of!what!his!music!sounded!like!against!his!
film.!
!!!!Avatar!music!team!is!definitely!a!huge!music!team.!Their!works!can!be!
defined!into!six!subjects:!composing,!orchestrating,!recording,!mixing,!
editing!and!sound!design!(music).!There!are!tons!of!great!musicians!
involved!in!this!project.!James!said!he!could!never!have!accomplished!

21!

!

creating!and!producing!almost!3!hours!music!without!their!unique!and!
astonishing!talents.!
!!!!There!are!three!main!persons!in!this!project:!James!Horner!
(composer/orchestrator/conductor)!Simon!Rhodes!(music!mixer!/!music!
recordist)!and!Simon!Franglen!(electronic!music!arranger)!
!!!!To!compose!for!this!huge!project,!traditional!method!of!composing!
seems!unreliable.!James!Horner!took!on!a!more!experimental!approach!
with!this!project!than!he!normally!would.!“I!didn’t!rely!on!a!written!score!
for!large!parts!of!the!film,”!he!says.!“Instead,!I!improvised!much!of!the!
score!against!the!picture.!There!was!no!orchestra!involved!until!the!end!—!
just!me!playing!the!parts!into!the!film,!using!an!electronic!instrument!or!a!
piano.!I!find!myself!trying!to!move!slowly!away!from!writing!conventional!
orchestral!music,!incorporating!other!instruments!into!my!scores!that!
don’t!necessarily!play!orchestral!music.”!He!uses!Sibelius!to!notate!what!
he!has!written!and!gets!it!to!the!copyists.!Which!makes!the!work!clearer.!
After!finished!a!cue,!he!will!send!score!and!sequence!to!Franglen.!
!!!After!they!generate!a!tempo!map!from!Horner’s!cues,!Simon!Franglen!
mocks!up!the!nonJsynthetic!elements!(which!will!be!later!replaced!by!the!
orchestra),!and!then!uses!a!range!of!plugJins!to!lay!down!the!score’s!
electronic!and!rhythmic!elements!to!achieve!the!otherworldly!textures!of!
Horner’s!vision.!Franglen!also!using!BFD2!and!other!virtual!instruments!

22!

!

working!in!this!project!instead!of!2!tons!of!equipment's,!which!he!normally!
would.!After!his!arrange,!he!leave!the!session!to!Rhodes.!
!!!!Scoring!mixer!Simon!Rhodes!using!protools!blending!the!score’s!
synthetic!and!orchestral!elements.!“Because!of!the!way!James!is!working,!
much!of!what!he’s!creating!is!being!recorded,!but!not!written!down,”!says!
Rhodes.!So,!we!know!that!some!parts!of!the!music!may!improvise!by!
musicians!instead!of!written!down!note!by!note.!Because!there!are!too!
many!tracks!(more!than!450!tracks!in!a!9!minutes!cue),!they!use!three!Pro!
Tools!machines!locked!by!Satellite!Link!and!synced!to!picture!through!
Video!Satellite!LE.!So!they!won’t!worry!about!the!huge!amount!of!track!
numbers!and!size.!Then,!to!make!this!mixing!possible!and!easier,!Rhodes!
mixes!the!project!in!5.1!surrounds!on!a!big!console!instead!of!directly!
mixing!in!protools.!!
!!!!This!is!the!basic!idea!of!how!this!big!team!rolling.!Of!course,!the!real!
situation!should!be!much!more!complex.!!
!

!

23!

!

• Music!Editing!
!
!!!!In!film!music,!the!concept!of!music!editing!is!slightly!different!from!any!
other!music!production!process.!!
!!!!The!role!of!the!Music!Editor!in!film!has!certainly!changed!over!the!time.!
Computer!technology!and!software!development!has!blown!the!doors!
open!for!what!is!possible!when!it!comes!to!editing!music.!50!years!ago!
they!didn’t!have!access!to!the!movie!on!video!or!hard!drives!so!after!the!
music!spotting!session!the!music!editor!would!do!a!scene!by!scene!
breakdown!or!“timing!notes”!In!today’s!world!they!have!the!film!at!their!
fingertips!through!digital!media!and!can!lock!in!sync!to!a!vast!array!of!
synthesized!sounds,!making!the!timing!notes!superfluous!for!the!
composer,!although!the!music!editor!might!still!keep!rough!notes!to!keep!
track!of!subsequent!changes!in!the!film!as!the!postJproduction!process!
continues.!
The!music!editor!will!monitor!the!completion!of!the!score!and!attend!all!
recording!sessions.!When!editing!changes!take!place!that!affect!scoring,!it’s!
his!task!to!keep!the!composer!informed!and!make!the!appropriate!
revisions!to!the!cue!breakdown.!The!music!editor!may!run!the!cueing!
system,!which!the!conductor!uses!to!maintain!visual!and!audio!sync!while!
recording.!Once!the!music!is!recorded!the!music!editor!will!synchronize!

24!

!

the!tracks!with!the!picture!and!may!be!responsible!for!editing!cues!to!
accommodate!changes!made!in!the!film!after!scoring.!After!the!final!mix!or!
dubbing!process!is!complete,!he!or!she!will!be!responsible!for!delivering!
cue!sheets!used!for!calculating!royalties.!
!!!!Jim!Henrikson!is!the!main!music!in!this!film.!He!has!since!built!a!long!
and!distinguished!career.!From!Willow!in!1988,!he!has!faithfully!worked!
with!James!Horner.!!
!!!!In!Avatar!project,!instead!of!let!the!composer!writes!3!hours!new!music,!
music!editing!will!not!only!reducing!composer’s!work!but!also!makes!the!
music!more!efficient!and!creates!some!connection!between!scenes!that!
have!relationships.!The!most!obvious!editing!job!we!can!see!are!
“repetition”!and!“using!existed!material!to!create!new!music”.!!
!
Repetitions*

!!!!One!of!the!most!effective!ways!of!editing!is!“repetition”,!which!means!
reusing!an!existed!cue!in!another!place!in!the!film.!This!method!would!
reduce!composer’s!work!by!reducing!the!length!of!the!music!he!or!she!
should!write.!The!repeating!music!would!also!create!some!connections!
between!scenes.!!This!technique!has!been!used!in!TV!serials!very!often,!
since!it’s!impossible!to!create!so!much!new!music!to!satisfied!TV!shows.!

25!

!

Composers!and!music!editors!always!using!the!same!music!repeating!or!
edit!it!to!fit!the!new!scene.!!
!!!!In!this!project,!Jim!Henrikson!use!this!technique!several!times!to!
reducing!James!Horner’s!work!and!also!achieve!other!functions.!
!!!!For!example,!He!put!the!soundtrack!“Pure!spirits!of!the!forest”!at!
(00:08:17J00:09:40),!when!Jake!follow!Norm!go!into!the!lab,!and!saw!his!
avatar!there.!This!track!is!originally!write!for!(00:37:07J00:47:22),!when!
the!pure!spirits!of!forest!landing!coming!from!the!air!and!landing!on!Jake’s!
body.!Creates!a!purely!beautiful,!subtle!and!fantastic!feeling!to!the!scene.!I!
think!the!Jim!inserted!this!cue!here!after!every!important!cues!finished!by!
James.!He!put!here!for!three!reasons.!First,!this!scene!is!the!first!time!Jake!
saw!a!avatar.!And!the!music!should!add!a!fantastic!feeling!to!how!amazing!
is!this!thing.!Then,!it!creates!a!connection!between!when!he!saw!this!body!
first!time!and!when!he!uses!this!body!travel!in!another!beautiful!world.!
Third,!the!music!here!fit!the!picture!very!well!and!enhanced!audience’s!
feeling.!
!!!!Another!example!would!be!the!cue!“Report!to!the!colonel”,!used!in!
(00:50:08J!00:51:00)!and!(00:54:03J!00:54:35).!These!two!scenes!both!are!
about!Jake!talking!with!Quaritch!in!human!base!meeting!room.!
Instrumentations!are!low,!deep,!dark!synthesizer!pad!combine!with!some!
high!pitch!soft!electronic!textures.!It!creates!a!clean,!cold,!highJ!technique!

26!

!

feeling!to!the!environment.!So,!since!the!two!scenes!are!at!same!place!and!
same!characters,!Jim!repeating!the!same!cue!to!add!the!continuity!to!them.!
!!!!Every!times!when!the!night!jungle!scene!appears.!(01:03:15J!01:03:45)&!
(01:21:35J!01:21:50)!the!music!is!very!gentle!and!romantic,!harp!play!
arpeggios,!strings!play!harmony!and!flues!play!the!theme!melody.!It!
represents!a!beautiful!jungle!night!in!another!world.!Adding!fantastic!
feeling!to!the!scenes.!Also,!because!these!two!scenes!are!both!describe!
romantic!experiences!Jake!had!with!Neytiri,!the!music!connects!them!
together!and!creates!a!romantic!mood.!!
!!!!!There!are!more!repetitions!of!music!in!this!film,!and!all!of!them!have!
good!reasons!and!work!perfectly.!
!
Using!existing!music!material!to!create!new!music!

!!!!The!concept!is!similar!to!repetition.!First,!is!to!create!connections!and!
recall!emotions.!Second,!to!avoid!writing!and!recording!additional!music.!
The!difference!is!this!technique!is!using!existing!steams!or!single!
instruments!to!create!a!new!cue!through!editing.!!
!!!!For!instant,!(01:32:20J!01:33:36)!Music!comes!in!while!Grace!talking!
about!the!amazing!world!of!the!trees.!Strings!play!very!soft,!using!the!
melody!of!pure!spirit.!It’s!the!same!recording!from!the!track!“pure!spirit”.!
But!in!this!scene,!the!music!editor!only!use!the!strings!steam.!This!music!

27!

!

has!been!made!in!order!to!describe!the!subtle!and!beautiful!world!which!
Grace!talking!about.!Recall!the!picture!of!amazing!avatar!world!to!
audience’s!imagination.!Add!imagine!through!music!to!give!audience!
imagination!about!what!Grace!talking!about.!
!!!!The!most!important!example!would!be!the!cue!“Distraction!of!
Hometree”!has!been!used!twice!at!(01:46:45J!01:48:44)!&!(02:17:36J!
02:19:12).!The!materials!are!the!same,!but!different!arrangement!and!
mixing.!They!both!have!the!same!string!background,!brass!tragedy!melody,!
and!percussions.!At!(01:46:45J!01:48:44),!starts!with!a!woodwind!solo,!
then!more!than!two!women!vocal!singing!at!the!same!time.!At!(02:17:36J!
02:19:12),!the!music!starts!with!brass!play!tragedy!theme!melody!for!
many!times.!Then,!the!female!vocal!comes!in,!but!only!one!voice.!Both!cues!
represent!Na’vi’!people’s!tragedy,!losing!the!war!and!people!are!dying.!The!
editor!use!the!same!material!to!makes!two!cue!sounds!very!similar,!
creates!connections!between!them.!And!recall!the!tragedy!image!last!time!
Na’vi!people!had.!I!think!these!two!cues!are!the!best!using!of!this!
technique!in!this!film.!
!!!!There!are!much!more!example!of!this!technique!in!this!film.!Using!
existing!music!material!to!create!new!music!would!not!only!save!time!and!
money,!but!also!achieve!great!effect.!
!

28!

!

Source!music!
!!!!Source!music!refers!to!music!in!a!film!that!is!part!of!the!fictional!setting!
and!so,!presumably,!is!heard!by!the!characters.!It!can!be!background!music!
or!be!produced!by!characters!themselves!as!part!of!the!plot.!The!opposite!
of!source!music!is!underscoring,!which!is!music!heard!by!the!viewer!(or!
player),!intended!to!comment!on!or!highlight!the!action,!but!is!not!to!be!
understood!as!part!of!the!"reality"!of!the!fictional!setting.!
!!!!In!movie!Avatar,!because!of!the!period!and!location!of!the!story!is!in!
another!completely!different!world,!and!the!source!music!should!be!part!of!
the!fictional!setting,!something!original!from!Pandora.!It!couldn’t!be!the!
normal!instrumentation!and!the!things!that!they!don’t!have!in!that!planet.!
!!!!To!achieve!this!goal,!James!Horner!found!that,!Na’vi!people!always!
singing.!So!choir!would!be!the!most!important!instrument!in!source!music.!
Then,!we!could!see,!at!(01:55:33J!01:55:57),!Na’vi!people!are!chanting!and!
singing!in!choir.!This!is!very!typical!source!music;!the!sound!is!one!part!of!
the!setting,!produced!by!the!people!in!pictures.!
!!!!Then!at!(01:22:41J!01:23:05),!when!Jake!connecting!the!tree!of!soul,!
audience!could!hear!the!source!music!of!ancient!Na’vi!people!are!singing.!!
!!!!Another!great!example!would!be!at!(00:47:21J!00:48:35),!the!native!
music!sung!and!played!by!Na’vi!people.!In!the!music,!except!the!voice,!
there!is!also!some!percussion.!

29!

!

!!!!The!idea!of!source!music!in!this!film!is!to!create!Na’vi!people’s!native!
music!and!songs.!It’s!a!big!challenge!but!James!Horner!did!really!great!job.!

30!

!

References*
Richard!Davis!(May!1,!2010),!Complete.Guide.to.Film.Scoring:.The.Art.and.
Business.of.Writing.Music.for.Movies.and.TV.
!
Fred!Karlin,!Rayburn!Wright!and!John!Williams!(Jan!10,!2004),!On.the.Track:.A.
Guide.to.Contemporary.Film.Scoring.
!
Benward,!Bruce,!and!Marilyn!Nadine!Saker!(2009).!Music.in.Theory.and.Practice,.
eighth.edition,.vol..2..Boston:.McGraw1Hill..ISBN.97810107131018810.!
!
Rushton,!Julia!(2001).!"Subject!Group".!The.New.Grove.Dictionary.of.Music.and.
Musicians,.second.edition,.edited.by.Stanley.Sadie.and.John.Tyrrell..London:.
Macmillan.Publishers...
!
Benward!&!Saker!(2009),!Music.in.Theory.and.Practice:.Volume.II,.p.138139..
Eighth.Edition..ISBN.97810107131018810..
.
James!Horner,.Avatar’s.Soundtrack.Album.!
!
Learn!Na’vi!Community,.http://forum.learnnavi.org.
.
Wikipedia,.http://www.wikipedia.org.
.
Avid’s.website,.www.avid.com

!

31!

Start with percussion, the music and scene is
really like Tarzan’s beginning and use the same
approach in music. Music suddenly changes
when the eyes open. In this part of music, main
instruments are percussion, brass, soul like
soprano, and a little bit strings. Slow tempo, no
rhythm, percussion mainly using for hit point
with the cuts. At about “00:03:58”, rhythmic
percussion and strings arpeggios came in and
music become faster and rhythmic in order to add
more tension to the landing scene and many
picture of huge machines. Change again when
they get off of the plane. Music has more
electronic sounds loops and the emotion is a little
dark. Fade out when colonel speak about Pandora
rules.

Music Description

!

Jake follow Norm go into the lab, and It’s the same music form soundtrack ”Pure spirits
saw his avatar there.
of the forest.” Coming in when Jake see the
avatar. Main instrument are pads, some small
pitched percussions and fviolin solo. Fade out
when the monologue come in.

Pure spirits of the
forest (repetition)

00:08:17
00:09:40

Scene Description

“You don’t dream in The music start with all Black, then
cryo…” (In CD)
a big first-person perspective flight
scene with narrating. This scene is
ended by a human eyes open. Then
the story begin, Jack is in a space
airplane and already sleeping for 6
years. Space picture and black-suit
people scene appears alternatively.
With the reading, all these picture tell
audience how Jake came to Pandora
and why. Finally, the space airplane
arrived Pandora, and music fades out
while the colonel speak about
Pandora rules.

Track Name

00:00:25
00:07:55

Time

!

Full Film Music Analysis Chart

I think this cue was insert by the editor after all
important music finished, because the music is
just cut from another cue. And its function is
creates a mystery atmosphere for the avatar.

The beginning music give audience a feeling
about the big forest picture and give audience a
sense about what kind of place and environment
the story happened in. So it function as an
“Evocation of a physical setting and location”.
After that the second part of the music
(00:00:54-00:03:58) is function as “Creation a
physical atmosphere” which is flaying in space.
Then the next part of music (00: 03:5800:04:45) is more like a “underline score” that
give tension to the landing scene.
Finally, the last part (00:05:09-end) is again
function as “Creation of a physical
atmosphere”. Huge machines, vehicles, troops
and weapons.

Comment

Music start when Jack into the
Machine. (only percussions). Next cut
is they are in the play and flaying in
beautiful forest. (A helicopter effect
sound suddenly up may give the
chance to change the music.) Music
fades out when they down the jungle.

They are walking in the jungle.

Flying above the
Jungle (not in CD.
edit from CD track
“Viper wolves
Attack” 2:06)

Walking in
Jungle,(Not in CD)

00:23:56
00:24:41

00:26:12
00:26:30

!

Music start when cut to the scientists
cleaning the container. Then a lab
scene and Jake is ready to go in his
avatar body. Launching and
connecting. Jake wake up in the
avatar body, feels really good. Then
he run out the clinic rudely. After a
short running, he stopped and saw
Grace and started talking. Finally, the
cue fade out when he sleep.

Jake into his Avatar
world (In CD)

00:14:01
00:19:35

!

00:14:01-00:14:24, from cleaning the container
to Grace operate the machine, music function as
connect between several scene. From 00:14:25,
after Jake said “Zero”, music change, and the
function change to “Suggesting unspoken
thoughts of the character”, suggesting Grace’s
surprise and wonder a about if he can link the
avatar successful. Then from 00:15:17, they
start to link, music just “Underlining the
situation” very honest, and tell the audience that
the data is good and he will eventually linking
successfully. And then from 00:16:48, Jake
feels really good with his new body and begin a
scene that running out of the clinic rudely, the
music begin to function as an “Underlining
action”, then music change when he run out of
the clinic, music still underlining action but
added Jake’s happy mood into it. This part
ending when him stop running. Finally, the
music becomes very soft and create a mood of
relaxing.

A very short and low volume big reverb Flute
solo and a little bit percussion. (Audience will
not notice it as a music)

33!

The music is just coming in after Jake’s
unnecessary alert. So, it creates a relax feeling,
and also a jungle atmosphere.

Start with percussions, pushed by a cymbal then Music with a feel of speed, big and wide
change to strings chords. (It’s a edited track, with feeling. Express the cool flying experience and
addition Drum track on original track Viper
amazing beautiful world properly.
wolves attack. And have the same scene with the
Original track witch is the helicopter flying
above the jungle. )

Start with strings, then change to harp, string
legato with flute solo while Jake said ”zero”.
When Jake begins get into the machine, the
music start to change. Instrumentation becomes a
oboe solo, then, going more bright by harp
melody. Strings staccato and horns coming in.
The music rising and rising, finally, strings
tremolos lead music to another part. This part at
first is quite and soft, and indicates that they are
now in the avatar world. When Jake feels very
good about his new body, percussion coming in.
High flute short notes indicate his naughty. He
starts to break things and music becoming more
and more tension. Chaos woodwinds, crescendo
strings, and chromatic low piano notes create a
tension and rude feeling. After he run out of the
clinic, music change more bright. Harp and
strings with a little brass textures play theme
melody with rhythmic percussion. After a hit
point, music becoming soft again. Harp, strings,
horn solo, and triangle. Fade out ending.

When cut to night jungle. Music become dark;
build by a deep and dark pad. When he saw those
dogs, music becomes a “Japanese Bushido” style,
built by flutes, vocal, low strings and
percussions, create a dangerous feeling. When
start to fight, music change to a fighting cue, still
with a Japanese feeling, with strong percussions
play in a faster tempo, and flutes play out of
tune. Stop when wolves gone.

In the night, Jake is trying to make a
fire. Some wolves are following him.
He successes make a torch and
through the light he see all the
wolves. Then start fighting, after
several rounds he is pulled down by a
wolf and the Viper appear, save and
help him fight with the wolves. When
all the wolves run away, the music
fades out.

wolves attack part2

!

Start by a percussion, then a strings crescendo
stopped at the high point. Then music change to
soft strings legato and harmonics. Then low
string and horn come in to give a transition.
33:11, the music is edited, with a very obvious
disconnection. Then 33:15 there is a
disconnection about reverb of the music. So, this
part of the music is edit by other existing music.
After the dialogue, strings and brass ensemble
chords rid the scene off.

Music start when Viper watching
Jake. Then viper preparing to attack.
Suddenly a flying seed floating in
sight and stop on her arrow. The viper
surprised, stop attacking and run
away. Next cut is the helicopter flying
above the forest. Grace’s team is
looking for Jake.

Viper wolves attack
part1 (In CD, bonus
track)

Start with a pad and low flute (indicate the
environment) Cymbal, percussions and brass
come in when he see the big animal. Brass play
legato at low register creates a dangerous
atmosphere.
Then when Jake talk to the monster,
instrumentation change to only a dark pad.
Makes the scene seems even more dangerous.
When Grace says “Run! Definitely run!” a very
strong chasing music starts. Rhythmic
percussion, low brass legato and high brass short
notes shinning with woodwinds. Music ends with
a string tremolo and crescendo.

00:32:08
00:36:21

Jake leaves his team and start play
with the big rolling flower. Suddenly
all flowers closed and a big animal
appear. Then dialog with Grace. Big
guy turn back and Then big tiger
appear. Start chasing! Chasing end
with he fall into the water.

Chasing (Not in
CD)

00:27:08
00:31:05

!

34!

When Jake walking in the darkness, the music
gives this scene a dark and scary atmosphere,
indicates there are something dangerous out of
sight. When start fighting, music underlining
action. It follows the picture very tight. Music
ends when the fight stops.

Frist part of music is function as “Portray
emotion”, Percussion give a feeling of
dangerous to audience. And then the strings
crescendo is create a tension emotion for the
viper attacking. When the soul seed appear,
music change and tell audience that situation is
changing, she will not attack him. Brass coming
before cut in order to connect the two scenes.
Then the music appears which is the same
melody with the helicopter scene because the
scene is the same.

The first part of the score functions as enhance
audience reaction by underlining the situation.
The second part is a very tension and fast
cue(the chasing part). Function as an underline
action score. With many hit point. Create a
tension feeling. A strings rising ends the cue.

Jake goes in to the place where
everybody having dinner, after
dinner, they go to the place for sleep.
Music fades out when he get back to
the human worlds.

Dinner in the camp
(not in CD)

00:47:21
00:48:35

!

Music start when Jack notices how
beautiful the world is. The
environment is very beautiful. The
woman is pray for the dead animal.
When she finished, she left him. Jake
tried to stop her and thank her, but got
a bunch. Then they started to talk.
After talk the scene became more
childlike. He trying to follow her and
behaved like a baby following an
older sister. When they on the wood
bridge, she told him to go back, at this
moment, the secret tree’s seed appear
and change her mind. She is leading
him to her camp. On the road, Jake
got a sudden attack by the native
people. And the woman protects him
and talk with them. Finally they bring
him to the camp. When they arrive
the camp, the leader who is her father
at first decides to kill him. Then the
mother appears and asks him a series
questions, then change everybody
mind, decide to let him stay.

Pure spirits of the
forest (In CD)

00:37:07
00:47:22

!

The first part is “source music”, like an African
native song built by human voices and
percussions. Second part music changes,
percussion, flute and relax tempo really give a
jungle night feeling.

Music begins very subtle, a long strings legato,
pad, harp and light pitched percussions. It sounds
really beautiful and subtle. While Jake saying
”why save me?” the music goes down and strings
play a soft melody, making a transition. Then it
turns to a childlike, naughty music. Marimba,
flute and pitched percussion give a relaxing and
naughty sense. After that, it’s turns back to a
beautiful and subtle music. Because the scene is
more pure and tenor, the main instrument is
legato high strings. Then she changes her mind,
music become positive and brighter. To do this,
the composer use harp, strings, little percussion,
faster tempo and brighter chord. Suddenly music
change because of the attack. Big percussions,
effects, low string movements (this part doesn’t
contain in the CD track). Then they bring him to
the camp. Low brass playing the a very
recognizable melody that is very powerful and
dark, combine with big percussion and string
effect articulations, create a powerful and
dangerous feeling. This part of the music stopped
when she talk to her father. Music change, main
instrument is voice, combines with pad and
percussion single hits, creates a mystery, dark
and tension feeling.

35!

First part is source music; director just want it
sounds like it’s come from the group of people.
And the second part is function as “create
atmosphere”. The music created a peace night
jungle feeling.

The first part of the music is very subtle and
beautiful, I think James Horner just want use
this to create a very beautiful background
blinding with the beautiful environment. (create
a atmosphere). at about 00:39:35, the music
change, become a childlike and naughty music,
which make audience relax and indicate that
now the situation is Jake is like a child
following the older sister and what they talk
now is not serious anymore (create a mood).
00:40:17 Jake become serious and tell her that
he really needs her help, so the naughty music
fades out. Suddenly, the secret tree’s seed come,
the music change to beautiful and subtle again,
indicate that the situation is positive and those
things is beautiful. At 00:41:57, the music
change, indicate the woman is change her mind
and music continue describe a positive and
beautiful scene. 00:42:20, music suddenly
changes again, because Navi’s attack. Music
becomes dark and dangerous, functions as
creates a mood. From 00:43:30, also function as
connect several scenes. And music stops at
00:43:41 when the women talk to her father.
Then another Japanese Bushido style music
start, and create a mood that Jake is in a
dangerous situation that he may be killed. Then
music changed when mother appears. And now
the music also function as “Revealing
psychological make up” of the mother who is
mystery and psychic.

Music comes in before the first scene,
the helicopter flying heads to the
Hallelujah Mountains. It cuts to they
are talking in the helicopter that the
radar is not working and they can’t
see anything also because the clouds
covers their vision. Suddenly, they get
into the Hallelujah Mountains area,
the clouds disappears and they see the
amazing landscape and astonishing.
Then finally they landed at a base on
a mountain’s top.

Music come in when Jake looking the
pictures of Grace’s school. Then there
is a reading to explain what is Jake
thinking now. Then the picture cut to
a big tree and Neytiri going to show
Jake her Ikran.

Flying to Hallelujah
Mountains (not in
CD)

In Hallelujah Lab
(not in CD)

00:55:03
00:56:27

00:57:06
00:57:55

!

Jake is reporting to the colonel and
the boss. Max saw it and the
scientist’s team is preparing to move
to Hallelujah Mountains.

Report to the
colonelnot in CD)
same track with
50:08

00:54:03
00:54:35

Music separate to two parts. Frist part is soft
strings legato with soft horn solo. (same melody
with “pure spirit”)
The second part, brasses play the Victor Theme
(appear at 2:21:03). Then fades out by strings

Timpani rolling coming before the flying cut.
And then brass ensemble plays the Haliluya
Mountain’s Theme melody. Then high strings
crescendo and low strings staccato. When they
saw the mountains, strings and brass play Flying
Theme together. Music changes key down when
cut to they arrive the landing place. It fades out
after landing.

High Synthesizer combine with low strings
orchestra textures.

36!

The first part of the music is function as creates
a mood that Jake feels sorry to Grace. The
second part of the music is mainly function as
“connect scenes”, science the timpani rolling
coming before the cut to the huge tree. This
technic James Honor used a lot in this movies.
To build a smooth bridge from a small scene to
a big scene. And also, the following music is
sound very big, indicates that the environment is
huge.

The first part of the music is very short and has
2 functions. One, is to connect two different
scenes. Two, is create a magnificent
atmosphere. And the second part of the music
also has two functions, which is from their
vision is covered by clouds to they go through
the clouds see the amazing landscape and
landing on the mountain. The first is physical
function that creates a big and magnificent
atmosphere. But beside this, there is another
important function, to indicate that the picture
they see is unbelievable amazing and they are
astonishing. (Create a mood)

Creating mood and atmosphere.

Main function of this short cue is to create an
atmosphere of the big natural environment.

Jake is learning riding horse with
Neytiri, Music ends when Tsutey
comes.

Learn riding horse
not in CD)

00:51:48
00:53:35

Big reverb flutes with vibraphone. Pad comes in
when banding, then strings chord crescendo
when Jake fall down. And low brass-like
synthesizer and big percussions come in when
Tsutey appears. They start talking, music stops.

Create a dark mood when they talk about to
destroy “Blue monkeys’” home. And also the
synthesizer sounds create a high-tech
environment.

Report to the
Jake talking with the colonel and the High Synthesizer combine with low strings
colonelnot in CD) boss. Music comes in when they talk orchestra textures.
about destroying “Blue monkeys’”
home. It fades out when cut to the lab.

00:50:08
00:51:00

!

!

The
bioluminescence of
the night (In CD)

Part 3,4:

Becoming one of
the people (In CD)

Music comes in before the cut from
lab to learning scene. In this cue, first
part is a lot of scenes of Jake learning
in the forest. The second part is he
learning the skills that fall on the
leaves. Then music change to part 3,
which is a happy scene that Grace’s
school opens again. Then, part four,
Some night scene in forest with
Neytiri and in the lab. This part
describes the relationship between
Jake and Neytiri, Jake and Grace
becomes better and better. Then it
goes to the last part, which is the
scene Jake hunting with Neytiri and
made a clean kill. Then music fades
out while Neytiri saying: “You are
ready.”

Part 1,2:

01:00:16
01:05:09

This is a long cue. The music divides to 5 parts.
The first part comes in before the learning scene.
Harp plays the movement and flutes play the
theme song melody, strings play secondary
melody. Then when they running, percussion
comes in and strings play main melody. And it
goes back to former organization when the scene
changes back to quite scene. Part 3, the music is
following the actor’s movement. Harp and string
describe Neytiri’s smooth and smart movements.
Brass gives a push to indicate Jake’s courage.
And then pitched and un-pitched percussions
describe Jake’s stupid movement. Music goes
back to the main melody. Harp play arpeggios,
strings play harmony and flues play melody.
Then music changes to another part, transport by
a world music style choir. This part is the music
is very quiet and beautiful. Harp still plays
arpeggios, mallets instrument and woodwinds
play melody together softly. Then the last part of
the music is a flute piece, with a little percussion
as effect.

Neytiri’s Ikran appears and she
Music separate to two parts. First part fades in
teaches something about this amazing when Ikran appears. It starts with only pad, and
bird to Jake.
then a big reverb flute solo come in (edited part,
appears somewhere else), give a big space
feeling. The second part of the music starts when
Neytiri start to flying. It introduced by a timpani
rolling crescendo and cymbal. Then strings play
the theme melody and flute play some following
melody and effects. Music fades out when cut to
lab scene.

Pandora [from 1:39
in the track]

00:58:23
00:59:59

!

37!

This whole cue is always function as connects
scenes and it created a community between
scenes. The first part of the music (01:00:1601:02:10) mainly functions as connects several
scenes and a gives a mood of the passion feeling
that learning in this magnificent, amazing and
beautiful environment. And the second part of
music, from Neytiri falls on the big leaves to
Jake falls on the ground and stands up
(01:02:11-01:02:45). This part of the music was
written for underlining actions. Then the third
part of the music begins, which is a happy
music. It gives a happy mood to the scene and
also connects scenes. Music smoothly go to next
part, the subtle and beautiful music describes
the relationship between Jake and Neytiri, Jake
and Grace becomes better and better. And music
underlined Grace and Neytiri’s cares to Jake.
From 01:04:25, when the scene cut to Jake
hunting, music smoothly changes to next part.
This part of the music not function as connects
scenes any more, it mainly just creates a big
jungle atmosphere and secondary create a mood
of hunting.

The first part of the music is just for creates a
big environment for the scene. When Neytiri
start to fly, the music change big and glorious
which function as creates a mood that indicates
audience “this is really awesome!” (Maybe
underline audience reaction?)

Music comes in right after Jake’s
Ikran flying straight. He is very happy
and exciting about the first flight.
Neytiri feeling really happy when she
saw he has done it. They start to fly
together and then Neytiri shows Jake
the soul tree. Scene cuts to Jake’s
group talking about soul tree. Grace is
explaining how the soul tree is
amazing and secret. Finally, it cuts to
a chasing scene that Jake and Neytiri
escaping from a Toruk.

1:Jake’s first flight

01:12:03
01:16:09

!

Music fades in when Jake walks in
the Ikran’s area. He begins to find the
Ikran who chooses him too. When he
finds one that chose him, he starts to
fight. And finally he wins the fight,
bonds his Ikran and has his first
flight.

Capturing the Ikran

01:08:45
01:12:03

2:Great Leonoptryx

Music comes in right after the last cue
when cut to the mountain scene. Jake
and 3 others all the way go to the cliff
where they capture the Ikrans. Finally
they reach there and see the amazing
picture of the landscape. Then Neytiri
comes and then Jake will goes first to
captures his Ikran.

Climbing up
"Iknimaya - The
Path To Heaven" (In
CD)

01:05:10
01:07:58

!

Musically, I separate this cue in 3 parts. The first
part is steadily tempo and very musical. Choir
performs the fly theme melody. Strings and harp
play harmony. Sometimes flute solo also affords
the melody. This part uses a Lydian mode in E.
The second part is from when Neytiri shows Jake
the tree of soul to when they start to escape from
the Toruk. This part is a soft piece and play
mainly by string in low dynamic. Brass comes in
only before the transpose to next part. Then the
third part is a chasing scene. The music is a
typical action score, fast tempo percussion with
some strings trills.

Main part of this cue is underlines the action. In
order to underline the intensive fighting. The
composer used fast tempo percussions and
electronic elements to establish the main
framework. And add some strings and
woodwinds as effects. In the quiet part, when
Jake wins the fight, the composer used strings
pad to fit the relax scene. Then fast percussion
comes in again when he first flight.

This cue has a big, glory feeling. James mainly
using the major, add9 chords for harmony; Slow
steadily tempo; The main melody is performed
mainly by choir, which is very important to get
the glory feeling. And also steadily percussion,
low brass and low strings give it a strong bass
part. Flute comes out as solo at some part, gives a
big natural environment feeling. At the end, in
order to get a elevation to describes a feeling that
seeing the amazing landscape. James used a
transpose from D to E to approach this effect.

38!

The first part of the music is function as create a
mood that indicate this scene is very positive.
Add a joyful and magnificent feeling to this
scene. The second part of the music is to
revealing the mystery characteristic of the soul
tree. Then the third part is obvious a underline
action score, to underline the chasing scene, and
create a intensive feeling.

I separate the music into two part because the
different functions. The first part, from the
beginning of the music to Jake start to fight.
This part of the music mainly function as
creates an nervous mood for this scene. When
Jake starts to fight, music becomes a
underlining-action-score.

The cue is mainly function as “Create mood”,
and at the end it function as “underline the
expected reaction of audience. And I separate it
in two parts because of the different moods it
creates. The first part, from music begins till
before they reach the cliff. This is the main part
of the cue. It creates a feeling that they are
doing something glory and honor. The second
part is starts from when they see the amazing
picture at the cliff. Music becomes very bright
and big. It enhances the feeling of the amazing
picture and makes it more amazing.

Jake speaks with the colonel. The
colonel tells him that he can go home
tonight and has his new leg. He
refuses and tell him he has to finish
the ceremony. Music comes in when
Jake says, “I have to finish this.”
Then it cuts to the ceremony. After
the ceremony. Neytiri bring him to
the tree of voices and let Jake hear the
trees. Finally they choose each other
as lover and mated there.

Music comes in when Neytiri wakes
up and saw the big machine is
destroying their voice trees. Then
Jake wakes up and try to stop the
machine, he breaks the camera of it
and run away. Music fades out when
the bad guy analysis the pictures.

Become one of the
people

Scorched earth

01:19:35
01:24:36

01:25:10
01:28:07

!

Jake wakes up in the machine and
feeling sad, because he thinks the life
in Avatar world is the real life. And
he realizes 3 month passed, the time
colonel gives him is run off. Then
scene cut to he talking with the
colonel. Music fades out.

Back to reality

01:17:52
01:18:44

(In CD)

Music comes in when the Toruk flies
away. Neytiri is talking about Toruk
and Toruk Macto in the camp.

Story of Toruk
Macto

01:16:40
01:17:44

!

This cue is separates to 5 parts. Parts 1-3 and 5
are psychological function. And part 4 is
physical function. The first part, from Jake says,
“I go to finish this…” to before cut to the
ceremony. The music is creates a moveable and
a little sad mood. It indicates that Jake is doing
something movable. Then the second part,
music still function as “creates a mood”. But
here the mood is more movable and also
ceremonious. Then part three, from cut to the
night scene to Neytiri says, ”come on,” creates a
beautiful sense to the scene. Part four, they start
talking, is functions as creates a physical
atmosphere of the scene. And also when they
listen the tree, inserted a piece of source music.
Then the final part, from when they kiss to the
music ends, is to create a romantic mood.

This cue is very obvious functions as creates a
sad mood to the scene.

This cue’s function is to revealing the powerful
and sacred characteristic of Toruk.

39!

Fast tempo percussions, forte brass and strings
This cue is very obvious made for creates a
trill and tremolo. Low brass and low strings play intensive mood for the scene. To add tension to
the movements. High brass and high strings play the pictures.
the melodies. There are also choir and a flute-like
rhythm loop in the music.

The first part, strings coming first and then the
brass comes in, gives a movable and sad mood.
When cut to the ceremony, the flute solo lead the
music changes and it gives a jungle feeling. Then
the strings and brass rise and end when it cut to
the moon. After the first piece music fades out,
the second piece of music fades in. This is a
romantic piece. (the same with the one before
when they learning)Harp, mallets and pad give a
subtle and beautiful atmosphere. Then harp and
mallets fade out, left pad and flute solo play
softly when they talking. Finally, string rise play
the theme melody when they making love. Music
fades out when Jake wake up in the machine.

This cues is a sad piece. Piano and violin solo
play the theme melody(not exactly the same) but
in minor scale and very solo tempo. Then horns
play the melody and fades out.

The music is mainly the same melody repeat
again and again by the low strings. And flute
plays as a secondary melody. Music has a
powerful and deep feeling.

Music comes in while Grace talking
about the amazing world of the trees.
Fades out when Quaritch showing the
video.

Pure spirit (edited)

Telling the truth(not Then the colonel find out Jake’s video
in CD)
log and shows it to them. Parker
finally agrees with the colonel and
they will hit the Hometree. Then it
cuts to Jake talking with Grace in the
lab. Judy comes in and told them the
troops going to hit the Hometree.
Grace is very shocked and run to
Parker to convince him let them talk
to the Navi’s people to evacuate them.
Finally he agrees, Jake and Grace is
going to talk to them.

01:32:20
01:33:36

01:33:36
01:36:05

!

Music comes in when the colonel find
out the person who breaks the
machine is Jake. Then it cuts to the
people are preparing the war. Jake
and Neytiri come back, and Tsutey
fight with Jake because he mated with
Neytiri. After the fight, Jake try to tell
the people the reason they come to
them, but the colonel cut the link and
he fails. Music fades out when they
talking in the control center.

Angry of the people
(not in CD)

01:28:10
00:31:35

!

The music here is a soft but dark background,
low strings pad sustain until the cut to Parker’s
office. Then a deep synthesizer replaces the
previous basses, low strings play legato with
horns softly. Then percussion come in, hit the
point of Judy running into the lab. Music become
tension. Strings running, flute play melody.
When it cuts to next scene. Brass play louder,
low brass moving low in background, strings
float up to play the melody. Finally, when they
start to launching, string play the Theme melody.

When Grace talking about the trees on Pandora.
Strings playing very soft of the melody of pure
spirit. The same recording of the track “pure
spirit”. But in this scene, the music editor only
use the strings steam.

Music comes in as an electronic pad. And then
brass and percussion give the power to create a
war preparing feeling. And then a underline
music comes several times when they fight and
when the colonel breaks in the linking room,
which built by flute solo, fast percussion and
brass. When Jake speaking, strings come in. The
soft music makes a movable and sad mood to the
scene. The last part of the music, strings and
brass play legato and fades out.

40!

The soft pad gives a deep and dark atmosphere
to the scene. Then the music starts to function as
underline the situation when Judy come in.
Percussions and running string gives a alert
mood. Then music rise when they going to talk
to Parker. Finally the theme melody gives
audience hope.

This music has been made in order to describe
the subtle and beautiful world which Grace
talking about. Recall the picture of amazing
avatar world to audience’s imagination.

This cue is mainly functions as a underline
score. It’s underlines several fights and troops
rudely break into the connecting room. And
music changes to very low or left only a pad in
order to keep continuity of the music and the
mood. The last part of the music which is when
Jake and Grace have been taken to the control
center, strings and brass play legato and fades
out, indicates that that is something not going
well.

01:37:55
01:42:58

01:36:05
01:37:55

!

!

Telling the truth(not Jake and Neytiri run down from the
in CD)
stair and talk to the Mother and
Father. He tells them that human will
come here soon; hit the Hometree and
the truth why he come here to learn.
They are very shocked and angry.
Neytiri crying and despairing. Jake
and Grace have been banded. The
Navi’s people going to fight with the
human.
Attacking the
After banded Jake and Grace, it cuts
Hometree (not in
to the human air troops. Navi’s people
CD)
are preparing to fight. Then the troops
arrive at the front of the Hometree,
and shoot the gas into Hometree,
evacuating the people inside. Navi’s
start shooting the aircrafts, but the
arrows are so powerless that cannot
event hurt one of the aircrafts. After
the first round fighting, human
changes to the fire missiles and firing
the Hometree. Navi’s people cannot
defend this devastating attack and
begin to escape. Moat release Jake
and Grace. Finally, humans give the
final attack to the Hometree and
destroyed it.
Musically, I separate this big part of the cue to 6
small parts. The first part is from it cuts to the air
troops scene to when they arrive and stop in front
of the Hometree. It’s very typical epic war scene
music. This cue appear a lot in this film, I call
this “war cue” Fast tempo percussion loops,
strings play 16th and 8th notes in fortissimo, big
choir and low brass play high dynamic notes
follow the rhythm. At next part, brass and strings
play lower and slower, in order to give next part
more power. Then the third part starts when they
begin fighting. This part built by the fast high
string and percussion which is a little chaos and
powerless. When human open fire, the music
transpose to next part. Low brass comes in play
whole note in big dynamic, and strings play more
tidy and powerful. Music is much powerful than
the last part. When it cuts to Moat (Mother),
music goes down lead by a flute solo. This is the
5th part of the music; strings and brass play
tremolos and trills to following the story. Finally,
the music becomes very powerful and tragedy.
Strings and brass together playing the long notes
in minor and diminish harmonies.

Flute playing some effect sounds above a soft
and deep synthesizer pad, creates a jungle
feeling. Then a choir sing a sustain note very far,
flute fades out, music become serious. When
strings start to play theme melody ( a minor
variation), the music creates a sad mood.

41!

This big part of the music is mainly an
underline action score. The first part of the
music indicates that war is coming and the air
troops are really powerful. Second part has the
psychological function revealing that this scene
is like a short calm before the storm. When
Navi’s people firing, the music is not powerful
but chaos, it describes the powerless attack of
the Navi’s people. When human troops firing,
music becomes really powerful, indicates that
the missiles are devastating and the power of the
human troops is too much bigger than the
Navi’s. Then the 5th part of the music is trying
to deceive audience that Moat is going to kill
Jake. After she release Jake, music also gives a
release. The last part of this cue is when human
troops give the final attack to the home tree. The
music becomes devastating and tragedy.

The first part of the music is mainly function as
create an jungle atmosphere. The suddenly
instruments change creates a feeling of location
changes from the lab to the jungle. The second
part of the music is obviously to gives a sad
mood to the scene.

Music comes in after Grace says, “it
doesn’t matter. I’m fine.” They use
the aircraft hanging the lab move into
the deep forest. Jake injects a
medicine for Grace and talking with
her. Then, they reach the soul tree

Moving to deep
inside the jungle
(not in CD)

01:51:29
01:53:25

!

A shoot to Jake’s team is screw in a
chamber. Trudy pretends a delivery
staff delivering the food. She stunned
the soldier and let Max release the
team from the chamber. They start
running from the control center to the
aircraft. While Trudy starting the
engine, a officer find there is a
situation and told the colonel. Right
after knows this, he grab a gun, run
out of the room and start shooting
them. Finally, they escaping
successful, music fades out.

Escape from
Hellgate (In CD)

01:48:17
01:50:59

Shutting down
Grace’s lab

Music comes in when Hometree
begins falling. People running from
the tree, and some of them die under
the tree. When Hometree fully down,
everyone is shocked and despair.
They crying, feel extremely sad and
hopeless. Then it cuts to Neytiri
found his father is dying. The father
give his bow to Neytiri and tells her
to protects Navi’s people. Jake comes,
Neytiri cry and shouts at him, ”get
away and never come back!” Then it
cuts to the control center. They pull
the trigger to stop Jake and Grace’s
link. Finally, it’s a scene that Navi’s
people emigrating to somewhere else
in despair.

01:43:02
01:48:16

The destruction of
Hometree (in CD)

!

Musically, I separate this cue into two parts. The
first part is a rhythmic music combines with
percussion loops, brass and flute effect sounds.
When they reach the soul tree area, the music
turns into the second part. Big reverb women
voice and strings creates a mystery and sad

Music start with very soft and low pad combines
with soft horn solo. After Trudy takes out the
gun, high strings harmonics crescendo, then
rhythmic piano and percussion loop come in, lead
music into the next part. The second part is
mainly repeating percussion loops, and mallets
built the main structure. Strings play the melody.
When they get out of the gate, strings fade out.
Quaritch starts fire, brass come in and rising with
strings together in order to create an intensive
feeling music.

I will talk about these two cues together because
there is nearly no gap between them; and also the
emotion in music is continually. I divide the first
cue into two parts. When Hometree start falling,
synth pad comes in first, and low strings and
choir follow. They rise and rise until the tree
fully down on the ground. Then, second part of
the music comes in. Brass play the tragedy theme
melody, low strings play legato background and
high strings moving in minor scale. After the
troops left, music go down and flute lead soft
strings to a transition for next part. The second
cue (Shutting down Grace’s lab) built mainly by
soprano, strings, percussions and solo woodwind.
They play freely in slow tempo and big reverb.
The women voice really point out the color of the
sad scene. Percussion makes the tragedy feeling
stronger.

42!

These two parts of the cue both function as
create atmospheres. The first part of the music
creates a deep jungle atmosphere. And also the
percussion and rhythm loops give a speed
feeling indicates that they are moving fast into
the forest. The second part of the music creates

Functionally, I separate this cue into three parts.
At the beginning, when Trudy comes in the
room, the music is function as “setting up an
audience for a subsequent surprise”. The quiet
and low music seems like calm but feels little
bit unstable; preparing the surprise for next part.
Then when Trudy hit the soldier, music
transpose to the second part, underline score, it
underline their actions while escaping from the
control center. Then when the colonel starts to
fire, music goes into part three, which function
as creates an intensive mood to the scene.

The first part of the cue, The destruction of
Hometree, has both psychological and physical
functions that are creating a destroying, horrible
feeling to the scene and underline the action
people running from the falling Hometree. The
second part of this cue is pretty obvious
functions as creates a disaster and tragedy mood
to the scene. Finally, the next cue is sad and
hopeless. It becomes part of the atmosphere;
Express the despair and sadness of Navi’s
people properly. And this mood goes through
the scenes both in human’s control center and
Navi’s emigration.

!

Navi’s people sitting on the ground
and preparing praying. Jake carrying
Grace here and lay her in front of the
tree of soul. People start praying
ceremony. After ceremony, Grace
wakes up and tells Jake, she with
Eywa, and she is real. Then she dead.

Healing ceremony

01:58:39
02:01:10

(In CD)

Musically, I would like to divide this cue into
three parts. Frist part ends when Jake gets off
from the big dragon. Brass play Toruk Mactol
theme melody and big percussion create a very
powerful music at first, then music go down,
transposes to the next part. Strings playing
sustain background, and hold it at there for a very
long time, until he finishes talking with Neytiri.
flute solo play the praying song melody, adding
warmth to the scene. Finally, strings start moving
softly.

Navi’s people are praying in front of
the tree of soul. Suddenly, a big
dragon appears in the air. They are
extremely scared and shouting. Then,
Jake gets off from the Toruk. People
shocked by this scene. They can’t
believe he is Toruk Mactol. Neytiri
tell him she not afraid anymore. And
Tsutey will help Jake saving their
people.

Toruk Mactol
coming (not in CD)

01:56:56
01:58:39

Soft pads and soprano sings in big reverb before
they pray. When they start pray, music becomes
ceremonious and mystery. Bass male voice
chanting, big percussion, soprano, strings and
choir playing rhythmically. After praying,
everything stopped but just left pads and flute
solo play theme melody. Finally, strings and a
violin solo fit the scene of Grace’s dying.

A ceremonious praying choir.

Praying song (not in Navi’s people is praying in front of
CD)
the tree of soul.

I divide this cue into two parts. To describes a
desolate field, and bleak atmosphere, alto flute
solo and low women voice sings freely with big
reverb. Then percussion comes in as a transition.
Finally, when they fly, brass and strings come in
and combine with fast tempo percussions.

01:55:33
01:55:55

Jake linked his Avatar and wake up in
the destroyed place. He looking and
walking at this bleak world. Suddenly
his Ikran comes and they begin to fly.
It cuts to they flying in the sky and
they preparing capture the Great
Leonoptryx. Music fades out when
Jake falls on its back.

feeling in the music.

Great Leonoptryx
(In CD)

area, and land. Music fades out.

01:54:07
01:55:30

!

43!

Source music. Indicates people are singing and
chanting. And we can also see the big single
percussion hit is following the light from the
ground. After ceremony, The music creates a
sad mood to Grace dying scene.

The function of this cue is really subtle. I
would say, when Jake comes down from the
sky, the music at the very beginning is dark and
scare, which is following with the director’s
idea want to add a scaring emotion to this scene.
It suddenly changes when we see Jake. The
music becomes glorious and powerful. Then the
next part of the music revealing the surprise
feeling of Navi’s people. Finally music point the
scene is touching and positive.

Source music.

The first part of the music is really fit the color
of the scene which is bleak and desolate. And
give a lonely feeling to the scene. When Jake
talks, music turns into the transition and finally
changes to the second part when Ikran fly. The
second part of the music gives a heroic and
positive feeling to the scene.

a mystery atmosphere to the secret place.

The colonel is giving a speech to
people in human base, which is about
to attack the tree of soul by bomber.
People strongly agree and they start
preparing the weapons.

Jake’s team getting information from
Max about colonel’s pan. They
shocked and then start to talking and
making plans.

Colonel’s attacking
plan (not in CD)

Jake’s defending
plan

02:05:54
02:06:54

02:06:57
02:08:41

!

After Grace’s death. Jake stuck into
sad. After a while thinking, he begin
gives his speech to Navi’s people.
And Tsutey helps him with
translating. These powerful words
give a lot of morale to the people. It
goes like, “The sky people sent us a
message, that they can take whatever
they want. And no one can stop them.
We will send them a message: you
ride out as fast as the wind can carry
you… They can’t take whatever they
want, This is our land!” People
strongly agree and support him. They
shout with full of confidence. Then
Jake goes his Toruk with Neytiri.
People following him. Then, it
follows a lot of scene of gathering
other clans. Music ends when it cuts
to the colonel’s speech.

Gathering all the
Na’vi clans for
battle (in CD)

02:01:12
02:05:34

!

The music is very soft and unnoticeable. Or
technically. Electronic pads and effect sounds
makes the music feels like it just part of the
environment. This part of the music sounds like
edited by drag several steams from other parts of
the music.

Music sneaks in when the colonel speaking. A
synth pad banding and changing, and also some
electronic effect sounds. With the people’s
emotions rising, strings rising slowly and
percussions play louder and louder. It ends when
it cuts to Jake’s team.

Strings, pads and violin solo continue playing
like the end of last cue. When Jake thinking.
Music goes dark, low brass and horn solo
replaced strings and harp. When he starts
speaking, strings come in playing softly and
slowly. They rise and rise. Cymbal and timpani’s
rolling crescendo and lead to another part. Music
becomes rhythmic. Rhythmic percussions, brass,
choir come in and play faster and faster.
Everything is raising follow the speech and
people’s emotion. When it rise to the peak when
Jake running with Neytiri to his Toruk, music
goes down a little bit. And start rise again, reach
another peak when his Toruk gives the powerful
pose. Percussion and choir still going faster until
people ride on there Ikran and flying. Music turns
not rhythmic. Brass and strings legato come in
replaced percussions and choir. It gives a little
ending before the cut to riders scene. When it
cuts, another part of music goes. It’s a rhythmic
epic music mainly built by full orchestra, choir
and repeating percussions loops. It’s sounds very
powerful, positive and epic.

(Not sure) This cue is mainly function as a
physical environment inside the lab deep in
forest.

44!

This cue function as create a dark emotion to
the scene. It tells audience that what happened
now is sinister.

Every time I watch this part of the movie, I was
really moved and touched by it! And then I
think carefully what makes me moved is the
music. So, this part of the music is really
important to the scene and works very well.
Functionally, I separate this cue into four parts.
The first part, from Grace’s dead to Jake close
his eyes, creates a continuity with the last cue;
drag scene back to the reality. When Jake closes
his eyes, second part start. It reveals the
unspoken thought of Jake; Describe what Jake
is thinking. Then Jake begins his speech; Music
goes to next part. The third part of the music is
really important, it holding audience emotion
tightly with the words he gives. Emotion rises
and rises, pushed and enhanced by the music.
After his speech, music still keeps curving the
emotion’s wave until the cut of riders’ scene.
Finally it goes to part four, which has several
functions: the two main functions of this part of
the music are connecting several scenes, create
continuity between them; and add momentum
and speed to the pictures.

02:10:01
02:12:53

02:08:13
02:09:59

!

!

Ask help from Eywa Jake talking in front of the tree of
soul. He is praying for help from
Eywa. Neytiri comes and tells Jake
that Eywa probably will not helps
him.
War [part 1] (in CD) Music comes in when it cuts to the
helicopter. Human team is departing
the base. Hundred of aircrafts is
heading to the war. They cross the
forest to reach the tree of soul. Then it
cuts to Navi’s team. They are flying
in the mountains, heading to the place
where they going to assault human
team. It cuts to human team again.
Ground team is landing. Hundreds of
solder get off the airplane. Then they
sneaking into the forest. The colonel
speaking in radio and tells the solder
preparing to drop the bomber. Music
ends when it cuts to the scene Navi’s
team saw human team.
Musically, I separate this cue into four parts. In
first part, marching snare, brass and powerful
choir play in fast tempo (about 127). Brass and
choir play alternatively and rhythmically. Strings
always following the choir or the snare. When it
goes to part two, music turns less rhythmically
and softer. Choir sings legatos in low dynamic
smoothly. Strings and brass play legato together.
And more major chord gives a brighter color to
the music. Then it changes back to the human
marching theme, which is part three. This part is
similar to the first part since they both presenting
the same thing, human marching army. Choir,
snare and staccato brass create a marching sense.
But what’s different in this part is that the chord
and color of this part are darker. Finally it goes to
the fourth part, which music goes down and
becomes quieter and lower. Percussion and
electronic loops, strings and brass’ soft legato
create a sneaking feeling.

In this cue, the music is soft and almost
unnoticeable. An electronic pad sustain in the
low section. Soft strings and low brass come in
later. Playing legato softly, give a feeling of
warmth.

45!

James Horner creates different themes for
human team and Navi’s team. The music is
more function physically in this cue. The
composer captures all the action of every scene
carefully and uses music to enhance them. At
the beginning, music is sounds like a March,
which is exactly what human team’s marching
action. They it cuts to Navi’s team, the
composer use legato strings and brass instead of
staccato choir make it sound more bright and fit
the action of their flying. Using string and
trumpet play the “become one of them” theme
melody. Then it cut back to human. Besides
army marching feeling, music adds more dark
emotion to commentary that those are the bad
guys, indicates they are going to destroy. Then
music turns low and quiet to fit the sneak
movement of the ground team.

This cue mainly function as creates the physical
environment for the scene. And add warmth to
the atmosphere. And also give some emotional
support to what Jake saying.

02:12:55
02:17:32

!

!

War [part 2] (in CD) Human air team fly in Navi’s sight.
Human ground team found movement
get closer and holding position.
Suddenly, it cuts to Navi’s riders
running towards Human. Jake’s team
calling another waiting team. After all
teams follows, they begin to fight. At
first, Navi’s team is very brave and
kills many. After few round, human
starts fight back. Navi’s ground team
can’t fight air raid, start to escape.
And Navi’s air force also suffering
heavy hurt. Unexpectedly, Dragon
found Jake and begins to attack him.
At this critical moment, Trudy
appears and comes to save Jack. After
several rounds fights between Trudy
and the colonel, she hit and finally
killed by the missile. Then it cuts to
Neytiri. She is escaping from a
helicopter’s attacking. While she
looking back, a robot shoot her from
the ground. She falls down and Seze
dead. Music fades out.
This cue begins with bowing mallets, which give
quiet but unstable sounds. Then when it cuts to
riders, full orchestra and choir suddenly start
playing rhythmically. Then music changes every
key hit point. [Please reference the number in
next column]. 1, music becomes tighter; All
instruments go together. Low strings play the
same rhythm with Percussion. Brass playing
counter melody with choir. 2, More rhythmical
percussions come in and sounds more speed.
Strings tremolo follows and adds more intensive
feeling. 3, Brass jump out and play powerful. 4,
Brass paly Navi’s team’s theme melody. 5, high
brass jump out and play fast notes, give tension
to music. Using “victor theme” melody. 7, Single
powerful 4th notes hit the points that Tsutey and
Neytiri shooting. Then strings play legato fit the
overview of the sky area. 10, choir comes in with
big power, play alternatively with brass. And
percussion hit 8th notes very hard. 11, music
transposes one step higher to give more strength.
13, Go back to tonal, stable and full orchestra
play unison. 14, strings leading the music,
playing “become one of them” theme melody
very slow. 15, brass jump out and play strong
staccatos, raising the tension. 16, brass and
strings play victor theme together. Music turns
bright. 17, music goes back last part. 18, choir
double with strings. 19, several same notes play
by strings and choir together to emphasis the hit.
20, Strings and brass play “become one of them”
theme melody very slow and hit the point when
she get shot, music change. 21&22, brass play
unchanged notes emphasize Neytiri’s movement.

46!

The first part of this cue is functions as “setting
up audience for a subsequent surprise. It’s like a
clam before the storm, makes the first attacking
feels more powerful. When it cuts to riders,
music suddenly changes big and fast. From
here, it becomes function as underlining action.
There are several very important hit point that
lead music to change. 1, [02:13:38] when it cuts
to Jake. 2, [02:13:48] when the east coast team
following. 3, [02:14:05] When it cuts to riders
again. 4, [02:41:42] When Jake diving. 5, When
Jake grab one helicopter. 6, When the aircraft
crashing. 7, then it hit the point when it cuts to
Tsutey and the point he shoot a solder in the
aircraft. 9,when Neytiri shoot a solder. 10,
[02:1501] when Dragon starts firing. “War cue”
starts 11, [02:15:18] when Jake thronging a
aircraft and when it crashing. 13, [02:15:30]
when it cuts to the scene that several Ikran
hunter flying toward the big plane. 14,
[02:15:40] When Jake’s friend fall from the
horse. 15, [02:16:07] when Jake saw Dragon.
16, [02:16:32] When Trudy appearing. And this
part of the music also function as ‘revealing
audience reaction.” Audience feel encouraged
when they see Trudy coming and saving Jake.
17,[02:16:41] when Dragon start firing. 18,
when Trudy starts firing. 18, When Dragon
shooting missiles 19, Trudy’s plane hit. 20,
[02:17:14] when it cuts to Neytiri escaping from
a attacking. 21, when Neytiri hit. 22, [02:17:32}
When she stop rolling. The music stop. All
these hit point are keys to lead music going.

!

Turning table (not in Music start when a lot of huge animal
CD)
running from the forest. They start to
kill enemies. Then Neytiri realized
that Eywa has heard Jake. It cuts to
the air battle scene. Thousands of
Ikrans are attacking enemies. Jake
encouraged by the picture and begins
to fight again. Then music goes to
next part.

02:20:52
02:22:24

02:19:14
02:20:35

War [part 3] (in CD) Many scenes of Navi’s team member
dying or hurting. Seze is dead. A
Edited from “The
firing horse running. Tsutey hit and
destruction of the
falling down from the air. Trudy hit
Hometree”
and dead…
Music ends when it cuts to Jake.
Losing the war
Jake calls team members but no one
responds. Human team is heading to
(Not in CD)
the tree of soul and ready to drop the
bomber. Neytiri is about to sacrifices
herself because there are too many
enemies very close to her. Music stop
when a human solder find a
movement on radar.

02:17:35
02:19:13

!

Musically, I separate this big part into two small
parts.
First part: Trumpets play a marching melody
first. Then horns start playing the victor theme
melody combine with some marching snare.
When it cuts to the scene that thousands of Ikrans
coming from the mountains. Choir and strings
play the melody changing the color, then brass go
on. String fast not and low brasses give support.
Hit the point when the big tiger appear, low brass
and low strings suddenly play diminished chord
just to changing the plot. Then strings play legato
resolve the melody to major, slow tempo,
touching moment.

First part: strings doubling on brass.
Second part: Low strings and brasses.
Third part: Strings, brass and percussion. When
Neytiri is about to shoot, strings rise and rise.
Finally stop at the peak when the solder see the
movements on radar.

Brasses play tragedy melody, high strings
moving in minor, raising and elevating. Women
vocal singing freely in minor. Bass drum do
single hit. And cymbal crescendo.

47!

Creates a positive mood. The positive theme
melody coming again. Indicates now the
situation is good. Good guys are turning the
table! When the big tiger appear, the music
dragging audience emotion, tension and
questioning. Then, the resolved chord creates a
touching feeling to the scene.

Functionally, I divide this cue into three parts.
The first part is revealing that Navi’s team is
losing the war, gives a bleak feeling to the
scene. When it cuts to human. The music
change dark and dangerous, that indicates
Navi’s situation is very dangerous. When
Neytiri talk to Jake, music changes again. It
functions as “underlining the expected reaction
of a audience”. It underlining the emotion line
of the situation.

This cue creates a sad and tragedy mood, and
tells audience that these scenes are negative.
Navi’s team is losing the war now. The same
music with the scene of destruction of
Hometree. So, it transfers the same emotion to
the scene.

!

After Quaritch talking, he break the
window of the launching room. Jake
trying to stop, but caught by him.
When the colonel about to kill him.
Neytiri shot Quaritch by arrow. Then
he is down, music out.

Death of Quaritch
(in CD)

02:28:38
00:30:36

02:27:29
02:28:35

02:25:51
02:27:05

02:24:42
02:25:42

Quaritch decides to drop the boom
now. Then they heading to the tree od
soul. Jake jump on the boom plane
and using grenades destroyed the
plane’s engine. Then the boom plane
fall and exploded. After that, Jake
heading to the leading ship and trying
to do the same thing. Colonel notices
his plan and wants to stop him. The
music changes to next cue when the
explodes in the engine.
Falling from the sky missile
Jake and colonel’s ship both falling
(not in CD)
from sky. The drop on big leaves and
back to ground safely. The ship
destroyed but Quaritch clamed into a
big machine and jumped out before
the ship destroyed. He survived also.
Then music fades out.
Neytiri fighting with Music start with Neytiri riding fast.
Quaritch
Quaritch is going to destroy Jake’s
lab. At that moment, Neytiri appears
and stopped him. During the fight, her
tiger killed by Quaritch. Music
stopped.
Jake fighting with
Music start when they start fighting,
Quaritch
ends when Quaritch through his
protective shell.

Stop them drop the
boom (not in CD)

02:22:25
02:24:42

!

Music beginning with strings. Then after
Quaritch said “time to wake up” music change
back to fighting cue. Instrumentation is similar to
last cue. Brass play in fullground, strings and
percussion supporting as background. When
Neytiri shooting, Instrumentation change to
string and choir play legato. It change to next cue
when Quaritch down.

The instrumentation and orchestration are almost
the same with last cue. Instruments reduce and
tempo slow down while the machine leaking air
and stop working.

Percussion come in when it cuts to Neytiri. Then
brass play tritone, string playing background.

Strings fast short run, low brass ensemble, snare
building the main body. Some parts strings and
brass crescendo effect also very effective.

Low brass play legato when the colonel talking.
Jake fly in to view, the “war cue” starts. Brass
play main melody, choir strings supporting. Then
the music repeating. James Horner also adds
some hit point musically.

48!

First part music play soft and give a sad mood
to what Quaritch saying. Then it starts function
as underlining action again. Brass slowing down
to hit the movement of Quaritch.

Underline action with a lot of hit points.

Underline action with a lot of hit points.

This cue function as underline actions. Strings
running and brass long notes emphasized the
falling feeling. Snare and trumpet and tension to
the picture.

When colonel talking, music giving the dark
and scary meaning to the remark. Then Jake
coming, music hit this point and give a strong
characteristic to Jake. After that, music function
as underline score, underlining the action and
adding tension to the scene.

Jake’s changing body ceremony.
Navi’s people are praying and
singing. Suddenly they stop; Neytiri
kissed Jake’s human body’s eyes.
Then he wakes up in another body.
Cuts to credits.

Credits

Credits

Jake’s ceremony
(not the CD)

I See You (in the
CD)

First Flight (in the
CD)

02:33:47
02:35:23

02:35:23
02:38:11

02:38:11
End

!

Neytiri can’t wake up Jake’s Avatar
body. She knows something, then
running to the launching room. At this
time, Jake already stopped breathing.
She jump into the room and put the
oxygen mask on his face. He starts
breathing and coming back to life
again.
It cuts to human beings leaving
Pandora. Then Jake doing his last
video in the lab.

The ending (not in
CD)

02:30:37
00:33:36

!

Soundtrack

Soundtrack

Rhythmic percussion and brass as background.
Choirs sing the melody at fullground. Then oboe
solo plays the theme melody. Strings and brass
crescendo, percussion comes in again.
Connecting to the theme song “I See You”
(edited from Jake’s first flight)

Cello and bass first come in. then high strings
play the melody. (he use this a lot) Then, when
Jake stop breathing, music turn to a tragedy cue.
Brass plays the tragedy theme melody, woman
vocal singing in the fullground. Then strings and
woodwinds play the theme melody (variation)
very soft, give touching ground music. Then
timpani and cymbal roll lead music to a familiar
melody (appear before when the same picture
shows, the big dragon flying towards the sun).
This melody played by horn and strings. Then
music color changes again when it cuts to Jake
setting in the lab. Violin solo play the melody,
strings play background.

Credits

Credits

First part of the cue is source music. The
praying song. Then the music underlines the
audience reaction.

49!

Music starts sad and a little bit tension, because
Jake is dying. Then music become a tragedy
cue, cheating audience Jake is dead. Then it
becomes a romantic cue when Jake comes back
to life.
When it cuts to next scene, music gives a ending
feeling. Round up the film.
Then it cuts to the lab, music changing color,
but still gives a ending feeling.