Musician Harry Gregson-Williams, known for his work on Gladiator II, discusses the somewhat impolite sound that found its way into the film's score.
In the picturesque landscapes of northern Spain, composer Harry Gregson-Williams embarked on a new journey, collaborating with instrument maker Abraham Cupeiro to create the soundtrack for Gladiator II. The unique instruments, including ancient horns and a Carnyx, were used to record the score, resulting in a mix of Celtic brass war horns, electric cellos, and Lisa Gerrard's voice.
Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott, stars Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington. The official soundtrack, now available on Decca Records, features a warm and fuzzy moment or two, as well as a piece called "Strength and Honor" containing the descending set that Gregson-Williams was drawn to in Hans Zimmer's original soundtrack for Gladiator.
Gregson-Williams, who previously worked as an assistant for Zimmer, was initially nervous about working on the sequel. However, he was inspired by the 'descending seventh' figure heard throughout Zimmer's original soundtrack, including in 'Now We Are Free'. This figure became the inspiration for a new theme for the character Lucius in Gladiator II.
Gregson-Williams approached the project with a balance of homage and innovation. While weaving in subtle references to Zimmer’s themes at key points, he primarily focused on crafting his own unique musical language for Gladiator II. This strategy allowed the score to feel fresh and distinctive yet still emotionally connected to the original movie’s soundscape.
Hans Zimmer encouraged Gregson-Williams to make him proud with the score. The collaboration between Gregson-Williams and Scott marks their seventh project together, following their successful partnership in films like The Martian and Blade Runner 2049.
[1] This information is derived from an interview with Harry Gregson-Williams. [3] Gregson-Williams and Zimmer's first collaboration was on the 1998 film Enemy of the State.
[1] Harry Gregson-Williams, the composer of Gladiator II's soundtrack, shares that he was influenced by the unique blend of music elements in movies-and-tv, such as the 'descending seventh' figure from Hans Zimmer's original Gladiator score.
[3] In his early career, Gregson-Williams collaborated with Zimmer on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Enemy of the State, marking a significant moment in his growth as a film composer, which expanded his repertoire to include entertainment genres like movies-and-tv and music.
