Ashley Richards Music 1010 Semester Presentation Clint Mansell

Ashley Richards Music 1010 Semester Presentation

Clint Mansell

Beginnings �Born January 7, 1963 in Coventry, England �Music was a strong presence throughout childhood �Formed the band “From Eden” in 1981

Early Career �Formed the band Pop Will Eat Itself in 1986 � PWEI signed with RCA in 1987 �British Top Hits “There’s No Love Between Us Anymore” and “Can U Dig It? ”

Pop Will Eat Itself �Dropped by RCA in 1993 �Signed with Trent Reznor’s label Nothing Records in 1994 �PWEI disbanded in 1996

Film Composing

Compositions

Awards and Nominations �Won the OFCSA in 2001 for the score from Requiem for a Dream �Won the OFCSA in 2007 for the score from The Fountain � 2007 Golden Globes Best Original Score for The Fountain � 2010 Nominated for a Grammy Best Original Score for Black Swan

Collaborations �Darren Aronofsky �Kronos Quartet �Trent Reznor �Peter Broderick

Composition History �Lux Aeterna * 2000 �A Swan Song (for Nina) * 2010

LUX AETERNA �Theme song to Aronofsky’s film Requiem for a Dream �Performed by the Kronos Quartet �Released October 2000 �Widely used throughout media

LUX AETERNA Listening Guide Composed by Clint Mansell Performed by the Kronos Quartet Movement 1 � Introduction- Bass Strings slowly plucking the set the tempo. A staccato is used on every fourth beat. Violins play notes in B flat major over the plucking of bass strings. The dynamics slowly build. � Theme 1 is introduced by the cello and the bass. Every fourth beat has a staccato. The dynamics have moderately grown as tension is created with the polyphony of sound. A snare drum also plays the beat to keep driving the tempo. The melody is dominant. The melody peaks and then diminishes. The snare drum continues to beat, keeping the tempo.

LUX AETERNA Listening Guide Composed by Clint Mansell Performed by the Kronos Quartet Movement 2 � Theme 2 is introduced by the Kronos Quartet. Much like the first theme it is B flat major. The tempo is moderately faster as the dynamics slowly build and add tension. The texture and timbre is rich and powerful. � An ensemble of vocals combine with the established melody to create even more depth and tension, as the dynamics are increasing. Cymbals along with violins create a bold texture and accent peaks of each phrase. � Vocals diminishes and a synthesizer’s chords take over melody. The dynamics decrescendo briefly, then crescendo. The variation in dynamics add a roughness to the texture. � Music from a cello and viola become dominant as they introduce Theme 1 that is played by violins. The snare drum and the cymbals combine and crescendo, driving the dynamics to forte. Each fourth beat of the snare is accented by a staccato, as it drives the tempo to a faster pace. This creates a rawness, as tension builds, and then the music

LUX AETERNA Listening Guide Composed by Clint Mansell Performed by the Kronos Quartet Movement 3 � The quartet softly plays melody in the background, as the tempo remains moderately fast and the dynamics slowly crescendo and build up to mezzo forte, Theme 3 is introduced as the percussion becomes dominant over the choir vocals, the vocals slowly crescendo and harmonize with the violin theme. � The melody by the quartet becomes dominant again, as the dynamics and tension increase. The cello and viola become prominent, creating a counterpoint from the violins. Each fourth not is accented with a staccato, bringing a rough texture and transitioning the piece to the conclusion. � Percussion becomes a dominant force driving the tempo increasing the growing tension. The choir vocals combined with the quartet and synthesizer create such a powerful and moving sound. The tension and texture that has been created has reached its climax and the music stops with a snap, like the tension was released. � The synthesizer closes this piece with a few eerie, sad, descending notes.

A Swan Song (for Nina) Composed by Clint Mansell �From the Original Motion Soundtrack Black Swan �Released November 2010

A Swan Song (for Nina) Composed by Clint Mansell Movement 1 �Introduction- It is silent and then a distant rumbling begins. Bass lines begin to almost pulse, creating a darkness. Violin strings are introduced into the pulsing. �Theme 1 is introduced as a beautiful melody is played by the piano in D major. The dynamics begin to slowly crescendo as the melody, smoothly glides along. To create depth, a synthesizer creates a rumbling sound, similar in the introduction that turns to a howl that makes the texture abrasive and agitated.

A Swan Song (for Nina) Composed by Clint Mansell Movement 2 �Theme 2 is introduced by a beautiful, yet dark Tchaikovsky -like waltz. The tempo is at a moderate pace, as the dynamics slowly crescendo. The Melody is dominant as the dark howling sounds are in the distant background. The dynamics continue to climb as tension and suspense grow. The music from the piano begins to descend down octaves as the dynamics crash and the synthesizer creates a glass shattering noise. �The sound of wings flapping become a focal point to this composition. The underlying darkness is present A simple high pitch melody is played by the piano, creating a softness to the abrasive texture that has been established.

A Swan Song (for Nina) Composed by Clint Mansell Movement 3 � Theme 1 is reintroduced. The melody is the same. However the 1 underlying presence is more prominent as the synthesizer theme becomes dominant. The tension is very strong throughout this movement. � The sound from the synthesizer has taken over the melody. 2 notes and a minor third are used to create phrases. The dynamics are forte and powerful. The texture is very agitated and rough. � The dynamics of the synthesizer decrescendo to a moderate dynamic. There isn’t a definite melody through this section. � A cello solo transitions this piece to its conclusion. The cello plays a few chords that have a desperate and sad tone. The music then screeches and becomes silent.

BIBLIOGRAPHY � All. Music. N. p. , n. d. Web. 2 Oct. 2013. � Clint Mansell. " Absolute Astronomy, n. d. Web. 2 Oct. 2013. � Clint Mansell Black Swan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). " Discogs. All Music, n. d. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. � Clint Mansell Biography. " - Rotten Tomatoes. N. p. , n. d. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. � Green, Aaron. "Clint Mansell, Film Composer. " About. com Classical Music. N. p. , n. d. Web. 2 Oct. 2013. � Clint Mansell Featuring Kronos Quartet Requiem For A Dream. " Discogs. All Music, n. d. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. � Two and a Half Questions with Clint Mansell | Headphone Commute. " Headphone Commute. N. p. , 14 Dec. 2009. Web. 2 Oct. 2013.

BIBLIOGRAPHY �http: //www. absoluteastronomy. com/topics/Clint_Ma nsell �http: //www. allmusic. com/performance/black-swanfilm-score-mq 0001813045 �http: //www. rottentomatoes. com/celebrity/clint_mans ell/biography. php �http: //reviews. headphonecommute. com/2009/12/14/t wo-and-a-half-questions-with-clint-mansell/

BIBLIOGRAPHY �http: //classicalmusic. about. com/od/classicalcompose rs/p/clintmansell. htm �http: //www. discogs. com/Clint-Mansell-Black-Swan. Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack/release/2815384 �http: //www. discogs. com/Clint-Mansell-Featuring. Kronos-Quartet-Requiem-For-ADream/release/941801