Dark Scores

[willmusser]

I'm doing a score for a film/documentary that will require an overall 'dark' score.

Just wanted to see if anyone had some good references of dark, not scary/horror, but dark scores.

I've been listening some to Man on Fire, it has a dark ambience.

Will Musser

[SOJO7]

I think some of the tracks in Crimson Tide has a dark feel to them.

[gravehill]

Check out the "Hellraiser II" soundtrack by Christopher Young. Next stop "Alien 3" by Elliot Goldenthal!

[Maverick]

The Godfather score by Nino Rota, the original, not the 2nd or 3rd. In my opinion, it's the darkest score ever created. 'The Halls of Fear' is the darkest piece of music I've heard. Bernard Herrmann's score for Vertigo and Psycho is probably some of the darkest music ever created aswell, check out 'The City' on his score for Psycho, it's amazing and 'Scene D'Amour' from Vertigo. The thing about these pieces is that they're really subtle and not over the top and in your face. I think to create truly dark music, whatever you create must be simplistic and real subtle.

[Maverick]

Oh and another really good dark score is Michael Andrews Donnie Darko score. A lot of dark noise and eerie sounds, mixed in with muted piano pieces. It's a great score.

[willmusser]

Thanks for the replies.

Very true, I want to go for more of simplistic sound. I will be mixing Orchestra with electronic, if that helps. Maybe even some industrial/abstract on a few tracks.

Will Musser

[DaveWalton]

Batman Begins (Zimmer/Howard) has some really cool, dark stuff

[willmusser]

Dave,

True, I have that score, it does have some very dark stuff.

[josejherring]

Batman Begins. Also, Deloris Claybourne( spelling is off I'm sure) and Veronica Guerin.

[Michael W]

Try Craig Armstrong Kiss Of The Dragon/Bone Collector/The Clearing (electronic/dark)
or Bruno Coulais with Vidocq

[Eeriedreamz]

Mark Snow's "MillenniuM" score has just about all the "Dark" score you'll ever need ;) A lot of his work has that element in it. The X-Files TV score is a good choice as well. He also scored "Disturbing Behavior" that has even more.

Others of Note:
Alien 3
Puppetmaster 1&2
Hannibal (very Dark in places)
Silence of the Lambs
The Crow
The Omen


Hope this helps you out
Mick

[Lee Ophelius]

you could also try some music from the band elend, especially albums like winds devouring men, and The umbersun. Very Very dark. IMO though dark music does not have to be simplistic, i have heard many intricate pieces of dark music that have sometimes sounded darker because of the complexity, however it all depends on the pictures you working with.
Goodluck with it.

[Raul_]

V for Vendetta. Very dark. And so good !

[Oneilio]

I second the notion about the Donnie Darko score.

The score for V for Vendetta was great as well, though not so much dark as bombastic (heh, the last scene is great).

[tchoyy]

I don't know if someone told it, but the score from Bram Stoker's Dracula (Wojciech Kilar) is definitely Dark. Check it, It is worth listening to it.

[EverybodyelsE]

My advice would be to listen to any Danny Elfman's scores for Tim Burton's films especially Sleepy Hollow, which is very dark in tone. Trust me ;)

[Lee Ophelius]

i agree with the dracula score, one of the darkest ever easily. also my favorite score off all time. Very lyrical and well conceved. AWSOME:)

[Beermaster]

Jerry Goldsmiths score 'Black Mass' for Damien: Omen 2 - SO Scarey

Beer

[spinkitten]

Aliens - James Horner
While it's more action/military styled than the others, it really builds the tension with ominous crescendo's and the build-release style of the chord progressions.

Battlestar Galactica - Bear McCreary
First time I've heard of the guy, but I like what I hear - ambient synths, ethnic instrumentation and boomy percussion.

Conan the Barbarian - Basil Poledouris
One of my most favourite soundtracks - anvils, choirs, more anvils.

Hulk - Danny Elfman
The film is a bit of a let-down towards the end, but I really like the score - and some of his synth ideas get refined for Spiderman.

Revenge of the Sith - John Williams
The choral work on this album is amazing.

[exstreme]

what about The punisher(2005) score!!:)

SVK