Why am I a Composer?: Why do movies like Prometheus license classical pieces?


AFX Industrial (film scores)

Why do movies like Prometheus license classical pieces?

If you have seen Prometheus you may have noticed that Chopin's Prelude Op. 28 No. 15 was used during the introductory scene for the slightly sinister droid David, in a similar manner Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik was used in the first Alien film. However, the one that really started the trend was Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra which famously opens Kubrick's 2001 ... but why?

Ridley Scott is considered to be among the greatest, he's up there with Kubrick yet both of these directors at key points, even pivotal moments chose to use famous classical works in their movies.

If we break it down even further we can see that the directors who license classical music appear to be more successful than the ones who don't. And to answer my initial question ... but why? Well it's simple, to be even more successful! To have a wider appeal and also to create that always important connection with the audience.

But classical works are perceived as high brow aren't they?

True, for many outside of the genre, classical works are often perceived as inaccessible especially with their strange numbers like: 'Op. 28 No. 15'. But film also has its share of strange numbers like: 'h.264 1080p & 24fps'.

Luckily, for film makers the perception that classical music is 'high brow' works to your advantage as you can enhance your film and unsettle the audience in ways that cannot be described. Added to that, great classical works will never tie your film to a particular moment in musical history (think 80s snare drum here) giving your film a timeless quality. Are you brave enough to use a classical work? It's a sure sign of a mature film maker and your peers will sit there in awe wondering how you came up with such a great idea!

- David.