Avatar

Avatar is the newest "big" movie in quite some time. So much so that there are self-help forums for the people who can't live without the thought of not being on Pandora. Part of what made the movie so interesting was the unique soundtrack that was used throughout the movie. Composed by Wanda Bryant it was designed from the ground up to be a unique existance. As if the music was actually from another world (stressed greatly in the interview: http://www.music.ucla.edu/blog/2010/02/02/avatar_ethnomusicology/ ). Within the music of the movie there are several distinct sets of sounds for each of the groups. In this case, I am comparing the sound differences between the formal film score (as given by the main theme), and the Na'vi (as given by "Jake's First Flight").






Though they are very similar in musical composition, they are very distinguishable in style from one another (and not just because one features singing and one does not). In the Na'vi theme, the use of membraneophone and aerophone is extremely prominent, while the main theme focuses mainly on chordophones (and electrophones... though those are also made to sound like chordophones some of the time). In a similar sense, the main theme is also very "pop"-centric, like many western influenced songs are, while the Na'vi theme tries to shy away from electronic sounds (though a keyboard is most likely used). In both cases, however, the melody is very easily distinguishable (nor particularly complex), and stays heterophonic throughout the song.