The dark music to Helmstone Productions’ film Martyr was scored for The Urban Big Band (leader David Wood), with extra percussion, two Ondes Martenots, Hammond M-101 organ, Solina String Ensemble and additional electronics. It was mixed at La.M.P. Studio EN5, London, March-April, 2006.
The film uses two themes and one special harmonic resource. The first: ‘John’s Theme’ can be heard in the Main Title music. The second: 'Commun d’un Martyr' comes from a French, 1896 edition of the medieval Chants Ordinaires plainchants from the Latin Mass. Other musical material is based on a 'spectral analysis' of a wolf howl. A recording of a wolf’s howl was broken down into 77 ‘steps’ and each step analysed with a computer to turn it into a musical chord. These chords were used in the scenes featuring Satan. The music cue ‘Death of Sarah’ is entirely based on this spectral analysis.
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