Rise of the Guardians OST

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Rise of the Guardians is my favourite animated film and contains my favourite soundtracks. It is the one film that got me into music used in media, and since then, it had became one of my biggest passions. My favourite soundtrack is "Jamie Believes", the piece that plays during the scene where Jack Frost is finally seen by Jamie after 300 years of being a lonely spirit. It is not my favourite simply because it is played in my favourite scene, but also because of how the piece still made me feel extremely emotional even when I listen to it after watching the film.

"Jamie Believes" is used in the theme where Jamie, the last believer of the Guardians starts to lose faith in the Guardians. What I love the most about this piece is how the atmosphere changes a lot, yet very subtly. It begins with the piano playing a melody in Minor, very soft and quiet. The melody gradually changes to Major, and extends into the "Still Dream" theme when Jack Frost made Jamie believe in the Guardians again. My favourite part of the piece has to be when the piano plays high notes echoing the melody, and the harp joining in by playing broken chords, giving a magical touch and a hopeful feeling. In the end, the strings plays trills while celesta plays high semi tones descending, suggesting change and creating a humorous atmosphere when Jamie was asked by his mum who he was talking to when he should be alone in his room, sleeping.

The "Still Dream" theme used in this soundtrack is very significant because Jamie was Jack's first believer in 300 years. Jack was never seen by any human and had only felt loneliness for his past life (and I say never been seen because humans need to believe in the Guardians to see them). "Still Dream" theme was used many times in other soundtracks, around 12 times. But this time was the first time it is used when Jack was being alone with someone else. It suggests his joy and happiness.

(screenshot taken from Rise of the Guardians, 2012, directed by Peter Ramsey, produced by Dreamworks animation)

Jamie Believes

0:00-0:32 Piano << plays simple notes in minor

0:34 strings – violin(2 or above) , cello on the bass

0:38 violin 2  << plays higher melody

0:49 low note - bassoon

0:51 strings & piano << Still Dream theme starts, major

1:15 flute - melody << gives warm touch

violins  - short staccato notes as harmony,

plucking, low notes, staccato,

piano echoing - high notes << gives magical touch

1:38 String + harp(background with broken chords) << Harp joining in gives more magical touch

1:59 Piano & double bass unison << melody stands out

2:20 flute (playing descending notes)  << gives a lot magical touch

2:40 strings playing trills, celesta playing high semi tones descending << suggests change, creating humorous effect

What is your favourite soundtrack of the film? What do you think about the soundtrack for Rise of the Guardians? I think the film itself and its OST deserves way more attention than it did. 

For my next post, I will be introducing soundtracks from Evangelion. See you soon!

By Janice