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lovewillthaw-j · 4 years

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Frozen 2 Musical themes

Hey everyone! This mega post is my labour of love and tribute to the songs and score of Frozen 2, my #1 favourite soundtrack now. I wish to show all the musical themes and how they interweave in the score, following the plot and adding a rich layer to the story. This is all my original work from months of listening, I have not watched the special feature "Scoring a Sequel" or read any F2 piano books. I have given my own names to the themes. The themes may be heard in different keys and variations in different parts of the score; I won't be transcribing all the different keys and variations, sorry.

SONG THEMES

1. Vuelie (nanana heyanna)

This choral piece is heard in the beginning of both F1 and F2, as well as during The Great Thaw of F1, the Enchanted forest (where Vuelie is revealed to be a Northuldran chant/folksong) and of course, in the magnificent ending of F2.

2. All Is Found (lullaby) A very central song to the whole movie, the sung version makes 3 4 reprises - Anna sings it to Elsa in the bedroom; Elsa and Honeymaren sing it in the forest; in Ahtohallan we hear “Where the north wind, meets the sea” and the image of Iduna sings “come my darling homeward bound” in Show Yourself; lastly, Iduna can be heard singing the warning "but not too far or you'll be drowned" just before Elsa plunges off the cliff. The instrumental theme is very moving and is heard whenever Iduna is referenced in the following scenes: A) Enchanted forest when Elsa takes out the scarf "I know what you need", Northuldrans reveal that the scarf is Northuldran and EA recognise the frozen statue of young Iduna; B) the ship scene when EA find the map and Anna says "this is mother's handwriting" and Elsa makes the ice statues of Agduna at their death appear and cries from the pain of believing she cursed them; C) lastly, when Elsa screams "No!" and freezes to death in Ahtohallan, ending on a very grave note.

3. Some Things Never Change

The musical theme of the verse and chorus are used repeatedly in the epilogue scene (from Queen Anna's appearance in Arendelle, all the way till Elsa reads the letter in Ahtohallan) and shows that while many things have changed at the end of the adventure, some things Never change. I have written a full post on the Epilogue here.

4. Into The Unknown The musical theme of the first 2 lines of the chorus plays when the main characters first set off from Arendelle in the wagon (in an "active"-sounding variation), signifying that they are literally going into the Unknown. It recurs seconds later (in a sweet variation played by the flute), when they pass through a valley and EAK unanimously tell Olaf that sleeping on long journeys prevents insanity! (both not in the CD)

5. When I Am Older A short segment of Olaf's musical theme is played in a cutesy way when Olaf appears and says "I got this". This is in the Enchanted forest, just after Elsa freezes the floor to repel the Northuldrans and the Arendellian soldiers, and just before his dramatic recap of F1. (not in the CD)

6. The Next Right Thing

The musical theme is heard twice before the actual song, as a foreshadowing. You hear it when A) Anna is talking to Mattias in the forest and they talk about doing the next right thing. B) the cave scene after Anna and Olaf see the frozen statue of Runeard murdering the leader and Anna realises what she must do to free the forest.

SCORE THEMES

7. Elsa's theme

In the transcription, the red section is the most recognisable part of the tune, though the theme is actually much longer. This is Elsa's theme, especially when she is doing something strenuous or heroic. This theme is first heard when A) Elsa fights Gale in the tornado, and the ice memories start appearing. We hear it in full when B) Elsa is talking to Honeymaren, but in a very sweet, soft variation that is primarily played by the harp. C) During Elsa's fight with Nokk in the Dark sea and this piece of music is genius. The Water theme and Elsa's theme clash with each other, fighting as the characters fight. Each theme is heard when the respective characters seem to be getting an upper hand and sometimes the themes combine - you can hear the triplet rhythm of the Water theme beneath Elsa's theme; until Elsa comes out on top and her theme soars majestically, with no further hint of the Water theme. The theme calms down as the waters calm down. D) When Anna speaks to Mattias at the dam and says "my sister gave her life for the truth" which is a VERY nice reference. E) Lastly, in its most heroic form when Elsa rides down the tidal wave, outruns it and saves Arendelle with her massive ice shield.

8. Sisters theme

I contemplated naming this theme Anna's love theme. This is the most beautiful theme in the entire score (Peace theme is a close second) It comprises a moving melody, coupled with a delicate moving chord sequence that is usually introduced by the harp. It is heard 4 times, always when Elsa and Anna are alone and talking to each other heart to heart. A) in the bedroom: "What things? You're doing great!... What would I do without you?"; B) after the Earth Giant appeared and walked off and Anna stops Elsa from following it: "remember, the goal is to find the voice" - only the melody part is heard; C) the exceptionally moving scene outside the ship when Anna lovingly comforts a tearful Elsa: "You are a gift!... I believe in you Elsa, more than anyone or anything"; and finally, D) in the emotional reunion scene when Anna looks in the distance, realises Elsa is alive and the sisters reunite with Anna running to Elsa and crying happy tears.

9. Magic theme

I wanted to call this one Sorcery theme but it sounds too negative. This theme is actually from F1! It is just 5 iconic notes. In F1 it is heard when young EA play with snow; when the royal family sets off to find the trolls; when Agduna's ship sinks; and when Queen Elsa accidentally reveals her powers and Weaseltown exclaims "Sorcery!". In F2: A) When Elsa fights Gale (Wind), before Elsa's theme; B) When Elsa fights Bruni (Fire and Ice), played by violins at a high pitch; C) When Anna and Olaf find themselves "In a pit with no way out"; and D) When the dam starts to collapse and the unity snowflake appears in the sky, signifying Elsa's resurrection.

10. Peace theme

The Peace theme is actually related to the Magic theme. Just change the fourth note of the Magic theme by flattening it by one semitone and a mysterious, ominous theme transforms into a sweet one! Genius. This theme is heard A) softly when young EA are playing with snow in F2's first scene, just after "bedtime soon!" (not in CD); B) in the Northuldran village after the tribe sings Vuelie, when everyone is at peace. The theme is beautiful here, with a piano playing a melody over a harp background. We also hear it twice more in relation to Olaf - C) sadly, as Olaf flurries away in a devastated Anna's embrace. He is, metaphorically speaking, "at peace". The theme then blends into the "sweet Gale theme" as Gale gathers Olaf's remains. D) Happily, when Olaf is resurrected by Elsa! This is prefaced by "sweet Gale theme 2" when Elsa asks Anna "Do you want to build a snowman?"

11. Northuldra theme

This mysterious and slightly creepy theme is actually very long, but the iconic part is marked in red. An important theme, it is played by the Gemshorn for its haunting sound. This theme is heard whenever the Northuldra are referenced (except for one instance) The full theme is heard A) when Agnarr tells the story of the Northuldra and the war. B) After the exodus, when Anna is talking to Elsa and says "Wait, the Enchanted Forest? The one father warned us about?" (not in CD). C) When the main characters stand in front of the mist, which makes sense since they are about to enter Northuldra territory. D) Very briefly, when we hear shuffling in the forest, Anna grabs the Sword and the Northuldra reveal themselves. E) When the sisters look at their parents' ship in horror, and inside the ship until it blends into All Is Found theme. I cannot explain why the theme is used here (there's nothing to do with the Northuldra), except that it's a sufficiently creepy and sad theme to match the scene. F) At the dam, when the earth giants throw their boulders. I interpret that as the Northuldrans are being freed from the curse. The theme blends into Magic theme when Elsa resurrects, recurs as the waters rush down the fjord, and blends into Elsa's heroic theme.

12. Gale's theme

This is the “main” Gale's theme that is heard in full in the forest scene when Gale is playing with the main characters (after the tornado). In essence it is just 3 notes and is heard every time Gale appears. In the main theme, the first note is an augmented fifth (eg, C-Aflat) which is slightly mysterious and instantly recognisable.

There are a couple of variations on the main theme. Christophe Beck shows his genius here. He uses the same three notes for "angry" Gale, when Elsa fights Gale, but, he changes the base note and the augmented fifth is not heard. (so the first note is G, in G minor). There is a lot of additional fast-paced orchestration that amps up the "angry" feeling, but the main 3 notes are still there. The other variation is the "sweet" Gale's theme. In this variation, the third note of the theme is flattened by one semitone. Genius. We first hear it when Olaf dies and Gale gathers his remains. We also hear it (sweet 2) when Elsa asks Anna DYWTBAS, and lastly in the epilogue (sweet 2) when Gale comes to appreciate the statue of Agduna. The difference between "sweet" and "sweet 2" is simply that the base chord is different.

13. Bruni's theme

Bruni's theme is a melody that jumps up from the first 2 notes, to a note that is held and then repeats itself before coming down. This theme is all over the Elsa-Bruni fight, accompanied by a lot of rapid orchestration to make it sound intense. At the end of the fight, when Bruni is calm, we hear a "calm" version of the theme played gently. The musical difference is that the jump is a major 6th in the "angry" theme, and a minor 6th in the "calm" theme. We also hear Bruni's theme immediately after the main characters have passed through the mist into the forest - there's a short segment where Bruni is checking them out with his "Bruni-vision". Lastly we also hear it when Olaf interacts with Bruni "this is why we don't play with fire... Why are you so cute!" (The latter is not on the CD)

14. Earth Giants theme

This is a series of block chords, that starts high pitched and then cascades down rapidly. The last chord is very low, an octave lower. The Gemshorn Fujara is part of the Earth giants' characteristic theme. It is blown hard (overblown) during the first chord, making this VERY haunting, mystical sound. A) When Elsa parts the mist and they look at the stone pillars of the elements. B) When the main characters are blown through the mist (interesting that it's not Gale's theme); C) When a giant walks near the Northuldran village and almost sees Elsa; D) when Anna and Olaf encounter the sleeping giants on the river in their ice boat and E) when Anna screams at them to wake up to help her break the dam.

15. Water theme

I did not call this Nokk's theme because Nokk does not appear in the ice boat river scene. This theme is very rapid in that scene; it is played slower in the Dark Sea during Elsa's fight with Nokk.

Minor themes

16. Ahtohallan theme

This theme plays when Elsa is seeing all the ice memories in amazement. It is combined with Elsa's theme and is initially joyous and lighthearted. However, as the scene progresses and Runeard's evil nature is gradually revealed, the music darkens and becomes more ominous. At the cliff, after Iduna's warning is heard, the second, spookier, version of the theme is heard.

17. Gone Too Far theme

A really creepy theme that gives me goose bumps. It is heard when Anna and Olaf receive Elsa's icy message about the truth behind Runeard's dam. It is followed by The Next Right Thing theme; it then recurs as Olaf starts to flurry away and Anna slowly realises in horror that something has gone terribly wrong.

18. Anna running theme

Sounds similar to Water theme but is different. Heard when Anna runs from the Earth giants in the forest, and when she runs on the top of the dam. Lastly here is a master list of the score, track by track starting from #4 Exodus, of all the musical references in chronological order. 4. Exodus - “main” Gale's theme 5. The Mist - Northuldra, Earth Giant, Bruni, Northuldra 6. Wind - "angry" Gale, Magic, Elsa's theme, main Gale's theme, Northuldra (short) 8. Fire and Ice - "angry" Bruni, Magic, "calm" Bruni 7. Iduna's scarf - All is found, Gale's theme, Vuelie, Peace theme, The Next Right Thing, Elsa's theme 9. Earth Giants - Earth Giants, Sisters theme (short) 10. The Ship - Gale's theme (short), Northuldra, All is found, Sisters 11. River Slide - Water, Earth Giants, Water, Magic 12. Dark Sea - Water, Elsa's theme 13. Ghosts of Arendelle Past - Ahtohallan theme, Elsa's theme, All is found (short) 14. Gone Too Far - Gone too far theme, TNRT, Gone too far theme, Peace theme, "sweet" Gale's theme 15. Rude Awakening - Anna running theme, Earth Giants 16. The Flood - Elsa's theme, Anna running theme, Northuldra, Magic, Northuldra, Elsa's theme (heroic) 18. Reunion - Sisters, "sweet" Gale's theme 2, Peace theme 19. Epilogue - Some Things Never Change, "sweet" Gale's theme 2, Vuelie

#frozen 2 #frozen 2 score #christophe beck #frozen analysis #frozensnetwork #frozensource #disneyfeverdaily #disney frozen 2 #disney

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