Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication

Music Assignment 2By

Shashwata Datta

078

MMC(AV)-2011

Submitted to

Mr. Vinod Shridhar

Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication

Source/Film

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

Clip

01:13:57 – 01:16:10

Clip Brief

Concluding scene, When Spirit and Rain journey from the Lakota village back to the Cimarron herd.

About the film

The film is an animation film using a blend of classical 2D and 3D animation. It follows the adventures of a young mustang stallion living in the 19th century Wild West. The mustang stallion Spirit grows up to proudly succeed his father as leader of the Cimarron herd in the unspoiled Wild West. When 'civilization' reaches Dakota Territory, naive curiosity gets him caught by cowboys and sold to the US Cavalry. Its method of training by breaking a horse fails utterly on him. Just when the colonel intends to shoot Spirit, the equally indomitable captured young Lakota brave, Little Creek, escapes on his back. He also tricks him to a coral with his beloved mare, but shows respect and wins some trust. As the railroad arrives, the Indian village is wrecked and Spirit gets captured for use as a draft-horse. When the stallion realizes this project threatens his whole world, he escapes and unleashes the fury of a force of nature, ultimately teaming up with Little Creek.

In contrast to the way animals are portrayed in an anthropomorphic style in other animated features, Spirit and his fellow horses communicate with each other through sounds and facial expressions. Spirit's thoughts are narrated by his voice actor Matt Damon. Thus music had to play a major role here due to lack of dialogues and limited expressions.

About the film’s music

A major part of the tone of the film is set by its musical scores and songs. The music for this film has been given by the legendary Hans Zimmer and the songs sung and written by Bryan Adams. Many of the songs and arrangements are set in the American West, with themes based on love,

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landscapes, brotherhood, struggles, and journeys. So all the music have an epic grand scale of orchestra music accompanied by the raspy voice of Bryan Adams bringing out the emotions Spirit is feeling all throughout the film.

About the Clip

The clip is a concluding montage of the film. Spirit has just returned from his adventures with Little Creek and has just won a great

victory against the American Army by escaping them. They return to Little Creek’s Lakota village. Where he had met Rain (Little Creek’s mare), his true love for the first time. Due to some incidents earlier in the film, Spirit had assumed her

dead. But after coming to the village it is revealed to him that she is still alive. Thus, now greatly elated after a great victory and reunited with his true love, Spirit and Rain bid farewell to Little Creek and set out for Spirit’s Cimarron herd in the Wild West. They journey together for days relentlessly, crossing various terrains. When they finally reach their destination, they are greeted by the bald eagle, who is an old friend and a companion of Spirit’s. Spirit is immensely delighted on meeting him. And then they reach his herd. He finally meets his mother after all those years of separation. Celebration ensues. Then the herd runs together with its old leader and a newfound member after a long time. In the last scene Spirit and Rain are looking of his valley as the Cimarron herd grazes and the eagle soars overhead. And the clip comes to an end with the credits roll.

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About the Music in the Clip

The music is a song sung by Bryan Adams called, “I will always return”, which is a recurring track throughout the film and different versions and different lyrics as well.

The song

basically portrays Spirit’s attachment to his home in the Wild West and his herd. The song as many other songs in the film does the talking for Spirit when there is a need for

expressing a certain emotion or mood in him. This song talks of his attachment with his homeland. Of the various sensations he had while at home and which he longs for when away from it. And it also says how he’ll always return to it no matter how far away he is, no matter how long he is away.

The music used has piano in the beginning, joined by drums as it progresses. Finally when the song picks up it has the rest of the orchestra joining. It is hard to discern each instrument used. But the music as a whole goes with the theme of the rest of the film which come from the same composer.

Lyrics:

I hear the wind call my nameThe sound that leads me home againIt sparks up the fire - a flame that still burnsTo you I will always return

I know the road is long but where you are is homeWherever you stay - I'll find the wayI'll run like the river - I'll follow the sunI'll fly like an eagle - to where I belong

I can't stand the distance -I can't dream aloneI can't wait to see you - Yes, Im on my way home

And now I know it's trueMy every road leads to youAnd in the hour of darknessYour light gets me through

You run like the river - you shine like the sunYou fly like a eagleYou are the one I've seen every sunsetAnd with all that I've learnedOh it's to you - I will always, always return.

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The music has a typical happy ending sound to it.