Finding Inspiration - in Music and Lyrics (2)

My last inspiration in music and lyrics post revolved around the "body" of the music, the lyrics that gave it meaning, this post will focus much more on the "soul" of the music, the chords and melodies that create the feeling. This is perfect for mood writing and creating scenarios, very often I find myself writing one thing but as the tone of the music alters it can completely change what i'm writing, something very tense or fast might suddenly have a moment of tenderness intertwined, or it may become dangerous or just cease altogether. I've been writing to music for what feels like an eternity, I love classical music, that doesn't just mean Mozart, Yiruma and Einaudi, that can mean anything from a sound tracks to sound effects. Sound tracks are possibly some of the  best pieces to write to, they were designed to inhibit a particular emotion or response, if you allow yourself to write to the mood of a piece of music rather than trying to make the music fit what it is you're writing then it's pretty much a guarantee to some fantastic stuff.

* Remember sound track music was designed to create a specific feeling, so use it to help you develop the tone of the piece you are writing, whether you close your eyes and allow the scene to act out in your head or write it along side the music then and there, this is probably one of the best ways to ensure your writing has the right effect!

Here are some of my favourite sound tracks to listen to when i'm writing and a couple of favourites from the overall albums:

Gladiator.

- The Might of Rome

- Barbarian Hoarder

- Honour Him   

- Am I Not Merciful

- Now We Are Free

The Dark Knight.

- Like A Dog Chasing Cars

 - And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad

- Agent of Chaos

- A Dark Knight

The Tudors. 

(from seasons 1-2)

- The War Room

- Mixed Messages From Anne

- Katherine Stripped Of Her Jewels

- Anne's Premonition

- Dreaming of Killing Anne Boleyn

- Anne Miscarries Her Baby

- Aren't You The King Of England?

- Anne Dreams of her Childhood.

- Confessions And Arrests

The Village

- The Bad Colour

- I Cannot See His Colour

- Rituals

- The Forbidden Line

- The Shed Not To Be Used

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. P1

- Sky Battle 

- Death Eaters

- Dobby

- The Locket

- Destroying the Locket

- Hermione's Parents

- Captured and Tortured

- Rescuing Hermione

- Farewell to Dobby

- The Elder Wand

Eclipse the motion picture Sound Track

- Imprinting

- Rosalie

- Jacob Black

- Mountain Peak

- The Kiss

- Jane

- As Easy As Breathing

New Moon the motion picture Sound Track

- New Moon

- Romeo & Juliet

- Volturi Waltz

- Edward Leaves

- Memories of Edward

- Almost A Kiss

- Dreamcatcher

- The Volturi

- The Cullens

Lord of the Rings - Return of the King

- A Storm is Coming

- Minas Tirith

- Shelob's Lair

- The Steward Of Gondor 

(with Pippins song)

- Twilight And Shadow

- The Black Gate Opens

- The End Of All Things

Pride and Prejudice

- The Living Sculptures Of Pemberly

- Arrival At Netherfield

- Georgiana

- The Secret Life Of Daydreams

- Lizzie On Top Of The World

- Darcy's Letter 

- Your Hands Are Cold

- End Credits

Tarzan

 - One Family

- I Gorilla

Defiance

- Survivors

- Tuvia Kisses Lika

Atonement 

- Robbies Notes

- Two Figures By A Fountain

I Am Legend

- I'm Sorry

- I Am Legend (Epilogue)

The Ghost Writer

- Hidden Documents 

- In The Woods

- Chase On The Ferry

The Happening

- My Firearm Is My Friend

The Sixth Sense

 - Mind Reading

- Photographs

- Malcom Is Dead

Abandon

- Opening Titles

- The Country House

The Beautiful Country

- Strange Look 

There are so many hundreds of fantastic soundtracks you can use to help you create the right atmosphere for your characters or story, some of the names I find that keep cropping up are:

* James Newton-Howard
* Alexandre Desplat
* Brian Crain
* Hans Zimmer
* Trevor Morris &
* Howard Shore

So be sure to listen to some of their creations and allow it to influence yours.
After all, does the writer tell the story or the story tell the writer?
You chose!