Doyle has expressed his delight that the bagpipe sections of the score were performed by the acclaimed Red Hot Chilli Pipers, a 4 piece group who, when recorded in a big hall, in Doyle's words 'sound like 44'.
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"Remember to Smile" is a more robust affair, deploying the full range of the bagpipes, orchestra and percussion to almost ceremonial effect it's the sort of music you'd expect to coincide with the arrival of Scottish pageantry. "I Am Merida"' introduces some surprisingly dark and desolate music, with the woodwinds in stark contrast to the timpani hits and tremolo strings.
The bagpipes return during the haunting opening of "The Games" before the delightful assortment of lively strings and bodhran drums usher in another terrific rendition of the Mor'Du theme. The track concludes on a thoughtful note by introducing the elegiac main theme for the first time, earthy fiddle and stately strings ruminating on the essence of destiny, and how it will impinge on the characters. Sung with relish by Billy Connolly and a host of others, it provides a note of Gaelic defiance in the face of the notorious black bear stalking the periphery of the film. The jig melody actually derives from the amusing "Song of Mor'du" which appears later on. A beautiful track, it opens with lilting bagpipes and pennywhistle before a rousing jig theme carries the listener across the heather to the mountains and beyond. After two songs from Julie Fowlis (Touch the Sky Into the Open Air) and one from Mumford and Sons (Learn Me Right, performed by Birdy), Doyle's score begins in "Fate and Destiny". Whereas Braveheart was a rousing, grand score in the greatest Hollywood tradition, Doyle's effort is rooted in intimacy and movement. For one thing, the thematic content in Brave isn't as overt as Braveheart secondly the music aims for a greater measure of authenticity not only through the instrumentation but in the deployment of Scottish dance rhythms such as reels, jigs and strathspeys. A troop of familiar British character actors round off the voice cast, including Emma Thompson and Billy Connolly.ĭoyle's score will inevitably draw comparison to James Horner's classic Braveheart but it's different in several ways.
When she defies an age old custom with the hope of changing her fate, Merida brings chaos to the land, and after her family is cursed by a witch, must make amends for her mistake. Kelly McDonald voices Princess Merida, bored of her regimented life and in regular conflict with her mother Elinor. A somewhat conventional fairy tale tale story set in 10th century Scotland, the film has nonetheless drawn the studio's usual acclaim. Brave marks a change of pace for Pixar as well.
Given Doyle's intimate understanding of his heritage, one might expect to be swept away to a mythical land of lochs and legends but his score is surprisingly subtle for the most part, quietly introducing the charming main theme (alongside a few others) before unleashing it in full at the climax. Pixar's new Highland-based animation marks a homecoming for Scottish composer Patrick Doyle, having recently dabbled in Hollywood with the likes of Thor and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Few film scores this year are as personal as Brave.