Music analysis: The soundtrack behind Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and why it was outstanding

Collaborating with Nolan for a third film after Tenet (2020) and Oppenheimer (2023), Ludwig Goransson was tasked with creating the score for the Greek epic The Odyssey, writes Music News Blitz's Gabriel Mills.

Based on the 3,000-year-old tale by Homer, Christopher Nolan adapted it for the big screen in the distinctly captivating and surreal way that only he can.

Soundtracks play a particularly prominent role in Nolan's films. David Julyan, Hans Zimmer and Ludwig Goransson have all crafted scores for the acclaimed director.

This one felt different. However, the tracks evoked feeling and emotion using instruments and techniques even Goransson himself had never used before. The result was stunning.

A score fit for the gods

While a film depicting an epic story involving gods, warriors and mythical beasts may have been expected to feature an action-filled orchestral score, Göransson took the music in a completely different direction.

The Swedish composer sought to use instruments from the Bronze Age, which proved to be no easy feat when you consider the minor 3,000-year trip back in time.

One instrument that particularly stands out in the score is the aulos, which is known as a "double flute".

Said to have originated from Athena in Ancient Greece, the aulos creates a piercing and unnerving sound that is heard throughout the film, most notably in one of the main tracks, "Odysseus".

The double-piped instrument is also heard in the track "Sirens", which is particularly fitting, as the sirens' song was said to lure sailors towards the rocks and ultimately to their deaths.

The lyre, another ancient instrument, is used throughout the score as a softer, harp-like stringed instrument in comparison to the harsh aulos.

Achieving authenticity

By using instruments from the period, Göransson creates a soundtrack that feels incredibly authentic while sounding unlike any other film score.

In a behind-the-scenes video from Universal Studios, the Sinners composer touched on the changes made to the percussion for The Odyssey.

"Gongs, for example, made of bronze, you can make these instruments sound in a way that you've never heard before."

Another part of the soundtrack that is simple yet incredibly powerful is a four-note motif that repeats throughout the film, with the final, cutting note being played by Odysseus' bow.

In the original story, Homer described Odysseus stringing his bow "effortlessly, the way a musician strings a lyre", which makes using Odysseus' bow as part of the soundtrack a brilliant addition.

The track "Odysseus" is a personal favourite and encapsulates the entire film across its eight-minute runtime.

Following an eerie, melancholic opening created by the aulos, the track gradually builds with the addition of vocals, strings and rhythmic drums.

The drums are particularly interesting as they create a horse-like galloping rhythm, linking back to the dactylic hexameter used in Homer's epic poetry.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Reading & Leeds Festival ushers in a new era as BBC Introducing Stage gets axed

From poetry to rap

Travis Scott was one of many household names to feature in the film, but Nolan's reasoning behind the casting runs deeper than many initially thought.

"I cast him because I wanted to nod towards the idea that this story has been handed down as oral poetry, which is analogous to rap," Nolan said in an interview with Time magazine.

The opening scene of the film sees Scott lead a bard referencing Odysseus and his trick to defeat the Trojans, something a traditional poet would have led, making the casting choice feel surprisingly fitting.

Travis Scott returns in the track "When I'm Home", which plays during the end credits alongside English singer James Blake.

Blake is known for his soft falsetto vocals which, in the context of the film, almost sound reminiscent of the aulos heard throughout the score.

Another Goransson success

This score felt perfect for the film and showcased Goransson's versatility when tasked with creating something completely original.

The soundtrack differed greatly from previous works such as Sinners, Oppenheimer, Tenet and Black Panther, but perfectly captured both the fall of the Bronze Age and the imagined sound of Ancient Greece.

With Christopher Nolan's unmatched filmmaking and Ludwig Goransson's unique ability to seamlessly fuse music into storytelling, this is a partnership that will hopefully produce many more unforgettable collaborations.

READ NEXT: Music analysis: Ashley Cooke's self-titled album signals a new era