Cleopatra’s Score Could Make Or Break The Film – How Will A Composer Create A Believable Egyptian Sound?

Rumours are heating up that there will soon be a new Cleopatra movie from Denis Villeneuve with Zendaya set to star as the ancient Egyptian ruler. The director has shown that he can produce epic works with Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, and he could be the perfect director to bring the queen’s story to the big screen for modern audiences. One of the most important aspects of a film like this is the score, and it will require a skilled composer who can capture the sound of the era. They will have to draw on archaeological research and use modern technology to bring ancient Egypt to life.

Cleopatra Has the Potential to Be a Pop Culture Sensation

Villeneuve is arguably one of the first directors in Hollywood that you’d turn to if you were looking for someone to direct a brand new blockbuster Cleopatra picture. The film has the potential to be even bigger than Dune and its sequel, which brought in a combined worldwide gross of more than $1.1 billion.

That’s because Cleopatra is much more famous than the Frank Herbert novels upon which Villeneuve’s last two pictures were based. The iconic ruler has been at the forefront of popular culture ever since her first appearance on the big screen in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1963 movie. Indeed, the fact that there are Slingo casino games based on her highlights how she’s still a huge draw in the mainstream. Slingo is the latest craze at online casinos, and Slingo Cleopatra is one of the top games.

Composer Will Have to Draw on Research to Create Score

The new Cleopatra film has the potential to be highly immersive and will take viewers on a journey back to ancient Egypt. To achieve this, the score will be crucial. Although people of today have no idea what the music back then sounded like, a skilled composer may be able to draw on various resources to come up with something that sounds believable. Archaeological research has revealed that music was prevalent in ancient Egyptian culture, with old texts and pieces of art showing the various instruments that were used. These included plenty of percussion, string, and wind options. The question that a composer will have to solve is the way these were used together.

Cleopatra: The Story of the Queen of Egypt (Complete) - Great Figures of History - See U in History

Modern Technology Will Assist Massively

This is where modern technology could come in to assist in the composition process. Composers could turn to AI programs and give them detailed descriptions of the instruments used throughout the era. The technology could then churn out different styles for composers to compare until they settle on something that fits what’s shown on screen.

Of course, it will be important to work closely with historians and musicologists to ensure that there’s agreement on the sounds offered. The ideal scenario would be to create something that has some historical accuracy but also appeals to modern listeners.

Thanks to modern technology, the new Cleopatra picture has the potential to be one of the most immersive ancient Egypt-themed offerings ever shown on screen. However, it will require a winning score for it to be fully believable. The composer will need to combine research and modern tech to generate the best music possible

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There’s a lot of music out there - good music. At Essentially Pop our remit is that we cover music that deserves to be heard, with a particular focus on independent artists. That doesn't mean we won't cover your old favourites - rather we hope to give you some new favourites as well.

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