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Pirates of the Caribbean - Lord Cutler Beckett's Theme (Hans Zimmer)
Lord Cutler Beckett's theme
Lord Cutler Beckett is a musical theme scored by Hans Zimmer. The soundtrack is based on Lord Cutler Beckett's motiff, which appears in scenes with him or the EITC, and later the British Royal Navy in general.
Description[]
Lord Cutler Beckett's theme contains many different variations on Beckett's theme as heard in Dead Man's Chest and At World's End. Although some thematic ideas were used later on for the climatic battle scene of the latter movie, most of the ideas in this cue remained unused.
The first part appeared during the various negotiations between Cutler Beckett and Jack Sparrow, and Sao Feng and Hector Barbossa, with a faster beat.
The sudden rise as if in battle appeared when the Black Coats sacked Sao Feng's Bathhouse and when Davy Jones was ordered to launch the Flying Dutchman onto the Maelstrom.
The final part seems to be 'pirate-y' and it appears only once in a movie - in a scene where Beckett, Turner and Jones negotiate on board the HMS Endeavour. It was also adapted as the theme for a scene Barbossa and his British crew of the HMS Providence for On Stranger Tides (although it is not heard on the soundtrack).[1]
Miscellanea[]
- The first half used 3 notes each time with different chords in the background. The same three notes appeared whenever Beckett entered into the scene in Dead Man's Chest. It was used for the song Parley as well.
- Beckett's theme appear more frequently in At World's End than its predeseccor, and Hans Zimmer wanted to use this as a way to signify that Lord Cutler Beckett was the main villain of the movie. It constantly cut into other scores such as Singapore, Parlay, What Shall We Die For, the scene when the Kraken is found dead, the Maelstrom battle's starting, the first half of I Don't Think Now Is the Best Time (which was used for the scenes of the battle against/destruction of the HMS Endeavour) and the Hoist the Colours Suite.
- There is another version of the theme in the unreleased suite known as Just Good Business, which is a more battle-like and dark version.
- Beckett's themes are used as a theme for the British in the fourth and fifth films, On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales, in spite of his death. The final section (not heard in At World's End) was used as a theme for Barbossa as a privateer.
Appearances[]
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (First appearance)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Notes and references[]
- ↑ It is heard in the background of the "King's Men" scene.