Dates: b. 1957
Nationality: German
Period: 21st Century
Genre: Orchestral/vocal
Key Musical Elements:
- Texture
Why is he a Trailblazer?
Today most people first hear orchestral music in the cinema or online – and perhaps more than any other composer, trailblazer Hans Zimmer has helped to shape the sound of today’s film, TV and games music.
Using driving rhythms, hypnotic chord patterns and electronic samples he has created unique and powerful soundtracks that have influenced a whole generation of musicians.
Listen out for:
Listen for electronic samples played alongside the orchestra and a children’s choir. This combination of voice, the big sound of the orchestra and the electronic sound creates a full texture. At the beginning the strings enter quietly and mysteriously before a single horn line joins them with the piano. As the piece builds the texture very gradually builds too giving the sense of the awe and wonder of our world.
Naomi Wilkinson introduces this piece Earth, written especially for Ten Pieces by the world-famous trailblazer Hans Zimmer. Hans talks all about what has inspired him to write this piece.
Fast Facts
As a child in Germany Hans Zimmer tried piano lessons but quickly gave up. Instead he taught himself music and, convinced the piano could continue to ‘evolve’ as an instrument, attached items like chainsaws to it.
Zimmer moved to England and played keyboards and synthesizers in rock and punk bands like Ultravox and The Damned – and the influence of rock and roll helped to shape his film music.
He has written the music for over 150 films including The Lion King, Madagascar, The Simpsons Movie, Kung Fu Panda and TV series like Blue Planet II.
Hans is passionate about encouraging young musicians and told Ten Pieces: “I think anybody who goes and gets their piece of music finished is a Trailblazer! Everybody’s got a voice. Everybody’s got a story to tell.”
The ˿ Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus perform Earth by Hans Zimmer.
Earth
Hans Zimmer has composed Earth especially for Ten Pieces.
The piece is his personal celebration of the planet we live on.
With his trademark sense of scale and drama, Hans captures the majesty and beauty of our home, as if seen from space.
The piece written is for live performance – and has a fantastic role for a children’s choir, making it perfect for schools or community groups to learn.
Hans has also set every child a challenge – to take his piece and create something new from it. In his own words: “The piece of music I’ve written is just the beginning of the sentence. I want you guys to finish it!”
Resources
KS2 Lesson plans
Explore and download lesson plans for six weeks of learning and activities for Earth by Hans Zimmer.
KS3 Lesson plans
Explore and download lesson plans for six weeks of learning and activities for Earth by Hans Zimmer.
Explore and download powerpoint slides for six weeks of learning and activities for Earth by Hans Zimmer.
Explore and download powerpoint slides for six weeks of learning and activities for Earth by Hans Zimmer.
Download the audio version.
Downloadable .zip file containing arrangement and Zimmer files.
Downloadable .zip file containing figure notes arrangement.
KS3 Bitesize Ten Pieces study guide
Your students can create their own composition at their own pace with this Bitesize Key Stage 3 guide.
Where next?
- Get creative and upload your responses using the Ten Pieces Uploader!
Upload and showcase your creative responses
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