This week on Film Score Friday, we listen to the score from Maleficent. James Newton Howard wrote the score for this 2014 remake. Howard's score is a welcome addition to this retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story.
The score hits an early win with an extended Tuba solo in the first act. This is a welcome and unexpected addition to the beginning of a fantasy film. The themes of royalty and fantasy play heavily in the film and Howard gives all the brass ample opportunities to represent this dichotomy. Horns, as is common with Howard's scores, have plenty to do in the final act. This is worth a listen and solid staple in this composer's list of works.
What did you think of Maleficent? Let us know in the comments.