Gladiator

When a Ridley Scott movie is called Gladiator, expect nothing less than a score brimming with action and intrigue. And while there are indeed plenty of clashing strings and majestic horns to be found in Hans Zimmer’s Golden Globe-winning music for the 2000 film, its dramatic pacing traces the contours of the movie’s plot. That equals a score that makes room for aggressive songs like “The Battle”—a ferocious composition with dynamic ebbs and flows that mimic the push and pull of a violent fight—and more meditative fare such as “Reunion”, which boasts uneasy droning textures. The latter song features soaring, wordless wails from Dead Can Dance’s Lisa Gerrard, who co-composed the Gladiator score along with Zimmer and contributes vocals on many songs. Her otherworldly croon, as well as flourishes such as an Armenian wind instrument called a duduk, ensure that the music is dramatic but never loses sight of its emotional undercurrent.