Review
Both this score and the film it accompanies were a pleasant surprise when originally released, instantly becoming among my favorites. Amidst the myriad brass, strings, and drums that you expect to hear in epic scores, this one also incorporates chanting, as well as other instruments that have a Viking/Nordic feel to them. The main theme, present in both emotional and epic versions, is simple and beautiful, a combination that often seems to bring about the most memorable themes in cinema. The emotional version appears in a couple instances using solo instruments, such as a solo violin in the track “Romantic Flight,” and a solo piano in “Where’s Hiccup?” The theme is present in its epic form throughout, notably in the track “Test Drive,” a truly iconic track. “Romantic Flight,” in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful tracks I’ve ever heard in cinema. It begins with a gorgeous solo violin, ending in soaring strings that may as well be carrying you on a beautiful auditory journey high above the clouds. The earlier track “Test Drive” uses the very same theme in a much more epic but equally potent fashion. This score takes us on a soaring emotional journey from fun and whimsical, to touching and romantic, to intense, to awe-inspiringly epic. Overall, this is one of my favorite soundtracks of all time.
Review by Michael.