Milan Records will release the original orchestral soundtrack to the upcoming Zhang Yimou (HERO, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS) epic THE GREAT WALL on February 17th in North America, with a vinyl version to follow in March. The score was composed by three-time Primetime Emmy and Grammy Award-nominated composer Ramin Djawadi (GAME OF THRONES, WESTWORLD, PACIFIC RIM). Rated PG-13, The Great Wall opens nationwide the same day.
THE GREAT WALL is the first English-language production for Yimou is the largest film ever shot entirely in China. The film stars Matt Damon and follows an elite force of soldiers as they make a heroic stand atop the Great Wall of China against a horde of monsters that appear every 60 years. Willem Dafoe and Andy Lau also star in the film, along with a phalanx of Chinese actors and extras.
Watch the trailer for THE GREAT WALL here
Djawadi’s score to THE GREAT WALL is sweeping and grand, featuring rumbling drums and an army of strings mixed with traditional Chinese chanting. Milan Records shares a short video interview with Ramin Djawadi about his score, now showing at YouTube, here.
Meanwhile, Billboard has shared information about the soundtrack release and posted a sample track, “The Nameless Order,” to listen to, here.
“What a joy it was to work with Ramin,” said director, Zhang Yimou. “I’ve always loved his music because it’s so memorable, especially the music he wrote for Game of Thrones. He is young and talented, and is truly an artist who listens to suggestions with an open mind, but he also has a very powerful personal voice.”
The Great Wall soundtrack can be preordered via iTunes, Amazon (cd), and Amazon (vinyl). For more information, see Milan Records and THE GREAT WALL official site.
In other Djawadi news, Pitchfork.com’s The Pitch has shared an interview with Djawadi about his score for TV’s incarnation of WESTWORLD, which also includes some sample cues. His music for Season One is now available on a 2-CD set from WaterTower Music, with the same content available on mp3 download, with a single-disc vinyl release announced for April 7th.
