There’s been a lot of discussion the past few days about Oscar-caliber Ellen Page taking a role in an HBO series when some feel she should be pursuing more prestige in feature films. But there’s little doubt that the reason top-quality programs on the small screen can attract the best talent in front of the camera is because the standards for the very best of television meet or surpass many films at the multiplex. Part of that equation is the impeccable people working behind the camera.
Bound to be one of the biggest names nominated at this year’s Emmys is composer Hans Zimmer who’s more familiar for explosive percussion driven by timpani thunder in movies like The Dark Knight and Gladiator. For HBO’s intimate epic The Pacific, Zimmer turns his skill to themes so subtle and tender they quietly wring our emotions like a compassionate hand to the forehead. One of those themes is featured here in a clip called Homecoming — but the title almost feels redundant because the music itself evokes return from arduous journey so eloquently.
- Hans Zimmer is given “composer” credit for the music in episodes 1-7.
- Geoff Zanelli is credited as “composer” on all 10 episodes.
- Blake Neely is “composer, conductor, orchestrator” for the series.
You can listen to Zimmer’s main theme for The Pacific after the cut, and find close to a dozen more sound clips through related links on the youtube sidebar.