MovieChat Forums > Marco Polo (2014) Discussion > The music always knows...

The music always knows...

posted 8 years ago by dfmtrumpet
2 replies | jump to latest

In opera, there is a saying that the music knows what is going to happen before anyone else does. While watching the end of "The Fellowship", the cross is shown and the "Dies Irae" theme is subtly played. For those who don't know what the "Dies Irae" is, it is a Latin Hymn attributed to a 13th century Franciscan monk, and describes the day of judgement (Dies Irae means day of wrath). It has been quoted by many composers, including Haydn, Berlioz, Liszt, Mahler and Shostakovitch.

Kudos to the musical directors of Marco Polo (was it Brian Deming?) for including such detail in this incredible series. While the historicity of the story may be questionable, the music never lies!

Did anyone else catch this? Are there other musical quotations I've missed? (Now I'm going to have to go back and watch all the episodes again! Haha)

[–] albnadia 8 years ago

This show has some of the best music! Up there with Djawadi in GoT. I don't know if there's anything hidden in it, but the climax of The Fourth Step (serie 4 from season 1) had this instrumental score that I'd kill to find-- if anybody knows it, then please let me know!

[–] hartofavalon 8 years ago

Isn't it a brilliant use of the Dies Irae? The first time I heard it I had to stop and rewind to make certain, because it was playing so quietly underneath some other harmonies.

"The Fellowship" isn't the first time the Dies Irae appears. I definitely heard it a few episodes before that, in a similar situation. I think the writers are making the Dies Irae the leitmotif for Prester John, because we always hear it whenever we see a village wiped out by his Christian army, and it generally ends with a shot of his bloody crucifix planted into the ground.

ETA: I love Hundred Eyes' theme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aOvcuPdcy4 That staccato cello melody is so catchy. And the percussion! (Are those taiko drums?)