The 2004 film The Passion of The Christ is a shatteringly picturesque movie of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, set to brilliantly colorful music by none other than the composer John Debney. The classic cinematic score is taken to new heights while still maintaining the essential elements of many dramatic film scores—i.e.—the luscious string beds and instrumental passages, the ahh or ohh choruses in the background and surging melodies that have become somewhat stock music for making something beautiful magnified in importance. If anything, Christ should be the most important and set to the most dramatically important scoring. Peaceful But Primitive features qualities that you would find in the Middle Eastern-Saharan desert type of scores. It may clash with this part of the movie in some areas but is brilliantly executed, leading up to the ultimate crucifixion of Jesus. “The Crucifixion” is probably the most heart breaking, basically because of what happened with the Jews and the scribes and pharisees killing Jesus. A strong choir, full orchestra, with piercing, golden french horns greet us with the blazing truth that Jesus has died at the folly of men.
Rising The Cross has a hint of the famous Requiem of a Dream in it with a rogue guy chanting in front of the choir in modal tones. The tone of this piece seems to be saying “My God, my God—why have you forsaken me?” This hints to when Jesus is pierced and raised up the final time and with that final piercing comes night. The deed is done. “It Is Done” is a haunting depiction of when Christ has departed into the spirit and goes to the right hand of the father saying “It is finished,” meaning He died for the sins of the world at this point and the desert is sad and silent with the faint playing of the viola or so it sounds in the background. After this, the orchestra and choir pick up in a hurrah as Jesus is carried down from the cross and laid in the sepulcher. Then, in the final number, a quaint but increasingly loud rejoice comes from the orchestra as Jesus is resurrected into the spirit and given new life beside the Father. The rhythm excels fast and triumphantly as the King is given new meaning. Such a great film to even listen to just the music alone. Fabulous!
