Dune Soundtrack

The soundtrack for the Dune movies is one of my favorite soundtracks ever. I am a fan of a lot of Hans Zimmer’s soundtracks, but I think as a whole Dune is my favorite. The sound design, performance, and production all stand out to me – the haunting chord progression and melodies of the main theme, as well as the choice of instrumentation, all make for a soundtrack which both fits with and enhances the Dune movies. Dune is set in a sci-fi fantasy world of sand, ruled by futuristic factions of religious extremism. The instruments used in the soundtrack fit this perfectly – deep, chanting voices and high, piercing chorus vocals with atmospheric sounds of wind and sand. Even when just listening to the songs, you can really picture the visuals of the movie because of the way the sound is designed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfiGQUJJhLQ&list=PLDisKgcnAC4TVlStzU6FD08dmDBuf6Mq-&index=10

This song, “Night on Arrakis”, is a good example of the sound design’s exceptionalism. You can hear the flow of sand grains across the night desert, as well as the shifting and vibrations caused by the massive sand worms below. I think this soundtrack is a great example of a composer understanding the movie well and the aesthetic that fits it. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in soundtracks or enjoys Hans Zimmer’s other work.