Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean (Symphonic Suite) is a medley of the five of the pieces composed for the first of five Pirates movies in the film franchise by Klaus Badelt and and Hans Zimmer (see below). This arrangement was written in 2003 by John Wasson

(see also below).

The blockbuster film “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003) is based on the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disney Parks. In the 18th century, Captain Jack Sparrow is roguish yet charming, as he sails the Caribbean. But Jack’s idyllic life implodes after his First Mate, the wily Barbossa, leads a mutiny, commandeers his ship, the Black Pearl, and leaves him stranded on a desert island. Sparrow manages to escape but is subsequently captured and imprisoned in the coastal city of Port Royal, awaiting execution.

The Black Pearl, under the command of Captain Barbossa, attacks the town, kidnapping the Governor’s beautiful daughter, Elizabeth Swann. In the confusion, Sparrow manages to escape the prison. Elizabeth’s childhood friend, Will Turner, joins forces with Sparrow to commandeer the fastest ship in the British fleet, the HMS Interceptor, in a gallant attempt to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl. The duo and their motley crew are pursued by Elizabeth’s betrothed, the debonair, ambitious Commodore Norrington, aboard the HMS Dauntless. Unbeknownst to Will, whose father once served with the crew of the Black Pearl, there is a curse that has doomed Barbossa and his men to live forever as the undead. They cannot be killed and each moonlight, they are transformed into living skeletons. The curse they carry can only be broken if a once-plundered treasure is restored and blood is spilt. Of course, Elizabeth is rescued (but refuses marriage to Commodore Norrington in favor of Will), the curse is lifted and Captain Sparrow is allowed to sail away.

Though our arrangement only credits Klaus Bedelt at the composer, the musical score was composed by both Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer. Zimmer also served as the music producer. Seven other composers, including Geoff Zanelli and Ramin Djawadi, received credit for “additional music”. Our medley includes these titles:

1. The Medallion Calls

2. The Black Pearl

3. To the Pirate’s Cave

4. One Last Shot

5. He’s a Pirate

Klaus Badelt (b. 1967) is a German composer, producer, and arranger of film scores. He is best known for his collaborations with Hans Zimmer, helping to write scores for dozens of critically acclaimed films including The Thin Red Line, The Prince of Egypt, and Gladiator. Independently, he is known for his work on Hollywood blockbuster films such as Equilibrium, Catwoman, K-19: The Widowmaker, Basic, and TMNT, and for his work in French and Chinese cinema as well as a number of films by Werner Herzog.

Hans Florian Zimmer (b. 1957 ) is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, five Grammy Awards, and has been nominated for three Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. Zimmer was also named on the list of Top 100 Living Geniuses, published by The Daily Telegraph in 2007.

His works are notable for integrating electronic music sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements. Since the 1980s, Zimmer has composed music for over 150 films. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score for The Lion King (1994), and for Dune (2021). His works include Gladiator (2000), The Last Samurai (2003), the Pirates of the Caribbean series (2003–2011), The Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012), Inception (2010), Man of Steel (2013), Interstelar (2014), Dunkirk (2017), Interstellar (2014), Dunkirk (2017), No Time to Die (2021), and the Dune series (2021–).

Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States. He is the head of the film music division at DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation studios and works with other composers through the company that he founded, Remote Control Productions, formerly known as Media Ventures. His studio in Santa Monica, California, has an extensive range of computer equipment and keyboards, allowing demo versions of film scores to be created quickly.

Arranger John Wasson (b. 1956) leads a busy life as a composer, arranger, producer and performer. His works have been performed by such notable organizations as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Air Force “Airmen of Note”, The Gatlin Brothers, and the Dallas Brass. He has written commissioned works for the Symphony Orchestras of Minnesota, Houston, Dallas, Virginia Beach and Fort Worth, as well as the U. S. Air Force Academy Band and the Dallas Wind Symphony.

John has written and produced music for advertising and television clients such as Electronic Data Systems, the Salvation Army, Zola Levitt Ministries, Radio Shack, Stop N Go, and Kern's Nectars.

As a low brass performer, John has been a member of the Stan Kenton and Woody Herman Orchestras and the Dallas Brass. He has worked with such notable artists as Michael Bolton, Tony Bennett, Bill Conti, Cab Calloway, Reba McIntyre, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Richard Stolzman, and Joe Williams. He also leads his own performing groups the Strata Big Band and the CoolBrass Jazztet.

John received his Bachelor of Music in Theory and his Masters of Music in Trombone Performance at the University of North Texas, where he played in the internationally acclaimed One O'Clock Lab Band.

The music for Pirates of the Caribbean was purchased for The Gateway Concert Band by Ross Fjermedal and Susan Evans.