Albanian polyphony has become part of one of the biggest Hollywood productions of recent years. Three-time Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson has confirmed that while working on the soundtrack for Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey," he was also inspired by Albanian musical tradition.
To create the authentic atmosphere of the ancient world, Göransson traveled to southern Albania, where he recorded shepherds' songs at 4 a.m., searching for original sounds to be included in the film's soundtrack.
The composer himself has revealed that Christopher Nolan asked him to avoid the classical orchestra and create a musical identity that was as close to antiquity as possible. For this reason, he studied ancient musical instruments and traditions, used the aulos, the lyre, and brass instruments, seeking authentic sounds outside of modern music.
The inclusion of Albanian polyphony in this project constitutes an extraordinary appreciation for a tradition that is part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage and that will now be heard in a film with a global audience.
