Arachnophonia: Frozen II

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eliana (class of 2024) and features insert title info here. Thanks, Eliana!

Frozen II

Frozen II piano/vocal selections book cover

Is Frozen II (2019) your favorite movie? It should be! While this film has my heart for many reasons, the score is truly what sets it apart from many films of similar caliber.

The piano/vocal selections score, available at Parson’s Music Library, contains all songs from the film. The songs are written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Fun fact, Kristen Anderson-Lopez grew up in my hometown!

The score includes hits such as “Into the Unknown” and “Show Yourself.” In December of 2019, the soundtrack album reached number one on the US Billboard charts, making it the first soundtrack of an animated film to hit the position since Frozen (2013).

The soundtrack of Frozen II has many of the same elements that the first film had, but with even more depth and nuance. The score’s composer, Christophe Beck, said in an interview that the score matured alongside Anna and Elsa, with new sophisticated musical concepts and themes.

To supplement your listening/playing, I highly recommend watching Into the Unknown: The Making of Frozen II available on Disney+. It’s a 6-part docuseries that dives deep into not only the film’s score, but the cast, animation, and development process. I should warn you, though, it’s a tearjerker!

Arachnophonia: The Lion King

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Isaac (class of 2025) and features piano/vocal selections from The Lion King. Thanks, Isaac!

The Lion King

The Lion King piano/vocal selections

The score from The Lion King by Elton John, with lyrics by Tim Rice, has long fascinated me, compelling me to explore its depths beyond the surface level of its widespread appeal and just songs I’ve heard since I was little. As someone who has always enjoyed children’s movie scores, I find this score to be a particularly striking example of how melodies intertwined with poignant lyrics can create a tapestry of sound that is both enchanting and something that was stuck with me for quite some time––even as I’ve gotten older.

What makes this score particularly interesting and worth studying is not just its ability to support the narrative arc of an iconic film but how it seamlessly blends a variety of musical styles and cultural influences, creating a universal appeal that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. Elton John’s compositions, infused with his signature melodic flair, are elevated by Tim Rice’s evocative lyrics, which together capture the essence of the story’s themes—power, betrayal, love, and redemption. The integration of African musical elements with Western pop sensibilities in the soundtrack offers a fascinating study in cross-cultural musical fusion, showcasing the richness that such blends can bring to mainstream music, and I really do think its aurally emblematic of everything Disney had hoped to achieve with the project.