SHANG-CHI

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was recorded with a 70-piece orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London, and features the UK Chinese Music Ensemble. The score follows Shang-Chi's journey of self-realization by slowly intertwining several separate themes as he embraces the various aspects of his identity and family history.

Wenwu's music is rooted in his big emotions, and in his individualist approach of seeking fulfillment by being exceptional. It can be dominating and unhinged, but it is mournful at its core and stuck in a pattern of lonely melancholy. His music is cyclical and full of drama, inspired by European composers like Grieg, Pärt, and Wagner. His melody is always played on cello, an idea that came from Tony Leung.

Xialing's music represents the Xu family, as she is the only person who shares Shang-Chi’s childhood experiences and memories. It exists somewhere between nostalgia and grief, and is inspired by 20th Century Chinese Classical music with two harps serving as the backbone.

Li's music emanates directly from the land and ancestors of Ta Lo, and from her egalitarian approach of seeking fulfillment by knowing how she fits into the community. It is inspired by traditional Chinese folk music and methodology, endlessly flowing with no beginning or end and serving as a connection to the natural world. Li’s presence is always marked by the erhu, played breathtakingly by Wang Xiao.

Shang-Chi's initial music is rooted in his identity as a young American man, and expresses both his pounding anxiety and his powerful swagger. It is centered around the beat, most often played by a group of tanggu drums inspired by festival performances.

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