Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is the soundtrack for the Disney movie of the same title, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. It is composed by Hans Zimmer, and features additional music by Lorne Balfe, Tom Gire, Nick Glennie-Smith, Henry Jackman, Atli Örvarsson, John Sponsler, Damon M Marvin and Geoff Zanelli.
Circuit City's initial retail shipments of the album included a free movie poster at checkout, with a minimum ten per store. Best Buy had an exclusive ringtone code, rather than extra tracks as in the previous soundtrack.
The soundtrack debuted at #14 on the US Billboard 200, selling about 35,000 copies in its first week. As of July 11, 2007, the album has sold 118,919 copies in the US.
Composer Hans Zimmer estimated that he composed "over five hours of music" because he thought that it might be "a nice idea to throw out everything and start from scratch".
Critical response to the soundtrack differed greatly, though the album was generally well received by fans. On Amazon.com, it holds a 4.7/5 stars, the highest of any Pirates of the Caribbean score. A review by Mike Brennan on soundtrack.net, for example, praised the score as having "a level of thematic complexity that rivals most other franchises", praising its move from heavily synthetic in the Curse of the Black Pearl score to mostly orchestral, as well as its swashbuckling flavor that was missing from the first two entries. His overall rating for the score was 4.5 stars out of 5.
Not all critics were impressed, however. Christian Clemmensen, on Filmtracks.com, though he grudgingly admitted the score was "an intelligent merging of thematic ideas from all three films" and employed a "far wider orchestral and choral palette", feels that the score still did not live up to its swashbuckling cohorts, comparing it unfavorably to John Debney's effort for Cutthroat Island. He also complained about the anthem-like statements of the love theme in One Day and Drink Up Me Hearties, saying, "...there is no style to that music. Only power". In the end, his score was two stars out of five, a rating that several visitors to the site were incensed by on the review's comments page.
Music composed by Hans ZimmerScore produced by: Hans Zimmer, Bob Badami & Melissa MuikExecutive Soundtrack Album Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer & Gore VerbinskiExecutive in Charge of Music and Soundtracks for Walt Disney Pictures and the Buena Vista Music Group: Mitchell LeibMusic Supervisor: Bob BadamiExecutive in Charge of Music Production for the Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group: Monica ZierhutMusic Creative/Marketing for the Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group: Glen LajeskiMusic Business and Legal Affairs: Scott Holtzman and Sylvia KraskDirector of Soundtracks for the Buena Vista Music Group: Desiree Craig-RamosSupervising Technical Music Coordinator: Thomas BroderickAdditional Music by: Lorne Balfe, Tom Gire, Nick Glennie-Smith, Henry Jackman, Atli Orvarsson, John Sponsler, Geoff ZanelliSupervising Music Editor: Melissa MuikMusic Editors: Katie Greathouse, Barbara McDermottSupervising Orchestrator: Bruce FowlerOrchestrators: Walt Fowler, Elizabeth Finch, Ken Kugler, Suzette Moriary, Steve BartekMusic Preparation: Booker WhiteScore Recorded by: Alan Meyerson, Slamm AndresAlbum Mixed by: Alan Meyerson, Big Al ClayAdditional Recording by: Jeff Biggers, Big Al Clay, Greg Vines, Matt WardFeatured Musicians:Phil Ayling – OboeChris Bleth – DudukPedro Eustache – Ethnic WoodsKaren Han – ErhuLili Haydn – FiddleFrank Marocco – AccordionHeitor Pereira – BanjoSimon Phillips – DrumsTom Raney – CimbalomMartin Tillman – CelloGore Verbinski – GuitarFeatured Vocalist: Delores ClayPrincipal Musicians:Endre Granat – ConcertmasterJulie Gigante – Principal 2nd ViolinBrian Dembow – ViolaSteve Erdody – CelloNico Abondolo – BassJim Walker, Geri Rotella – FlutesPhil Ayling – OboeJim Kanter – ClarinetMichael O'Donnovan – BassoonJim Thatcher – HornMalcolm McNab – TrumpetCharlie Loper – TromboneDoug Tornquist – TubaOrchestra conducted by: Blake Neely, Nick Glennie-SmithFeatured Musician Soloists co-produced by: Jimmy Levine, Nick Glennie-SmithOrchestra contractors: Sandy DeCrescent, Peter RotterTechnical Music Assistants: Pete Oso Snell, Kevin Globerman, Jacob Shea, Bobby Tahouri, Dan ZimmermanDigital Instrument Design by: Mark WherryProduction Coordinator for Hans Zimmer: Andrew ZackSample Development: Claudius BrueseSample Development Assistants: Zain Effendi, Mark McCormickScore recorded at:Todd AO Scoring Stage, Studio City, CAFox Scoring Stage, Century City, CASony Scoring Stage, Culver City, CAChoir Recorded by: Geoff FosterChoir Contractor: Isobel GriffithsChoir Master: Jenny O'GradyChoir: Metro VoicesSoprano: Hila PlitmannChoir conducted by: Matthew DunkelUK Music preparation: Jill StreaterUK Music Coordinator: Nyree PinderChoir recorded at: Air Lyndhurst Studios, London and Abbey Road Studios, LondonScore mixed at: Remote Control Productions, Santa Monica, CAMusic Production Services: Steven KofskyStudio Coordinator: Czarina RussellMusic Production Intern: Seth Glennie-SmithScoring stage crew: Chris Barrett, Alison Burton, Bryan Clementes, Andrew Dudman, Mark Eshelman, Dominic Gonzales, Tom Hardisty, Sam Jones, Tim Lauber, Adam Michalak, Francesco Perlangelli, Denis St. Amand, Jay Selvester, Tom Steel, Chelley SydowMastered by: Patricia Sullivan at Bernie Grundman Manstering, Hollywood CACreative Direction: Steve GerdesAlbum Design: Sean Tejaratchi"Hoist the Colours"Cabin Boy Vocals by Brendyn BellSinging Gallows Pirates: Chris Allport, Lawrence Cummings, Jim Raycroft, Robert Hovencamp, Geoffrey Alch, Ned Werimer, Samuela Beasom, Jessica-ElisabethLyrics by Ted Elliot and Terry RossioMusic by Hans Zimmer and Gore Verbinski
