Album cover
"The Faceoff" is a musical theme composed by Hans Zimmer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It appears as track forty of track listing one on the film's complete soundtrack at 1:19 in length.
Track Description[]
Barbossa and Blackbeard's themes as heard in "The Faceoff".
The track opens with an ominous drum beat, which is soon joined by an ostinato pattern. Above this an augmented version of Barbossa's adapted theme plays, accompanied by the British three note figure. This is stopped by Blackbeard's six-note pedal figure, followed by a hint at the "On Stranger Tides" theme. A less assertive version of Barbossa's theme is heard, this time interrupted by a powerful and threatening statement of the theme from "Queen Anne's Revenge". The track finished with Blackbeard's theme (overlaying his six-note figure), which pauses on the dissonant Ab.
In the Film[]
The track plays as Hector Barbossa and Blackbeard confront each other at the Fountain of Youth.
Trivia[]
- This is the last time Barbossa's new adapted theme from "Lord Cutler Beckett" is heard.
- This track is essentially a musical confrontation between Barbossa and Blackbeard's themes.
- There is a prominence of electronic instruments, particularly towards the end where Blackbeard's themes become dominant.