I am confident in saying that Albert Einstein is one of the most brilliant minds of our era. Wacky, scruffy haired, he took by surprise the world and revolutionized our perception of it. Portrayed by the indisputably talented Geoffrey Rush (old Albert) and the magical Johnny Flynn (young Albert), Nat Geo’s ‘Genius’ granted me a peek into the life of the soothsayer of the gravitational waves. A full immersion by the help of masterfully shot scenes, perfect lighting, otherworldly acting performances and most of all, a captivating Soundtrack written by Lorne Balfe. And, as if I wasn’t seduced enough, legendary Hans Zimmer joins in to collaborate. Both write a collection of dread, urgency and pulsations, brilliantly throw in a somewhat hastily violin line and come up with one of the most knocking main themes out there. 

I can’t really remember what happened between the moment I saw INDI’s contest and the moment my hands started recreating the theme. As everyone does, I develop my own view and interpretations of characters, scenes, atmospheres when watching a movie or a tv show. My mind picks up on details it finds peculiar enough to make room for in my memory. This is my chance to share some of them through what I do best: make music. 
The unconventional mind of Herr Einstein, the great talker that he is as well as his abandoned yet distinct look inspired me to write something a bit playful and intriguing. In his Masterclass, Hans shared the idea of ‘writing’ questions and answers. That music is but a ceaseless conversation, with sometimes more questions than answers, some always left unanswered. As conspicuously laid out in ‘Genius’, the revolutionary theoretical physicist’s mind is always “thinking for thinking’s sake”, always asking questions. My re-imagined version opens with that precisely. 

While the piano and the music box both ask and answer, sometimes falsely and randomly like children do, the fingers playing the mandolins are the fidgeting fingers of a restless thinker. The accordion hints at Einstein’s playfulness and wit. They cease to play for a brief moment of reflection. Both the piano and music box concretize what illusion we have of time. Polyrhythmic high notes and light pulses symbolize the passing of seconds, tenths, and hundredths. A shy violin joins, a now marching accordion and the fidgeting fingers come back and take the lead. While a small theme begins to take life, a fast-paced pumping bass line in crescendo refers to some sort of urgency. The then patent clerk’s urgency of sharing his ideas with the world and getting them published. Never ending and sparkling arpeggios portray particles (quanta), supported by the accordion. Those among you having watched Netflix’ The Crown (written by Hans Zimmer) and the most observant of you will surely notice a certain similarity when the strings join. I will now make a great deal of efforts so as to briefly talk about The Crown without losing track and ending up writing another 500 words on it. The opening theme of Netflix’s tv show features Strings written in a similar manner. The way I saw it, as they got bigger, fuller, higher, I envisioned the then young Queen Elizabeth rising and elevating accordingly, to a state of sacredness, overwhelming power and such immense respect that one can only bend the knee. And so was Herr Einstein. From struggling patent clerk to one of the greatest minds in history. The collection of instruments culminates, then eventually stop. Even at the apogee of his life and career, the genius couldn’t stop thinking and asking questions. One of which is portrayed at the end of the track. An open question, one of many that he left to the world. A question, or rather something he predicted: Gravitational waves, to be confirmed a mere 61 years after his depart from the world of endless queries.

I called my re-arrangement 'A Formula To Freeze Time'. It was something young Albert uttered once to his lover. I thought it described him perfectly.

'A Formula to Freeze Time' - Hans Zimmer & Lorne Balfe - Genius Main Title (Re-imagined)

Composer for Film, Games, Trailers, Ads etc.
Email: salimdaimasd@gmail.com

'A Formula to Freeze Time' - Hans Zimmer & Lorne Balfe - Genius Main Title (Re-imagined)

Salim Daïma l Composer