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ORIGINAL MUSIC BY

SPEnCER CrEaghaN

THE MISTBORN SYMPHONY

about tHe Project

The Mistborn Symphony is an orchestral work inspired by Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy. Developed over three years, the symphony musically retells Era One on Scadrial, focusing on Vin’s journey from street urchin, to Lady Valette, to the legendary Ascendant Warrior.

The symphony immerses listeners in the mist-shrouded, red-skied world of Scadrial, capturing the series’ distinctive blend of aristocratic intrigue, daring heists, and epic fantasy spectacle. Some musical passages reinterpret iconic scenes, while others explore the inner lives of key characters, including Vin, Kelsier, Elend, and Sazed, as well as thematic ideas such as trust, faith, truth, and sacrifice. Drawing inspiration from the tradition of the symphonic poem, the music evokes the metallic arts of Allomancy, Hemalurgy, and Feruchemy, the gothic-renaissance architecture of Luthadel, and the emotional and philosophical current that run throughout the books.

Spencer Creaghan created The Mistborn Symphony as a tribute to the series, exploring the vivid imagery and dramatic moments that lingered long after reading. The project began in 2023 as a two-minute demo titled “Mistborn: The Survivor of Hathsin” and gradually evolved into a full symphonic poem. Written between professional commissions and completed during a 2025 sabbatical, the symphony reflects years of refinement and collaboration, bringing together a global team of accomplished musicians and filmmakers from Canada, Hungary, and Indonesia to realize the project at a cinematic scale.

The Mistborn Symphony is structured around Vin’s journey of self-acceptance, tracing her transformation into a mythic hero. At the same time, careful attention was given to ensuring the music reflects a wide range of pivotal moments and characters, creating a broader sonic portrait of this era of Scadrial. Several passages draw inspiration from the journeys of Elend, Sazed, and Spook, while the opening theme is directly influenced by Kelsier’s iconic introduction in the novel’s early chapters.

There are 4 main musical themes
presented in The Mistborn Symphony:

MISTBORN RIFF

A six-note riff establishes both the heist-driven energy of the narrative and the gothic-renaissance atmosphere of Scadrial. A secondary “B” variation mirrors the story’s recurring push-and-pull dynamic — action and reaction, cause and effect — functioning as a counter-motif to the primary A theme. Throughout the symphony, many passages employ retrogrades and transformations of these core motif.

MISTBORN GROOVE

A propulsive rhythmic motif that recurs throughout the work, giving it a distinctive rhythmic identity reminiscent of classic action-adventure heist films, and crafted to be instantly recognizable as Mistborn.

VIN’S THEME

A solitary, lyrical melody first introduced on solo cello and later expanded into full orchestral fanfare. The theme is designed to capture Vin’s isolation, resilience, and emotional distance, while containing the flexibility to evolve into both a Viennese-style waltz and a sweeping, bombastic mythical theme. Its transformations mirror her journey from guarded street urchin, to the Lady Valette, and the legendary Ascendant Warrior.

TRUST THEME

Heard in fragments throughout the first half of the symphony before emerging prominently in the second, the Trust Theme is a rising melodic line connected to Vin’s gradual ability to place faith in Elend, Kelsier, her crew, and ultimately herself. While most closely associated with Vin, the theme represents a broader emotional current that runs through the novels as a whole. Its inclusion was essential to ensure the music conveys not only the world and its characters, but also the series’ central thematic core.
BALANCING NOTES

To capture the book’s blend of aristocratic balls, clever heists, and epic fantasy myth-making, the piece is written entirely in 6/8 time, creating a continuous waltz-like momentum. Whether moving through stealthy string passages or full orchestral fanfares, that pulse never disappears, a musical metaphor for the constant dance between Preservation and Ruin. 1, 2, 3; 2, 2, 3.

SCORE ANALYSIS

behind tHe music

Though the symphony’s music video is split into 2 movements, Creaghan views the piece as 5 mini movements that highlight the different aspects of the book:

Movement I: Ash Fell From the Sky

This opening movement paints the image of a lone figure in a mistcloak moving through an ash-laden city, evoking Kelsier’s introduction and Vin’s solidarity within Luthadel. Indonesian Gamelan opens the piece with the Mistborn Riff, chosen for its metallic resonance and interlocking patterns that reflect the complementary nature of the allomantic arts. Its ancient, bell-like timbre subtly alludes to Terris prophecies and the mythic undercurrents of the Hero of Ages. A solo cello soon introduces Vin’s theme, followed by a gradual orchestral build incorporating an understated variation of the Trust Theme, foreshadowing her journey.

MOVEMENT II: THE HEIST

Sneaking strings, metallic cello accents, renaissance-inspired instruments, and layered hand percussion introduce the Mistborn Riff in a covert, agile form. Momentum accelerates with the arrival of the Mistborn Groove in full orchestra, propelling the music forward as thematic material from the opening movement evolves. This movement reflects discovery, training, and early rooftop escapades as Vin and Kelsier experiment with their newfound powers across the skyline of Luthadel.

Movement III: VIN’S THEME

This movement traces Vin’s transformation through the series. The solo cello returns in an intimate, solitary register before subtle waltzing string figures suggest the elegance and political tension of noble ballrooms. Gradually, the music expands to full orchestra and choir, conveying the depth of her internal and external conflicts, and the growing magnitude of her identity as the legendary figure she is destined to become.

MOVEMENT IV: TRUST

This slowly unfolding movement explores emotional vulnerability and the journey toward acceptance. Beginning in restraint and isolation, the music gradually swells into a cathartic orchestral release, intertwining Vin’s theme with the Trust Theme as she discovers confidence in her connection with Elend, her team, and herself, ultimately breaking free from Ruin’s grip. It seeks to capture the profound sensation of surrendering to human connection and embracing self-acceptance. Since trust lies at the heart of every character’s journey, the movement invites listeners to recall their own defining moments in the story where this theme resonates most deeply.

MOVEMENT V: MISTBORN

Conceived as the musical equivalent of a climactic “Sanderlanche,” the final movement brings all principal motifs to their peak in a unified orchestral culmination. Rapid string figures evoke Coinshots and Mistborn soaring through Luthadel’s mist-covered streets, while driving percussion carries the Mistborn Groove into full intensity. Expansive brass statements transform both Vin’s Theme and the Trust Theme into heroic declarations, underscoring the decisive confrontations at Kredik Shaw, Luthadel, and the Pits of Hathsin. The result is a convergence of musical ideas intended to mirror the escalating momentum and sweeping resolutions that define the trilogy’s finales.

MEET THE COMPOSER

spencer creaghan

Spencer Creaghan is a Canadian composer whose award-winning work spans film, television, and music. His credits include Syfy’s SurrealEstate, AMC’s Hell Motel, and Mattel’s Hot Wheels RacerVerse, a collaboration with Lucasfilm, Marvel, Universal, DC, Disney/Pixar, and Nickelodeon. His latest feature, Crash Land, was produced by and stars Finn Wolfhard.

His music has been featured at festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival (Son of Sara, Quickening) and South by Southwest (Crash Land, Man-Eating Pussy). He has received JUNO and Canadian Screen Award nominations and, before turning 30, earned a record 13 SOCAN Foundation Awards for Audio-Visual Composer. Most recently, he won a Hollywood Music in Media Award for his score to the sci-fi short Spaceman.

Following his participation in Norman Jewison’s Canadian Film Centre Music Residency, Creaghan was mentored by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Music Branch Chair Lesley Barber, contributing additional music to films including Late Night and American Woman.

Beyond screen scoring, Creaghan creates cinematic orchestration and sound design for heavy metal artists including Carnifex, Aborted, Devilment, and Lindsay Schoolcraft. When he isn’t composing, he enjoys exploring folklore and mythology, reading epic fantasy, experimenting in the kitchen, and spending time in nature. He lives in Guelph, Ontario, with his wife and young son.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

AGENT

Larissa Giroux – OAZ inc.
OAZ Talent + Literary Management Company
larissa@oazinc.com
416-860-1790

PR Representative

Andrew Cohen – Impact24 PR
andrew@impact24pr.com
impact24pr.com

PROJECT

credits

Recorded by:
Budapest Scoring Orchestra

Cello solos:
Raphael Weinroth-Browne

Gamelan by:
Lingkung Seni Silih Asih Gamelan Ensemble
Orchestrated by: Robbie Teehan and Spencer Creaghan

Mixed and mastered by:
Walker Grimshaw

Video footage by:
Budapest Scoring Orchestra, Musfik Ambar (Indonesia), Monscene Studio, Ben Kissner

Motion graphics, logo, and website:
Isaias Garcia

Video editing:
Adam Giroux and Spencer Creaghan