Instrumental constraint

Alexandre Desplat wrote the score for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio to be performed with only certain instruments, not a full symphony orchestra.

No brass. No cymbals. Only wood-based instruments like woodwinds, guitar, piano, and a wooden accordion. The music itself is native to the world of Geppetto, the woodworker, and the boy made out of wood.

This musical constraint is as beautiful as it is fitting. It’s a foundational layer of meaning. It’s not explicitly told to the viewer, but it seamlessly contributes to the effectiveness and nuance of the work.

Sometimes circumstances present constraints. Other times, we intentionally adopt constraints in service of a conceptual goal.

In a culture that often praises “select all” and the idea of unlimited choice, it’s refreshing to see creative constraint used to add such meaning and depth.