Having captured the dramatic suspense of comic book protagonists in such films as X-Men: First Class, Kick-Ass and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, award-winning composer Henry Jackman continues to capture the musical essence of superheroes in Disney's Marvel sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford and Samuel L. Jackson. While the first Captain America touted an Americana score reflective of the World War II era, Jackman delivered a modern score that reflected the current era in which Captain America dwells. "He's a fish out of water in a more corrupt, nuanced environment with his value system inherited from the 1950s," explains Jackman about one of his inspirations for the score, "the psychological credibility and modernity of what directors Anthony and Joe Russo did with Captain America has an impact on the music."
While Jackman created a melodic score for the character of Captain America, he incorporated a sonic-experimental sound coupled with offbeat harmonies and a choir for the superhero's foes in the film, the evil organization HYDRA. One of the central themes in the sequel pertained to its main antagonist, the Winter Soldier. "He's a relentless, barbaric machine, but inside of him are the tortured remnants of a human being. I relied upon symphonic horn for him, but mixed with a lot of damaged material. I experimented with various melodies after two or three notes and spent a good deal of time on the rhythm," explains the composer. In total, Jackman created a 105 minute score which he recorded at Air Studios in London, England.