The Confrontation from
Les Mis is my first association with this kind of counterpoint duel, and I love that you've used the 10th anniversary recording
🙂 Naturally, the pause in the song is the physical confrontation. So, yes, I definitely think that's a good starting point! And what little I know of Baroque music is relevant, too.
As another, slightly less to the point example, there is 'The Point of No Return' in
Phantom of the Opera. This example has...layers. Christine and the Phantom are performing the opera, written by the Phantom, about Don Juan. So, naturally, they are playing the parts of lovers in the early part of the song...but it's an act. As the song goes on, and Christine realizes that the Phantom is definitely not acting...she takes further actions to reveal him to the world, first by removing his hood, then his mask. She knows his voice intimately, so it's not like she didn't know it was him all along, but she is willing to go along with it until he forces her hands (so to speak). They are struggling for control in this song, though, so that's the aspect I thought relevant to the current project.
There are plenty of examples of 'rap battles', which is what this seems very analogous to, but I don't think much if anything of the musical style should be borrowed from that. I mean, I suppose your music could have a back beat if you wanted it to, but that's hardly what is necessary to convey a duel like this. Something of the energy of this, I suppose. Mostly because this is the closest thing in modern times to flyting, and flyting is definitely what the duel between Sauron and Finrod is all about.
Still, if examples are wanted....
The rap battles from the end of
8 Mile: (serious language warning - obviously)
A more loosely-based-on-a-rap-battle scene from
Hamilton: (mild language warning)
Here are some modern attempts at flyting. Not terribly accurate/authentic or anything, but I figure that some flyting should go in the basket of 'what should this sound like?' even if it's not the main ingredient.
And, uh, yes, I do have friends who have written and performed the duel in question as a rap battle, so I am maybe slightly biased in considering this a valid style to represent the 'duel of words', but I recognize that this style would be not at all appropriate to Silm Film.
An example of flyting from a Marvel fanfic set in Asgard:
"The challenge is mine!" Thor was protesting. Dovran was struggling up to his feet, and Thor wheeled on him, looking like he was ready to knock him down all over again, but Loki caught him by the arm more tightly.
"You'd leave him in no condition to fight, brother," he said. "I wouldn't want there to be any suggestion of unfair advantage."
"With worse hurts than these can I face you in the ring, Jotun," Dovran said, coughing, "if you do not use foul enchantments, instead of standing like a true man."
Loki laughed and said, "Thick-tongued Dovran, dung-bird and troll, digging yourself into your grave! No magic craft or cunning arts will I bear to the challenge-ring: a cold sharpened point is all Loki needs to speed a crude-witted cur on his way."
It sounded almost like poetry—nice ring to it. The crowd appreciated it, too; they didn't laugh, exactly, but approving mutters went around. Dovran purpled helplessly, opening and closing his mouth while Loki just stood there with an air of a teacher waiting patiently for a slow student. Loki dragged it out, and then just as Dovran was opening his mouth again, nodded equably and said, "Three days, then," and drew Thor back to the table.
