Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Star Wars Music Minute
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Titre
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TROS 12: Kylo's Gaming Rig (Minutes 56-60 with Tony Thaxton)
23 Sep 2024
01:29:48
In minutes 56-60 of The Rise of Skywalker, our heroes rescue Chewbacca and Rey wanders into Kylo's creepily-sterile-looking private quarters. Tony Thaxton returns to the show to discuss "noticing vs. not noticing," deaths in Star Wars, the sound design of Kylo/Rey's Force chats, and more!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
5:18 - Not noticing the music vs. being distracted by the music.
12:57 - Would you recognize Star Wars music out of context? Or would you get it mixed up with other John Williams stuff?
14:30 - How do you feel about the completely new styles of music in Star Wars shows?
19:21 - Variant on the Friendship theme.
23:11 - What is John Williams's writing process like?
26:30 - Xanthe's experience doing session work.
34:21 - Do you find yourself a little overwhelmed the first time you see a new Star Wars movie?
40:30 - Brief, jaunty action string riff.
43:26 - Deaths in Star Wars.
47:50 - E.T. moment?
52:04 - Tension theme, March of the Resistance.
57:34 - Weird Chewie vocalization.
59:19 - Kylo's pristine living quarters, Star Wars visual language (and a challenge).
1:01:43 - Imperial March with Sith Artifacts (Dagger) motif overlaid.
1:10:24 - Sound design of the Kylo/Rey Force chats.
1:13:47 - Tony's observation/perception of the droid sound effects in the sequels.
TROS 11: Where's Babu? (Minutes 51-55 with Brandon Wainerdi)
16 Sep 2024
01:39:09
In minutes 51-55 of The Rise of Skywalker, Babu Frik does the procedure, C-3PO performs the Sith translation, and Rey senses that Chewie is still alive. Returning guest Brandon Wainerdi (Talking Bay 94) joins me to discuss the usage of the Main Theme, Shirley Henderson's voice work on Babu Frik, MacGuffin mechanics, and more!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
6:07 - Significance of droids dying.
11:04 - Steven Spielberg's concern over Babu Frik.
14:25 - How do you feel about this use of the Main Theme?
21:45 - Octatonic moment.
22:55 - Babu Frik's puppet work, voice work.
27:06 - Mystery music a la Attack of the Clones.
32:37 - J.J. Abrams as D-O; are you distracted by celebrity voice cameos?
36:37 - "I think Star Wars, as a property, excels when..."
42:28 - Sly use of the Emperor's theme mixed with Imperial March; Is John Williams an omniscient narrator?
47:59 - Figuring out the mechanism of the MacGuffin.
51:03 - Brandon's weird way of consuming Star Wars.
59:47 - Shirley Henderson recorded Babu's "droid is ready" line in multiple languages.
TROS 2: Audiovisual Acid Trip (Minutes 6-10 with Klaudia Amenábar)
19 Jul 2023
01:52:14
In minutes 6-10 of The Rise of Skywalker, Palpatine has a chat with Kylo Ren, Poe and Finn lose a game of Dejarik to Chewie, a spy gives the Resistance information, and the Falcon lightspeed skips to evade TIE fighters. Klaudia Amenábar of RuPalp's Podrace returns to the show to discuss the Resistance polycule, octatonic brass, Exegol sound design, and more!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
3:43 - Listening to the beginning of these minutes.
8:21 - The "Palpatine" in Rey's theme.
24:49 - Trio of characters interacting for the first time.
28:31 - David Acord and Matthew Wood explaining the sound design of Exegol.
40:11 - Exegol lightning compared to Force lightning.
49:44 - Quibble about the physical descriptions of characters in Star Wars books.
53:52 - The Rise of Skywalker polycule.
1:01:07 - Octatonic planing horns.
1:09:51 - Why do we hear the Emperor's theme when we see TIE fighters?
1:17:54 - Rebel Fanfare (planing triads), March of the Resistance, lightspeed skipping.
1:24:40 - John Williams loves/hates us (violinists).
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New: Poetic. Epic. Hopeful.
Previous: Poetic. Epic. Inspiring.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New: How are certain sound design choices made? Which decisions come from the producers vs. sound designers, etc? How is the sound design process different across the various types of Star Wars media?
Previous: The stories behind how various bits of music ended up in the films/shows. "How did that get there?"
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New: TRIGUN STAMPEDE (anime series composed by Tatsuya Kato)
Previous: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (composed by Joe Hisaishi)
TROS 1: Intro to the Music of The Rise of Skywalker (Minutes 1-5)
10 Jul 2023
01:21:06
This is an introduction to the music of The Rise of Skywalker with an emphasis on the first 5 minutes. In the episode, I also go over my aims for this season of Star Wars Music Minute, talk about balancing meta-commentary and media-commentary, and share my favorite thing about the TROS score.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
0:50 - What to expect from this episode.
1:40 - Part 1: The first 5 minutes of TROS.
34:02 - Part 2: The Meta Stuff
41:28 - For Your Consideration (FYC) album.
48:03 - Analyzing and interpreting the media as it stands.
50:32 - Romantic music and Friendship as a major theme.
1:03:04 - Assumptions and shaky premises.
1:13:35 - Upcoming source (diegetic) music.
1:14:31 - Matching my timestamps to Frank Lehman's SW Thematic Catalogue.
1:16:34 - New intro/outro arrangement (based on "Anthem of Evil")
1:19:24 - A little perk for my Discord server (join us!)
ESB 26: Empire Strikes Back Soundtrack Restoration (Minutes 126-128 with Chris Malone)
12 May 2023
03:49:39
Mastering engineer and film music restoration expert Chris Malone joins Xanthe for the season finale to talk about all things Empire Strikes Back soundtrack. We cover a ton of ground, from analog recording technology and methodology to the unique issues affecting The Empire Strikes Back releases. This episode contains many visuals, including spectogram displays that allow us to see tangible differences between various mixes.
5:08 - Do you have one of these Empire Strikes Back soundtrack albums?
12:25 - Film music is recorded to part of the film. There wasn't always an expectation to produce a separate soundtrack album.
18:04 - When, where, and how the Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back scores were recorded. Terminology: 35mm magnetic film, magnetic tape, sprockets, tape machine, magnetic oxide particles, 50Hz tone, reproducer.
24:09 - Using magnetic film for synchronization. Limitations of the tape technology.
33:51 - John Williams editing together multiple takes with Ken Wannberg.
46:05 - What is a 24-track tape? Why does the width of tape matter?
49:58 - What is a live mix, and why is it an important reference for the ESB soundtrack albums?
1:02:53 - Listening to minutes 126-128 (end of the End Title music) while looking at the spectral frequency display.
1:10:27 - Diagonal splices.
1:23:07 - Different version of the Imperial March in the End Credits.
1:37:39 - Differences between the original ESB soundtrack and the Special Edition release.
1:57:37 - Comparison example: "Hyperspace" track on the 4CD and Special Edition releases. Listening for the violin presence and spatial movement of the horns and trombones.
2:09:17 - More spectogram comparisons: "City in the Clouds" and last note of the "Main Title."
2:21:21 - Applying the Hippocratic Oath to score restoration.
2:30:00 - If something was recorded in mono, should it stay mono?
2:40:31 - When it comes to restoring a film score, which sorts of recording artifacts is the engineer trying to correct?
2:42:21 - Example of "wow."
2:48:02 - Flutter.
2:53:13 - Why Chris champions the CD as an audio format.
3:01:21 - What type of gear does Chris use when listening to/analyzing music? (Question from Alex Cunningham)
3:12:06 - Was the ARP 2600 synthesizer overdubbed or recorded with the orchestra for the Empire Strikes Back soundtrack? (Question from Ender Smith)
3:13:58 - What has the transition to digital production done for Star Wars? (Question from Fr. David Mowry)
3:18:14 - Differences between the original 1954 20th Century Fox Fanfare and the one John Williams re-recorded for ESB.
3:20:28 - Eric Tomlinson's technique for recording punchy-sounding brass.
3:25:02 - The original trilogy scores (especially The Empire Strikes Back) could sound 1000x better than they sound on any of the current releases. What might prevent it from happening?
3:28:49 - The 2018 Disney releases of the Original Trilogy (the albums that are on Spotify).
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Simply the best. Thematic orchestral richness. Well of richness.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Everything there is to learn about the first three scores (1977, 1980, 1983). How did they get to where they got? What were the spotting sessions like? What were the internal memos like?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Goldfinger (John Barry). The Lion in Winter (John Barry). Out of Africa (John Barry). Early James Bond scores by John Barry. Raiders of the Lost Ark by John Williams.
ESB 25: Empire Strikes Back Season Highlights (Minutes 121-125)
05 May 2023
02:43:14
Chrysanthe covers minutes 121-125, answers listener questions, and shares their 30 takeaways, trends, surprises, and highlights from The Empire Strikes Back season of Star Wars Music Minute. This is part 1 of a 2-part season finale!
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
ESB answer: Filigree, fanfares, flow.
SOLO answer: Intricate orchestral storytelling.
ANH answer: The Cosmic Force.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
ESB answer: Is there an internal "sonic style guide" at Lucasfilm or Skywalker Sound that's specific to Star Wars? I mean even things like relative loudness of music and dialogue, a specific protocol for mic'ing or looping in aliens, etc. Especially curious if there's anything in the Star Wars style guide that goes against current industry norms.
SOLO answer: The working relationship between the composer and music editor.
ANH answer: I'm curious about how other people experience and engage with the music of Star Wars, on both a macro and micro level. I want to know how other people are making sense of it or analyzing it with frameworks different than mine. Basically, I'm interested in doing what this podcast already gives me the excuse to do -- talk to people about Star Wars music.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
ESB 24: Reverse-Engineering Artoo (Minutes 116-120 with Justin Leo Kennedy)
24 Apr 2023
02:55:36
Justin Leo Kennedy is back for another sound design deep-dive! 🎉 Today, it's all about R2-D2. Using a virtual ARP 2600 synth emulator and a recording of his baby crying, Justin attempts to reverse-engineer Ben Burtt's iconic Artoo beepspeak, teaching us a lot about sound synthesis along the way.
We also discuss minutes 116-120 of The Empire Strikes Back, which feature two of Justin's other favorite sounds –the Millennium Falcon's hyperdrive failure and Artoo's scream.
Check out the YouTube version of this episode to follow along with the live demonstration! https://youtu.be/4crbLjDl5zg
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
10:48 - You may recognize this music from when we were on Hoth.
18:19 - Added Vader scene that cuts into a cue.
39:37 - Little motifs and punctuation sprinkled throughout the orchestra.
44:37 - Cloud City visual comparisons. (This is the timestamp I promised, audio listeners!)
46:43 - Hyperdrive malfunction sound design.
53:47 - Semiotics.
1:03:23 - Band Batch shoutout.
1:14:50 - R2D2 sound design deep dive begins.
1:19:42 - Introduction to the ARP 2600 and ARP 2600 plugin/emulator (It wasn't showing up on screen yet).
1:29:25 - It's showing up now!
1:30:00 - Tour of the virtual ARP 2600.
1:39:43 - Recording of Justin's baby crying.
1:49:03 - Closer examination of the modular synth, patch cable routing, oscillators. Justin's 3 attempts at making the R2 sound.
1:58:41 - Justin's third and best attempt at making the Artoo sound.
2:00:38 - Modulating the speed of the sample and hold with a low frequency oscillator (LFO).
2:09:30 - Shoutout to anyone who is still listening.
Video of Ben Burtt demonstrating Artoo's sound, but it's not zoomed in: "How sound designer Ben Burtt made Star Wars’ iconic sound effects" (Roadtrip Nation) https://youtu.be/WBKKXjNf1sE
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New answer: mrrrm mrrrm mrawww. R2D2 beeping sounds.
Previous answer: pwsh vrrrrum shhpt
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: More about the recording sessions. What kind of relationship did John Williams have with the engineers? What was it like in that studio? What kinds of conversations took place?
Previous answer: "Duel of the Fates" orchestration.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: TRON (composed by Wendy Carlos)
Previous answer: I, Robot (composed by Marco Beltrami), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) (composed by John Du Prez), Spirited Away (composed by Joe Hisaishi)
ESB 23: First Force Foray (Minutes 111-115 with Camila Quiñones)
17 Apr 2023
02:11:29
If you play The Empire Strikes Back backwards, will you hear the wind whispering "Luke?" Are the gentle climaxes on Cloud City byproducts of calculated sensory deprivation? How does John Williams convey Luke's emotional state and connect Leia to the Force? Today's guest is Camila Quiñones -- writer, host of Beings of the Galaxy podcast, and one of my favorite people to talk Star Wars with. This is ESB minutes 110-115, in which Vader delivers the father reveal and Leia senses Luke through the Force.
ESB 22: An Editor’s Film (Minutes 106-110 with Dan Golding)
10 Apr 2023
03:33:09
Dan Golding is here to discuss minutes 106-110 of The Empire Strikes Back! We talk about Ben Burtt's frustrations, intense pedal points, a nasal brass canon, free fanfares, Empire being an "editor's film," and how the music is "meanwhile" (sounds strange, but it'll make sense when you listen to the episode). 😅
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
7:05 - Ben Burtt's frustrations, Irvin Kershner's on-set mic, David Prowse's fitness book, and other delights from Alan Arnold's Journal of the Making of Empire Strikes Back.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: The unreleased music (and alternate cues, etc).
Previous answers: What will Natalie Holt's soundtrack for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series sound like? Given all the new directions that various Star Wars scores have gone since John Williams was at the helm (ex. Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, etc), will we ever return to the original sort of orchestral sound?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: Fleishman Is in Trouble (composed by Caroline Shaw)
Previous answers: Watership Down (composed by Angela Morley) and Vertigo (composed by Bernard Herrmann).
ESB 21: Oedipally Violent Romance (Minutes 101-105 with Takeo Rivera)
03 Apr 2023
02:15:11
Minutes 101-105 of The Empire Strikes Back feature extraordinary drama, peril, romance, and even some lightly comedic underscore. Takeo Rivera (English professor, playwright, performance studies specialist) returns to the show to discuss the score's function as a "warm blanket," Threepio's crush on Lando, the film's romantic aesthetics, and more.
ESB 20: Neapolitan Emergency (Minutes 96-100 with Star Wars Minute)
27 Mar 2023
02:12:54
Pete the Retailer and Alex Robinson from Star Wars Minute join me to discuss the music and sound in minutes 96-100 of The Empire Strikes Back. Han gets frozen in carbonite! John Williams's dramatic, emotional score moves us through the action. In this episode, we also listen to the original footage from the carbonite freezing scene before music was added.
6:50 - Is this the first time someone says "buddy" in Star Wars? (No.)
13:14 - Threepio = superego, Chewie = id.
17:22 - A subtle Han & Leia moment that's easy to miss (visually and musically). Pan and scan technology.
20:15 - Does the first bar of the Imperial March loop an extra time here?
31:02 - Footage of the carbonite freezing scene before music was added + footage from the original spotting session (!)
41:58 - Breakdown of the music from pre-kiss to post-freeze. (Han & Leia in B => Han & Leia in E => Neapolitan Emergency with Chewie's moans => Dramatic dotted triplets => Wailing Imperial March => Funereal themes).
50:29 - Memorable rhythmic feel of the Neapolitan Emergency (with visuals).
56:14 - Dom, filigree check?
1:02:06 - Cool whistle sound. Ben Burtt's sound design secret.
1:08:53 - Meter discrepancy between the soundtrack and film (2 beats cut out).
1:14:10 - Is this the Imperial February? (No.)
1:19:00 - Night on Bald Mountain-esque chromatic violin line.
1:27:07 - Is this the Imperial February? (Yes. Bespin Dirge theme 1.)
1:34:41 - Bespin Dirge part 2. Delicious chords over C pedal.
1:40:22 - "It's a trap!" with Yoda's theme. What's the significance of that?
1:45:30 - Strings/piano call & response.
1:52:01 - Yoda's theme harmony goes D => Db (instead of D => E).
1:55:38 - Speculating on how the carbon freeze calipers were sound-designed.
ESB 19: Mayor of Circuit City (Minutes 91-95 with James Waterman and Justin Scheid)
20 Mar 2023
01:48:46
James Waterman and Justin Scheid from The Band Batch are here for minutes 91-95 of The Empire Strikes Back. We talk about Threepio's analog rejuvenation, the timpani doom roll, and what happens when Star Wars voice actors are overdubbed in later editions (like how Jason Wingreen was replaced by Temura Morrison). We also get to hear Justin's favorite sound and what James considers the funniest line in this movie.
James: Pew. Vrooppf. Rrrrrr. (Previous answers: Bum bum bum. The Band Batch.)
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Justin: Who makes the decision to replace dialogue? (Previous: How is all the foley done?)
James: When original voice actors are replaced by new people, what are those industry conversations like? Is there something in the actors' contracts about the possibility of being replaced? What about SAG, legal specifics, etc? (Previous: What is on-set sound like? What is John Williams's writing process like?)
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Justin: It Follows (DisasterPeace). Previous: Stranger Things (Kyle Dixon/Michael Stein), War of the Worlds (John William), The Village (James Newton Howard).
TROS 10: Dialogue Is the Melody (Minutes 46-50 with Camila Quiñones)
09 Sep 2024
01:33:01
John Williams has a cameo in this set of minutes! Also in minutes 46-50 of The Rise of Skywalker, the gang lands on Kijimi, we meet Zorii Bliss and Babu Frik, and we learn more about the droid hacking thing that'll get C-3PO to translate the Sith inscription. Camila Quiñones returns to the show to talk about the sound-forward worldbuilding of Kijimi, musicality in Star Wars dialogue, anchoring and more!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
9:06 - Friendship theme into Rey's theme. Compassion and selflessness.
16:56 - Lack of music and emphasis on sound does a lot of world-building for Kijimi. Sanitizing effect of music.
22:40 - Music wants to be anchored to what (and who) is important in the story.
27:26 - Fast banter, musicality in the dialogue.
33:50 - Different dialects and speaking trends/styles in different decades of Star Wars. Polystylism.
42:41 - Thoughts on Poe as a character. Musical punctuation.
50:20 - Heroines of Star Wars (Rey, Padme, Leia) and their relationship to hope/idealism.
56:03 - Diegetic music in Oma Tres's bar. Cantina music in Star Wars.
1:02:26 - John Williams's cameo, behind-the-scenes, set decoration.
1:09:12 - C-3PO drives Camila nuts every single movie.
ESB 18: Glory of the Cloud Car (Minutes 86-90 with Nic Tan)
13 Mar 2023
02:00:42
As Yoda says, "There is another." Today's guest is my brother, Nic Tan! We delve into minutes 86-90 of The Empire Strikes Back, which naturally begs discussion about the toys, Boba Fett, Yoda's golden nuggets, cloud cars, negative musical space, changes to film scoring over the decades, how Lando's theme diverges from John Williams's traditional hero themes, questionably un-porcine ugnaught sound design, and why growing up in the prequel era was the golden age of Star Wars fandom (sorry, it's just facts).
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
3:57 - The toys (and Star Wars-branded plastic material).
9:35 - Why Yoda is, without a doubt, the best character in Star Wars.
15:43 - Are Obi-Wan and Yoda equals?
22:12 - Force theme with X-wing sound on top.
24:30 - "They don't make movie scores like they used to" + Phantom Menace memories.
34:13 - Analog synths vs. virtual instruments/sample libraries. Hans Zimmer.
42:15 - Establishing shots of Cloud City with transitional music
43:36 - What makes Boba Fett and cloud cars cool.
47:30 - Demure Main Theme on flute and oboe + harp flourish.
49:23 - Han and Leia theme that trails off with a perfect 5th (with "you're as good as gone").
53:04 - Huge noise contrast when we cut to Chewie in the droid boiler room. Do the ugnaughts sound porcine?
59:57 - Incessant elevator chime.
1:04:13 - Start of cue 9M2 "Vader Shows Up."
1:06:31 - How Lando's theme diverges from John Williams's traditional hero type of theme.
1:14:35 - Who is more powerful: Vader in ESB or Anakin in ROTS? Shadows of the Empire.
ESB 17: Pomp Without Circumstance (Minutes 81-85 with Alex Ludwig)
06 Mar 2023
01:47:45
Musicologist Alex Ludwig (Dies Irae guru) returns to the show to discuss minutes 81-85 of The Empire Strikes Back! We talk about the form, orchestration, and rhythm of the Lando's Palace cue, the stern parenting of Yoda and Obi-Wan, and how the music paints the text.
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New answer: Stories in sound.
Solo season answer: Soaring searching strings.
ANH season answers: Triumphant brass fanfares. Ominous contrapuntal warblings.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: What were the spotting sessions like for this film in particular?
Solo season answer: Who's gonna write the next paradigm-shifting Star Wars score?
ANH season answer: What it's like for new composers (Michael Giacchino, John Powell, Ludwig Göransson, etc) to play in the playground of Star Wars music -- to have all these themes at their fingertips, get to use them and take them to new places. "What is it like to get the keys to this kingdom as a composer?"
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (composed by Disasterpeace AKA Rich Vreeland)
Solo season answer: The Matrix trilogy (composed by Don Davis)
ANH season answer: The Social Network (composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) and Sunset Boulevard (composed by Franz Waxman)
ESB 16: Attack of the Envelope (Minutes 76-80 with Jeremy Sawruk)
27 Feb 2023
02:10:35
Opulent violins and sci-fi vocals can only mean one thing: We're approaching Cloud City! Composer/music technologist Jeremy Sawruk returns to the show to discuss minutes 76-80 of The Empire Strikes Back.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
5:49 - Voice removal.
12:38 - Background "Morse code" sound.
16:34 - Errant horn entrance or sound design?
19:08 - Envelopes! (ADSR.)
26:25 - Open chord sound.
33:54 - Tense Han & Leia theme.
39:25 - A sharp cut in the music (visible on a spectogram).
46:34 - Methodical, meditative Force climb.
57:58 - Shroud of artificial harmonics.
1:02:03 - List of magic-evoking instruments.
1:06:53 - Another abrupt transition/cut.
1:21:00 - The best part of these minutes! (Soaring violin soli approaching Cloud City.)
1:29:08 - Sci-fi vocals.
1:35:41 - Comparing the Cloud City melody to the Sibelius Violin Concerto.
1:48:41 - Spectogram view of a busy section and R2's chirping.
ESB 15: Yoda and the Wolf (Minutes 71-75 with Fr. David and Trevor Mowry)
20 Feb 2023
01:48:44
In The Empire Strikes Back Minutes 71-75, Yoda raises the ship while Luke looks on in disbelief. Oboist Trevor Mowry and Father David Mowry return to SWMM to talk about this emotional cue (complete with the best E Maj7 chord ever), the "Peter and Wolf"-like instrumentation (are you team French horn or team trumpet?), the expansiveness of Yoda's theme, and the tactility of Star Wars sound design. We also cover a fantastic listener question from Tim B!
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Father David: Expansive real horizons. (Previous answer: Raw triumphant heroism.)
Trevor: Past, present, future. (Previous answer: Timeless space adventure)
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Father David: How much has the transition to digital sound production changed the feel of Star Wars?
Trevor: How one gets to be someone who conducts the performances of the live to picture concerts. (Previous answer: Everything about the Cantina Band, the human beings behind Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes. Where did they get these people? Where did they get a steel drum player who could shred like that?)
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Father David: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Previous answer: Baby Driver, directed by Edgar Wright)
Trevor: Vertigo (composed by Bernard Herrmann)
---------------
Trevor Mowry:
Look up "Trevor Mowry oboe" to find lots of oboe-related things online.
Music theorist Dr. Lauren Crosby is here to help us take a closer look at the original Boba Fett theme. We compare the pitch material of John Williams's theme to Ludwig Göransson's Boba Fett theme (which debuted in The Book Of Boba Fett), theorize about the relationship between them, and discuss other things from this action-packed set of minutes too!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
10:53 - When did you become aware of Boba Fett having a theme?
14:02 - Characteristics of the Boba Fett theme.
16:57 - Side by side comparison of Frank Lehman's Boba Fett theme transcription (Bb octatonic) and Lauren Crosby's transcription (C# minor). Same theme, same notes, conceived in different ways.
25:26 - Foreshadowing all the Dies Iraes in these minutes.
31:14 - Comparing John Williams's theme to Ludwig Göransson's Boba Fett theme.
44:09 - Did Ludwig Göransson reference John Williams on purpose?
50:38 - Hypothesizing about the break point of the Dies Irae in Boba Fett's two themes.
58:53 - Attacking a Star Destroyer motif, which also appears in John Powell's SOLO score.
1:04:54 - Satisfying engine sound that melds with the music.
1:09:18 - Carmina Burana moment.
1:10:16 - Dies Irae moment (paging Alex Ludwig).
1:16:02 - Guessing a theme based on two notes.
1:20:04 - Remaining part of the action through the soundscape.
1:23:43 - Upward steps with lower decorations evoke Luke struggling to learn the lesson.
1:26:40 - Organic vs. non-organic sounds on Dagobah. Natural habitat punctuated by Artoo's vocalizations.
1:30:55 - Paging Ender Smith (re: Artoo beeps).
1:33:57 - Ascending scale with ascending ship. The scale is somewhat familiar but sounds unresolved.
ESB 13: Spooky Insecurities (Minutes 61-65 with Ender Smith)
07 Feb 2023
03:31:56
Talking cave visions, glissando lizards, synthesizers, The Magic Tree, magnets, and more with Ender Smith (of AurekFonts)! This is The Empire Strikes Back minutes 61-65.
12:27 - Die Hard director on the purpose of dialogue in films.
16:11 - We love Threepio's scream.
20:27 - Loading up the musical slingshot before jumping to lightspeed.
22:38 - Comparison to the Battle of Hoth.
29:18 - Threepio's backseat piloting. (Is there a supercut of C3PO saying "We're doomed" throughout the 9 saga films?)
32:44 - Space slug!
36:59 - Listener quiz! I play something; you tell me where it appears in the film.
44:31 - Glissando lizard and other Ben Burtt Dagobah creations.
51:31 - The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide.
56:53 - Yoda's words and syntax.
57:53 - Start of tangent (Yoda's teaching style, religious feelings, the Force, the Dark Side, the devil, temptation, mental health, discipline, curiosity, Darth Sidious, attachment, institutions).
1:23:27 - End of tangent.
1:23:46 - Artoo's vibe check.
1:26:10 - Cue 6M5/7M1 "Magic Tree"
1:36:01 - A specific clarinet tone.
1:37:45 - "Mariiiiia."
1:43:47 - Magic Tree waveform (visual).
1:50:39 - Dark Side motif. Flute grace note melody.
1:55:23 - New layers of animal sounds.
2:06:00 - Raiders of the Lost Ark comparison.sunk
2:12:56 - Synthesizer. (Btw, this is not the first appearance of a synth; there was one in last week's minutes too.)
2:25:54 - Visual aid (transcription of repeated string cells).
2:32:29 - Why was the synth used? Musings about the limitations of acoustically amplified orchestral instruments.
2:36:55 - Cave visions are the best part of Star Wars.
2:43:47 - Comparisons to The Last Jedi cave sequence.
2:46:50 - Start of Jedi Fallen Order spoiler.
2:47:43 - End of JFO spoiler.
2:57:44 - Spooky insecurities.
3:03:45 - Vergences in the Force, magnets, sourdough.
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New answer: Colorful, rollercoaster, crosstalk.
Solo season answer: Actually close enough. (to John Williams)
ANH season answer: California radio voiceovers
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: The various vocal effects used for aliens and glissando lizards. He's like to create a plug-in for a DAW.
Solo season answer: How musical notation works in Star Wars. What does Bith notation look like for the Cantina Band? How about Max Rebo's charts? Does he read sheet music or play by ear?
ANH season answer: the making of one musical cue from start to finish
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: Looper (composed by Nathan Johnson)
Solo season answer: The Village (composed by James Newton Howard)
ANH season answer: Knives Out (composed by Nathan Johnson)
ESB 12: Horror With a Punchline (Minutes 56-60 with Suzen Tekla Kruglnska)
30 Jan 2023
01:27:06
Suzen Tekla Kruglnska returns to the show to discuss the humorous horror and philosophical twists in The Empire Strikes Back minutes 56-60! We talk about Kubrick musical connections, Yoda's necklace/instrument, mynock sound design, and the visceral extended techniques used to elicit fear.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
5:36 - Connections to The Shining and The Muppet Show.
ESB 11: Free-Floating Motivic Particles (Minutes 51-55 with Frank Lehman)
23 Jan 2023
02:38:45
In The Empire Strikes Back minutes 51-55, Han and Leia share their first kiss and we meet the Emperor for the first time. Joining me (for the 4th time!) is music theorist/film musicologist Frank Lehman. We discuss the lineage of musical love themes, John Williams's distinctive Lydian signature, the strange proto-Emperor cue, and he gives us a sneak peek of the major updates he's making to the Star Wars Thematic Catalogue.
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New answer: My lifelong obsession.
Solo season: Vaguely remembered music.
ANH season: Dissonant pedal notes. Minor planing triads.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: What was going on in the scoring of Obi-Wan Kenobi?
Solo season: Who will be main composer for the Kenobi series?
ANH season: What are we musically in store for as Star Wars moves onto the next chapters of its development? What was the actual score to Episode IX supposed to be (before changes)?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: White Lotus (series) (composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer)
Solo season: Severance (series) (composed by Theodore Shapiro)
ANH season: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) (composed by Jerry Goldsmith)
ESB 10: Mister Rogers of Star Wars (Minutes 46-50 with Ken Plume)
16 Jan 2023
02:42:10
It's finally time to meet Yoda! Joining me today is writer, producer, and Muppet aficionado Ken Plume. We break down Frank Oz's fantastic performance, including his speech syntax and the vocal qualities that define Yoda vs. Miss Piggy vs. Grover vs. Fozzie vs. Bert and Frank Oz's other classic characters. The music takes a backseat in this scene, giving the audience a chance to really meet and hear Yoda for the first time. This is THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK minutes 46-50.
Check out the video version of this episode if you want to see Ken's puppet demonstrations: https://youtu.be/RCqDQ6XCBc4
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
1:26 - How Ken's tweets made Xanthe appreciate the Muppets more.
7:25 - Listening to the start of these minutes.
13:07 - Piccolo/bassoon line when Luke lights the furnace.
17:04 - Artoo sitting back and watching everything unfold.
18:03 - Is the cue announcing the "magic has entered the room?" Kite metaphor.
27:02 - The Force theme tapping Luke on the shoulder rather than announcing when Luke has entered the room.
32:49 - This scene has Yoda's most extreme, comical vocal performance.
38:37 - Frank Oz voice comparisons. Noise-to-pitch ratio. What do Yoda, Grover, Miss Piggy, Animal, Bert, Cookie Monster, Sam Eagle, and Fozzie have in common? What is different? Grit, cleanliness, gravel, rumble, nasality, rasp, phlegm.
53:42 - Yoda syntax, pedagogy, younglings, Mr. Rogers, action words.
59:17 - Listener question: Do you think Yoda is an accent?
1:05:11 - Things in puppetry that separate amateurs from professionals.
1:10:27 - Puppet sound sync, mouth shapes.
1:17:28 - Listener question: What do you think it does for a puppet performer to portray both speech and action for a single character?
ESB 9: Dagobah Piccolo Workout (Minutes 41-45 with Samantha Tripp)
09 Jan 2023
02:29:06
Flutist & Star Wars music researcher Samantha Tripp returns to the show to talk about the rich sonic environment of Dagobah! This is EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Minutes 41-45.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
4:27 - How do you feel about the Asteroid Field concert arrangement?
16:15 - Violin articial harmonics at the end of the Asteroid Field.
20:12 - Flute harmonics.
29:20 - Semitonal Slip.
36:22 - Muted trombones.
43:07 - Two layers of glissando.
48:03 - The can-can?
50:45 - Dagobah reverb. The rich sonic environment of Dagobah.
54:21 - The music telling us not to be worried about Artoo.
59:35 - Ridiculously high piccolo tutti that would be hard to do in tune. Smart orchestration choice that brings in the Eb clarinet.
1:07:30 - Sinewy, slurred string line that makes the 16th notes sound like syncopated 8th notes.
1:13:18 - An added rest in the Droids theme.
1:27:12 - Tritone at the end of the Dagobah music foreshadowing/leading into the Imperial March.
1:35:20 - Music demarcating the status difference between Vader and Piett.
1:41:48 - Imperial March and the flat submediant.
1:48:48 - The Imperial March's invariance.
2:00:50 - Listener question about potential bias toward British composers.
2:14:10 - Ben Burtt's Dagobah sound design.
2:19:54 - Recap of the 4 sections in these minutes.
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New answer: Texture. Motion. Thematic.
Solo season answer: Powerful, evocative, grandiose
ANH season answer: Powerful, evocative, grandiose
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: More about the behind-the-scenes people: recording engineers, music editors, orchestra librarians, contractors, etc.
Solo season answer: Musician stories from recording the sequel films, particularly The Rise of Skywalker.
ANH season answer: What was it like for the musicians recording the original trilogy, particularly the first film? Did they realize that they were playing something so iconic?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: The Shape of Water (Alexandre Desplat)
Solo season answer: The Shape of Water (composed by Alexandre Desplat)
ANH season answer: Spider-Man: No Way Home (composed by Michael Giacchino)
---------------
Guest: Samantha Tripp
Recursive References and In-Universe Instances of the Imperial March (MaMI conference presentation by Samantha Tripp and Frank Lehman) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYV7O3uSZn0
TROS 9: Symmetrical Design (Minutes 41-45 with Dominic Sewell)
02 Sep 2024
02:46:26
In minutes 41-45 of The Rise of Skywalker, Rey shoots lightning from her fingers and destroys the First Order transport that she believes Chewie is on. Dominic Sewell returns to the show to discuss symmetry in the Friendship theme, the shroud over John Williams's writing process, mus-emes (musical memes), and more!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
8:47 - Listening to the beginning of these minutes.
9:41 - Big B buildup reminds Dom of a part from Wozzeck (Alban Berg).
22:02 - Assigning meaning to pitches depending on the context.
27:53 - Music climbing by semitonal increments. Failed climb in the brass.
31:53 - Do you think this score has more in common with Revenge of the Sith and/or Return of the Jedi than any other particular film?
39:22 - John Williams thinking visually (speculation).
45:15 - The shroud over John Williams's process. Broad strokes and modalities. German/Austro-Hungarian versus Russian/French sound worlds.
52:00 - Williams will go down as one of the greatest orchestrators.
59:37 - Octatonic goodness.
1:05:15 - Descant.
1:09:08 - The recording of this film is incredible (close, clear, dry, not swathed in reverb)
1:12:34 - Symmetry in the Friendship Theme.
1:22:14 - Threepio.
1:26:12 - Interesting voicing (clarinet is buried in the brass texture).
1:33:35 - Juxtaposition of two completely different themes. Intrusive thoughts.
1:38:53 - Kamino Kaper tangent.
1:44:43 - Does John Williams explicitly engage with duality in his theme-writing?
1:49:12 - Zimmerfication of Williams?
1:55:39 - Our favorite Rise of Skywalker musical themes.
ESB 8: Asteroid Feelings (Minutes 36-40 with Dennis Hamm)
02 Jan 2023
02:44:07
We're getting into the Asteroid Field with Thundercat pianist Dennis Hamm! In this episode, we explore the complex harmony, emotion, and triumph in this cue that John Williams once called "a ballet of flying spaceships and asteroids colliding." Dennis also administers a fun listening test toward the end that you'll want to stick around for (there are no wrong answers). This is The Empire Strikes Back minutes 36-40.
Timstamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
3:59 - Listening to the minutes.
10:13 - Leia's themes touching on Lydian mode.
11:36 - Thinking in chords vs. melodies.
16:17 - Modal modulation. David Huron. Acoustic Ethological Model (AEM).
22:05 - A theory on why Han and Leia's theme sounds melancholic. (It involves overtones.)
29:48 - Four quadrants.
37:28 - Triumphant splash. More lydian talk.
45:14 - Beginning of 4M3 The Asteroid Field.
51:15 - "A ballet of flying spaceships and asteroids colliding."
ESB 7: Musical Referee (Minutes 31-35 with Conor Power)
26 Dec 2022
02:05:19
Film music PhD researcher Conor Power joins me for a discussion about The Empire Strikes Back minutes 31-35. We're finishing up the Battle of Hoth along with some shrill piccolos, rollicking pianos, an "extra minor" Luke theme, and a brass line that we both fancy for reasons we try to figure out. As the episode title suggests, the music in this cue seems to act like a referee keeping score between the Rebels and Empire (find out who the musical "winner" of these minutes is at the end of the episode). We also discuss the "Feminine Romantic Cliche" (FRC) as it pertains to Leia's theme and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
02:44 - Ben Burtt's AT-AT sound design.
08:18 - The music acting as a referee.
14:51 - Piercing shrill piccolo.
22:55 - Foreshadowing the Asteroid Field.
24:16 - Comm voices match visual cuts.
25:51 - These pianos! ❤️
34:27 - Luke's theme "extra minor."
42:44 - Stark, despondent Han and Leia scene.
45:12 - Why does this brass part stick out to us (in a good way)?
51:30 - Why the Force theme here?
1:03:08 - Tchaikovsky 4th Symphony + using spidey senses.
1:09:07 - Rebels gaining the upper hand (musically).
1:15:32 - Harry Potter comparison (joking chromatic string texture).
1:21:48 - Leia's theme and Feminine Romantic Cliche (FRC).
1:30:48 - Music + Millennium Falcon vroooom = perfection.
1:33:55 - "Captain Solo! Captain Solo!" Is Threepio's line doubled?
1:39:10 - Who actually wins the Battle of Hoth?
1:43:59 - ESB's more subtle dynamic between Han and Leia.
1:53:24 - Who wins the musical battle in these minutes?
ESB 6: Battle of Hoth Set Theory (Minutes 26-30 with Dominic Sewell)
19 Dec 2022
03:01:35
We're getting deep into the Battle of Hoth today! This is minutes 26-30 of The Empire Strikes Back with composer/orchestrator Dominic Sewell. The quickie topic is a primer on the anatomy and function of a score.
To follow along with the visuals in this episode, I recommend checking out the video version (or just spot checking the areas you want to see): https://youtu.be/oOvHkaciOVk
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
2:10 - What stands out to you about the Battle of Hoth?
8:26 - Who is the greatest 20th century composer?
10:30 - Quickie topic: Anatomy and function of a score.
16:05 - Start of these minutes.
18:51 - Contrapuntal fudge.
28:18 - Frank Lehman's breakdown of the Battle of Hoth themes from a-z.
32:46 - Cool things about octatonic scales and John Williams's use of them.
45:42 - Military preparation theme (e)
48:00 - "One is okay, two is memorable, three is too much."
54:05 - Optimistic Walton-esque theme (h)
1:01:07 - Increasing rhythm, momentum, texture before big crescendo.
1:03:35 - Start of 3M3 "The Snow Battle"
1:10:30 - Pitch class sets, Forte numbers, using the pitch-class set calculator. 4-19, 6-z19, 5-32, 8-28, etc...
1:26:29 - “Fingers are not to be despised: they are the great inspirers, and, in contact with a musical instrument, often give birth to subconscious ideas which might otherwise never come to life.” -Stravinsky
1:29:10 - Alpha chords.
1:38:47 - What JW wrote about this cue in the liner notes ("bizarre, mechanical, brutal...")
1:49:10 - "The rub" + Why are minor seconds and major sevenths "the same?"
2:00:14 - "Into the Maw" from Solo: A Star Wars Story.
2:06:13 - Cluster splurge.
2:13:33 - Diverging outline.
2:19:01 - Filigree, frills, and trills.
2:23:41 - 6-20 classic hexatonic set.
2:31:40 - Philosophical question: how do you decide the boundaries of the set you're analyzing?
2:36:46 - The Hoth sequence contains nearly all of John Williams's action hallmarks.
ESB 5: Weeds of the Reeds (Minutes 21-25 with Stephanie Manning)
12 Dec 2022
02:24:18
In minutes 21-25 of The Empire Strikes Back, Vader sets course for the Hoth system while the Rebels prepare to defend their base. Joining me today is Stephanie Manning, a bassoonist, writer, and 2022 Fellow of the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism. We talk about the Imperial March, the contrast between Rebel and Empire music, and the bassoon's role in the orchestra.
Sidenote: Stephanie is the first bassoonist I've had on the show, so it was high time for a thorough introduction to this often-overlooked but very present instrument that's part of the Star Wars scores.
Check out the video version of this episode if you want to see the bassoon visuals. Once Disney accepts my copyright dispute, it will be right here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2abkoRqBMwQ (Maddeningly, the video is currently blocked at the time of initial release. 😵💫)
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
8:20 - Quickie Lesson: Primer to the Instruments of the Orchestra
13:55 - Hard to imagine hearing the Imperial March for the first time.
17:26 - "Pay attention to me" melodies.
24:31 - Imperial March vs. Chopin's Funeral March.
30:52 - Imperial March vs. John Philip Sousa marches.
39:17 - Bassoon show and tell (range, embouchure, double reed, height comparison, how the keys work, how sound is produced)
48:03 - The part where I promised there would be a timestamp.
54:01 - Bassoon playing demonstration.
1:00:02 - How to mic a bassoon.
1:02:08 - Orchestrating bassoon.
1:08:48 - What made Stephanie choose to play the bassoon? (It's not a commonly chosen instrument.)
1:24:55 - Standout bassoon moments in orchestral literature.
1:29:10 - End of bassoon tangent (lol) and back to the buildup of strings to the Imperial March drop.
ANH 19: Run, Luke! Run! (Minutes 91-95 with Father David and Trevor Mowry) https://youtu.be/9FZgc1x5slg <-- Oboist Trevor Mowry also got into the weeds of the reeds.
ESB 4: Snowspeeder Macroharmony (Minutes 16-20 with Jenn Harding)
05 Dec 2022
01:51:54
Music theorist Dr. Jenn Harding joins Xanthe for an analysis of minutes 16-20 of The Empire Strikes Back. We talk about textural shifts, snowspeeder sound design, macroharmony, musical structure, spectrograms, math, intonation, the Leia-Han-Luke love triangle (and what the music has to say about it), and more!
ESB 3: Snowy Spectralism (Minutes 11-15 with Jacob Jahiel)
28 Nov 2022
01:09:25
This episode is about minutes 11-15 of The Empire Strikes Back with my guest Jake Jahiel -- a musicologist, Baroque music specialist, and 2022 Fellow of the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism. Today, we're talking about the Spectralist-adjacent music of Hoth, the Force theme that sprang from the petri dish, Wagner's influence, and the music that John Williams originally wrote that got cut from this scene.
ESB 2: Wampa Vision (Minutes 6-10 with Christina Ward)
21 Nov 2022
01:31:51
This episode is about minutes 6-10 of The Empire Strikes Back, and composer-artist Christina Ward returns to the show to discuss! The YouTube version of this episode is here: https://youtu.be/xHuhO51iYuc
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
02:15 - Listening to the beginning of these minutes.
08:17 - Assessing the feelings behind Han and Leia's dialogue.
12:28 - Slow, awkward waltz.
16:41 - Threepio slander.
24:32 - Irvin Kershner wanted the ESB score to be spare.
29:44 - Talking through a part of the score.
36:47 - Reverse-engineering the Wampa based on how the Wampa sounds.
41:07 - Swarming, swirling strings rise up. Reminiscent of the Moldau (by Smetana).
49:27 - Getting the notes exactly right vs. "this is an effect."
"The Wampa's Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan/Snowspeeders Take Flight"
Cue Numbers and Names:
1M2B "The Imperial Probe - Part 2" aka "New Start"
1M3/2M1 "Luke's Escape"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Old answer: Heartfelt. Direct. Dramatic.
New answer: Droids. Hopeful. Dramatic.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Old answer: What are the thematic relationships that tie the dark side with Imperialism, musically speaking? Similarly, what musical relationships tie the light side with rebellion and goodness?
New answer: What the aural representation of Chiss brainwaves, particularly Sky-walkers, would be.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Old answer: Dune (music composed by Hans Zimmer, sound team led by Mark Mangini and Theo Green)
New answer: Ms. Marvel (composed by Laura Karpman) and Moon Knight (composed by Hesham Nazih)
ESB 1: The First Five Minutes of Empire (Minutes 1-5)
14 Nov 2022
01:20:41
This episode is an introduction to the music of The Empire Strikes Back, with a special emphasis on minutes 1-5. Welcome to THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK SEASON of Star Wars Music Minute! 🎉 (No guest today; just Xanthe.)
Solo 29: Interview with Baraka May (Singer on ”Chicken in the Pot”)
23 Sep 2022
01:39:57
Baraka May has recording vocals on over 500 films, TV shows, video games, commercials, and albums. Today, we're discussing her work on "Chicken In the Pot" in Solo: A Star Wars Story! 🐔 Baraka reflects on the recording process, talks about how she approached the Huttese dialect, and talks about how she and John Powell experimented with pitch and speed-shifting in order to land on the unique "Chicken in the Pot" vocals.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
04:20 - How did Baraka get called in to sing "Chicken in the Pot?"
11:09 - Baraka's training as a singer, actor, and voiceover artist. Becoming a "utility singer."
17:30 - Brazilian Bossa Nova + breathy + nasal.
19:27 - Recording the original demo in Sith, then changing it to Huttese.
23:11 - "Chicken in the Pot" vocals were recorded in a fast tempo, then slowed down. John Powell and Baraka May played around with lots of approaches.
31:39 - The pitch bending was Baraka's own improvisation + flavor. There are no microtones notated.
37:10 - Baraka's friend Reid Bruton ended up singing the bass backup vocals for the film version.
41:00 - "Chicken in the Pot" lyrics and translation confirmed!
45:00 - The high-pitched backup vocal was achieved by singing in a character voice in a slightly lower pitch, then pitching it up a little. "Sprechstimme" = speak-sing.
57:35 - How did Baraka remember her vocal placement when she went back to the studio for re-records?
1:00:41 - Maintaining vocal health with a full schedule of session work.
1:12:12 - What kinds of voices and styles are trendy? Baraka's favorite vocalists to emulate.
1:21:31 - What was Baraka's first "Chicken in the Pot" take for John Powell like?
1:26:16 - Posh Huttese.
1:28:51 - SWMM Questionnaire
1:35 28 - If Solo 2 happens, would Baraka be down to reprise her role as Aurodia Ventafoli ("CITP" singer)?
Solo 28: Interview with Iain Farrington (Pianist for Solo: A Star Wars Story)
09 Sep 2022
01:40:17
Iain Farrington played piano and celeste for the Solo: A Star Wars Story soundtrack! In this episode, we listen to some of our favorite piano moments from the Solo soundtrack, and Iain talks about what it was like to record those cues. He also shares stories from the recording sessions and gives us insight into how he approaches different types of piano cues.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
00:39 - Why was the Solo score recorded in London?
04:08 - "Meet Han" (piano solo toward the beginning of the film).
10:55 - When Ron Howard came to the sessions.
13:46 - Watching John Powell write the Elgarian Imperial March arrangement during lunch, then recording different versions.
23:11 - How did Iain "get the call" to do this gig?
26:16 - "L3 and the Millennium Falcon" - What it was like to play the Star Wars Main Theme on the celeste (when we meet the Millennium Falcon in the movie).
41:14 - How does Iain approach recording piano with an orchestra vs. recording for a solo piano project?
51:07 - "Dryden's Long, Long Fight" (romantic piano solo during Han and Qi'ra's last scene together).
1:02:23 - Xanthe's random, specific questions about the recording process (how many days? headphones? what was in his monitor mix? challenges?)
1:15:13 - How does Iain balance his work as a composer, arranger, and performer?
TROS 8: Bad Boys for Life (Minutes 36-40 with Patrick Cotnoir)
26 Aug 2024
01:19:13
In minutes 36-40 of The Rise of Skywalker, Rey heals the vexis, the Knights of Ren arrive on Pasaana, Rey confronts Kylo Ren in the desert, and Chewie is captured. Today, Patrick Cotnoir (The George Lucas Talk Show, The Naboo Movie, The Great Kamino Kaper) joins me to discuss over-the-top evil music, the sound design of Kylo/Rey's desert showdown, and an ominous M7 interval.
Clarification: The "Speeder Chase" track that we talk about toward the end of this episode pertains to a scene from earlier in the movie (check out previous episode, TROS 6: Speeder Chase Shenanigans with Conor Power, for more detail about that).
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
3:08 - Rey heals the serpent, Force theme, cool sound design.
5:06 - Favorite Star Wars noises.
13:11 - Sound conveying scale.
16:15 - Over-the-top evil music for the Knights of Ren (funny).
21:29 - Patrick's Boolio story.
24:13 - Ominous descending major 7th interval. (Everything is not okay!) (Foreshadowing?)
31:30 - March of the Resistance in Ochi's ship. Insistent repeated figure (Viennese trichord).
38:42 - Patrick swears he hears Darth Vader breathing here.
41:33 - Crafting the sound world for the Kylo/Rey confrontation in the desert.
45:49 - Psalm of the Sith (Anthem of Evil)
51:33 - Kylo's TIE whisper getting closer. How are the strings making that noise?
54:26 - Sound design for the part where Rey flips and slices Kylo's wing in slo-mo.
55:55 - Music for the speeder chase (in minutes 26-30) was cut.
59:49 - The musicality of Kylo's ship spinning out of control.
1:02:57 - Return of the ominous M7 interval from before. Chewie is captured.
1:05:34 - Playing a bit of the "Speeder Chase" track that didn't make it in the film. To clarify, this track was supposed to be in an earlier part of the film ("they fly now?")--not these minutes.
Xanthe wraps up coverage of Solo: A Star Wars Story (minutes 131-135) by taking a closer look at the music and sound credits. What do sound editors, music editors, orchestra contractors, and re-recording mixers do? We'll also review the nine new leitmotifs that Solo added to the Star Wars oeuvre.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
01:27 - Music and sound end credits and what the various roles do.
1:01:54 - The nine new leitmotifs from Solo.
1:24:30 - Final thoughts on the film, score, and season.
1:37:58 - What does Star Wars sound like (according to all the Solo season guests)?
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New answer: Intricate orchestral storytelling.
Previous answer: The Cosmic Force.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: The working relationship between the composer and music editor.
Previous answer: I'm curious about how other people experience and engage with the music of Star Wars, on both a macro and micro level. I want to know how other people are making sense of it or analyzing it with frameworks different than mine. Basically, I'm interested in doing what this podcast already gives me the excuse to do -- talk to people about Star Wars music.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: Moonrise Kingdom.
Previous answer: There Will Be Blood (composed by Jonny Greenwood)
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Solo 26: Lightspeed to End Credits (Minutes 126-130 with Star Wars Minute)
20 Aug 2022
02:00:37
Today, we're obsessing over the transition to the end credits in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Pete and Alex from Star Wars Minute are here to join me! (Ring theory.) We compare the Solo credits to The Empire Strikes Back, The Phantom Menace, and more.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
05:26 - How Solo transitions to the end credits.
17:46 - End credits transitions in saga films vs. Star Wars Story films.
25:45 - Sooo that's how the Solo soundtrack ends?
37:03 - Is Solo the most "prequel-ly" of the Disney-era films? What does that even mean?
44:09 - What do Pete and Alex think of John Powell's Solo score overall?
55:00 - What does Xanthe think of the score overall?
57:21 - The two versions of the Solo soundtrack and what their differences are.
1:01:35 - Han and Qi'ra's love theme.
1:08:29 - Does the Solo Deluxe soundtrack have multiple versions of the same cue?
1:12:32 - The Leia to Han & Leia to Han & Qi'ra to Marion pipeline.
1:20:22 - Is jaunty music appropriate for the droid rebellion?
1:32:40 - Discord questions.
1:40:31 - Which guests would Pete and Alex like to hear on Star Wars Music Minute?
1:47:10 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
ANH 1: The First Five Minutes of Star Wars (Minutes 1-5 with Pete and Alex from Star Wars Minute) - https://youtu.be/8jvjTESH1XE
Solo 25: The Raconteur (Minutes 121-125 with Star Wars Lawyer)
12 Aug 2022
01:15:43
In minutes 121-125 of Solo: A Star Wars Story, Beckett dies, Qi'ra leaves, and we reunite with Lando the Raconteur in his fancy jungle room. Star Wars Lawyer (Kris) returns to the show for a discussion about solemn death music, Lando's themes, Lando cosplay, and more!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
07:17 - How do you feel about Han and Qi'ra's romance?
10:26 - Death and solemnity in Star Wars.
17:19 - Death of the dream (Qi'ra and Han's)
21:21 - Yacht sound design, a dirty rumble.
26:18 - Star Wars audiobooks.
30:24 - Why does Enfys Nest call Han a "leader" and a "warrior"? Is he, really?
35:59 - This is where the fun begins.
40:10 - Diegetic music: "Lando's Jungle Room."
45:55 - Non-diegetic music: "Sabacc Rematch"... but something about it almost sound diegetic?
52:58 - Lando's music throughout the Star Wars saga (Empire Strikes Back through Solo and Rise of Skywalker). Speculating on what Lando's themes might sound like in the future.
59:33 - What do you want in a Lando show?
1:05:51 - SWMM Questionnaire
1:12:28 - How Kris discovered that he could do the Vader voice.
"Dice & Roll" & "Sabacc Rematch / To Tatooine (7M47-48)"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
A galactic symphony
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: Deep dive into John Williams's mindset when he wrote his love themes: "Across the Stars," "Han Solo and the Princess," and "Princess Leia's Theme."
Previous answer: A deeper dive into the Star Wars themes (motifs, etc)
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: The Prince of Egypt score and soundtrack (by Hans Zimmer and Stephen Schwartz), How to Train Your Dragon (composed by John Powell)
Previous answer: Interstellar (composed by Hans Zimmer), Tron: Legacy (composed by Daft Punk), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (composed by Michael Giacchino)
Solo 24: Better Call Maul (Minutes 116-120 with The Band Batch)
06 Aug 2022
03:35:50
Maul's entire sound situation in minutes 116-120 of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY is absolute wildness. James Waterman and Justin Scheid (from The Band Batch) are here with Xanthe to discuss!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
01:31 - Our extremely cute matching outfits.
08:04 - Analog sword fighting.
11:00 - Space pirate polyrhythms + a tangent about notating polyrhythms.
20:26 - Cool accents on beat 2 during the heroic end of the fight.
24:04 - Is Han's theme almost "the lick?"
26:09 - Powell's blend of classic + modern elements, cinematic toms, electronic drums
32:59 - Clap for James's joke.
35:04 - Beginning of Qi'ra and Han's romantic (?) scene.
37:39 - How do Justin and James feel about the "Secrets" theme.
43:56 - Han & Qi'ra's wistful piano theme = a unique moment for a Star Wars score.
53:08 - Giant interval leaps associated with yearning, longing, romance.
58:40 - The weirdest line: "Smile."
1:01:54 - Qi'ra's motivations.
1:08:44 - Darth Maul.
1:16:00 - Time warp.
1:26:30 - Maul's position in the sound mix, microphone technique, speakers, and why does he sound like that? 😩
1:53:23 - Duel of the Fates.
2:03:58 - The original key of Duel of the Fates is maintained here. Does that matter?
2:25:35 - Beckett and Han scene begins. Difference between soundtrack version and film version of score.
2:46:15 - Rundown of musical stats (should the Rebel Fanfare count or no?) with a brief introduction to what Frank Lehman calls "associative progressions."
2:50:42 - Answering listener questions (from Alex C.) about our own experiences composing for film.
3:05:59 - Will there always be a place for "conventional" and/or orchestral film scores?
Mono (film by Sangam Sharma, collaboratively scored by Chrysanthe Tan and 5 other musicians). Xanthe composed "Still," "A Darkroom," and "Void" (from 35:00-48:17) - https://vimeo.com/149306826
Solo 23: Tension Engine (Minutes 111-115 with Alex Ludwig)
29 Jul 2022
01:28:21
Alex Ludwig AKA the Dies Irae Guru AKA @Film Music Tropes is back to discuss minutes 111-115 of Solo: A Star Wars Story! Spoiler: Alex and Xanthe noticed one Dies Irae reference each in these minutes, but they were completely different spots... In this episode, we also discuss "Jason Bourne in Space," fawn over the Secrets motif progression, and give John Powell a retrospective A on his voice leading homework. 😛
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
02:28 - Alex's (Dies Irae-related) issues with this film score.
07:09 - What about Jyn's theme in Rogue One?
08:45 - Powell's clever use of the Secrets motif.
11:25 - Clarification about Dies Irae and DSCH.
15:16 - Powell doing a lot of work in the score to underline the scenic transitions.
17:47 - Paul Bettany as Dryden Vos, Michael K. Williams.
22:29 - Col legno and battuto
29:05 - Do you remember this Fakery motif from anywhere?
34:22 - Flying vs fighting music in this score.
39:20 - A good assignment for burgeoning film composers.
41:15 - Breaking down this smooth Secrets progression (we LOVE it).
45:39 - Effective voice leading.
47:06 - Xanthe's Dies Irae.
49:25 - Alex's Dies Irae is a "tension engine" (Dies Irae Type 3B = ostinato with inversions and reversals)
54:35 - Are these cue names puns? Is John Powell channeling Michael Giacchino?
57:46 - Sound/music mixing choices.
1:04:19 - Jason Bourne in Space, different flavors of action scoring
1:15:37 - Running a few Solo "Dies Iraes" by Alex.
The part in "This Is Halloween" (Nightmare Before Christmas) where they sing "In this town of Halloween" and it sounds kind of like the Fakery motif in Solo - https://youtu.be/ZVuToMilP0A?t=40
John Powell saying in an interview that he would have liked to make the music louder during the train heist scene (GoSeeTalk) - https://youtu.be/hDDrUaowGhY?t=2689
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Previous answer: What it's like for new composers (Michael Giacchino, John Powell, Ludwig Göransson, etc) to play in the playground of Star Wars music -- to have all these themes at their fingertips, get to use them and take them to new places. "What is it like to get the keys to this kingdom as a composer?"
New answer: Who's gonna write the next paradigm-shifting Star Wars score?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Previous answer: The Social Network (composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) and Sunset Boulevard (composed by Franz Waxman)
New answer: The Matrix trilogy (composed by Don Davis)
Solo 22: Herrmann Over Jaws (Minutes 106-110 with Suzen Tekla Kruglnska)
22 Jul 2022
01:53:33
Suzen Tekla Kruglnska is here with me to discuss minutes 106-110 of Solo: A Star Wars Story! We talk about auditory illusions, the coaxium motif, John Powell's flowing scene transitions, and a potentially awkward music edit.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
04:13 - Beckett's "wheel spinning" music.
08:33 - Cliche or trope? In the ear of the beholder.
16:36 - Is there an abrupt edit here?
26:53 - Paul Bettany as Dryden Vos.
34:33 - Dryden is a villain. Why doesn't he have a musical theme?
45:46 - Everybody's faking it!
53:50 - Coaxium motif at the beginning of "Double Double Cross"
1:06:34 - Bernard Herrmann over Jaws.
1:12:31 - DSCH, Dies Irae motif (hi, Alex Ludwig), people holding axes in movies.
1:20:58 - Ta-da music during the big reveal.
1:27:57 - A spot where the music gets playful.
1:33:27 - Suzen's final thoughts about Solo and Star Wars music in general.
Witness movie clip (Samuel finds a picture of the murderer in a framed newspaper clipping, and Maurice Jarre's score kicks in) - https://youtu.be/LmdcbtSwX6Q
Want to continue the conversation on Discord? All patrons have access to the Friends of Xanthe Discord server, where we chat about all things Star Wars and music! The server is patron-only, for any level of support. https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Solo 21: Shades of Revelation (Minutes 101-105 with Alex Cunningham)
15 Jul 2022
01:50:43
The "Secrets" theme can be easy to miss, but not in minutes 101-105 of Solo: A Star Wars Story! The veil of secrecy is lifted as the "Secrets" motif cycles through a progression of revelatory chords leading to Crimson Dawn. This is one of Xanthe's favorite musical moments in the film. Alex Cunningham returns to the show to nerd out about it!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
03:14 - Visual preview of these minutes.
11:33 - What makes the buildup to the Crimson Dawn reveal so interesting?
14:56 - Same pitch collection as Enfys Nest theme.
17:29 - Is the instrumentation gendered?
20:57 - How the harmony contributes to the buildup and reveal (plus some sweet, sweet Major 7th action).
30:12 - Timbral interaction between bass singers and bass flute.
32:06 - Addressing the whole Augie's Municipal Band and Emperor's Theme thingy.
36:26 - Does Frank Lehman have a list of how many variants of a theme are present in each movie?
45:32 - The chords matter in the "Secrets" theme. Otherwise, it's just 3 notes that arguably sound like Jurassic Park.
51:09 - Brief "March of the Resistance" cameo.
54:45 - Enfys Nest's accent, British accents in Star Wars for women, especially women of color.
1:02:01 - Alden Ehrenreich's performance.
1:07:02 - "Secrets" theme 7x: Cycling through the chord progression. (C Major, A half diminished 7, E minor, C minor, A7, Eb Major, C Major)
1:17:00 - Kurosawa-esque sound design on Savareen.
1:27:03 - Qi'ra's intuition about Han + the classic moviemaking time trick.
1:30:24 - Different interpretations of the harp during Beckett's goodbye.
1:33:56 - A critique about the Millennium Falcon takeoff sound.
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Previous answer: John. Ben. James.
New answer: John. Ben. James.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Previous answer: What other sound designers does Ben Burtt admire?
New answer: Who is on the foley team, and how do they think and talk about foley? Do they see themselves as sound designers, how do they approach their creative work?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Previous answer: Akira (composed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi), The Harder They Come (primarily featuring Jimmy Cliff)
New answer: Station Eleven (composed by Dan Romer)
Solo 20: Savareen Tumbleweed (Minutes 96-100 with John Hoey)
08 Jul 2022
01:28:26
The music and sound design truly form a symbiotic circle in minutes 96-100 of Solo: A Star Wars Story! John Hoey (from The Resistance Broadcast and #MakeSolo2Happen) joins Xanthe in a discussion about the striking soundscapes of Savareen.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
05:06 - Taking a listen to the beginning of these minutes.
10:31 - Lack of music leaves us guessing.
12:16 - Comparing Savareen (SOLO) with Tatooine (A NEW HOPE).
19:59 - Lando and Han's touching moment.
23:45 - John Powell's thoughts on Han and Qi'ra's theme.
34:48 - Han's lucky streak.
42:37 - Vibraphone cue bolstering the spare sound design.
47:11 - We "hear" the Cloud-riders (rumble) before we see them.
56:29 - Han unbuckling his holster is major Clint Eastwood vibes.
1:03:49 - Diagonal shot, Dutch angles.
1:10:17 - Recap of the various sound hierarchies observed in these minutes.
End of "Into the Maw" and "Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs (5M32-33A-B-C)"
"Savareen Tent (6M34)"
"Enfys' Stand-Off (6M35)" and "Savareen Stand-Off"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Endlessly imaginative adventure.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
The future of Star Wars music. Will there be one main composer that takes over for John Williams, or will it continue being more of a per project thing like it is with Natalie Holt, Ludwig Göransson, etc?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Catch Me If You Can (composed by John Williams), Psycho (composed by Bernard Herrmann), The Batman (composed by Michael Giacchino), Man of the Steel (composed by Hans Zimmer)
Solo 19: The Kitchen Sink (Minutes 91-95 with Jon Solomon)
01 Jul 2022
02:00:57
Talking about the music and sound in minutes 91-95 of Solo: A Star Wars Story with Jon Solomon! This set of minutes features a giant space tentacle monster, which, in part, is brought to life by the score and sound design. We talk about tension-building, our perceptions of musical "fastness," and a mysterious howling sound that Xanthe and Jon are now mildly obsessed with.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
08:39 - Placid chord when Lando says the L3 is part of the ship now.
18:37 - Stellar screen displays.
37:30 - Is this music as fast as music gets in Star Wars? What does "fast" mean? Strong beats? Density of notes?
43:53 - The difference between a smooth cross-country flight and a spaceship flying through a maelstrom with a giant multi-eyed creature in the middle of it.
46:41 - Loud MRI machines.
53:38 - What's up with this howling noise?
1:05:06 - Familiar themes but with a note tweaked to make it off-kilter.
1:09:27 - Cue vs. track vs. composition vs. score vs. recording vs. leitmotif vs. theme. Natural variation in themes. Skeleton vs. soft tissue, etc et. (I know, I know, how many times must I go on this spiel? Sorry!)
1:18:39 - Natural water filtration analogy.
1:25:18 - Multiple interpretation of the same howl/screech/alarm-ish sound.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to show extra appreciation, feel free to buy me a coffee and shout out the guest! https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
Solo 18: Powered By Thirds (Minutes 86-90 with Jeremy Sawruk)
24 Jun 2022
02:02:55
Jeremy Sawruk returns to the show to talk minutes 86-90 of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Today, we're getting into the Kessel Run, which features familiar themes from the Asteroid Field, Here They Come, and more. On the soundtrack, you'll find this cue in "Reminiscence Therapy" and "Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs."
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
07:17 - Listening to the beginning of these minutes and comparing them to A New Hope.
14:35 - Thirds, avoidance of chordal resolution
17:08 - Does this chord progression sound inevitable? Deceptive cadences. Search: "chromatic mediants composition secrets."
22:40 - How L3's theme is building tension.
27:37 - John Powell glue, "Corellia Chase," adding momentum by raising the bottom note.
31:05 - The parameters that composers can tweak to raise intensity: louder, faster, add instruments, make notes go higher, etc.
TROS 7: Silent Animals (Minutes 31-35 with Sawyer Markham)
19 Aug 2024
01:07:31
In minutes 31-35 of The Rise of Skywalker, Rey and the gang fall through the sinking fields, find Ochi's dagger, and encounter a snarling serpent. Sawyer Markham joins me today to talk about ambient loops, snake sounds, musical exit points, and more!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
3:06 - Sawyer's overall thoughts about the music in this film.
7:30 - Ambient loops at Disneyland.
15:04 - Why does this sound familiar? (music when they sink into the quicksand and land in the vexus's cave)
20:00 - Lightsabers in the cave.
25:55 - Unmetered music that doesn't feel strictly tied to beats.
27:49 - "Magic Tree" (from Empire Strikes Back)
35:28 - Dagger motif / How to identify musical themes.
Solo 17: Adagio for L3 (Minutes 81-85 with Lacey Gilleran)
17 Jun 2022
01:33:30
Lacey Gilleran from Resistance Broadcast is here to talk about the music in Solo minutes 81-85! We discuss the tragic scoring of L3's death, the gravitational pull of pedal points, musical depth of field, and, of course, #MakeSolo2Happen.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
00:54 - MakeSolo2Happen
09:50 - Swashbuckling adventures.
15:53 - Young Han Solo's Searching theme, ascending
21:40 - Music as a strong guiding hand.
24:44 - Gravitational pull of the pedal point, Lando's denial, stratospheric strings.
34:19 - Sound mixing when Lando is in the shock-grief bubble.
38:42 - Is this a reference to Han and Leia?
52:12 - One of Lacey's favorite shots in Star Wars.
59:39 - Things sound different on the Falcon because of the room change.
1:02:31 - Rebel Fanfare offers heroic glimpses into the future while the Young Han Heroic theme represents Han settling back into himself for now.
1:04:42 - Listening to L3's death, tragic strings, solo trumpet like military funerals.
1:13:20 - How the Solo novelization depicts L3's death (including from her POV)...
1:22:19 - SWMM Questionnaire
1:30:49 - Goodbye and where to find Lacey Gilleran and Resistance Broadcast.
Very beginning of "Reminiscence Therapy" and "Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs (5M32-33A-B-C)"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Emotional. Sweeping. Adventure.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
How do composers figure out what a character sounds like? Ex: How did John Williams decide what Rey and Yoda sounded like?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Howl's Moving Castle (composed by Joe Hisaishi), Pirates of the Caribbean (composed by Klaus Badelt and produced by Hans Zimmer), Pride and Prejudice (composed by Dario Marianelli), Coco (composed by Michael Giacchino with original songs by various artists), Tron: Legacy (composed by Daft Punk).
Solo 16: Contrapuntal Droid Rebellion (Minutes 76-80 with Riley Silverman)
10 Jun 2022
01:56:21
L3 starts a revolution, Han moves coaxium containers, and the (perky, contrapuntal) music is the Force that binds us all together. Also worth considering: Is L3 a big ol' boom box? Newly minted Star Wars writer Riley Silverman is back on the show to discuss Solo Minutes 76-80 of Solo!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
04:45 - Riley's theory of droids in Star Wars
11:06 - Didactic & diegetic
14:35 - "Mine Mission" counterpoint
29:33 - Oasis of friendship, then back to the mission
36:36 - How music scales with size and scope.
45:50 - Tense action cue while Han moves the canisters.
48:11 - Coaxium music - dangerous, delicate, destiny?
56:21 - Solo interconnectivity, Solo criticism, Kathleen Kennedy, misguided Alden Ehrenreich blame.
1:03:58 - I love old characters.
1:14:42 - the mine mission! My buddy's back!
1:19:47 - L3 is focused on her revolutionary ideals, but her revolution begins as an afterthought.
1:22:37 - Listener question: Do droids listen to music?
1:27:25 - Are droids capable of music composition? Playing instruments? Tangent about AI, art, and creativity.
Counterpoint is the relationship between two or more musical lines (or voices) which are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterpoint
Imitation is the repetition of a melody in a polyphonic texture shortly after its first appearance in a different voice. The melody may vary through transposition, inversion, or otherwise, but retain its original character. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imitation_(music)
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New answer: Epic space magic.
Previous answer: Epic space magic.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: How many different screams are there? (like the Wilhelm scream)
Previous answer: How do people go about designing music for a scene or character in the first place? Writers start with a blank page and somehow use words to convey scenes; what is the musical/sound version of that process like?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: Gentlemen Jack (composed by Murray Gold), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (composed by Danny Elfman)
Previous answer: Doctor Who, which has gone through dozens of composers over the decades. The original theme was composed by Ron Grainer and realized by Delia Derbyshire. Murray Gold was the composer from 2005 to 2017.
---------------
Guest: Riley Silverman
Star Wars: Exploring Tatooine: An Illustrated Guide (coming August 2022 -- preorder now, if you're seeing this before then!) https://www.rileysilverman.com/books
Solo 15: Do You Like It? (Minutes 71-75 with Christina Ward)
03 Jun 2022
01:27:18
Composer Christina Ward joins Xanthe for a detailed listen and analysis of minutes 71-75 of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which starts with the crew landing on Kessel and ends with L3 liberating a droid.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
05:39 - All roads lead back to the Empire.
11:15 - Where the music abruptly changes, Baroque vibes, Enigma Variations, Britten, large interval leaps, unified instrument sections
22:02 - Qi'ra and the gang walk out to greet the Pykes. Music leaves space for dialogue.
24:53 - Jaws-esque half steps.
27:49 - Sparkly Main Theme for chance cubes shot.
29:30 - Rooting (but not rooting) for Han and Qi'ra.
33:48 - Buildup before they break their disguises. Contrary motion.
42:38 - The droid that steals the show!
47:35 - Composers conveying instructions to performers. How would we notate this droid sound?
55:02 - Humor, Qi'ra, "murder complete."
1:00:35 - The beginning of "Mine Mission" is curious, hopeful.
1:07:48 - Listeners with good droid ears, what do you think the droid is saying?
"Oksana Floren, yadda yadda yadda (4M30A)" - pretty much the whole track
"Mine Mission" - first 40 seconds
"Extra Deluxe Mine Mission (4M30B-5M30C-31)"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Heartfelt. Direct. Dramatic.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
What are the thematic relationships that tie the dark side with Imperialism, musically speaking? Similarly, what musical relationships tie the light side with rebellion and goodness?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Dune (music composed by Hans Zimmer, sound team led by Mark Mangini and Theo Green)
Solo 14: Romance Roller Coaster (Minutes 66-70 with Crystal Beth)
27 May 2022
01:19:18
"Lando's Closet" is the horniest cue on the Solo soundtrack, Y/N? Crystal Beth joins me today for a discussion about minutes 66-70 of Solo: A Star Wars Story!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
02:32 - Cue naming conventions.
10:02 - Secrets theme 6x buildup.
12:43 - Horniness of this cue. Roller coaster.
14:38 - Narrating the roller coaster of the full cue.
17:16 - Buzzkill version in the film.
22:25 - Wanting to be sold on Han + Qi'ra's passion. Why this scene perhaps doesn't feel "true."
25:34 - Why it's harder to talk about music than other aspects of film.
32:02 - Xanthe's mic goes AWOL... back at 32:18.
39:07 - Thoughts about musical fan service, appreciating the Easter eggs
42:54 - Too soon for a Han movie? Desensitization.
50:08 - Fav Star Wars books?
53:30 - Comedian's perspective on L3-37 vs. K2SO vs. Peli Motto vs. Poe. Dryness, grounded-ness, casualness, improvisation.
59:15 - Crew of Solos?
1:02:01 - The "business" of a scene (in relation to L3 and Qi'ra's private chat).
1:12:15 - Rundown of musical themes and soundtrack titles from these minutes.