Star Wars Music Minute
Celebrating the music and sound of Star Wars 5 cinematic minutes at a time!
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Episodes
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Today, we're digging into the music and sound of STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE Minutes 91-95 with Father David and Trevor Mowry. Ben Kenobi becomes one with the Force, our heroes escape on the Falcon, Leia consoles a heartbroken Luke, and we begin the TIE fighter attack. In this episode, we talk about the use of Princess Leia's theme during Obi-Wan's death, differences between European/British and American oboe playing, the sound mix during "Run, Luke, Run," and a lot more...
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
11:40 - Steady lightsabers and civilized duels.
16:46 - Force believers and Force atheists.
25:03 - Having a visceral reaction to the OT soundtracks, feels like you're right there with the orchestra.
27:40 - Maclunkey.
31:47 - Terminator robots vs. Star Wars droids.
38:02 - Making sense of the fact that Princess Leia's theme plays during Ben Kenobi's death. Does it match the emotion of the scene?
48:58 - Hilarious cymbal crash a la Las Vegas water shows.
50:25 - Saving up sound credits to spend later.
54:25 - "Run, Luke, run" sound mixing analysis.
1:04:51 - Shepard tone.
1:11:52 - The saddest little Force theme.
1:15:45 - Oboe deep dive: sound quality, double reeds, American style vs. European style reeds. According to Trevor, the London Symphony oboist on the Star Wars recordings plays with the hallmarks of what you'd expect from a British oboe player around this time.
1:21:15 - Oboe timbre demonstration: Force theme and Leia's theme.
1:24:42 - Hand-making reeds, "a remarkably analog process." Like a Jedi building their own lightsaber.
1:30:15 - Being an instrumentalist is a little like having a superpower or being a Jedi.
1:33:30 - Cat bomb.
1:40:37 - Listening to how the Force theme passes through different instruments. An orchestrated decrescendo.
1:50:52 - Transitioning to the TIE fighter attack. Sparkly, scintillating, oscillating string line.
2:08:40 - TIE fighter video game, spending hours listening to the TIE laser fire.
2:15:39 - SWMM Questionnaire.
2:29:48 - Recap of the themes and soundtrack information.
2:33:36 - Trevor has played under John Williams's baton and didn't mention it this whole podcast?
Things Mentioned:
Grieg - Peer Gynt "Death of Ase" - https://youtu.be/2aKxf1h5r4g
Shepard Tone (auditory illusion) - https://youtu.be/BzNzgsAE4F0
Wagner: Entrance Of The Gods Into Valhalla - https://youtu.be/4FlOVs-G13U
John Coltrane - Giant Steps - https://youtu.be/KwIC6B_dvW4
Stravinsky - Rite of Spring - https://youtu.be/KwIC6B_dvW4
Hollywood Harmony (book) by Frank Lehman - https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Harmony-Musical-Wonder-Cinema/dp/0190606401
Star Wars Music Minute - TLJ 11: Steel Pans of Canto Bight (with Tyler Hunt, steel pannist on The Last Jedi soundtrack): https://youtu.be/JWTWFCUw5pc
Themes:
3. Force
4. Leia
4) Martial Rhythm
Possibly 16) Imperial March Precursor
2. Rebel Fanfare
8. TIE Fighter Attack
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Soundtrack stuff:
bitter end of "The Tractor Beam/Chasm Crossfire" and "Rescue of the Princess"
"Ben Kenobi's Death/TIE Fighter Attack"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Father David: Raw triumphant heroism.
Trevor: 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: 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: Baby Driver (directed by Edgar Wright)
Trevor: Vertigo (composed by Bernard Herrmann)
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Father David Mowry:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrMowry
Website: https://www.fatherdavidmowry.com/
Star Wars Minute appearance - Last Jedi Minute 129: Hope Quota - https://youtu.be/O8Jlfmz258U
Trevor Mowry:
There's lots of oboe-related stuff online if you look up "Trevor Mowry oboe"... Also, you can find him playing with "The President's Own" Marine Band.
Gilles Silvestrini's Six Études pour Hautbois: https://youtu.be/aH-yh5nbWSI
Star Wars Music Minute:
Website: starwarsmusicminute.com
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Leave a voice message: SWMM Comlink
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
This episode is an introduction to the music of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, composed by John Powell and John Williams, with special focus on minutes 1-5 of the film. Xanthe discusses the scoring process, division of labor between the composers, and plays a few of the initial leitmotifs.
Themes:
3. Secrets
1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
2a. Young Han Solo (Searching, comp. JW)
4. Han & Q'ira
9. Fakery
Soundtrack:
full track: "Meet Han" or "Meet Han (1M1)"
most of "Bunk / Proxima (1M2-3)"
References:
The Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars: https://franklehman.com/starwars
Interview: ‘Solo A Star Wars Story’ Composer John Powell (Resistance Broadcast - Star Wars News Net) https://youtu.be/Ujm6aLuN7yQ
Score: The Podcast S1E9 | John Powell - https://youtu.be/1Cn_Qo7MmKsJ
‘Solo’ Composer John Powell Reveals His Process for Tackling a ‘Star Wars’ Movie (Variety) - https://variety.com/2018/music/news/solo-a-star-wars-story-john-powell-score-john-williams-1202821271/
Star Wars Music Minute:
Buy Me A Sweet Potato (Coffee): https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
Support the show! patreon.com/chrysanthetan
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Website: starwarsmusicminute.com
Leave a voice message: SWMM Comlink
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Composer, writer, and Art of the Score podcast co-host Dan Golding joins me in a breakdown of the music in Star Wars: A New Hope minutes 86-90. While Luke and Leia swing across the chasm crossfire (after a kiss "for luck"), John Williams's swashbuckling, unabashedly heroic rendition of Luke Skywalker's theme plays -- B section included! In this episode, we talk about the throwback nature of this particular cue, "Mickey Mousing" vs " composing to frame," the underrated Imperial motif, musical onomatopoeia, orchestration magic (vibraphone and flutes have a moment), and so much more.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
40:10 - musical onomatopoeia
43:36 - Is John Williams "Mickey Mouse-ing" here?
52:33 - Underrated Imperial motif.
1:04:17 - slide analogy
1:15:00 - First time hearing the B part of the Main Theme since the opening crawl.
1:35:06 - Thinking of Marion's Theme
1:42:15 - Cat bomb.
1:51:55 - SWMM Questionnaire
References:
Art of the Score Episode 7: Star Wars Part 1 - http://www.artofthescore.com.au/podcast/2017/5/24/episode-7-star-wars-part-1
Korngold - Main Title from "Kings Row" - https://youtu.be/tysCiL1-24w
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker: "Coffee (Arabian Dance)" - https://youtu.be/kI4HTzXPzgE
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker: "March" - https://youtu.be/zOQm3qDjtOw
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto mvt. 3 - https://youtu.be/KrVMmRWzRSM
"Rebel Briefing" from Return of the Jedi - https://youtu.be/IaA-26EHtDQ
"Secret Bunker / The Fleet Enters Hyperspace" from Return of the Jedi - https://youtu.be/VoEc2vY4_ks
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (piece that uses an orchestra like an organ) - https://youtu.be/e6pEIHtffqQ
Themes:
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
6b. Imperials (Ostinato)
6a. Imperials (Motif)
5) Imperial Troops Ostinato
1b. Main Theme (B Section)
4. Leia
Note: I use the theme names and numbers established in Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars. I highly recommend this resource, which you can download for free at his website: https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Soundtrack:
"The Tractor Beam/Chasm Crossfire" (track almost ends)
"Rescue of the Princess" (track almost ends)
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Mythic orchestral memory
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
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? If so, how will we get there? It takes a specific set of talents to make this kind of music. Trying new things is great, but will Star Wars ever be able to return to the sound in that same way?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Vertigo (composed by Bernard Herrmann)
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Dan Golding:
Website: https://dangolding.com/
Art of the Score podcast: https://www.artofthescore.com.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DanGoldingVideoEssays
Bandcamp: https://dangolding.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dangolding
Screen Sounds on ABC: https://www.abc.net.au/classic/programs/screen-sounds/
Book: Star Wars After Lucas by Dan Golding: https://dangolding.com/star-wars-after-lucas/
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Steele Saunders is really, really stoked to talk about the trash compactor scene in minutes 81-85 of Star Wars! We cover the sound design, the unused dianoga cue, and of course, the accidental head bump.
Things Mentioned:
It's true, there was originally no noise for the stormtrooper hitting his head.
Designing the Sound of The Bad Batch - David W. Collins Interview (Star Wars Explained) - https://youtu.be/YCFzzVHe7Lo
Star Wars Minute podcast - https://starwarsminute.com
Themes:
6a. Imperials (Motif)
Note: I use the theme names and numbers established in Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars. You can download it free at his website: https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Soundtrack stuff:
"The Walls Converge"
"The Trash Compactor"
"Shootout in the Cell Bay/Dianoga"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
The heroes win.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
David W. Collins's experience doing sound editing for The Book of Boba Fett (and other current Star Wars media)
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
CB4 (1993 American comedy film directed by Tamra Davis, starring Chris Rock)
Jaws (composed by John Williams) - especially the main theme
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (composed by John Williams)
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Follow Steele Saunders (Steele Wars):
Steele Wars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SteeleWars
Twitter: https://twitter.com/steelewars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steelewars/
Steele Wars Ep 163 : Ben Mendelsohn - Mendo talks Director Krennic, his Star Wars love & that “Just Been Choked Out By Darth Vader” grin - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-163-ben-mendelsohn-mendo-talks-director-krennic/id891586820?i=1000404440617
Steele Wars interviews Daisy Ridley: https://youtu.be/TNoQS_wkzf4
Star Wars Music Minute:
Website: starwarsmusicminute.com
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Leave a voice message: SWMM Comlink
Like this episode? Buy me a coffee.
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Monday Feb 07, 2022
A discussion about the music and sound in minutes 76-80 of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, which starts with the rescue of Princess Leia and ends with jumping into the garbage chute. Today's guest is composer & music technologist Jeremy Sawruk. We discuss John Williams's detailed underscore, which features chromatic mediants, motion in thirds, harmonic tension building, and interesting orchestration choices.
Things Mentioned:
Family Guy clip from S6:E1 - Binary Sunset ft. John Williams - https://youtu.be/60saxSsoMlo
Family Guy Blue Harvest Radio DJ scene - https://youtu.be/jMGs3WjXueE
Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars: https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Themes:
4) Martial Rhythm
2. Rebel Fanfare
4. Leia
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
6a. Imperials (Motif)
Soundtrack:
"Wookiee Prisoner/Detention Block Ambush"
"Shootout in the Cell Bay/Dianoga"
"The Princess Appears"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Opera without words
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Musical / orchestrational “filler”
Sound effects and foley
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Older score: North by Northwest by Bernard Herrmann
Newer score: Loki by Natalie Holt
Other John Williams score: Catch Me If You Can
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Jeremy Sawruk:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/composer314
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jsawruk
Star Wars Music Minute:
Website: starwarsmusicminute.com
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Leave a voice message: SWMM Comlink
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Riley Silverman joins me to discuss the music and sound of minutes 71-75 of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. This chunk of the film starts with Ben Kenobi telling Luke "The Force will be with you always" and ends with Luke, Han, and Chewie about to find Princess Leia.
Discussion Guide:
00:00 - Hello there!
01:33 - Uniformity of the Imperial base vs. chaos of the Rebel base
25:10 - Chewbacca, shag rug of the Death Star
31:26 - Mouse droids and The Three Stooges
52:41 - Ben Burtt and his friends recorded this in a church
58:28 - Dismissiveness toward Star Wars
1:19:30 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things Mentioned:
Curly's Funniest Moments from 'The Three Stooges' - https://youtu.be/QxxQhZBxo4A
Themes:
16) Imperial March Precursor
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
Note: I use the theme names and numbers established in Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars. You can download it free at his website: https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Soundtrack:
"Wookiee Prisoner/Detention Block Ambush"
"Mouse Robot/Blasting Off"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Epic space magic
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
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?
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.
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Riley Silverman:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rileyjsilverman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rileysilverman/
Nerdist articles: https://nerdist.com/author/riley-silverman/
SyFy articles: https://www.syfy.com/authors/riley-silverman
Star Wars Minute guest episodes: https://wiki.starwarsminute.com/index.php?title=Riley_Silverman
Star Wars Music Minute:
Website: starwarsmusicminute.com
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Leave a voice message: SWMM Comlink
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Monday Jan 24, 2022
Monday Jan 24, 2022
The Falcon gets pulled in by the tractor beam, our heroes don disguises, and Obi-Wan tells Luke that his destiny lies along a different path. Brandon Wainerdi from Talking Bay 94 joins me to discuss the soundscapes of Star Wars minutes 66-70.
Things Mentioned:
Star Wars Music Minute ANH 11 (Minutes 51-55): Tuba the Hutt - https://youtu.be/MdsDJ6t0aoE
Talking Bay 94's interview with Dennis Muren - https://youtu.be/RXjthK7hPQc
Themes:
4) Martial Rhythm
2. Rebel Fanfare
3. Force
6a. Imperials (Motif)
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
Note: I use the theme names and numbers established in Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars. You can download it free at his website: https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Soundtrack: "Inner City"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Ben. John. James. (Ben Burtt, John Williams, James Earl Jones)
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
More behind the scenes stuff about the music and sound design in the Disney-era stuff.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Halloween (composed by John Carpenter)
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Follow Brandon/Talking Bay 94:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TalkingBay94
Podcast: https://talkingbay94.libsyn.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCElrDBUy1VVaQcw30Ow3UgQ
Star Wars Music Minute:
Website: starwarsmusicminute.com
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Leave a voice message: SWMM Comlink
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Monday Jan 17, 2022
Monday Jan 17, 2022
In this episode, we discuss the Dejarik pieces (voiced Ben Burtt himself), TIE fighters (elephants + cars), Chewbacca (whose vocalizations match with the costume), and more from minutes 61-65 of Star Wars! Nani, Gus, and Moe from Triad Of The Force podcast join me.
Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Hello there!
0:03:22 - Listening to the opening clip
0:07:25 - Interactions with non-humans (wookiee, droid)
0:13:51 - Generic sci fi synth sounds vs. Star Wars
0:16:05 - Dejarik sound design (it's Ben Burtt making noises)
0:23:10 - Chewbacca love fest, how to interpret his language, subtitles vs no subtitles, Chewie sound design
0:29:27 - Foreshadowing human vs. computer chess fascination
0:35:45 - Artoo's dome rotation, underrated sound
0:41:03 - Lack of music brings a gravitas to the scene
0:51:35 - Analyzing Threepio's character
1:03:03 - Han Solo as a useful foil, vocalizes the audience's skepticism
1:12:16 - Listening to the Death Star conference room
1:16:20 - Darth Vader is a human with machine qualities; droids are machines with human qualities.
1:19:02 - The Empire is all about control, living in space, manufactured environments, ration bars, etc. Remember those dorm room designs from that made the news?
1:24:20 - Hilarious asteroid sounds (are they corny?)
1:33:37 - TIE fighter sound design
1:39:02 - "That's no moon..." dum dum duuum
1:46:01 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things Mentioned:
Suzy Rice designed the original Star Wars logo, but it went through a couple changes.
Anatomy of a Logo: STAR WARS - https://alphabettenthletter.blogspot.com/2013/05/anatomy-of-logo-star-wars.html
Meaning & Music in Star Wars || Galactic Melodies (ft. Xanthe from Star Wars Music Minute) • S2|E24 - https://youtu.be/fLvG7-s6K64
Soundtrack: "Inner City"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Moe: Analog but magical
Gus: Beepbeep! (R2). Kshh-Paaa (Vader breathing). Grrrrrwwwwwrr! (Chewie)
Nani: James Earl Jones
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Moe: Max Rebo's Band
Gus: How all the sounds (especially from the original trilogy) were created.
Nani: The thought process, methods, and approaches to scoring new Star Wars media in the post-John Williams era.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Moe: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (composed by Yugo Kanno)
Gus: Hook (composed by John Williams) and Fellowship of the Rings (composed by Howard Shore)
Nani: Atonement (composed Dario Marianelli)
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Triad of the Force:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TriadoftheForce
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TriadOfTheForce
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/triadoftheforce
Star Wars Music Minute:
Website: starwarsmusicminute.com
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Leave a voice message: SWMM Comlink
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Monday Jan 10, 2022
Monday Jan 10, 2022
This chunk of A NEW HOPE (Minutes 56-60) begins with the Millennium Falcon blasting off at lightspeed and ends with Obi-Wan sensing the destruction of Alderaan. Ralph Attanasia joins me, and together, we tackle Tarkin's malicious trills, Leia's British accent, Han's Imperial Slugs advertisement, the sweet chaotic Force theme, and more.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
01:30 - Peter Cushing in Star Wars is like Michael Caine in The Muppet Christmas Carol. Malicious trills
05:09 - Garindan's voice is John Wayne sped up
07:45 - Bumbling stormtrooper music
09:32 - Peter and the Wolf-ness?
13:25 - "Baby's first mono-myth"
15:00 - Imperial Troops Ostinato (incidental motif) and "Imperials (motif)"
18:44 - Docking Bay 94 escape music is loud, chaotic elements competing, Force theme ratcheting up
20:08 - Force theme maneuvering on the fly
22:58 - Alternate Binary Sunset thoughts
29:37 - Inside the Millennium Falcon
31:58 - "Our passengers must be hotter than I thought." Han, what?
33:07 - Imperial Cruiser Pursuit (incidental motif described by Frank Lehman as "nervous minor horn chords succeeded by chromatic figure in strings"
33:52 - Were you obsessed with lightspeed?
38:35 - Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions (if you know, you know)
38:47 - Brass sextuplets, instruments that are hard to multitask with
45:28 - Han says "Go strap yourselves in" and it sounds funny in the mix?
46:09 - Death Star motif
49:03 - Bond chord (minor major 9th)
56:00 - Metaphor fail, not shadowboxing
58:02 - Leia's British accent
1:02:07 - One of the biggest mistakes of the prequels
1:03:35 - Dies Irae? Maybe? (Paging Alex Ludwig)
1:07:33 - Pronouncing "Dantooine"
1:09:07 - Rolling R's in "Rebel friends"
1:12:37 - Death Star power up sound
1:13:24 - Disturbance in the Force
1:15:54 - No music with lightsabers...except?
1:22:21 - "Forget your troubles with those Imperials slugs"
1:23:37 - Dejarik
1:27:05 - Asking Ralph to clarify something he said on Star Wars Minute podcast
1:33:33 - SWMM Questionnaire
1:40:11 - Dunning Kruger
1:45:41 - Ukulele Force
Things Mentioned:
Prokofiev:Peter And The Wolf, Op. 67 - David Bowie, narration; Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - https://youtu.be/9vr4JRbz8Yg
Jedi Junior High (documentary) - http://www.heidiburkey.com/jjh
Frankenstein (1931 film) directed by James Whale
Ukulele Force Star Wars Best Covers - VA (2005) - https://youtu.be/__la4gKCQ9s
Binary Sunset Breakdown (SWMM episode with Frank Lehman)- https://youtu.be/JrCg4KLk054
Diagnosing Dies Irae (SWMM episode with Alex Ludwig) - https://youtu.be/7obBOHgh0aQ
Star Wars Minute - Last Jedi Minute 51: The Seaweed Hole: https://youtu.be/6ldi6wHl0VI
Star Wars Minute - Last Jedi Minute 60: John Wayne's Will: https://youtu.be/RuDNhBfAN3Q
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Themes:
5) Imperial Troops Ostinato
6a. Imperials (Motif)
14) Imperial Cruiser Pursuit
3. Force
13) Dies Irae - possible
5. Death Star
Note: I use the theme names and numbers established in Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars. You can download it free at his website: https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Soundtrack: "The Millennium Falcon/Imperial Cruiser Pursuit," "Destruction of Alderaan," "Mouse Robot/Blasting Off"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Sweeping expressive proclamations
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Ralph wants to know what he doesn't know about the music, then learn that which he doesn't know.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Beetlejuice (composed by Danny Elfman)
The Addams Family (composed by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Marc Shaiman and Saxie Dowell).
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Ralph Attanasia:
Buddy vs. Duff (show on Food Network) - https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/buddy-vs-duff
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ralphattanasia?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cakebossralph
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CakeBossRalph
Star Wars Music Minute:
Website: starwarsmusicminute.com
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Leave a voice message: SWMM Comlink
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Monday Jan 03, 2022
Monday Jan 03, 2022
Forget about Han and Greedo for a second. The Special Edition release of A New Hope also brought us Jabba the Hutt and his virtuosic tuba theme (which originally debuted in Return of the Jedi). Trombonist in the Disneyland Band Justin Mitnik joins me today in a discussion about minutes 51-55 of Star Wars. We talk about the cantina songs, villains, orchestration, and more.
Discussion Guide:
00:00 - Hello there!
04:12 - Cantina Band 1 vs. Cantina Band 2
09:04 - Greedo's lines in Huttese
15:49 - "Mammaloo!"
19:35 - Death Star conference room scene
21:09 - Peter Cushing, Tarkin, onscreen villains
24:25 - Daddy Palpatine's frequent flyer miles
24:54 - Breaking down a meandering woodwind line
28:01 - Orchestration, using the range of the orchestra, why does John Williams double the clarinet line, etc
39:27 - "Naive Luke" theme
43:15 - Big tuba spotlight for Jabba (added in Special Edition)
46:12 - "Crispa Greedo"
52:08 - "Jabba, you're a wonderful human being." Sarcasm?
57:39 - Significance of this set of minutes, everyone's wrapping up remnants of their old life
1:02:29 - Mos Eisley Spaceport Cantina versus Oga's Cantina in Galaxy's Edge
1:05:34 - Listening to the Disneyland Band's Star Wars Medley
1:13:21 - SWMM Questionnaire
1:14:47 - Musical themes, soundtrack info, etc
Things Mentioned:
HelloGreedo's video about who shot first: https://youtu.be/6wFNyaCGpvk
Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars: https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Themes: Main Theme (A Section)
Soundtrack: "Cantina Band 2," "Inner City," "Millennium Falcon/Imperial Cruiser Pursuit"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Galactic thematic masterpiece.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
All the distinct sound effects. Justin has always been fascinated by them and could never tell what comprises them.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Gladiator (composed by Hans Zimmer)
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Justin Mitnik:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitnikjm/
Website: https://justinmitnik.com/
Star Wars Music Minute:
Website: starwarsmusicminute.com
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Leave a voice message: SWMM Comlink
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan