Star Wars Music Minute
Celebrating the music and sound of Star Wars 5 cinematic minutes at a time!
Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Feb 27, 2023
Monday Feb 27, 2023
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.
2:04:02 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
envelope (music): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envelope_(music)
Sibelius Violin Concerto (Maxim Vengerov performance): https://youtu.be/YsbrRAgv1b4
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Cues:
8M2 "City In The Clouds"
Musical Themes:
11a. Han & Leia (A Section)
14. Boba Fett
12a. Yoda (A Section)
3. Force
something like 35) Cascading Trumpet Lines?
15b. Cloud City 2 (Trouble in Bespin)
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"Imperial Starfleet Deployed/City in the Clouds"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New answer: Space. Brass. Droids.
Solo season answer: Big octatonic brass
ANH season answer: Opera without words
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: The creation of the sound effects/sound design. Can I recreate some of these sounds on my ARP 2600?
Solo season answer: The score for Obi-Wan Kenobi.
ANH season answer: Musical / orchestrational “filler” and sound effects/foley
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: The Matrix by Don Davis, Bob's Burgers (series) composed by Loren Bouchard
New answer: Star Trek by Jerry Goldsmith, Wall-E by Thomas Newman
Previous answers: North by Northwest by Bernard Herrmann, Loki by Natalie Holt, Catch Me If You Can by John Williams
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Guest: Jeremy Sawruk
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jsawruk
Instagram: https://instagram.com/composer314
Solo 18: Powered By Thirds (Minutes 86-90 with Jeremy Sawruk) - https://youtu.be/LsNQj3D7DM0
ANH 16: Orchestration Wars (Minutes 76-80 with Jeremy Sawruk) - https://youtu.be/1owmn96ALVY
------------------
If you want to support the show and join the Discord server, consider becoming a patron! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
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YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
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Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
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!
Video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/wBIOiuPCMjc
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
6:39 - French horn representing Luke.
16:29 - Sad Luke theme.
21:42 - Woodwinds welling up from behind.
26:52 - Purpose of doubling an oboe and flute?
33:18 - Impactful marriage of the score with sound effects.
38:56 - The strings representing doubt, indulgence.
41:56 - How many "miracles" has Luke seen so far?
47:37 - Skywalker bloodline and Yoda's growth.
52:58 - C Minor to E Major. Final obstacle has been removed.
55:57 - Ascending dyads in piccolo/flute. "Anything can happen."
59:42 - Large interval leaps in Yoda's theme.
1:04:05 - Every component of Yoda's theme ends on an open-ended note, revealing the spiritual reality that Yoda was talking about. (!)
1:10:17 - Grounded Yoda in the cellos. Diminution of Sad Yoda set in the flutes.
1:16:23 - An insulting exhale. Force choke from Jedi Outcast.
1:19:14 - Pesky "A"s. Scrappy Rebels.
1:23:56 - First ever honorary doctorate awarded via podcast.
1:27:31 - Threepio is powered down. Tactile-ness of Star Wars.
1:32:51 - Listener question from Tim Bobrowski (thank you!)
1:36:42 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
"La Mer" 3rd movement (Claude Debussy) - https://youtube.com/watch?v=KUFpcPEcwTo&t=914
Dominic Sewell's analysis of cue 7M3 Yoda Raises the Ship https://youtu.be/rP5213v20fo
Thus Spake Zarathustra (by Richard Strauss) - https://youtu.be/Szdziw4tI9o
Portsmouth Sinfonia : "Also sprach Zarathustra" - https://youtu.be/hpJ6anurfuw
ANH 19: Run, Luke! Run! (Minutes 91-95 with Fr. David and Trevor Mowry) - https://youtu.be/9FZgc1x5slg
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Cues:
7M3 "Yoda Raises The Ship"
7M4/8M1 "Vadar's Command"
Musical Themes:
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
3. Force
12a. Yoda (A Section)
24. Revelations
10a. Imperial March (Theme)
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"Yoda And The Force"
"Imperial Starfleet Deployed/City in the Clouds"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
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)
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Trevor Mowry:
Look up "Trevor Mowry oboe" to find lots of oboe-related things online.
"The President's Own" Marine Band - https://www.marineband.marines.mil/
Father David Mowry:
Website: https://www.fatherdavidmowry.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrMowry
------------------
Become a patron to join my Discord server (and support the show, of course)! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show... https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink
Where else to find SWMM:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Monday Feb 13, 2023
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.
1:41:05 - SWMM Questionnaire
References:
Ludwig Göransson's Book of Boba Fett theme - https://youtu.be/3a0tH0fkvW8
"O Fortuna" from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff - https://youtu.be/GXFSK0ogeg4
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Cues:
6M5/7M1 "The Magic Tree"
7M2 "Attack Position"
Beginning of 7M3 "Yoda Raises The Ship"
Musical Themes:
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
12a. Yoda (A Section)
10a. Imperial March (Theme)
14. Boba Fett
29) Attacking A Star Destroyer
13) Dies Irae
Where are we in the soundtrack?
"The Training of a Jedi Knight/The Magic Tree"
"Attacking a Star Destroyer"
"Yoda And The Force"
------------
Star Wars Music Minute Questionnaire:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
- Expansive. Romantic. Foreignly-familiar.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
- The process of coming up with character voices, sounds, or languages.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
- Frozen II (composed by Christophe Beck)
---------
Guest: Lauren Crosby
Lauren's presentation at the John Williams conference may be online soon. You can check on it here: https://johnwilliams.sciencesconf.org/
University of Clemson page: https://www.clemson.edu/caah/about/facultybio.html?id=5566
------------------
Ways to Support & Follow SWMM:
Join our Discord server by becoming a patron! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show... https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
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.
Video version of this episode (with visuals): https://youtu.be/gYGV9Vy_wDs
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
2:36 - Cue 6M3 "This Is Not A Cave."
5:42 - Demonstrating planing chords on guitar.
11:46 - Mishearing Leia's line.
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.
3:06:10 - Molecular people ??? Help plz. 🙏🏼
3:10:32 - Slow frame rate.
3:19:00 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
Dominic Sewell's analysis of cue 6M3 This Is Not A Cave - https://youtu.be/AhKNHh9icxQ
Dominic Sewell's analysis of cue 6M5/7M1 The Magic Tree - https://youtu.be/M6M5pW54COo
TLJ 16: Mirror Cave vs. Magic Tree (Minutes 76-80) - https://youtu.be/-ztVED0Dos0
The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide (by Terryl Whitlatch (Author), Bob Carrau) - https://www.amazon.com/Wildlife-Star-Wars-Field-Guide/dp/0811847365
The Soundtrack Show: The Empire Strikes Back Part III - https://www.stitcher.com/show/soundtrack-2/episode/the-empire-strikes-back-the-music-part-iii-59816743
Main Title: South America, 1936 from Raiders of the Lost Ark (John Williams) - https://youtu.be/jNgnEAxkR5M
FXRant: The Cave in Real Time - https://fxrant.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-cave-in-real-time.html
National Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Charles Gerhardt) "The Magic Tree" - https://youtu.be/JfYzadOwCUA
"Peter and the Wolf" (Prokofiev) flute excerpt played by Devyn Sowry - https://youtu.be/O0VUCCAqpfM
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Cues:
6M3 "This Is Not A Cave"
6M5/7M1 "The Magic Tree"
Musical Themes:
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
16a. Dark Side (Motif)
Sort of 35) Cascading Trumpet Lines
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"Jedi Master Revealed/Mynock Cave"
"The Training of a Jedi Knight/The Magic Tree"
"The Training Of A Jedi Knight"
"The Magic Tree"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
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)
---------------
Guest: Ender Smith (of AurekFonts)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AurekFonts
Fonts: https://aurekfonts.github.io/
Solo 9: Chicken in the Pot Iceberg (Minutes 41-45) - https://youtu.be/W4mqTn4oYVg
ANH 3: Droid Musicality (Minutes 11-15) - https://youtu.be/qtY3zAA-A8A
------------------
If you want to support the show and join the Discord server, consider becoming a patron! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show... https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink
Where else to find SWMM:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Monday Jan 30, 2023
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.
10:00 - Zigzagging between different themes.
13:35 - Yoda's scored monologue.
19:07 - Dotted rhythm in Yoda's B section.
23:10 - Philosophical twist.
25:48 - Dovetailing.
30:04 - Injection of dark side.
33:43 - Yoda's musical necklace.
38:13 - Eek! Mynock jump scare!
45:12 - Start of cue 6M3 This Is Not a Cave.
51:21 - Visceral horror music techniques.
58:09 - End of The Shining.
1:06:58 - Ben Burtt's Mynock sound design.
1:18:03 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
Dominic Sewell Music's analysis of cue 6M3 This Is Not A Cave is excellent! - https://youtu.be/AhKNHh9icxQ
Dotted note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dotted_note
The Shining soundtrack cued to Jack in the maze scene - https://youtube.com/watch?v=DbtGtE5DssY&t=3379
Yoda's necklace - https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Blissl
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Solo 22: Herrmann Over Jaws (Minutes 106-110 with Suzen Tekla Kruglnska) https://youtu.be/AMKgA3L7Psw
Cues:
6M2 "Yoda's Teaching"
6M3 "This Is Not A Cave"
Musical Themes:
3. Force
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
12b. Yoda (B Section)
12a. Yoda (A Section)
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"Jedi Master Revealed/Mynock Cave"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
New answer: Triumph. Threat. Enchantment.
Solo season answer: Droids. Flight. Pew.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
New answer: What did John Williams find most difficult to write?
Solo season answer: How do they come up with the sound of alien languages?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
New answer: Andor, Don't Look Up, and Moonlight (composed by Nicholas Britell)
Solo season answer: Rosemary's Baby (composed by Krzysztof Komeda)
---------------
Guest: Suzen Tekla Kruglnska
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skruglnska
The Comedy Film Funnel (podcast with Joe Dator) - https://www.podash.com/podcast/5346477/
The Shining 2:37 (podcast) - https://theshining237.com
Rosemary's Baby 6:66 (podcast) - https://theshining237.com/rosemarys-baby-666-episode-list/
------------------
If you want to support the show and join the Discord server, consider becoming a patron! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show... https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink
Where else to find SWMM:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
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.
This episode is also on YouTube (with visuals): https://youtu.be/N_jXuEWiaLY
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
3:20 - Teasing the Emperor scene.
8:17 - Augmented hexatonic collection of pitches (characteristic chord type in ESB, 4-20).
11:26 - Yanked out portion of the cue, R5P3 "End Fix" (orchestrated by Angela Morley).
15:05 - Instrumental introduction to Han & Leia's theme. A distinctive treatment of Lydian mode (descending pentachords -- the 5th down to the tonic).
18:50 - The descending Lydian figure is a Williams hallmark of his 80s-ish scores. Examples from E.T. (1993) and ALWAYS (1989).
25:05 - On Han being a "scoundrel."
29:01 - What do you think of the comparisons to Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto?
38:35 - Listening to other love themes: El Cid (Miklós Rózsa), Adagio from Spartacus (Khachaturian)
51:48 - First truly functional chord in a while. Enharmonicism.
57:27 - Throwing down the gauntlet.
58:23 - John Williams holding back on the low bass note until a beat or two after the onset of a theme.
1:00:11 - Proud lineage of musical love scenes that are interrupted.
1:08:50 - Han Solo and the Princess concert arrangements (there are at least 3!)
1:14:56 - Sneak peek of changes to the thematic catalogue.
1:29:36 - Dom shoutout 1.
1:38:21 - Brittle, rocky xylophone.
1:45:39 - 90's Emperor/Energizer Bunny commercial.
1:46:26 - Fascinating musical sequence during the Emperor's first appearance.
1:55:44 - Dom shoutout 2.
1:58:09 - ESB editor Paul Hirsch on temp tracking this scene with Bartók.
2:06:28 - Comparing Ian McDiarmid to the original emperor's voice from 1980 (Clive Revell)
2:13:19 - Dark Side motif.
2:25:00 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
Dominic Sewell's analysis of cue 5M4/6M1 "Solo and the Princess" - https://youtu.be/Nxe_rd2GVPY
Pitch Class Set Calculator: https://www.mta.ca/pc-set/calculator/pc_calculate.html
E.T. excerpt (queued up to the descending Lydian line)- https://youtube.com/watch?v=P7CyzH6R7f4&t=721
"Pete in Heaven" from Always (John Williams) - https://youtu.be/z8v1OEIkp3U
Predatory Romance in Harrison Ford Movies (Pop Culture Detective on YouTube) - https://youtu.be/wWoP8VpbpYI
Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto - https://youtu.be/QCKL95HAdQ8
Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet - https://youtu.be/finYYXkdYmA
"Fossils" from Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens) - https://youtu.be/bcAJpsWWuIY
Béla Bartók Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta - https://youtu.be/ymqRNY4K4NA?t=1016
Andrew Norman "Play" - Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Cristian Măcelaru https://youtu.be/Dc9rYygfwNI?t=1316
Love Scene from El Cid (by Miklós Rózsa)- https://youtu.be/91SunNLBDoI?t=303
Emperor Palpatine Energizer Bunny commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxafIhYFOr0
Adagio from Spartacus (by Khachaturian) - https://youtu.be/LZLMKkEGFRo?t=133
The Red Violin OST (by John Corigliano) - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6Oa6vj9pJz7IPAC5yVw666aU-OReTM1K
The Empire Strikes Back - the original Emperor scene from 1980 - https://youtu.be/rKtciRCVpFE
Cues:
Tail end of 5M3 "Yoda's Entrance"
5M4/6M1 "Solo And The Princess"
Musical Themes:
11a. Han & Leia (A Section)
11b. Han & Leia (B Section)
10a. Imperial March (Theme)
24) Imperial March Vamp
16a. Dark Side (Motif)
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"Luke's Nocturnal Visitor"
"Han Solo and the Princess"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
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)
---------------
Guest: Frank Lehman
Website: https://franklehman.com/
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars: https://franklehman.com/starwars/
A Guide to the Musical Themes of Indiana Jones: https://franklehman.com/indiana-jones-themes/
Book: Hollywood Harmony: Musical Wonder and the Sound of Cinema - https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Harmony-Musical-Wonder-Cinema/dp/0190606401
Frank's previous episodes:
Solo 7: Powell's Fresh Take (Minutes 31-35 with Frank Lehman) - https://youtu.be/x_dF58geISQ
ANH 6: Binary Sunset Breakdown (Minutes 26-30 with Frank Lehman) - https://youtu.be/JrCg4KLk054
TLJ 30: Musical DNA of The Last Jedi (Minutes 146-150 with Frank Lehman) - https://youtu.be/NZwIpV3igBo
------------------
If you want to support the show and join the Discord server, consider becoming a patron! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show... https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
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Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
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?
1:20:00 - Xanthe's disturbing Yoda puppetry attempt.
1:25:23 - Listener question: How do puppet designers prioritize movement and durability?
1:36:59 - Luke being tested in this scene, failing. Parable within a parable.
1:46:12 - A closer look at the shot with Yoda reaching across to grab the cane. "Live hands" situation.
1:53:09 - Frank Oz's little beats. The exhalation is all in the performance; the puppet has no lungs.
1:59:09 - Comparing Frank Oz's Yoda to other Yoda's (from The Clone Wars, etc).
2:08:52 - The music (5M3 Yoda's Entrance) gives us the tiniest little tease of who Yoda is.
2:17:31 - Tips on getting into the Muppets oeuvre.
2:23:30 - Is there an instrument that represents Yoda to you? (open to listener answers!)
2:30:00 - SWMM Questionnaire
2:40:11 - Ken's very disturbing Yoda mask.
Things to Check Out:
Dominic Sewell's analysis of cue 5M2 Yoda Appears - https://youtu.be/p10aBm6juXM
Playlist of Frank Oz's Muppet Character Voices - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSnlOAEE_D0&list=PLw4AP6SyWCYxCHJ1eLHHj9JXbkLyYCM5k
Yoda (Star Wars) | Evolution In Movies & TV (1980 - 2018) - https://youtu.be/ReZTZS7eIlw
Yoda Comparison - The Phantom Menace - https://youtu.be/4DsYoc1CsUQ
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas - https://youtu.be/nZqYHS4uzWE
Singing Fish ("The Little Fishies" from The Muppet Show)- https://youtu.be/3lFOh2vzJzk
Gremlins Suite (composed by Jerry Goldsmith) - https://youtu.be/jsE-Hr73Imw
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Cues:
5M2 "Yoda Appears"
5M3 "Yoda's Entrance"
Musical Themes:
3. Force
12a. Yoda (A Section)
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"Arrival on Dagobah"
"Luke's Nocturnal Visitor"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Longing. Grace. Adventure.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Major/big themes aside (like the Force theme and Imperial March), which of the more minor musical themes recur the most across the films?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
1941 (composed by John Williams)
The Italian Job (composed and arranged by Quincy Jones)
Gremlins (composed by Jerry Goldsmith)
The Last Starfighter (composed by Craig Safan)
---------------
Guest: Ken Plume
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kenplume
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenplume
Muppets/Jim Henson commentary thread: https://twitter.com/KenPlume/status/1351023387003518976
------------------
If you want to support the show and join the Discord server, consider becoming a patron! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show... https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink
Where else to find SWMM:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
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.
2:21:36 - SWMM Questionnaire.
Things to Check Out:
John Williams Conference - https://johnwilliams.sciencesconf.org/
Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances (arr. for violin) - https://youtu.be/MVt85w21MoQ?t=108 (queued up to the artificial harmonics section)
Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld (Can-Can starts at 6:58) - https://youtu.be/vEnW5_GTooI
Score: A Film Music Documentary - https://www.score-movie.com/
"Essay for Strings" (John Williams) - https://youtu.be/L3Jd9ysG314
"Essay for Orchestra No. 1" (Samuel Barber) - https://youtu.be/8ZkB-hHGqWw
Edward Elgar "Symphony No.1 " (2. Mov.)
https://youtu.be/y4TI8yxKhRE
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Cues:
End of 4M3 "The Asteroid Field"
5M1 "Crash Landing"
Musical Themes:
11a. Han & Leia (A Section)
28) Semitonal Slip
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
13. Droids
10a. Imperial March (Theme)
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"The Asteroid Field"
"Arrival on Dagobah"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
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
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3hiwYy5oTsb50N-kxRhonA
ANH 23: Trench Run Tension (Minutes 111-115 with Samantha Tripp) - https://youtu.be/7VgkV0f5GwE
Solo 3: Imperial March Diegesis (Minutes 11-15 with Samantha Tripp) - https://youtu.be/Kj9EAuzCY68
------------------
If you want to support the show and join the Discord server, consider becoming a patron! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show... https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink
Where else to find SWMM:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
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."
58:46 - Flat 2 representing tension, aggravation, distress.
1:02:02 - Violins are running up (run) and sliding down (glissando).
1:09:33 - Asteroid Field Subsidiary Motif.
1:17:57 - Instruments uniting for the regal Asteroid Field theme.
1:28:19 - "Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3720 to 1."
1:31:53 - Pianist vs. violinist perspectives, mental shifts.
1:34:37 - Emotions + Intervals Test (There are no wrong answers!)
2:03:16 - Tonicizing, turning notes into roots. A little test on which roots we perceive.
2:09:32 - Sentisonics.
2:16:20 - Polytonality (vertical) vs. modulation (horizontal) in The Asteroid Field.
2:21:39 - The darkest chord progression.
2:23:32 - Comparing the Asteroid Field cue to the concert arrangement.
2:30:48 - Dennis's parting thoughts about these minutes.
2:34:38 - SWMM Questionnaire.
Things Referenced:
Cues and Signals: An Ethological Approach to Music-Related Emotion (David Huron paper) - https://journals.openedition.org/signata/1115
Voice Leading: The Science Behind a Musical Art (David Huron book)
On George Russell's "Ladder of 5ths" - https://www.jasonharmonica.com/WOTG.html
John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" https://youtu.be/xy_fxxj1mMY
Asteroid Field (Concert Arrangement!) by John Williams: https://youtu.be/vLt0nZug-YU
Star Wars 20th Anniversary: Interview with John Williams’ (1997) - https://www.jwfan.com/?p=4553
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Dominic Sewell Music's analysis and walkthrough of cue 4m3 "The Asteroid Field" - https://youtu.be/LUa5TKeY7Nk
Cues:
4M2 "The Rebels Escape Again"
4M3 "The Asteroid Field"
Musical Themes:
10a. Imperial March (Theme)
11a. Han & Leia (A Section)
26) Asteroid Field Main Theme
27) Asteroid Field Subsidiary Motif
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"The Battle Of Hoth (Ion Cannon/Imperial Walkers/Beneath the"
"The Asteroid Field"
-------
Star Wars Music Minute Questionnaire:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Adventure. Mysticism. Justice.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Which specific classical composers John Williams borrowed from harmonically (and how, specifically).
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
The Last Starfighter (composed by Craig Safan)
---------------
Guest: Dennis Hamm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennishammkeys/
Sentisonics: https://sentisonics.com/
------------------
If you want to support the show and join the Discord server, consider becoming a patron! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show... https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink
Where else to find SWMM:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
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?
1:54:17 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
Dominic Sewell's analysis of 3M4/4M1 "Luke's First Crash" - https://youtu.be/dfKjTX7gpNs
Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4, 1st movement - https://youtu.be/iE9LhoKEmBk
Scherzo for X-Wings (John Williams) from Star Wars: The Force Awakens - https://youtu.be/xJzuanMUuS4
Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra (John Williams) from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - https://youtu.be/1IFmRniWa0U
"Running to McGonagall" (John Williams) from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - https://youtu.be/T0SchcBWq7c
("Thinking about Marion's Theme") Art of the Score Episode 1: Raiders of the Lost Ark - Part 1 - https://www.artofthescore.com.au/podcast/2017/2/16/episode-1-raiders-of-the-lost-ark-part-1
Art of the Score Episode 2: Raiders of the Lost Ark - Part 2 - https://www.artofthescore.com.au/podcast/2017/2/16/episode-2-raiders-of-the-lost-ark-part-2
ANH 18: The Swashbucklers (Minutes 86-90 with Dan Golding) - https://youtu.be/5xFFLXruO0Y
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Cues:
3M4/4M1 "Luke's First Crash"
4M2 "The Rebels Escape Again"
Musical Themes:
16b. Dark Side (Ostinato)
10a. Imperial March (Theme)
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
3. Force
2. Rebel Fanfare
10b. Imperial March (Bridge)
4. Leia
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"The Battle Of Hoth (Ion Cannon/Imperial Walkers/Beneath the"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Vivid symphonic storytelling.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Interviews with the orchestrators.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
If Beale Street Could Talk (by Nicholas Britell)
---------------
Guest: Conor Power
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cpower1997
(Article) Swashbucklers and Femme Fatales: Gender Coding in John Williams’s Score to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - https://revista.uclm.es/index.php/cuadernosdeinvestigacionmusical/article/view/2830
------------------
If you want to support the show and join the Discord server, consider becoming a patron! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show... https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink
Where else to find SWMM:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin