Star Wars Music Minute
Celebrating the music and sound of Star Wars 5 cinematic minutes at a time!
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Episodes
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
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.
2:45:38 - SWMM Questionnaire
References:
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Analysis Through Composition - Principles of the Classical Style (book by Nicholas Cook) - https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/3425258
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
Orb and Sceptre (William Walton) - https://youtu.be/v6qjUdaDE_Q
Crown Imperial March (William Walton) - https://youtu.be/1M9xZlA2zn8
Dominic's video intro to pitch class set theory: https://youtu.be/Am2KLFMGuvw
Pitch-Class Set Calculator: https://www.mta.ca/pc-set/calculator/pc_calculate.html
List of set classes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_set_classes
Petrushka (Stravinsky) - https://youtu.be/jeSC0vtdn3g
David Matthews piece: The Golden Kingdom song cycle, "Spell of Creation" movement - https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/the-golden-kingdom-p3081
Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain - https://youtu.be/SLCuL-K39eQ
Mickey Mouse (2013) series, music by Christopher Willis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNdhDq-DF8k&list=PLIUzyJZLGeBM2mB9MaXtfzCxHRZ6s8PIl
Mark Richards's film scoring courses: https://filmmusicnotes.com/all-courses/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse_(TV_series)
The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films: A Comprehensive Account of Howard Shore's Scores (by Doug Adams) - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/8882617
Check out Dominic Sewell's channel to see more analysis with video walkthroughs of these cues:
3M2 Leia's Instructions (final segment) - https://youtu.be/DThcEWb_CoE
3M3 The Snow Battle - https://youtu.be/fIHn1e521DY
3M4/4M1 Luke's First Crash - https://youtu.be/dfKjTX7gpNs
Cues:
3M2 "Leia's Instructions"
3M3 "The Snow Battle"
3M4/4M1 "Luke's First Crash"
Musical Themes:
2. Rebel Fanfare
18) Descending Heroic Tetrachords
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
13. Droids
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?
Transporting. Transforming. Transcendental.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Dom would like to talk to John Williams about what his teachers taught him.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Lord of the Rings - Howard Shore
Doctor Who (TV series) - Murray Gold
The Orville (TV series) - Bruce Broughton (main theme), Joel McNeely, Andrew Cottee, John Debney, and Kevin Kaska
Death of Stalin - Christopher Willis
---------------
Guest: Dominic Sewell
Website: https://dominicsewell.co.uk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DominicSewellMusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dominicsewell
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DominicSewellMusic
------------------
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 Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
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.
1:34:42 - Sweet, elongated string lines (Rebels) vs. short, sharp lines (Imperials).
1:42:17 - Beginning of the Battle of Hoth set piece.
1:50:00 - Obvious contrast between the past cue (which had lots of different moods, push-pull, rise-fall) and this cue (ramping up).
2:08:38 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
David Bruce Composer's "history of the entire orchestra, i guess" - https://youtu.be/tNsZA6q8yH8
Dominic Sewell Music has done fantastic analysis on "2M4 The Imperial March - The Probe Scanner": https://youtu.be/UZaQDrN7YZU
Frédéric Chopin: Funeral March https://youtu.be/xt9SN7Y-z-A
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade - https://youtu.be/SQNymNaTr-Y
Igor Stravinsky: Rite of Spring - https://youtu.be/rP42C-4zL3w
Bassoon solo from Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony (soloist is Julien Hardy) - https://youtu.be/tWsy5GCsGDI
Body mapping for musicians: https://www.bodymap.org/recommended-reading
Béla Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances (soloist is Henryk Szeryng) - https://youtube.com/watch?v=a9aZU35so9A&t=175 <-- queued up to the part we were talking about
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.
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Cues:
End of 2M4 "The Probe Scanner"
3M1 "Drawing The Battle Lines"
3M2 "Leia's Instructions"
Musical Themes:
10a. Imperial March (Theme)
24) Imperial March Vamp
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
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?
Thematic. Intense. Lush.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Details about the score preparation and recording process.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
The Cat Returns (by Yuji Nomi)
---------------
Guest: Stephanie Manning
Stephanie's articles on Cleveland Classical: https://clevelandclassical.com/author/stephanie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ByStephManning
------------------
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 Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
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!
This episode is also on YouTube (with spectogram visuals): https://youtu.be/nnflnU9iecM
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
04:15 - Interaction between music and sound design.
06:54 - How Ben Burtt crafted the snowspeeder and snow sounds.
14:07 - Mechanical-sounding perpetual motion with triumphant trumpet flourishes on top.
22:58 - Weird, angular oboe melody and a massive texture shift.
27:54 - No music during the impassionate kiss.
32:10 - Fuzzball, nerfherder.
35:10 - How Ben Burtt made the Imperial Probe Droid explosion sound.
37:38 - Using math to analyze harmony, intro to macroharmony.
45:16 - How would you define harmony? Harmony (abstract) and sonority
48:15 - Spectograms and discrete Fourier transform (DFT). (Visual demonstration of these Star Wars minutes viewed through the spectogram)
1:02:38 - Quick Tip: Orchestral listening challenge.
1:06:54 - Why does knowing the harmonic landscape of something matter?
1:12:45 - 12-tone scale, interval ratios, imperfect reality of intonation.
1:21:20 - Dialogue causing changes in the structure of the speeder music.
1:27:40 - Imperial March sounds steady but doesn't have the same motor. Accents. Why does the Imperial March sound almost... human?
1:45:59 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things Mentioned:
Jenn's Visual Pitch Class Vector Calculator: https://www.jenndharding.com/vectorcalculator
Jenn's DFT Panorama Generator: http://www.jenndharding.com/panorama
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Check out Dominic Sewell's analysis of these cues!
2M2 Ben's Instructions - https://youtu.be/Dh9W98GykGs
2M3 Luke's Rescue - https://youtu.be/UTFX2QjGqzQ
2M4 The Imperial March - The Probe Scanner - https://youtu.be/UZaQDrN7YZU
Musical Themes:
16b. Dark Side (Ostinato)
24) Imperial March Vamp
10a. Imperial March (Theme)
Cues:
Very end of 2M2 "Ben's Instructions"
2M3 "Luke's Rescue"
2M4 "The Probe Scanner"
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"The Wampa's Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan/Snowspeeders Take Flight"
"Rescue from Cloud City/Hyperspace"
"The Imperial Probe/Aboard the Executor"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Adventure. Nostalgia. Romance.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
The sound design and its coordination with the score.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Lord of the Rings (by Howard Shore)
---------------
Guest: Dr. Jenn Harding
https://jenndharding.com
https://twitter.com/dizzyfingers42
-----------------
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 Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
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.
Video version of this episode is here: https://youtu.be/hRujf84GhXM
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
05:10 - Listening to the beginning of these minutes.
6:31 - How Ben Burtt made Threepio's sound here.
11:21 - Somber horn stinger.
15:15 - What is the meaning of this fragmented Force theme?
23:36 - Ligeti/Spectralist influences.
30:49 - "Ben! Dagobah!"
35:25 - The music that John Williams originally wrote for this scene that got cut.
40:56 - Quickie Topic: Tempo
55:21 - Why it's worth acknowledging Wagner's influence on Star Wars.
1:03:19 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
Dominic Sewell's analysis of 1m3/2m1 "Luke's Escape" - https://youtu.be/xKysHgjNtmk
Dominic Sewell's analysis of 2m2 "Ben's Instructions" - https://youtu.be/Dh9W98GykGs
"Allegretto" from Beethoven's 7th Symphony (first chord) - https://youtu.be/vCHREyE5GzQ
György Ligeti - "Atmospheres" - https://youtu.be/RCNzwdLwA8g
The Empire Strikes Back sound design explained by Ben Burtt (INDEPTH Sound Design) - https://youtu.be/VUeWJKwQwsE
Spectral music: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_music
Film-as-Concert-Music And the Formal Implications of 'Cinematic Listening' - https://franklehman.com/film-as-concert-music/
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Cues:
Very end of 1M3/2M1 "Luke's Escape"
2M2 "Ben's Instructions"
Musical Themes:
3. Force
Possible hint of 1a. Main Theme (A Section)
Where are we in the soundtrack(s)?:
"The Wampa's Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan/Snowspeeders Take Flight"
----------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Unproblematic intergalactic Wagner.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
The foley work.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Lord of the Rings trilogy (composed by Howard Shore)
---------------
Guest: Jacob Jahiel
You can find Jake's writing on Early Music America (EMA): https://www.earlymusicamerica.org/?s=jacob+jahiel
------------------
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 Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
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."
55:55 - Conductors as Jedi Masters.
1:02:17 - Esa Pekka Salonen and kung fu masters.
1:10:53 - Tauntaun sounds.
1:13:53 - Quickie topic: Dynamics.
1:23:40 - SWMM Questionnaire.
Things Mentioned:
Smetana - The Moldau - https://youtube.com/watch?v=BhAwqPBPIEM&t=110
The Soundtrack Show: The Empire Strikes Back: the Music Part I: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-the-soundtrack-show-29021108/episode/the-empire-strikes-back-the-music-30719133/
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Check out Dominic Sewell Music 's YouTube channel for a more in-depth cue analysis of the following cues:
1m3/2m1 "Luke's Escape" - https://youtu.be/xKysHgjNtmk
1m2B "The Imperial Probe" Part 2 - https://youtu.be/29teKKgKNm8
Musical Themes:
4. Leia
11a. Han & Leia (A Section)
13. Droids
3. Force
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"Main Title/The Ice Planet Hoth"
"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)
---------------
Guest: Christina Ward
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtverse.studio/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristinaWard00
Solo 15: Do You Like It? (Minutes 71-75 with Christina Ward) - https://youtu.be/YkMiwQzrteY
Christina joined The Band Batch for music commentary on ANDOR season 1: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE4n8ygyS0MIkTsWhhs7gBmLFiQtjzAjT
------------------
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 Nov 14, 2022
Monday Nov 14, 2022
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.)
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
01:06 - References & resources
03:31 - Intro to THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
04:46 - Scoring process
08:52 - Recording process
22:50 - Soundtrack hullabaloo
30:14 - New musical themes
36:25 - ESB Minutes 1-5
1:07:47 - Season gameplan
References:
Recording the Star Wars Saga - Analysis by Chris Malone (2005-2012): https://www.malonedigital.com/starwars.pdf
John Williams BBC Documentary (1980) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBCF465B155E38603
The Soundtrack Show: The Empire Strikes Back: the Music Part I: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-the-soundtrack-show-29021108/episode/the-empire-strikes-back-the-music-30719133/
Art of the Score: The Empire Strikes Back -- Part 1: http://www.artofthescore.com.au/podcast/2019/5/23/episode-27-the-empire-strikes-back-part-1
Art of the Score Episode 34: Studio Fanfares Part 1 - http://www.artofthescore.com.au/podcast/2021/7/25/episode-34-studio-fanfares-part-1
The Empire Strikes Back Sound Design Explained by Ben Burtt (INDEPTH Sound Design) - https://youtu.be/VUeWJKwQwsE
Photocopy of John Williams' Handwritten Sketch for the ESB "Finale" (Julien's Auctions page) - https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/353/lot/141570
Dominic Sewell's analysis of The Empire Strikes Back - 1m1 Fanfare and Main Title - https://youtu.be/0OHkY5wUJI8
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
50 Hz Pilot Test Tone: https://youtu.be/bslHKEh7oZk
Musical Themes:
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
1b. Main Theme (B Section)
1) Starry Night Arpeggios
10a. Imperial March (Theme)
11a. Han & Leia (A Section)
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"20th Century Fox Fanfare"
"Star Wars (Main Theme)"
"Main Title/The Ice Planet Hoth"
"The Imperial Probe/Aboard the Executor"
"Arrival on Dagobah"
Cues:
1M1-1M2A "Main Title - The Imperial Probe - Part 1"
------------------
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
Friday Sep 23, 2022
Friday Sep 23, 2022
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)?
Things to Check Out:
Video of Baraka May in the recording studio with John Powell: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1945815745719721
Playlist of all SWMM Conversations with Star Wars musicians: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE4n8ygyS0MLbbtk0Hzpb0Z3JlShtuf_U
Solo 9: Chicken in The Pot Iceberg (Minutes 41-45 with AurekFonts) - https://youtu.be/W4mqTn4oYVg
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Otherworldly. Epic. Unexpected.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
How the collaborative relationship is between and amongst Star Wars composers. How composers navigate mixing in the old with the new.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Lord of the Rings trilogy (composed by Howard Shore) and Edward Scissorhands (composed by Danny Elfman)
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Guest: Baraka May
Website: https://www.barakamay.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barakamay/
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6970285/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Barakamay
------------------
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
Friday Sep 09, 2022
Friday Sep 09, 2022
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?
1:29:27 - "I Still Call Australia Home."
1:34:13 - SWMM Questionnaire.
Things to Check Out:
Playlist of SWMM Conversations with Star Wars musicians: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE4n8ygyS0MLbbtk0Hzpb0Z3JlShtuf_U
Mahler - 1st Symphony, 1st mvt (piano solo arranged by Iain Farrington) - https://youtu.be/ET8UNKBzUgI
"I Still Call Australia Home" Qantas ad: https://youtu.be/Kwfuo8ESa5E
Iain Farrington's "I still call Australia home" arrangement is the second track on this list: https://www.iainfarrington.com/songs.html
Solo 3: Imperial March Diegesis (Minutes 11-15 with Samantha Tripp) - https://youtu.be/Kj9EAuzCY68
Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars: https://franklehman.com/starwars/
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
That's an orchestra.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Would love to see John Williams's original sketches for Star Wars.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
E.T. (composed by John Williams)
---------------
Guest: Iain Farrington
Website: https://www.iainfarrington.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IainFarrington
YouTube (where you can find his piano arrangements of Mahler symphonies): https://www.youtube.com/user/iainfarrington
-----------------
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
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Friday Aug 26, 2022
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)?
1:40:16 - SWMM Questionnaire.
1:42:05 - Acknowledgements.
References:
Solo Credits Wiki: https://jhmoviecollection.fandom.com/wiki/Solo:_A_Star_Wars_Story/Credits
Score Mixing Seminar with Shawn Murphy (Mix with the Masters): https://youtu.be/NH7qH9qbjYM
Sound Effects Categories - How Do You Organise Yours? (Pro Tools Expert interview with Tim Nielsen, including links to download his sound effect organizing system) - https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/home-page/2017/6/27/sound-effects-categories-how-do-you-organise-yours
ANH 20: Jungle Warehouse (Minutes 96-100 with Nick Norton) - https://youtu.be/Db1ZnPnfjKU
John Powell's vuvuzela Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/BuX7nvwFz5i/
John Powell's Instagram post showing his orchestral template (2021): https://www.instagram.com/p/CNaPUIyBJrM/
Article about film music orchestrators (The Hollywood Reporter, 2007): Unsung heroes: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/unsung-heroes-127344/
Hollywood Five Honoured by Trinity Laban - https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/news/hollywood-five-honoured-by-trinity-laban/
Being a Composers Assistant: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/editorial/features/being-a-composers-assistant/
5 Cat Studios: https://5catstudios.com/
May the Score Be with You: Music Editor Ramiro Belgardt Returns for 'Star Wars' Reboot - https://cinemontage.org/may-score-music-editor-ramiro-belgardt-returns-star-wars-reboot/
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Musical Themes:
8. L3-37
1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
2b. Young Han Solo (Searching Variant, comp. JW)
6. Han & Chewie
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"Super Extra Deluxe End Credits Suite (7MEC)"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
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)
--------
If you want to support the show and join the Friends of Xanthe Discord server, consider becoming a patron: https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Merch store in progress: https://www.redbubble.com/people/swmusicminute
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
Saturday Aug 20, 2022
Saturday Aug 20, 2022
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 14: Romance Roller Coaster (Minutes 66-70 with Crystal Beth) - https://youtu.be/tOKkEokZwss
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.
Musical Themes:
2. Rebel Fanfare
2b. Young Han Solo (Searching Variant, comp. JW)
1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
18) Descending Heroic Tetrachords
8. L3-37
4. Han & Q'ira
3. Secrets
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
"Sabacc Rematch / To Tatooine (7M47-48)" & "Dice & Roll"
"Super Extra Deluxe End Credits Suite (7MEC)"
---------------
STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Alex
old: majestic French horns
new: tchew tchew tchew
Pete
old: Aunt Beru's kitchen
new: short wave radio
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Alex
(old): Alex wants a documentary featurette explaining what the process of scoring a film is.
Alex (new): Why don't the musicians get listed in the credits (sometimes)?
Pete
(old): Pete wants to watch a sound design commentary from Ben Burtt or any sound department special.
Pete (new): Pete wants to watch the movie with no added sound/music; ideally just what was captured on set.
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Alex
old: Superman (composed by John Wlliams)
Alex (new): Magnolia (soundtrack largely features Aimee Mann)
Pete
old: The Black Hole (composed by John Barry)
new: Fight Club
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Star Wars Minute:
Website: https://www.starwarsminute.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheStarWarsMinute
Pete the Retailer:
Website: https://petetheretailer.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeteTheRetailer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterbonavita/
ABCD:TOS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/abcd-tos/id1531020539
Alex Robinson:
Website: https://alexrobinson.fun
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arobtwit/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ARobTwit
Godfather Minute: https://godfatherminute.tumblr.com/
------------------
Become a patron to join my Discord server! 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