Star Wars Music Minute

By: Chrysanthe Tan
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  • Summary

  • Celebrating the music and sound of Star Wars 5 cinematic minutes at a time!
    Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
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Episodes
  • TROS 6: Speeder Chase Shenanigans (Minutes 26-30 with Conor Power)

    TROS 6: Speeder Chase Shenanigans (Minutes 26-30 with Conor Power)
    Aug 12 2024
    In minutes 26-30 of The Rise of Skywalker, Lando tells Rey, Finn, Poe, and the gang about Ochi of Bestoon, and our heroes encounter flying stormtroopers. Film music researcher Conor Power returns to the show to discuss "style topics," the Heroics themes, and John Williams' original cue for the speeder chase. Timestamps: 0:00 - Hello there!3:09 - Musical scorekeeping, motifs.5:49 - Style topics (style topos).9:07 - Lacking the terminology to explain musical interpretations.10:42 - Listening to the start of these minutes.14:24 - Octatonic flute filigree.21:01 - Optimistic suspensions, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head?24:43 - Lando's voice through the mask.27:21 - March Onboard Spacecraft incidental motif.33:32 - Best line in the scene.39:01 - Heroics (Broad) theme.49:29 - Sinister underscore while Lando talks about Ochi.58:21 - Strings with an anguished symphony quality.1:03:13 - The use of Leia's theme when Lando mentions her.1:10:27 - This part reminds Xanthe of "The Adventures of Han" from Solo: A Star Wars Story.1:12:33 - Elephant in the room: John Williams' "Speeder Chase" cue, which didn't make it into the film.1:24:49 - Are the beats of this action sequence hard to follow? Would the scene have been more cohesive with Williams's original cue?1:29:53 - How to get the best work out of John Williams (speculation).1:38:58 - Heroics theme after "they fly now."1:47:02 - Augmented Rey's theme.1:52:00 - Timpani sticking out.2:04:09 - Playing John Williams's original "Speeder Chase" cue.2:10:43 - JW "adventure-action" music; this action cue sounds like more of a lighthearted diversion than a pivotal melodrama.2:13:59 - SWMM Questionnaire Things to Check Out: Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Truck Chase (1981) - https://youtu.be/yqQD8sVtfA4?si=n40NskdT0wO_vWT0Finn and Poe Escape the First Order - Star Wars Eposode VII: The Force Awakens - https://youtu.be/k3C83hzkg7o?si=iq6y7mT5hqMPaQLdComplete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/ Musical Themes: 41a. Kylo Ren A (Aggressive) - hinted through ostinato47a. March of the Resistance (A Section) - or something similar88) March Onboard Spacecraft62a. Heroics (Broad)4. Leia45a. Rey A (Theme A-Phrase)62b. Heroics (Brisk) Where are we in the soundtrack?: nowhere, but OST 5. "The Speeder Chase" was supposed to be here. --------------- STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE: 1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like? New: "Excellent job, sir." ("Terrible job, sir.")Previous: Vivid symphonic storytelling. 2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about? New: What conversations does Williams have with the mixers and editors? Were there even conversations?Previous: Interviews with the orchestrators. 3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars? New: Minari (by Emile Mosseri), Dracula (by John Williams), The Fury (by John Williams)Previous: If Beale Street Could Talk (by Nicholas Britell) --------------- Guest: Conor Power ESB 7: Musical Referee (Minutes 31-35 with Conor Power) - https://youtu.be/_FtXZNRWZIATwitter: https://twitter.com/cpower1997Conor is on BlueSky.(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 ------------------ ⭐️ Join the Discord server by becoming a patron at any level! 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/StarWarsMusMinSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/652WVfMTLwJpVZ82i8uhFAApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-music-minute/id1552988763YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminuteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminuteEmail: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
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    2 hrs and 24 mins
  • TROS 5: StabbyBoi Kylo (Minutes 21-25 with Alex Cunningham)

    TROS 5: StabbyBoi Kylo (Minutes 21-25 with Alex Cunningham)
    Aug 5 2024
    In minutes 21-25 of The Rise of Skywalker, Kylo Ren debuts his newly repaired mask, our heroes make it to Pasaana in time for the Aki Aki Festival of the Ancestors, and we get our first piece of source music in the film. Alex Cunningham returns to the show to discuss Kylo's helmet voice, First Order dialects, stabby punctuation, and the use of diegetic music on Pasaana. Timestamps: 0:00 - Hello there!2:58 - Stabby punctuation of Kylo Ren entrance.7:12 - Kylo's theme vs. Knights of Ren theme.18:22 - "I sense unease about my appearance, General Hux."19:05 - Is Kylo's helmet voice a little clearer than it was in TFA?27:49 - Fanboy Pryde.32:19 - Question about the RP-accented First Order officers and if the English dialect distinctions are recreated in other language dubs.42:31 - More stabby Kylo Ren punctuation. "I'm gonna go hunting."44:23 - Musical sting during the transition to Pasaana. Reminiscent of Emperor and Planetary Descent.47:50 - Thoughts on there being yet another desert planet.59:58 - Diegetic music for the Aki-Aki Festival of the Ancestors.1:18:44 - Source music is taken over by score, illustrating Rey's change of focus. Lydian moment!1:30:54 - Awkward "family name" conversation.1:38:14 - Thoughts on Leia's Jedi journey.1:50:49 - Soundscape of Kylo and Rey's Force Skype.2:05:54 - Kylo Ren's A Theme (Aggressive) vs. B Theme (Hesitant).2:10:45 - TRON vibes.2:15:42 - Final thoughts about these minutes.2:20:29 - SWMM Questionnaire Things to Check Out: "Lido Hey" by Shag F. Kava - https://youtu.be/Ca2SlCjDxUAJedi Junior High (now called "Makin' Wookiee") - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3530344/AIR scene with Matt Damon and Chris Messina's phone call - https://youtu.be/MuNcDlt6oVsComplete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/ Musical Themes: Kylo Ren A (Aggressive)EmperorRey A (Theme A-Phrase)Kylo Ren B (Hesitant) Where are we in the soundtrack?: None of this music is on either soundtrack (I think?)Shag F. Kava - "Lido Hey" (on YouTube) --------------- STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE: 1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like? New: Subtle, except not.Previous: John. Ben. James. 2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about? New: Which accent/dialect choices are being made in other language dubs of Star Wars?Previous: What other sound designers does Ben Burtt admire? Who is on the foley team, and how do they think and talk about foley? Do they see themselves as sound designers, how do they approach their creative work? 3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars? New: Spring Breakers (composed by Skrillex and Cliff Martinez), Spawn: The Album (the US Edition) (produced by Happy Walters)Previous: Akira (composed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi), The Harder They Come (primarily featuring Jimmy Cliff), Station Eleven (composed by Dan Romer) --------------- Guest: Alex Cunningham BrickSteelhead on the Friends of Xanthe Discord server.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muay_tie_fighter/ANH 21: Backstage Jitters (Minutes 101-105 with Alex Cunningham) - https://youtu.be/95tApsOGqP8Solo 21: Shades of Revelation (Minutes 101-105 with Alex Cunningham) - https://youtu.be/h3W2eub9B7A ------------------ ⭐️ Join the Discord server by becoming a patron at any level! 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/StarWarsMusMinSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/652WVfMTLwJpVZ82i8uhFAApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-music-minute/id1552988763YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminuteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminuteEmail: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
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    2 hrs and 31 mins
  • TROS 4: Handful of Ostinato (Minutes 16-20 with Katharine Coldiron)

    TROS 4: Handful of Ostinato (Minutes 16-20 with Katharine Coldiron)
    Jul 30 2024
    Palpatine has returned, and author Katharine Coldiron joins me to discuss minutes 16-20 of The Rise of Skywalker. We talk about the logic of leitmotifs, songs vs. performances, Bugs, the storytelling matrix, conveying information through image vs. sound, and more. Timestamps: 0:00 - Hello there!4:51 - Microphone speculation.13:55 - "Somehow, Palpatine returned."21:34 - The logic of leitmotifs. Number of leitmotif statements in TLJ vs TROS.29:09 - It's not just about leitmotifs.33:30 - Song vs. performance.35:42 - Do the generations of film composers after John Williams still listen to Tchaikovsky, Wagner, etc?41:11 - Ostinato not on the soundtrack (was it added in a later cut of the film?). Bugs Bunny flourish.47:14 - Force theme moment (1st time in these minutes) that Katharine isn't a fan of.55:19 - Rey's theme and the storytelling matrix.1:07:40 - Concert suites.1:12:48 - Is this reminiscent of a Berlioz opera?1:18:52 - "We Go Together" and the Friendship motif.1:31:47 - Funny choir moment.1:36:09 - Force theme moment that Katharine is a fan of.1:40:14 - "70% of information is conveyed through image, whereas 30% is conveyed through sound. 70% of emotion is conveyed through sound and 30% through image."1:46:39 - When leitmotifs do heavy information-lifting.1:54:36 - Distributing the music, dialogue, and sound effects across the frequency spectrum.1:55:52 - Knights of Ren theme (and why we like it).2:06:51 - The grammar of Star Wars landing shots.2:10:30 - J.J. Abrams, old-school film directing, camerawork trends, composer parallels.2:26:15 - SWMM Questionnaire Things to Check Out: Sideways video: https://youtu.be/L_8-dWSLDWI?si=hA80Yu-67aI23AZ8Les Troyens (opera by Hector Berlioz): https://youtu.be/JVuj-b0zXVE?si=tU7YPcEZpz8GEO7hAnother Happy Landing: https://youtu.be/RAWYMxygeBk?si=roWNQk3qjjTGylf5Star Wars Holiday Special (opening music): https://youtu.be/6hH8rxarVG8?si=uFXqoEg7EYnvEcg7&t=201Hollywood Harmony (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/hollywood-harmony/ESB 11: Free-Floating Motivic Particles (with Frank Lehman): https://youtu.be/N_jXuEWiaLY?si=d-JV7XH2e2X0-Gm5My review of Pauline García Viardot's chamber opera: https://www.sfcv.org/articles/review/last-sorcerer-enchanting-fairy-tale-opera-resurrectedBizarre Albums Lapti Nek episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/bizarre-singles-lapti-nek-from-return-of-the-jedi/id1471679636?i=1000473552119Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/ Musical Themes: Sith SeductionEmperorForceRey A (Theme A-Phrase)FriendshipKnights of Ren (Slow Form) Where are we in the soundtrack?: FYC 3. "We Go Together"OST 9. "We Go Together" --------------- STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE: 1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like? Adventure. Heart. Saga. 2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about? Is John Williams more of a genius or a craftsman? 3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars? Gone Girl composed (by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor). The Truman Show soundtrack. Fight Club (by the Dust Brothers). --------------- Guest: Katharine Coldiron Landing shots video: https://youtu.be/nbAcX60dSNsWebsite: https://kcoldiron.com/Twitter: https://x.com/ferrifrigidaLook at all the books she's written! https://kcoldiron.com/books-chapbooks/ ------------------ ⭐️ Join the Discord server by becoming a patron at any level! 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/StarWarsMusMinSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/652WVfMTLwJpVZ82i8uhFAApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-music-minute/id1552988763YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminuteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminuteEmail: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
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    2 hrs and 43 mins
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