Marty & Will at long last break their podcast quarantine and ask "was there anything beautiful in this strange and frightening year?". download Catching Up: The Quarantine Musical excerpts from: Onward (2020) - Mychael Danna & Jeff Danna - Pixar Animation Studios (Dan Scanlon, dir.) Soul (2020) - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste - Pixar Ani…

After focusing on Herbert Stothart's fantastic underscore, we bring our attention back to the magical songwriting partnership of Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. The song score to The Wizard of Oz is unlike any other, built from infectious melody, peerless lyrics and surprising structure. Moving piece by piece through Arlen & Harburg's work brings us…

We devote today's episode to the Academy Award-winning underscore to The Wizard of Oz and its composer Herbert Stothart. His musical tapestry is a technicolor extravaganza itself - lavish, sensitive and irreplaceable. Written with a stunning lack of ego, Stothart's score pushes powerful musical ideas into the spotlight, be they melodies of songwrit…

We are ecstatic to begin our next film subject, The Wizard of Oz (1939), arguably the most magical film ever produced. At the heart of our movie is a song that changed the world. "Over the Rainbow" is one of the most lauded, most performed, and most beloved pieces of music we know of and our dive into the film begins with a conversation centered on…

Today's Reel Change concludes our delightful dive into the history of the Movie Musical. We continue our travel backwards in time, as we step song by song down memory lane. We hope today's selections (by no means intended as an exhaustive 'greatest of' list) spark joy in the way only great movie musicals can. Join us and be prepared - you may find …

Today's Reel Change begins a delightful dive into the history of the Movie Musical. For a twist, we start in the present day and move backwards in time, step by step, song by song in a most melodious walk down memory lane. We hope today's selections (by no means intended as an exhaustive 'greatest of' list) spark joy in the way only great movie mus…

Today Marty & Will get together for an unedited chat over one of their favorite pieces of recent film music - the songs & score to Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman's Mary Poppins Returns. download Catching Up: Mary Poppins Returns Mary Poppins Returns (2018) - Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman - Walt Disney Pictures (Rob Marshall, dir.) https://www.imdb.com…

Today Marty & Will turn their attention to some of their own compositional work, starting with the pieces used as theme music for UnderScore. This is the first in a new series of episodes (Composer's Corner) where composers will share the inspirations, approaches and backstories to their own unique music. Thank you so much for another great year of…

It is our immense pleasure to share our conversation with Audio Engineer/Composer Alan Snelling. [Excerpts of this interview were included in our arc of episodes devoted to the score to STAR WARS - we are delighted to be sharing the full extent of our conversation with you on today’s podcast]. Alan began his career in the late seventies as the assi…

Marty & Will craaaawl back from the dead just in time to for a listening party of some spooktacular Halloween movie music. Ready your candle and brave this dark corridor with us for there's something lurking in the shadows, something ghostly.. What was that?... From whence comes this chilling sound?... What terrifying harmony... Yet what ethereal m…

Today’s the day! After 5 episodes exploring the context & composition of this historic, world-changing score we’re finally ready to sit down to watch 1977’s STAR WARS in its entirety. As mentioned previously, our commentary corresponds to the original theatrical cut of the film. At the moment this is a difficult copy to obtain commercially, but is …

Today we conclude our cue-by-cue exploration of the score to STAR WARS (1977). Picking up where we last left off, we enter the final half of the film and continue to marvel at John Williams' genius for orchestration, timing, melody, story and audience. Pouring over this underscore has been the most profound and fulfilling experience we could ever h…

Today's interlude is devoted to the only piece in the score to STAR WARS composed not for placement in the film, but as a stand alone movement for soundtrack and concert. We explore the exquisite orchestration of John Williams and the unforgettable portrayal of Carrie Fisher that together continue to bring life & wonder to this timeless character. …

We've arrived at another Spotting Session - the moment in our film study where we move cue by cue through every piece of underscore. To commemorate the size, substance and significance of John Williams' STAR WARS, today's entry will be the first in a 2-part Spotting Session. This episode will take us from Alfred Newman's 20th Century Fox Fanfare up…

With the exuberant Main Title still ringing in our ears, we turn our attention today to the many character themes that populate the underscore of John Williams' STAR WARS (1977). Examining this music uncovers a masterclass of melodic writing for film: from the short jingle-like motifs for the Rebel starships & Imperial soldiers to the lyrical, upwa…

When reviewing the century-long tradition of music in cinema, the American Film Institute's selection for 'greatest film score of all time' came as little surprise; it was of course John Williams' score to George Lucas' STAR WARS. For us, this 1977 score is something of a modern miracle - a work whose colossal popularity is matched only by its outs…

We've dreamed of these episodes since ever conceiving the podcast... Today we want to offer our thanks for your patience, attention and support by turning to a subject so many of us love like no other: John Williams' score to STAR WARS (1977). Now more than ever we want to remember the original cinematic phenomenon that defied the odds and seemed t…

Today we look at a delightful tradition of cinematic storytelling, one we find at the very beginning of our favorite films: studio logos. These jingles & fanfares are the anthems of Hollywood industry and have been crafted by our most beloved screen composers. We chronicle this unique musical art form from the dawn of sound-film to the present day,…

We are pleased to finally present our feature-length audio commentary to The Incredibles (2004). Let's all unleash our inner Supers and race head-on into one of the most perfect pieces of cinema of the 21st century. Thank you for your Incredi-patience in this series of episodes on Michael Giacchino's breakthrough cinematic debut - a score that is a…

We've come at very long last to our third Incredi-Episode - it's another "spotting session". As in the past, once again we move cue by cue, reflecting on each piece of underscore in our film subject. Along the way we explore the air-tight, impeccably balanced story beats of Brad Bird's modern-day masterpiece and reveal the always deft, story-wise h…

Our second episode focused on The Incredibles (2004) explores the wonderful themes at the heart of Michael Giacchino's score. We first discuss the two central motifs (which we call Main Theme and Main Fanfare) and reveal how they influence the character of the entire underscore. While perhaps lesser known, we dive into the wonderful character theme…

We're so jazzed to unveil our next topic - Michael Giacchino's score to The Incredibles. Written & directed by Brad Bird and produced by Pixar Animation studios in 2004, this super-sized supermovie brings a great many firsts to the podcast (our first animated feature, first Pixar film, first work from Michael Giacchino). Today we explore the swanky…

After an overlong break, we're happy to be back on air with possibly our most joyful episode. Today's Reel Change is devoted to the phenomenal tradition of Cartoon Music. We trace the roots of this great art to the historic partnership of Walt Disney & Carl Stalling and the earliest days of recorded music for film. We chronicle the evolution of sco…

Without further ado we present our feature-length audio commentary to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). It has been our great honor for the past several weeks to examine and celebrate what may possibly be the most perfect score yet composed for cinema. Flashlights and Reese's Pieces at the ready, there's something in the shadows... a stranger... a…

Today's spotting session was produced with no small amount of labor and love. From beginning to end we discuss each instance of underscore in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, hopefully contextualizing this powerful music along with the cinematic narrative it supports. Steeped in the collection of thematic material we covered last week, we now explore ju…

We continue our journey through John Williams' score to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial by focusing on the many additional themes that populate the film. While perhaps best remembered for the themes featured in last week's episode (Flying theme, the Call), E.T. contains a wealth and diversity of iconic music. Remarkably, the majority of the thematic mat…

Today we begin what may likely be our most meaningful set of episodes; a month devoted to John Williams' score to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. In the year it was released, the score won the Academy Award, Golden Globe, two Grammy Awards and the BAFTA and has since been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the top 25 greatest American …

We are thrilled to share our conversation with composer/orchestrator/conductor Conrad Pope. Known throughout Hollywood for his deep musical knowledge and artistry, Conrad is an outstanding composer for cinema and one of the most in-demand orchestrators and conductors in the business. He has participated in well over a hundred films, working for com…

It's part 2 of Reel Change: The Orchestra and we've invited a special guest to join the podcast - our brother and percussionist extraordinaire Karl Brueggemann. Previously we walked through the String and Wind choirs and today we explore orchestral Brass and Percussion. Get to know the unique timbres of some of the leading lights of film music. Fro…

Our latest Reel Change explores the ensemble at the heart of film music - the symphonic orchestra. Every week our score discussions are rife with references to the orchestra and we're delighted to finally give each member their proper introduction. Today's podcast is the first of a 2-part episode, covering the string section, woodwind section and h…

With our banquet prepared, finally we feast! Today's episode is our feature-length audio commentary to Amélie. Assembled by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and the film's editorial team, Yann Tiersen's original & pre-existing music combine seamlessly into a narratively rich, unforgettable underscore. Amélie is a fairytale journey through the full spectrum of hu…

Our spotting session for Amélie is perhaps our most unique installment thus far. We endeavor to cover the entire soundtrack for the film, putting each piece in its time and place. Jeunet, Tiersen and the editorial team assembled a clever collection of 'needle drops' into a narratively compelling underscore. We progress track by track through Amélie…

Today we continue our whimsical adventure through Yann Tiersen's music to Amélie. While much of the score originates from Tiersen's back catalogue, there is some exceptional original music we've yet to cover. Let's start with one of our very favorite pieces from the score, L'autre valse d'Amélie, a melodious delight emblematic of our heroine. We ex…

In an episode of many firsts we're thrilled to introduce our next film subject - Amélie. Yann Tiersen's irreplaceable score is brimming with charm and today we explore the film's central theme, La Valse d'Amélie (Amélie's Waltz). We study the musical features of the theme and discover what it suggests about the inner life of our film's heroine. Alo…

Today we are delighted to share our conversation with composer/producer Gabriel Mann. You know Gabriel as the composer for the multiple-Emmy winning television series Modern Family, including its signature title theme. He has also composed the music to Rosewood, Dr. Ken, Rectify, Dawn of the Croods, and School of Rock, currently airing on Nickelode…

We are excited to share our feature-length audio commentary for Back To The Future. After weeks of exploring Alan Silvestri's sensational underscore (as well as the film's memorable song soundtrack) we're thrilled to revisit one of our favorite films from start to finish. Back To The Future is arguably one of the most entertaining pieces of cinema …

As if we weren't already having fun, today we walk piece by piece through the entire cue list of Back To The Future. From the misty reveal of the time-traveling DeLorean to the dazzling final shot, Alan Silvestri's score is thrilling, funny, and unforgettable. We explore the unique connective tissue of the underscore and in so doing uncover yet mor…

Today is a first for the podcast - an entire episode devoted not to a film's underscore but its song soundtrack. It would be impossible to talk about the musical fabric of Back To The Future without exploring the wide variety of memorable songs featured in the film. From songs penned specifically for the movie to its many popular period hits, every…

We're ecstatic to begin our third film subject - Back To The Future. Today we devote our entire episode to Alan Silvestri's timeless and ever-powerful main theme. We examine what makes this piece of music uniquely fitted to the premise, pace and spirit of this now classic film. Silvestri is a true master of scorecraft and his work on BTTF is a Holl…

On today’s very special episode, we have a conversation with the Emmy-award winning composer John Lunn (Downton Abbey, Grantchester, The White Queen). Both a classically-trained composer and innovative producer, John brings a unique blend of musical depth and contemporary daring to his work in TV and Film. In addition to his beloved work on Downton…

In today's Reel Change we explore film music's most magical palette, the Lydian mode. From the twistedly comic to the ethereally cosmic, we chart Lydian's evocative power around the world and into the 20th century of American film music. Join us for a podcast that unites Leonard Bernstein, Ravi Shankar, James Horner and more. It's a celebration of …

Award-winning composer Joe Kraemer joins us for an in-depth interview on his exciting career and the art of character-driven film scoring. You've heard Joe's remarkable work in such films as Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015), Jack Reacher (2012) and Way of the Gun (2000). His celebrated score to Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation won the IFMCA …

We are proud to present our feature-length audio commentary for Hitchcock & Herrmann's masterwork, Vertigo. By now fully acquainted with Herrmann's voice and the alluring motifs of the score, we sit down to enjoy the film in its entirety. Whether your fourth or fiftieth viewing, we hope to offer fresh musical and narrative insight into this true ci…

Today we take all that we've learned thus far about Bernard Herrmann's iconic score to Vertigo and make our way through the entire cue list of the film. We explore Herrmann's mastery in weaving strong and memorable motives throughout this deeply hypnotic score. It's a chance to familiarize ourselves with the musical narrative of the film before nex…

This week we dive head first into Bernard Herrmann's hypnotic score to Vertigo by exploring some of its dizzying themes and re-occurring motives. From the subdued mystery of Carlotta Valdes to the torrid and infamous Scene D'Amour, today's episode is a small taste of one of cinema's most seductive film scores! Listen to episode 2m2 Seductive & Hypn…

Today we unveil the next film score in our series, the mysterious and romantic score to Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 classic, Vertigo. This week we begin by celebrating composer Bernard Herrmann, who in addition to being Hitchcock's long-standing musical collaborator is one of the most important and influential names in the landscape of film music. We e…

Today is the first installment of Reel Change, an ongoing series of episodes in between films. To hopefully cleanse the palate and prepare for our next subject, this week we focus on a musical device relevant to all eras of cinema: The Ostinato. Join us on a brief exploration of this musical mechanism as we track its development in films from the g…

Culminating our month-long adventure, today we share the first ever UnderScore commentary track! Join us as we discuss the score to Raiders of the Lost Ark in real time along with the film. Follow along at home with our supplementary materials, including a Score Sheet to track the many instances of character themes (see how many you can spot!) Pop …

In today's episode, we continue our focus on the Raiders score and set the stage for the first UnderScore Commentary Track! This week we travel piece by piece through all of the music cues in the film and discuss their function as the story unfolds. Join us in these final weeks as we wrap up our exciting Indiana Jones adventure! Listen to episode 1…

This week on the podcast, we continue our discussion of the soundtrack to "Raiders of the Lost Ark." The next step on our journey is an examination of the many interesting themes of the film. From the highly religious and ominous "Ark Theme" to the suggestive and romantic theme for Marion, today's episode covers the wide variety of melodies and lei…