Star Wars Music Minute

Latest Episodes:

Solo 26: Lightspeed to End Credits (Minutes 126-130 with Star Wars Minute) Aug 20, 2022

Show notes

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)"

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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/

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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

Solo 25: The Raconteur (Minutes 121-125 with Star Wars Lawyer) Aug 12, 2022

Show notes

In minutes 121-125 of Solo: A Star Wars Story, Beckett dies, Qi'ra leaves, and we reunite with Lando the Raconteur in his fancy jungle room. Star Wars Lawyer (Kris) returns to the show for a discussion about solemn death music, Lando's themes, Lando cosplay, and more!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hello there!
07:17 - How do you feel about Han and Qi'ra's romance?
10:26 - Death and solemnity in Star Wars.
17:19 - Death of the dream (Qi'ra and Han's)
21:21 - Yacht sound design, a dirty rumble.
26:18 - Star Wars audiobooks.
30:24 - Why does Enfys Nest call Han a "leader" and a "warrior"? Is he, really?
35:59 - This is where the fun begins.
40:10 - Diegetic music: "Lando's Jungle Room."
45:55 - Non-diegetic music: "Sabacc Rematch"... but something about it almost sound diegetic?
52:58 - Lando's music throughout the Star Wars saga (Empire Strikes Back through Solo and Rise of Skywalker). Speculating on what Lando's themes might sound like in the future.
59:33 - What do you want in a Lando show?
1:05:51 - SWMM Questionnaire
1:12:28 - How Kris discovered that he could do the Vader voice.

Things to Check Out:

ANH 10: Cantina Band Shot First (Minutes 46-50 with Star Wars Lawyer) - https://youtu.be/vMV5GadqP5o
Lando Calrissian Costuming Community (Facebook group)- https://www.facebook.com/groups/LandoCalrissianGroup/
Four Lando cosplayers doing the "Spider-Man Pointing at Spider-Man" meme at Star Wars Celebration: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarslawyer/video/7114406288074771755
"Before Long" (Lady Proxima song from Solo: A Star Wars Musical) by Steve Danielson (choirsteve): https://youtu.be/TRfG7zdxRg0
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Musical Themes:

5. The Gang
3. Secrets
6. Han & Chewie
1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

"Maul's Call / Parting Ways (7M43-44-45)"
"Lando's Jungle Room (7M46S)"
"Dice & Roll" & "Sabacc Rematch / To Tatooine (7M47-48)"

---------------

STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

A galactic symphony

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

New answer: Deep dive into John Williams's mindset when he wrote his love themes: "Across the Stars," "Han Solo and the Princess," and "Princess Leia's Theme."
Previous answer: A deeper dive into the Star Wars themes (motifs, etc)

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

New answer: The Prince of Egypt score and soundtrack (by Hans Zimmer and Stephen Schwartz), How to Train Your Dragon (composed by John Powell)
Previous answer: Interstellar (composed by Hans Zimmer), Tron: Legacy (composed by Daft Punk), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (composed by Michael Giacchino)

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Guest: Star Wars Lawyer

Podcast: Too Black Too Nerdy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/too-black-too-nerdy-podcast/id1407139619
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarslawyer?lang=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsLawyer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starwarslawyer/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StarWarsLawyer

------------------

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

Solo 24: Better Call Maul (Minutes 116-120 with The Band Batch) Aug 06, 2022

Show notes

Maul's entire sound situation in minutes 116-120 of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY is absolute wildness. James Waterman and Justin Scheid (from The Band Batch) are here with Xanthe to discuss!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hello there!
01:31 - Our extremely cute matching outfits.
08:04 - Analog sword fighting.
11:00 - Space pirate polyrhythms + a tangent about notating polyrhythms.
20:26 - Cool accents on beat 2 during the heroic end of the fight.
24:04 - Is Han's theme almost "the lick?"
26:09 - Powell's blend of classic + modern elements, cinematic toms, electronic drums
32:59 - Clap for James's joke.
35:04 - Beginning of Qi'ra and Han's romantic (?) scene.
37:39 - How do Justin and James feel about the "Secrets" theme.
43:56 - Han & Qi'ra's wistful piano theme = a unique moment for a Star Wars score.
53:08 - Giant interval leaps associated with yearning, longing, romance.
58:40 - The weirdest line: "Smile."
1:01:54 - Qi'ra's motivations.
1:08:44 - Darth Maul.
1:16:00 - Time warp.
1:26:30 - Maul's position in the sound mix, microphone technique, speakers, and why does he sound like that? 😩
1:53:23 - Duel of the Fates.
2:03:58 - The original key of Duel of the Fates is maintained here. Does that matter?
2:25:35 - Beckett and Han scene begins. Difference between soundtrack version and film version of score.
2:46:15 - Rundown of musical stats (should the Rebel Fanfare count or no?) with a brief introduction to what Frank Lehman calls "associative progressions."
2:50:42 - Answering listener questions (from Alex C.) about our own experiences composing for film.
3:05:59 - Will there always be a place for "conventional" and/or orchestral film scores?
3:20:35 - SWMM Questionnaire

Things Referenced:

Polyrhythm = the simultaneous use of two or more rhythms that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyrhythm
the lick on 91 instruments (InstrumentManiac): https://youtu.be/i_7bLbrbz-k
Jebel Banat Trailer (film by Sharine Atif, music by James Waterman) - https://vimeo.com/256081152
Vamonos (short film by Marvin Lemus, music by Chrysanthe Tan) - https://www.pbs.org/video/pbs-indies-vamanos/
Mono (film by Sangam Sharma, collaboratively scored by Chrysanthe Tan and 5 other musicians). Xanthe composed "Still," "A Darkroom," and "Void" (from 35:00-48:17) - https://vimeo.com/149306826
ANH 24: Happy Glockenspiel (with The Band Batch) (Minutes 116-120) - https://youtu.be/YR27lFOLgEk
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Musical Themes:

1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
2. Rebel Fanfare
4. Han & Q'ira
3. Secrets
6a. Imperials (Motif) - maybe?
26b. Duel of the Fates (Chant)
26a. Duel of the Fates (Theme)
5. The Gang

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

"Dryden's Long, Long Fight (6M41-42)"
"Testing Allegiance"
"Maul's Call / Parting Ways (7M43-44-45)"

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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

Justin: (Previous answer: pew pew pew)
James: Bum bum bum (Previous answer: The Band Batch)

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

Justin: How all the foley is done. (Same answer as previous)
James: What the sound on set is like. (Previous answer: What is John Williams's writing process like?)

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

Justin: Stranger Things by Kyle Dixon/Michael Stein and War of the Worlds by John Williams. (Previous answer: The Village by James Newton Howard)
James: Untitled by David Lang (Previous answer: Hereditary by Colin Stetson)

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Guests: Justin Scheid and James Waterman from The Band Batch.

James Waterman:

Bandcamp: https://jerichojericho.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jameswaterman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameswatermanmusic
Website: https://www.jameswatermanmusic.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2GI8X12qG1udx4RMKCE7Xa?

Justin Scheid:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcscheid/
Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/rain-goat-music
Bandcamp: https://raingoatmusic.bandcamp.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrlciBsEZTCnF7uK3S1NBXw

Band Batch:

The Bad Batch season 1: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE4n8ygyS0MI9s-a1nJOMYqpE8G_tlxLW
Star Wars: Visions season 1: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE4n8ygyS0MJh0BOUIeScYaGSOjPVhxh-
The Book of Boba Fett season 1: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE4n8ygyS0ML0GLUcTVpaEUlV58BNkljs

------------------

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

Solo 23: Tension Engine (Minutes 111-115 with Alex Ludwig) Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

Alex Ludwig AKA the Dies Irae Guru AKA @Film Music Tropes is back to discuss minutes 111-115 of Solo: A Star Wars Story! Spoiler: Alex and Xanthe noticed one Dies Irae reference each in these minutes, but they were completely different spots... In this episode, we also discuss "Jason Bourne in Space," fawn over the Secrets motif progression, and give John Powell a retrospective A on his voice leading homework. 😛

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hello there!
02:28 - Alex's (Dies Irae-related) issues with this film score.
07:09 - What about Jyn's theme in Rogue One?
08:45 - Powell's clever use of the Secrets motif.
11:25 - Clarification about Dies Irae and DSCH.
15:16 - Powell doing a lot of work in the score to underline the scenic transitions.
17:47 - Paul Bettany as Dryden Vos, Michael K. Williams.
22:29 - Col legno and battuto
29:05 - Do you remember this Fakery motif from anywhere?
34:22 - Flying vs fighting music in this score.
39:20 - A good assignment for burgeoning film composers.
41:15 - Breaking down this smooth Secrets progression (we LOVE it).
45:39 - Effective voice leading.
47:06 - Xanthe's Dies Irae.
49:25 - Alex's Dies Irae is a "tension engine" (Dies Irae Type 3B = ostinato with inversions and reversals)
54:35 - Are these cue names puns? Is John Powell channeling Michael Giacchino?
57:46 - Sound/music mixing choices.
1:04:19 - Jason Bourne in Space, different flavors of action scoring
1:15:37 - Running a few Solo "Dies Iraes" by Alex.
1:21:24 - Musical stats from these minutes
1:22:20 - SWMM Questionnaire

Things to Check Out:

New Dies Irae supercut (Vol. 12), including a sighting from Solo: https://youtu.be/LGamO1Lp4nA
ANH 9: Diagnosing Dies Irae (Minutes 41-45 with Alex Ludwig) - https://youtu.be/7obBOHgh0aQ
Col Legno Battuto violin bowing technique (Violin Lounge by Violinist Zlata) - https://youtube.com/shorts/doRRjzjAT7Q?
What it feels like playing Col Legno (TwoSetViolin) - https://youtu.be/1mNI-S8cnF8
The part in "This Is Halloween" (Nightmare Before Christmas) where they sing "In this town of Halloween" and it sounds kind of like the Fakery motif in Solo - https://youtu.be/ZVuToMilP0A?t=40
Harp entrance in Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade Op. 35 - https://youtu.be/MpZ7jLpA5yg?t=40
John Powell saying in an interview that he would have liked to make the music louder during the train heist scene (GoSeeTalk) - https://youtu.be/hDDrUaowGhY?t=2689
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Musical Themes:

9. Fakery
3. Secrets
13) Dies Irae
7b. Enfys Nest 2
5. The Gang

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

"Double-Double Cross (6M39-40)"
"The Good Guy"
"Dryden's Long, Long Fight (6M41-42)" until 2:10 of the track

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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

Previous answers: Triumphant brass fanfares. Ominous contrapuntal warblings.
New answer: Soaring searching strings.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

Previous answer: What it's like for new composers (Michael Giacchino, John Powell, Ludwig Göransson, etc) to play in the playground of Star Wars music -- to have all these themes at their fingertips, get to use them and take them to new places. "What is it like to get the keys to this kingdom as a composer?"
New answer: Who's gonna write the next paradigm-shifting Star Wars score?

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

Previous answer: The Social Network (composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) and Sunset Boulevard (composed by Franz Waxman)
New answer: The Matrix trilogy (composed by Don Davis)

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Guest: Alex Ludwig

Dies Irae List: https://alexludwig.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/celexo
YouTube: Film Music Tropes - https://www.youtube.com/celexo22
Book: Woodstock Then and Now: A 50th Anniversary Celebration by Alex Ludwig and Simon Pilon: https://libraries.clemson.edu/press/books/woodstock-then-and-now/

------------------

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

Solo 22: Herrmann Over Jaws (Minutes 106-110 with Suzen Tekla Kruglnska) Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

Suzen Tekla Kruglnska is here with me to discuss minutes 106-110 of Solo: A Star Wars Story! We talk about auditory illusions, the coaxium motif, John Powell's flowing scene transitions, and a potentially awkward music edit.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hello there!
04:13 - Beckett's "wheel spinning" music.
08:33 - Cliche or trope? In the ear of the beholder.
16:36 - Is there an abrupt edit here?
26:53 - Paul Bettany as Dryden Vos.
34:33 - Dryden is a villain. Why doesn't he have a musical theme?
45:46 - Everybody's faking it!
53:50 - Coaxium motif at the beginning of "Double Double Cross"
1:06:34 - Bernard Herrmann over Jaws.
1:12:31 - DSCH, Dies Irae motif (hi, Alex Ludwig), people holding axes in movies.
1:20:58 - Ta-da music during the big reveal.
1:27:57 - A spot where the music gets playful.
1:33:27 - Suzen's final thoughts about Solo and Star Wars music in general.
1:41:31 - SWMM Questionnaire

Things Mentioned:

Shostakovich - String Quartet 8, But Only When The DSCH Motif Is Played: https://youtu.be/DwxAyoy7DMA
The Shining 2:37 - Episode 16: For Music Nerds - https://theshining237.com/2018/02/04/episode-16-for-music-nerds-with-musicologist-jonathan-stern/
Rosemary's Baby 6:66 - Episode 14: Komeda's Lullaby - https://theshining237.com/2020/09/19/episode-14-komedas-lullaby/
Witness movie clip (Samuel finds a picture of the murderer in a framed newspaper clipping, and Maurice Jarre's score kicks in) - https://youtu.be/LmdcbtSwX6Q

Musical Themes:

1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
3. Secrets
4. Han & Q'ira
5. The Gang
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

"Qi'Ra Knows a Bit More Than Han (6M36-37-38)"
"The Good Guy"
Beginning of "Double-Double Cross (6M39-40)"

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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

Droids. Flight. Pew.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

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?

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/

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Want to continue the conversation on Discord? All patrons have access to the Friends of Xanthe Discord server, where we chat about all things Star Wars and music! The server is patron-only, for any level of support. 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

Solo 21: Shades of Revelation (Minutes 101-105 with Alex Cunningham) Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

The "Secrets" theme can be easy to miss, but not in minutes 101-105 of Solo: A Star Wars Story! The veil of secrecy is lifted as the "Secrets" motif cycles through a progression of revelatory chords leading to Crimson Dawn. This is one of Xanthe's favorite musical moments in the film. Alex Cunningham returns to the show to nerd out about it!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hello there!
03:14 - Visual preview of these minutes.
11:33 - What makes the buildup to the Crimson Dawn reveal so interesting?
14:56 - Same pitch collection as Enfys Nest theme.
17:29 - Is the instrumentation gendered?
20:57 - How the harmony contributes to the buildup and reveal (plus some sweet, sweet Major 7th action).
30:12 - Timbral interaction between bass singers and bass flute.
32:06 - Addressing the whole Augie's Municipal Band and Emperor's Theme thingy.
36:26 - Does Frank Lehman have a list of how many variants of a theme are present in each movie?
45:32 - The chords matter in the "Secrets" theme. Otherwise, it's just 3 notes that arguably sound like Jurassic Park.
51:09 - Brief "March of the Resistance" cameo.
54:45 - Enfys Nest's accent, British accents in Star Wars for women, especially women of color.
1:02:01 - Alden Ehrenreich's performance.
1:07:02 - "Secrets" theme 7x: Cycling through the chord progression. (C Major, A half diminished 7, E minor, C minor, A7, Eb Major, C Major)
1:17:00 - Kurosawa-esque sound design on Savareen.
1:27:03 - Qi'ra's intuition about Han + the classic moviemaking time trick.
1:30:24 - Different interpretations of the harp during Beckett's goodbye.
1:33:56 - A critique about the Millennium Falcon takeoff sound.
1:43:05 - SWMM Questionnaire

Things to Check Out:

SWMM Solo 17: Adagio for L3 (minutes 81-85 with Lacey Gilleran) - https://youtu.be/cV9LHk05w20
All the ways to Power-up the Millennium Falcon (Supercut) (Bruce Kenobi) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQyRLge-_-U
Akira Kurosawa - Composing Movement (Every Frame a Painting) - https://youtu.be/doaQC-S8de8
Doctor Eleven from STATION ELEVEN (composed by Dan Romer) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj9-hx4Pgzg
Theme to GIRLS5EVA - https://youtu.be/baaSjb-Cihs
Combat Archery (Wayward Wolf) - https://youtu.be/MkAYRh0tuKc?t=273
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Musical Themes:

2. Rebel Fanfare
7a. Enfys Nest 1
48a. March of the Resistance (A Section)
3. Secrets
1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
5. The Gang

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

"Savareen Stand-Off" & "Enfys' Stand-Off (6M35)"
"Qi'Ra Knows a Bit More Than Han (6M36-37-38)"

---------------

STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

Previous answer: John. Ben. James.
New answer: John. Ben. James.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

Previous answer: What other sound designers does Ben Burtt admire?
New answer: 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?

Previous answer: Akira (composed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi), The Harder They Come (primarily featuring Jimmy Cliff)
New answer: Station Eleven (composed by Dan Romer)

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Guest: Alex Cunningham

Previous SWMM episode: ANH 21: Backstage Jitters (minutes 101-105) - https://youtu.be/95tApsOGqP8
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muay_tie_fighter/

------------------

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

Solo 20: Savareen Tumbleweed (Minutes 96-100 with John Hoey) Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

The music and sound design truly form a symbiotic circle in minutes 96-100 of Solo: A Star Wars Story! John Hoey (from The Resistance Broadcast and #MakeSolo2Happen) joins Xanthe in a discussion about the striking soundscapes of Savareen.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hello there!
05:06 - Taking a listen to the beginning of these minutes.
10:31 - Lack of music leaves us guessing.
12:16 - Comparing Savareen (SOLO) with Tatooine (A NEW HOPE).
19:59 - Lando and Han's touching moment.
23:45 - John Powell's thoughts on Han and Qi'ra's theme.
34:48 - Han's lucky streak.
42:37 - Vibraphone cue bolstering the spare sound design.
47:11 - We "hear" the Cloud-riders (rumble) before we see them.
56:29 - Han unbuckling his holster is major Clint Eastwood vibes.
1:03:49 - Diagonal shot, Dutch angles.
1:10:17 - Recap of the various sound hierarchies observed in these minutes.
1:15:22 - SWMM Questionnaire.
1:21:11 - Make Solo 2 Happen.

Things to Check Out:

Vibraphone and Bow - Audio Loop and Resonance of Vibraphone (PLASTIKLOVA): https://youtu.be/zfTb8EQ-MUo
Dutch angles: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/dutch-angle-shot-camera-movement/
TLJ 10: Colors of the Wind (Minutes 46-50 with Justin Leo Kennedy): https://youtu.be/joH88DBjFFY
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Musical Themes:

1a. Main Theme (A Section)
2b. Young Han Solo (Searching Variant, comp. JW)
2. Rebel Fanfare
4. Han & Q'ira
3. Secrets]
7a. Enfys Nest 1

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

End of "Into the Maw" and "Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs (5M32-33A-B-C)"
"Savareen Tent (6M34)"
"Enfys' Stand-Off (6M35)" and "Savareen Stand-Off"

---------------

STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

Endlessly imaginative adventure.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

The future of Star Wars music. Will there be one main composer that takes over for John Williams, or will it continue being more of a per project thing like it is with Natalie Holt, Ludwig Göransson, etc?

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

Catch Me If You Can (composed by John Williams), Psycho (composed by Bernard Herrmann), The Batman (composed by Michael Giacchino), Man of the Steel (composed by Hans Zimmer)

---------------

Guest: John Hoey

#MakeSolo2Happen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnnyHoey
Resistance Broadcast (podcast): https://linktr.ee/resistancebroadcast
Make Solo 2 Happen Shirts: https://resistancebroadcast.creator-spring.com/?
Star Wars News Net: https://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/
Just Like the Movies (podcast): https://anchor.fm/justlikethemovies

------------------

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:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com

Solo 19: The Kitchen Sink (Minutes 91-95 with Jon Solomon) Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

Talking about the music and sound in minutes 91-95 of Solo: A Star Wars Story with Jon Solomon! This set of minutes features a giant space tentacle monster, which, in part, is brought to life by the score and sound design. We talk about tension-building, our perceptions of musical "fastness," and a mysterious howling sound that Xanthe and Jon are now mildly obsessed with.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hello there!
08:39 - Placid chord when Lando says the L3 is part of the ship now.
18:37 - Stellar screen displays.
37:30 - Is this music as fast as music gets in Star Wars? What does "fast" mean? Strong beats? Density of notes?
43:53 - The difference between a smooth cross-country flight and a spaceship flying through a maelstrom with a giant multi-eyed creature in the middle of it.
46:41 - Loud MRI machines.
53:38 - What's up with this howling noise?
1:05:06 - Familiar themes but with a note tweaked to make it off-kilter.
1:09:27 - Cue vs. track vs. composition vs. score vs. recording vs. leitmotif vs. theme. Natural variation in themes. Skeleton vs. soft tissue, etc et. (I know, I know, how many times must I go on this spiel? Sorry!)
1:18:39 - Natural water filtration analogy.
1:25:18 - Multiple interpretation of the same howl/screech/alarm-ish sound.
1:40:25 - "Xanthe" shipyards?
1:45:24 - SWMM Questionnaire

Things to Check Out:

Jon and his daughter's Solo review: https://web.archive.org/web/20181106182944/https://phawker.com/2018/05/25/cinema-when-han-went-solo/
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Themes:

1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
8. L3-37
5. The Gang
2a. Young Han Solo (Searching, comp. JW)
1a. Main Theme (A Section)
2. Rebel Fanfare

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

End of "Reminiscence Therapy" (last minute)
"Into the Maw"
"Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs (5M32-33A-B-C)"

---------------

STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

Jon: A low hum.
Maggie: Inspiring. Magical. Home.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

Jon: Disney+ series of documentary shorts about how specific sound effects were made: lightsaber,
Maggie: Foley stuff and how the TIE fighter scream was made.

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

Jon: Dr. Who and pretty much everything from Delia Derbyshire and The BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Maggie: Six (Toby Marlow/Lucy Moss), Come From Away (Irene Sankoff/David Hein), Wicked (Stephen Schwartz), Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

---------------

Guest: Jon Solomon

All Star Wars radio show: http://keepingscoreathome.com/?p=4779
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonsolomon
Instagram: https://instagram.com/jonsolomon

------------------

If you enjoyed this episode and want to show extra appreciation, feel free to buy me a coffee and shout out the guest! https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin

If you want to support the show, 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:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com

Solo 18: Powered By Thirds (Minutes 86-90 with Jeremy Sawruk) Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

Jeremy Sawruk returns to the show to talk minutes 86-90 of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Today, we're getting into the Kessel Run, which features familiar themes from the Asteroid Field, Here They Come, and more. On the soundtrack, you'll find this cue in "Reminiscence Therapy" and "Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs."

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hello there!
07:17 - Listening to the beginning of these minutes and comparing them to A New Hope.
14:35 - Thirds, avoidance of chordal resolution
17:08 - Does this chord progression sound inevitable? Deceptive cadences. Search: "chromatic mediants composition secrets."
22:40 - How L3's theme is building tension.
27:37 - John Powell glue, "Corellia Chase," adding momentum by raising the bottom note.
31:05 - The parameters that composers can tweak to raise intensity: louder, faster, add instruments, make notes go higher, etc.
33:17 - Approaching a local climax.
39:02 - Octatonicity. Search: "octatonic scale composer secrets"
43:42 - Good.
52:23 - All of the thirds, Rebel Fanfare.
54:43 - Lasting legacy of the TIE Fighter Attack motif/Here They Come. Propulsive, asymmetric rhythm. Search: "composer rhythm secrets."
58:41 - Asteroid Field!
1:12:03 - Han and Chewie's diatonic theme sticks out in contrast to the highly chromatic Asteroid Field.
1:16:21 - Brief violin demonstration to show an example of idiomatic string writing.
1:26:11 - Is the brass out of tune in the Main Theme?
1:32:26 - Is the rhythm imitating Han's voice in this spot?
1:37:42 - Nearing the end of the minutes, fast octatonic/chromatic string lines.
1:41:33 - Chromatic mediants built into the octatonic scale.
1:46:45 - Jeremy's final thoughts and memories of seeing Solo for the first time.
1:52:16 - It takes two to tango, right?
1:57:25 - SWMM Questionnaire

Things Referenced:

Music Theory - Chromatic Mediants in 7 Minutes! (Guy Michelmore): https://youtu.be/EIvV77tLK9c
Secrets Of FILM MUSIC Composers: Chromatic Mediants Made Easy (MusicTheoryForGuitar): https://youtu.be/Vlys5drfG_o
Why Top Composers Use Chromatic Mediant Modulations (Rick Beato): https://youtu.be/dhXL3q7e-xc
When Chords Won't Share (12tone video about chromatic mediants): https://youtu.be/BuQrGxyTeok
Pieces Of Eight: Mysteries Of The Octatonic Scale (12tone): https://youtu.be/3aLBij3ycas
Star Tours ride music (Disneyland): https://youtu.be/wBhm8VuZodw
Music From the Star Wars Saga Deluxe Score (John Williams Signature Edition Orchestra): https://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.action?itemid=4491067
Jeremy Sawruk's previous SWMM episode: ANH 16: Orchestration Wars (Minutes 76-80) - https://youtu.be/1owmn96ALVY
All Access: John Powell - Episode 2 (Film.Music.Media) - https://youtu.be/7k7CivccTVg
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Musical Themes:

14) Imperial Cruiser Pursuit
29) Attacking A Star Destroyer
1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
2. Rebel Fanfare
8. L3-37
8. TIE Fighter Attack
6. Han & Chewie
26) Asteroid Field Main Theme
27) Asteroid Field Subsidiary Motif
102) Whirling Octatonicism

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

"Reminiscence Therapy"
"Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs (5M32-33A-B-C)"

--------

STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

New answer: Big octatonic brass
Previous 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 score for Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Previous 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: 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

----------

Guest: Jeremy Sawruk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/composer314

------------------

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:

Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin
YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com

Solo 17: Adagio for L3 (Minutes 81-85 with Lacey Gilleran) Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Lacey Gilleran from Resistance Broadcast is here to talk about the music in Solo minutes 81-85! We discuss the tragic scoring of L3's death, the gravitational pull of pedal points, musical depth of field, and, of course, #MakeSolo2Happen.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hello there!
00:54 - MakeSolo2Happen
09:50 - Swashbuckling adventures.
15:53 - Young Han Solo's Searching theme, ascending
21:40 - Music as a strong guiding hand.
24:44 - Gravitational pull of the pedal point, Lando's denial, stratospheric strings.
34:19 - Sound mixing when Lando is in the shock-grief bubble.
38:42 - Is this a reference to Han and Leia?
52:12 - One of Lacey's favorite shots in Star Wars.
59:39 - Things sound different on the Falcon because of the room change.
1:02:31 - Rebel Fanfare offers heroic glimpses into the future while the Young Han Heroic theme represents Han settling back into himself for now.
1:04:42 - Listening to L3's death, tragic strings, solo trumpet like military funerals.
1:13:20 - How the Solo novelization depicts L3's death (including from her POV)...
1:22:19 - SWMM Questionnaire
1:30:49 - Goodbye and where to find Lacey Gilleran and Resistance Broadcast.

Things to Check Out:

Resistance Broadcast's interview with John Powell: https://youtu.be/Ujm6aLuN7yQ
"Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber (Detroit Symphony Orchestra) - https://youtu.be/N3MHeNt6Yjs
Han Solo and the Princess reference in Solo? https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin/status/1521286245162254337
"Han Solo and the Princess" from The Empire Strikes Back (John Williams) - https://youtu.be/zIQLjKJ2Yto
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Musical Themes:

1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
9. Fakery
8. L3-37
2a. Young Han Solo (Searching, comp. JW)
5. The Gang
Brief reference to Han & Leia (B Section)?
2. Rebel Fanfare
5. Death Star

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

Most of "Break Out"
"Extra Deluxe Mine Mission (4M30B-5M30C-31)"
Very beginning of "Reminiscence Therapy" and "Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs (5M32-33A-B-C)"

---------------

STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

Emotional. Sweeping. Adventure.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

How do composers figure out what a character sounds like? Ex: How did John Williams decide what Rey and Yoda sounded like?

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

Howl's Moving Castle (composed by Joe Hisaishi), Pirates of the Caribbean (composed by Klaus Badelt and produced by Hans Zimmer), Pride and Prejudice (composed by Dario Marianelli), Coco (composed by Michael Giacchino with original songs by various artists), Tron: Legacy (composed by Daft Punk).

---------------

Guest: Lacey Gilleran