Look! Up in the Sky! We are joined today by Meghan Fitzmartin (the new audiobook adaptation of All-Star Superman) to discuss the musical history of the Man of Steel, the intriguing commonalities between his themes over the years, which Lois is best, what Superman means to us, and more. Join us, won't you, as we go flying with Superman. All-Star Superman's new audio adaptation can be found here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/761062/all-star-superman-by-based-on-the-dc-comic-written-by-...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this special episode, we're joined by two of the creatives behind the wonderful new fiction podcast Hit Singles , creator Gabriel Urbina and composer Jeremy Warmsley. We discuss the show's development, the importance of writing music that can be used for multiple moments versus themes, the difference in composing for podcasts vs. films and television, how to DJ a Christian Rave, and much, much more. Join us, won't you, as we discuss Hit Singles. Listen to Hit Singles here: https://www.audible...
May 10, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Andre Silva, sound designer and cofounder of La Tina Sonido joins us to discuss the company's work on Netflix's adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude. Join us as we learn how to design magical realism, birds, warfare, and more. Find more of La Tina's work here: https://la-tina.co/ My Big Score was created and hosted by Christopher Dole. Our producer, editor, and social media consultant is Ellie Warren. All piano music performed by Christopher Dole. The main theme was composed by Erik Jourg...
Apr 29, 2025•53 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Composer Darren Fung joins us to discuss Michael Kamen's amazing swashbuckling score for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The underrated career of Kamen, what makes a stirring adventure score, and the impact having a Big Iconic Song can have are discussed, along with Darren's work with the Screen Composers Guild of Canada and the Canada’s National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund. Join us, won't you? My Big Score was created and hosted by Christopher Dole. Our producer, editor, and social medi...
Mar 10, 2025•45 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Composers Will and Brooke Blair (REBEL RIDGE) join us to discuss Angelo Badalamenti's monumental score for Twin Peaks. Laura's Theme, their long-standing collaboration with director Jeremy Saulnier, the contributions of Julee Cruise, and the impact of the late, lamented David Lynch are all discussed, along with much, much more. Join us, won't you? My Big Score was created and hosted by Christopher Dole. Our producer, editor, and social media consultant is Ellie Warren. All piano music performed ...
Jan 22, 2025•57 min•Season 3Ep. 1
It's time to go back to Titanic. My Big Score producer and Titanic super-fan Ellie Warren joins us to break down The Score for The Movie of the 1990s. Join us, won't you, as we discuss Leo-Mania, the sound design, the film's crescendo in the third act, "My Heart Will Go On", and much, MUCH more in this super-sized episode on James Horner's score for Titanic. My Big Score was created and hosted by Christopher Dole. Our producer, editor, and social media consultant is Ellie Warren. All piano music...
Nov 25, 2024•2 hr•Season 2Ep. 19
Returning guest Emma Sherr-Ziarko joins us to go deep in depth on Howard Shore's monumental score for Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring! We discuss Emma's history with 'the sacred texts', Shore's use of orchestration, the importance of Boromir, and much, MUCH more. PLUS: Chris breaks down the film's extraordinary prologue piece-by-piece to demonstrate how Shore's score grounds us in the world of Middle-Earth. Join us, won't you, as we return to the Shire with the Fellowship of the Ring? ...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Composer Evan Frankfort (Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild, The Spiritual Machine) joins us to discuss Vangelis' monumental synth score for 1982's Blade Runner. Join us as we delve deep into process and the nuts and bolts of making a score in a very different way than we usually do. It's one of our most in-depth discussions yet! Find Evan's website here: https://www.evanfrankfort.com/ Listen to The Spiritual Machine's new single from their latest album Lockhearted, out now! You can listen to The...
Aug 16, 2024•57 min•Season 2Ep. 17
We journey back to Middle-Earth with composer Nicolás Repetto (Empire Queen: The Golden Age of Magic) to discuss Howard Shore's first swing at the Lord of the Rings with The Fellowship of the Ring. We discuss thematic construction, fantasy movie music tropes, Nicolás' origin as a composer, and what it takes to score a watch. Not a watch commercial, a watch . Join us, won't you, as we head to the Shire for Fellowship of the Ring! You can find more of Nicolás' work here: https://www.nicolasrepetto...
Jul 03, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 16
In today's episode, composer Kenny Wood (The Naughty Nine) joins us to discuss John Williams' seminal holiday score Home Alone. Subjects include developing a strong working partnership with your director, heist film scores, how to score a kids' holiday film in the shadow of Home Alone. And much more. Join us, won't you? Find more of Kenny's work here: https://kennywoodmusic.com/ My Big Score was created and hosted by Christopher Dole. Our producer, editor, and social media consultant is Ellie Wa...
Jun 17, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Today, on My Big Score, we celebrate a very, very special new movie. We are immensely lucky to be joined by composer Chris Ryan and sound designer Bobb Barito to discuss the making of the extraordinary new independent dialogue-free action comedy HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS, the epic story of former applejack mogul-turned-trapper Jean Kayak, his travails in the Wisconsin woods, and the beavers who bedevil him. Topics range from what it takes to make action sound design funny, developing the mathematicall...
Apr 12, 2024•57 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Today we go to Europe to STEAL SOME STUFF along with Jeff Van Dreason (Greater Boston) and the super-cool score for Ocean's 12. We discuss the super-cool career of David Holmes, the film's infamous twist and excellent soundtrack choices, and much more. Join us, won't you? My Big Score was created and hosted Christopher Dole. Our producer, editor, and social media consultant is Ellie Warren. All piano music performed by Christopher Dole. The main theme was composed by Erik Jourgensen. Show artwor...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Happy 2024 and Happy Valentine's Day, listeners! My Big Score returns with composer Matt Bowen to talk about Jon Brion's masterful score for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. We discuss the score's unusual sense of temporal freedom and melancholy optimism, Matt's experiences on The Bachelor and The Boys franchises, get a live dulcimer demonstration, and much more! Join us, won't you, as we dive into one of the great scores of the 21st century. You can find Matt Bowen's work at mattbowenmusi...
Feb 14, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Composer Alex Geringas (Batwheels, the Trolls franchise) joins us to discuss John Williams' totemic score for ET. We discuss Alex's childhood as an immigrant in Germany, how to score modern children's television, composing a grammy-winning song for Kelly Clarkson, and much more. Join us, won't you, as we get on our BMX bikes to phone home. My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christopher Dole. All piano music performed by Christopher Dole. The main theme was composed by Erik Jourgense...
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Let's go back through the black hole Gargantua and do this one more time. Eli Barraza (The Far Meridian) joins us for a different perspective on Hans Zimmer's 2014 magnum opus score for Interstellar. We discuss Eli's experiences working at the Griffith Observatory, the career of Matt Damon, the science of sound, why "Mountains" is such good jogging music, and much more. Join us, won't you, for another spin around the cosmos on My Big Score. My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christo...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 50 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Multi-media composer, scoring coordinator, and music editor Vinicius Barbosa Pippa (SW: Galaxy of Adventures, Blade Runner: Revelations) joins us today to discuss Hans Zimmer's towering score for the 2014 sci-fi film Interstellar . In addition to discussing Pippa's own work, we discuss the unusual prompt Nolan gave Zimmer prior to creating the score, Zimmer's distinctive instrumentation choices (and choice to play against his usual instincts here), the trailer music for this film, and much more....
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Kev Koeser (Talking Trek to You, Total Massacre) joins us for a special Halloween episode to discuss our very first TV series on My Big Score: Over The Garden Wall. We discuss the history of animation, the scope of this magnificent series and the delights one can find on its expanded soundtrack, the remarkable invention of Patrick McHale and so much, much more. Join us, won't you, as today on My Big Score we go over the garden wall. My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christopher Dol...
Oct 31, 2023•1 hr 44 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Julian Mundy (StarTripper!!) returns to the show to discuss Howard Shore's hauntingly beautiful score for the classic 1991 thriller Silence of the Lambs. Various approaches to Hannibal Lecter, Shore's immensely broad career, and director Jonathan Demme's powerful sense of empathy and much more all come up in today's episode. Join us, won't you, as we let Hannibal Lecter inside our heads with The Silence of the Lambs. My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christopher Dole. All piano mus...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 42 min•Season 2Ep. 7
There's no strings on us this week as acclaimed composer Christopher Willis ( The Death of Stalin , Mickey Mouse , Black Mirror ) joins us to talk about the score to Walt Disney's 1940s masterpiece Pinocchio and much, much more . The lessons Disney learned from the animated shorts through Snow White to this film, how to score a theme park ride and Willis' work on Lamya's Poem , The Death of Stalin , the Mickey Mouse shorts, and Schmigadoon! are among the many, many topics of discussion on this e...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Multimedia artist Cat Blackard (The Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program, Mother She Wrote) joins us to talk about John Du Prez's score for the 1990 cinematic debut of the Heroes in a Half-Shell, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! The unexpected malleability of the Turtles as a franchise, what Cat learned from interviewing director Steve Barron, the rushed process of scoring this film, and the influence of Tom & Jerry are all discussed! Join us, won't you, as we say Cowabunga, dive into a slice of piz...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Composer Sherri Chung (Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai & Based on a True Story) joins us to talk about Dario Marianelli's masterful score for Joe Wright's 2005 Austen adaptation Pride & Prejudice. We discuss Wright's playfulness towards balancing diegetic/nondiegetic music, the horrors of the mixing stage, Chung's own work as a composer as a composer, and much more. Join us, won't you? My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christopher Dole. All piano music performed by Christop...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Briggon Snow returns to My Big Score to accept a new mission: discussing Danny Elfman's 1996 score for the debut film of arguably our most consistent modern franchise - Mission: Impossible. The origins of Lalo Schifrin's iconic theme, the tortured composition history of this film, its audacious use of silence, and much more will be discussed. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to listen! So join us, won't you? My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christopher Dole. All pi...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 3
It's a very special episode of My Big Score as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of John Williams' magnificent score for Jurassic Park. Join guest Sarah Rhea Werner (Girl in Space, Write Now) as we discuss the surprising relationship of this score to hymnals, the importance of when not to score, how much you can understand this film by only listening without watching, and much more. PLUS! Stay to the end of the credits to learn a key origin story for our host! My Big Score was created, hosted, a...
Jun 11, 2023•1 hr 49 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Welcome back! In today's episode, writer, composer, and lyricist Laura Stratford (Arden S2, The Bone Harp) joins us to discuss Nicholas Britell's stunning score for Barry Jenkins' 2018 film If Beale Street Could Talk. We cover how Laura's work as a composer has changed how she listens to and appreciates music, the film's impressive unification of diegetic and nondiegetic music, how to musically encapsulate "love", and much, much more. Join us, won't you? ALSO! If you are in NYC on May 23rd and M...
May 15, 2023•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 1
Hello punk rock prom queens! Wil Williams (VALENCE) joins us to talk about the 2001 masterpiece Josie and the Pussycats and its incredible songs. Join us, won't you, as we discuss the late Adam Schlesinger, the greatness of Alan Cumming, and for the first time get into how lyrics and music relate to each other. My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christopher Dole. All piano music performed by Christopher Dole. The main theme was composed by Erik Jourgensen. Show artwork by Chandler C...
Feb 20, 2023•1 hr 56 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Emma Sherr-Ziarko (Wolf 359, Pairing) joins us to talk about Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard's iconic and wildly influential score for Gladiator. We discuss Emma's history as a dancer/choreographer, two very peculiar controversies the score found itself enmeshed in, the central tension between Earth (Zimmer) and Elyisum (Gerrard) and much, much more. Join us, won't you? My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christopher Dole. All piano music performed by Christopher Dole. The main theme wa...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Welcome to 2023! In 1997, Andrew Niccol made his directorial debut with Gattaca, a sci-fi dystopia about genetic engineering. Michael Nyman's gorgeous, didactic score portrays the tension between the mathematical precision of the world the characters inhabit, and the aspirations which drive them ever upward. And for Gabriel Urbina (Wolf 359, Unseen), it was the score that first made him realize what film scores could accomplish. My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christopher Dole. A...
Jan 16, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Happy holidays, listeners! The crew of My Big Score has gotten together to discuss their favorite film and TV scores of 2022, including: Nope by Michael Abels Triangle of Sadness by Mikkel Maltha & Leslie Ming The Menu by Colin Stetson Crimes of the Future by Howard Shore Women Talking by Hildur Guðnadóttir Babylon by Justin Hurwitz Avatar: The Way of Water by Simon Franglen Andor by Nicholas Britell The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power by Bear McCreary Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio by...
Dec 26, 2022•1 hr 59 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In 2001, Steven Spielberg and John Williams released their 18th collaboration: the dazzling, misunderstood sci-fi masterpiece AI Artificial Intelligence. Kev Koeser (Talking Trek to You) joins us to discuss how Spielberg and Williams deconstruct themselves in their most haunting work to date. Narrative voice in score, the star personas of Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law, and a particularly startling musical allusion Williams makes are all among the topics we discuss. Join us, won't you? My Big Sc...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 38 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Adventure! Derring-do! Romance! Swords! All these things and more were promised by 1998's The Mask of Zorro, and all these were delivered in spades by both the film and James Horner's magnificent, immensely physical score. Join Briggon Snow (The Bright Sessions) and host Christopher Dole as they discuss Horner's extraordinary run in the mid 90s to early 2000s, reveal a surprising connection between Briggon and Horner, and much, much more. My Big Score was created, hosted, and edited by Christoph...
Nov 29, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 8
