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 Animation Studios (Pete Docter, dir.)The Last of Us Part II (2020) - Gustavo Santaolalla - Naughty Dog (Neil Druckmann, dir.)Star Wars: The Ri...
Mar 23, 2021
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 face to face with some of the most classic songs of the 20th century. 80 years since the film's release, titles like 'Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dea...
May 17, 2019
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 songwriter Harold Arlen, inspired excerpts from classical literature or the ingenious inventions of the composer himself. This is a score that takes advantage...
May 08, 2019
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 this Arlen & Yarburg-penned standard. We discuss the special history of the song and the way in which it vividly paints our heroine Dorothy's inn...
May 01, 2019
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 yourself suddenly and uncontrollably bursting into song. [Note: This 2-part podcast focuses on songs from live-action Movie Musicals. A future Reel Ch...
Apr 23, 2019
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 musicals can. Join us and be prepared - you may find yourself suddenly and uncontrollably bursting into song. [Note: This 2-part podcast focuses on songs...
Apr 16, 2019
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/title/tt5028340/ For score reductions, additional links and more, the discussion continues at: www.underscorepodcast.com -----------...
Feb 23, 2019
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 movie-music podcasting. We look forward to the exciting year ahead - happy holidays! download Composer's Corner: The Music of UnderScore Find the...
Dec 18, 2018
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 assistant to audio engineer Eric Tomlinson at Anvil Studios in Denham, England, where he shortly became involved in such landmark projects as Star Wars , ...
Nov 13, 2018
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 melody... I'm drawn helplessly closer... prisoner to the music of this dark & evil night. Bwahahaha... Happy Halloween everyone - thanks for li...
Oct 31, 2018
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 available in a few sources including the special features of the 2006 DVDs, pre-1997 VHS and laserdisc copies and various fan preservation edition...
Aug 08, 2018
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 hope to have on the podcast. Join us as we step into film & music history as we prepare for next week's full-length audio commentary. #maytheforceb...
Jul 26, 2018
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. #maytheforcebewithyou Listen to episode Interlude: Princess Leia's Theme (soundtrack suite) STAR WARS - John Williams - 1977 - Lucasfilm Ltd./20th...
Jul 19, 2018
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 to the midpoint of the film - the Millenium Falcon's flight out of Mos Eisley, en route to Princess Leia's homeworld of Alderaan. We revel in explor...
Jul 10, 2018
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, upward reaching anthems for Princess Leia and spiritual master Obi-wan Kenobi. We explore what each of these themes reveals of their characters, marve...
Jul 03, 2018
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 outstanding quality. Nowhere is that combination more apparent than in the very first piece of underscore, the unforgettable Main Title. Arguably the crow...
Jun 26, 2018
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 to unite a jaded, world-weary nation. Now we turn back the clock more than 40 years, to a time when Princess Leia & Luke Skywalker were little more...
Jun 19, 2018
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, uncovering much about the evolution of cinema in the process. What were initially war cries on the battlefield of early Hollywood eventually evol...
Jun 12, 2018
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 as potent & powerful today as it ever was. Music that... ah, you caught us monologuing again. Here we go - on with the show! Listen to episode 6m4 ...
Jun 05, 2018
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 hand of composer Michael Giacchino. This is a score brimming with color, melody and superhero-sized heart. On our previous episode we identified and ce...
May 29, 2018
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 themes Giacchino composed for each member of the 'family of supers' - the outwardly shy and inwardly courageous Violet; the optimistic and irrepressible Da...
Nov 30, 2017
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 sound of this unique score and discuss the tradition that so inspires its spy vs spy style. Michael Giacchino's path to The Incredibles is an adv...
Nov 21, 2017
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 score for animation and the transformational techniques pioneered by the CartoonMusic masters. Many of films' greatest composers have added to the Ca...
Nov 14, 2017
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 searcher... a friend. Let's watch! Listen to episode 5m4 Audio Commentary for E.T. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial - John Williams - 1982 - Universal Pict...
Sep 05, 2017
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 just how those melodic threads are woven into the fabric of the complete film and hopefully illuminate the rich tapestry of music throughout. Today's ep...
Aug 29, 2017
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 material emphasizes an important melodic gesture - the ascending perfect fifth. We explore how masterfully Williams distinguishes these disparate motives...
Aug 22, 2017
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 movie scores of all time. E.T. is one of the few film scores performed live to picture, with an ongoing concert schedule around the world. For us the ...
Aug 15, 2017
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 composers John Williams, Alexandre Desplat, James Newton Howard, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Alan Silvestri, Danny Elfman, John Powell and Hans Zimmer...
Jul 26, 2017
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. From ancient drums to cutting edge synthesizers, the band of instruments behind the Hollywood Sound is dazzling and diverse. Enjoy! Listen to Reel Change...
Jul 21, 2017
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 historical origins of the modern film orchestra. Get to know the instruments and players that breathe life into our cinema and make movie music possibl...
Jul 18, 2017
