UnderScore

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 & Hypnotic: Vertigo Themes Vertigo - Bernard Herrmann -Paramount/Universal - 1958 (Alfred Hitchcock, dir.) -Prelude -Madeline's First Appearance  -Carlotta's Portrait -The Nightmare -The Streets - Scene D'Amour -Farewell - The Tower -The Rooftop -The Letter  For score reductions, additional links and more, the discussion continues at: www.underscorepodcast.com  

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 examine some of the many musical traits that embody Herrmann's stellar output and contextualize this month's seminal score in the process. Join us as we dive into cinema's other great master of suspense! Listen to episode 2m1 Vertigo: The Harmony of Herrmann Citizen Kane - Bernard Herrmann - 1941 - RKO Pictures (Orson Welles, dir,) -Overture The Ghost and Mrs. Muir - B. Herrmann -1947 -20th Century Fox (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, dir.) -Andante Cantabile The Day the Earth Stood Still - B. Herrmann - 1951 - 20th Century Fox (Robert Wise, dir.) -Suite from 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' North By Northwest - B. Herrmann - 1959 - MGM (Alfred Hitchcock, dir.) -The Airport -Concersation Piece Cape Fear - B. Herrmann - 1962 - Universal Pictures (J. Lee Thompson, dir.) -Main Title Marnie - B. Herrmann - 1964 - Universal Pictures (Alfred Hitchcock, dir.) -Prelude Psycho - B. Herrmann - 1960 - Paramount Pictures (Alfred Hitchcock, dir.) -The Storm Vertigo - B. Herrmann - 1958 - Paramount/Universal (Alfred Hitchcock, dir.) -Prelude   Twisted Nerve - Herrmann - 1968 - National General Pictures (Roy Boulting, dir.) -Suite from 'Twisted Nerve' For score reductions, additional links and more, the discussion continues at: www.underscorepodcast.com  

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 golden age to the present. Off we go! Listen to Reel Change: The Ostinato Captain Blood - Erich Wolfgang Korngold - Warner Bros - 1935 (Michael Curtiz, dir.) King Kong - Max Steiner - Radio Pictures - 1933 (M. Cooper, E. Schoedsack, dir.) Scaramouche - Victor Young -  MGM - 1952 (George Sidney, dir.) Peter Gunn - Henry Mancini - NBC - Official Films  - 1958-61 (Blake Edwards, creator) The Magnificent Seven - Elmer Berstein - United Artists - 1960 (John Sturges, dir.) Taras Bulba - Franz Waxman - United Artists - 1962 (J. Lee Thompson, dir.) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Ennio Morricone - United Artists - 1966 (Sergio Leone, dir.) Midnight Cowboy - John Barry - United Artists - 1969 (John Schlesinger, dir.) -Everybody's Talkin' (Song) Performed by Harry Nilsson, Written by Fred Neil Superman - John Williams - Warner Bros. - 1978 (Richard Donner, dir.) Conan the Barbarian - Basil Poledouris - Universal Pictures - 1982 (John Milius, dir.) The Terminator - Brad Fidel - Orion Pictures - 1984 (James Cameron, dir.) Brazil - Michael Kamen - 20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures - 1985 (Terry Gilliam, dir.) Total Recall - Jerry Goldsmith - TriStar Pictures - 1990 (Paul Verhoeven, dir.) The Simpsons - Danny Elfman - 20th Century Fox Television - 1989-2017 (Matt Groening, creator) Robin Hood Prince of Thieves - Michael Kamen - Warner Bros. - 1991 (Kevin Reynolds, dir.) Sneakers - James Horner - Universal Studios - 1992 (Phil Alden Robinson, dir.) Crimson Tide - Hans Zimmer - Buena Vista Pictures - 1995 (Tony Scott, dir.) Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - John Williams - Lucasfilm - 1999 (George Lucas, dir.) Finding Nemo - Thomas Newman - Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar - 2003 (Andrew Stanton, dir.) The Dark Knight - Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard - Legendary Pictures - 2008 (Christopher Nolan, dir.) The Expendables - Brian Tyler - Lionsgate - 2010 (Sylvester Stallone, dir.) Star Trek - Michael Giacchino - Paramount Pictures - 2009 (J.J. Abrams, dir.) The Last Airbender - James Newton Howard - Parmount Pictures - 2010 (M. Night Shyamalan, dir.) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Alexandre Desplat - Warner Bros. - 2010 (David Yates, dir.) Puss in Boots - Henry Jackman - Paramount Pictures - 2011 (Chris Miller, dir.) MI: Rogue Nation - Joe Kraemer - Paramount Pictures - 2015 (Christopher McQuarrie, dir.) Mad Max: Fury Road - Junkie XL - Warner Bros. - 2015 (George Miller, dir.) Zoolander No. 2 - Theodore Shapiro - Paramount Pictures - 2016 (Ben Stiller, dir.) Arrival - Jóhan Jóhannson - Sony Pictures/Paramount Pictures - 2016 (Denis Villeneuve, dir.) For score reductions, additional links and more, the discussion continues at: www.underscorepodcast.com

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 some corn, dim the lights and ready your whip as we set off!                                                                                                          Listen to episode 1m4 Commentary of the Lost Ark  Raiders of the Lost Ark  - John Williams - Paramount Pictures - 1981 (Steven Spielberg, dir.)  -In the Jungle -The Idol Cave  -Escape From the Temple -Flight From Peru  -Washington Men / Indy's Home  -A Thought For Marion -To Nepal   -The Medallion  -Flight to Cairo  -The Basket Game -Bad Dates   -The Map Room: Dawn  -Reunion in the Tent / Searching for the Well  -The Well of Souls -Uncovering the Ark   -Indy Rides the Statue -The Fist Fight / The Flying Wing -Dessert Chase  -Marion's Theme / The Crate  -The German Sub  -Ride to the Nazi Hideout -Indy Follows the Ark   -The Miracle of the Ark  -Washington Ending -The Raiders March                                                                                                                    For score reductions, additional links and more, the discussion continues at: www.underscorepodcast.com

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 1m3 Raiders Spotting Session  Raiders of the Lost Ark  - John Williams - Paramount Pictures - 1981 (Steven Spielberg, dir.)  -In the Jungle -The Idol Cave  -Escape From the Temple -Flight From Peru  -Washington Men / Indy's Home  -A Thought For Marion -To Nepal   -The Medallion  -Flight to Cairo  -The Basket Game -Bad Dates   -The Map Room: Dawn  -Reunion in the Tent / Searching for the Well  -The Well of Souls -Uncovering the Ark   -Indy Rides the Statue -The Fist Fight / The Flying Wing -Dessert Chase  -Marion's Theme / The Crate  -The German Sub  -Ride to the Nazi Hideout -Indy Follows the Ark   -The Miracle of the Ark  -Washington Ending -The Raiders March                                                                                                                    For score reductions, additional links and more, the discussion continues at: www.underscorepodcast.com

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 leitmotifs in this treasure trove of a score!                                                                                                              Listen to episode 1m2 Themes of the Lost Ark  Raiders of the Lost Ark  - John Williams - Paramount Pictures - 1981 (Steven Spielberg, dir.) -Washington Ending -The Map Room: Dawn -A Thought For Marion -To Nepal -The Miracle of the Ark -Washington Men / Indy's Home -Marion's Theme / The Crate -Flight to Cairo -The Basket Game -The Medallion -The Fist Fight / The Flying Wing -Ride to the Nazi Hideout -Reunion in the Tent / Searching for the Well -The German Sub -The Idol Cave -Dessert Chase -Flight From Peru -The Well of Souls -In the Jungle                                                                                                                   For score reductions, additional links and more, the discussion continues at: www.underscorepodcast.com

In the exciting premiere episode of UnderScore, we meet our two hosts and dive head first into John Williams' beloved soundtrack to "Raiders of the Lost Ark." To start our adventure we devote an entire episode to the iconic theme for the character of Indiana Jones, "The Raiders March."   Listen to episode 1m1 "The Raiders March" Raiders of the Lost Ark - "The Raiders March" - John Williams - Paramount Pictures - 1981 (Steven Spielberg, dir.) For score reductions, additional links and more, the discussion continues at: www.underscorepodcast.com