ESB 16: Attack of the Envelope

Opulent violins and sci-fi vocals can only mean one thing: We're approaching Cloud City! Composer/music technologist Jeremy Sawruk returns to the show to discuss minutes 76-80 of The Empire Strikes Back.

Timestamps:

  • 0:00 - Hello there!

  • 5:49 - Voice removal.

  • 12:38 - Background "Morse code" sound.

  • 16:34 - Errant horn entrance or sound design?

  • 19:08 - Envelopes! (ADSR.)

  • 26:25 - Open chord sound.

  • 33:54 - Tense Han & Leia theme.

  • 39:25 - A sharp cut in the music (visible on a spectogram).

  • 46:34 - Methodical, meditative Force climb.

  • 57:58 - Shroud of artificial harmonics.

  • 1:02:03 - List of magic-evoking instruments.

  • 1:06:53 - Another abrupt transition/cut.

  • 1:21:00 - The best part of these minutes! (Soaring violin soli approaching Cloud City.)

  • 1:29:08 - Sci-fi vocals.

  • 1:35:41 - Comparing the Cloud City melody to the Sibelius Violin Concerto.

  • 1:48:41 - Spectogram view of a busy section and R2's chirping.

  • 2:04:02 - SWMM Questionnaire

Things to Check Out:

Cues:

  • 8M2 "City In The Clouds"

Musical Themes:

  • 11a. Han & Leia (A Section)

  • 14. Boba Fett

  • 12a. Yoda (A Section)

  • 3. Force

  • something like 35) Cascading Trumpet Lines?

  • 15b. Cloud City 2 (Trouble in Bespin)

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

  • "Imperial Starfleet Deployed/City in the Clouds"

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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

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

  • New answer: Space. Brass. Droids.

  • Solo season answer: Big octatonic brass

  • ANH season 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 creation of the sound effects/sound design. Can I recreate some of these sounds on my ARP 2600?

  • Solo season answer: The score for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

  • ANH season 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: The Matrix by Don Davis, Bob's Burgers (series) composed by Loren Bouchard

  • 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

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Guest: Jeremy Sawruk

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ESB 17: Pomp Without Circumstance

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ESB 15: Yoda and the Wolf