THE ORVILLE - Music Discussion (Bruce Broughton, Joel McNeely, John Debney, Andrew Cottee, Kevin Kaska)

[leeallen01 2,133]

Listening through McNeely's score for episode 3. I like his theme for the episode. It gets a few nice variations throughout. A nicely flexible theme that works as an otherworldly mystery theme and one of fear and awe.

 

At 0:46 in 'Signs of Life,' that little brass flourish is familar. Perhaps McNeely has used it before in past seasons.

[leeallen01 2,133]

Listening through episode 5. Man what a gorgeous score for that episode. Kind of confused about it not being just Cottee's episode, considering I thought each composer stuck to their episodes, as McNeely has said he had no idea what other wrote for their episodes until he saw them... But ep5 score 'A Tale of Two Topas' credits 3 composers; Cottee as primary, and then Kaska and McNeely.

 

Anyway, damn the score is so lush and powerful. It's like a celebration of 90's classic romantic scores from people like JNH, with some Horner and Silvestri thrown in there. 'Official Orders' is like a classical composer reworked Broughton's main title. It's just so much fun to listen to!

[Jay 37,254]

Producer Dan Goldwasser actually responded to a question about that in the FSM thread

 

Any idea why both of Cottee's scores, and one of Kaska's, have cues by the other composers?

There were re-writes as the show was edited and in some cases another composer hopped in.

[leeallen01 2,133]

Interesting. It's kind of cool to hear how synched the composers are with the musical vision of Seth that they can all interchange and it works so well.

[Chewy 2,372]

Seems like Qobuz has two new masters for this coming on April 7:

• 24-bit / 48kHz : https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/the-orville-new-horizons-various-artists/ycqolhtv2a8fa
• 16-bit / 44.1kHz: https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/the-orville-new-horizons-various-artists/dab1rgobyj1na

The initial release is still available: https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/the-orville-new-horizons-various-artists/wgfc3mwhebubc

 

I wonder how that works for people who bought the album when it came out last month? 

[Jay 37,254]

I assume this is to fix the tiny error in track 36?

[MrJosh 892]

So...I am wayyyyyy late to the party here. I just started watching the show, and wow the music is awesome. Going to order the LLL sets and then the 3rd vol on Quobuz, though I guess i'll wait for that new master (just read the latest posts above). 

 

I'm so glad Seth has an appreciation for good film music!

[Chewy 2,372]

39 minutes ago, Jay said:

I assume this is to fix the tiny error in track 36?

Yes that was fixed!

 

Good to know that Hollywood Records made available the 24/48 master too  

[Jay 37,254]

Yes!

[Manakin Skywalker 4,889]

3 hours ago, Jay said:

I assume this is to fix the tiny error in track 36?

 

I'm glad I brought that up. I was so close so not even mentioning it 

 

Boy, I hope I don't have to pay another $40/50 for this or I'll be pissed...

[Faleel 5,326]

What happened?

[Jay 37,254]

They fixed track 36

[Manakin Skywalker 4,889]

And it's in high-res now too!

[Faleel 5,326]

32 minutes ago, Jay said:

They fixed track 36

Yeah, but what did they fix, is what I meant

[pete 902]

They added more cowbell.

[Manakin Skywalker 4,889]

3 hours ago, A Farewell to Kings said:

Yeah, but what did they fix, is what I meant

 

The opening was cut off a bit previously. It's such an obscure minor glitch that I guarantee I'm probably the only one who noticed it, and then had the gall to complain about it. 

[Manakin Skywalker 4,889]

And the high-res version is $20 less than the old CD quality version... now I officially feel ripped off by Qobuz. 

[igger6 894]

This is great music.  It's a love letter to Williams throughout, and then every now and then it turns into a stalker letter. 

 

"hEY jOHNNY!!!  wHAT WeRE YoU WEariNG WheN yOu WrOtE THE bATTLE OF hOTH???  i'M wearING IT tOoOoOoO!!!!"

 

I've heard SpaceCamp, Yoda's theme, the March of the Resistance, even "I Can Fly Anything" at one point in there.  And it runs the gamut from note-for-note melodic similarity to a sort of spiritual, structural paint-by-numbers that's even weirder when it dawns on you.

 

But whatever.  The music is gorgeous, and there are lots of cues that are either more original or haven't revealed their provenance to my ear yet.

[leeallen01 2,133]

Still listening through the score, one episode at a time. I've re-listened to each episode over and over again, treating each one like its own separate score to be examined and enjoyed. 

 

On episode 7 at the moment; From Unknown Graves. Debney really shines in this one, with the delicate and romantic writing. The piano and woodwinds are particularly beautiful and I love the patience of this episode's score. It breathes and flows gorgeously. 

[JNHFan2000 2,940]

Agree. Common Ground is so beautiful.

 

Together with Training Excersises, it's my most played cue from the 3rd season

[Jay 37,254]

Yea I really haven't given this album the time and attentive ear it deserves.  Probably due to it being released as a giant 4 hour thing all at once a year after I saw the episodes.

 

If this had gotten weekly albums after each episode aired like Mando 1 and WandaVision, holy cow would that have been a whole different experience

[Andy 4,071]

Yeah I agree.  I have a tough time digesting some of these huge digital music dumps and trying to remember the episodes without liner notes.

[Laserschwert 473]

Yeah, I think I need to split it up per episode as well, like leeallen above does.

[leeallen01 2,133]

It's pretty easy and digestible to listen to each episode's score on their own.

 

I was overwhelmed at first, but then stopped trying to madly listen to all 72 pieces at the same time. It's been weeks and I'm only on episode 8. I'm already very familiar with each score and their ideas, as a result.

 

They're all like mini-movies anyway, so each score works narratively as a solo entity. Some have their own main theme that carries throughout their episode, with development and resolution. 

[Jay 37,254]

Yea I think I need to make a playlist for each episode score, and only listen to one episode's score at a time in between other things.  Maybe listen to each one a few times before moving on to the next

[leeallen01 2,133]

I'm still on episode 8, Midnight Blue. Love this score. McNeely has some really magical moments. Like 'Sweet Moment/Beautiful Sight' makes me think he would be a good choice for a Harry Potter project.

 

And 1:30 in 'Union Central' is perhaps the most badass reveal of the Orville ship itself.

[JNHFan2000 2,940]

I didn't know what to listen to this morning so put on album shuffle and the S3 album came up.

 

I've just finished the score of Episode 5. Just like Rings Of Power I'm really amazed at the incredible music written here. It doesn't matter how many times I've heard it, it remains as fantastic as the first time.

 

Kelly Invites Topa is just incredible. And I've replayed Dalakos Arrival & Training Excersice both 4 times before moving on.

I know upcoming cues like Returning Home, Common Ground & Breaking In might have the same impact.

 

It's just spectacular stuff!

[leeallen01 2,133]

I am still in awe of the season 3 score. 

[Jay 37,254]

It's amazing and the episodes themselves were amazing too.  I wish it got more viewers and we could get a fourth season

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

6 minutes ago, Jay said:

It's amazing and the episodes themselves were amazing too.  I wish it got more viewers and we could get a third season

 

Did you just travel back in time?

[leeallen01 2,133]

6 minutes ago, Jay said:

It's amazing and the episodes themselves were amazing too.  I wish it got more viewers and we could get a third season

 

I heard it did quite well on hulu and disney+ but not sure. It was top 10 for a long time in viewers.

 

I think it wont get a 4th season with Disney, simply because Disney are losing so much money with streaming and their theatrical movies are losing so much too.

[Jay 37,254]

Typo fixed

[JNHFan2000 2,940]

It's a shame indeed that so many lesser shows get made or renewned and shows like this have a hard time getting made at all.

 

There is so much talent on this show, both in front and behind the camera. So I'm still holding out hope for a 4th season, even though I feel MacFarlane may have moved on

[Jay 37,254]

Well there aren't a lot of TV shows being made that are expensive as this show, to be fair

[JNHFan2000 2,940]

True

[Andy 4,071]

Then they should go even bigger and take it to the cinema. 
 

This is the finest entertainment I’ve enjoyed in the past handful of years. It’s a damn shame this isn’t universally recognized.  At times it makes its competitor franchises look like amateur fan films. 

[Jay 37,254]

Oh damn, a movie's not a bad idea 

[HunterTech 982]

What exactly is a bag idea?

[Holko 9,491]

One that makes execs go "oh yeah we got this in the bag!".

[Brónach 1,301]

so i take that i may enjoy this

[Jay 37,254]

Typo fixed

[leeallen01 2,133]

20 hours ago, JNHFan2000 said:

 So I'm still holding out hope for a 4th season, even though I feel MacFarlane may have moved on

 

I have seen several social media posts and media comments suggesting he's really trying to continue with a 4th season. As are all the rest of the cast and crew.

[12-Mile Reef 123]

Individual episode covers for S3: