 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-12-25 22:31
Just wondering if anyone has recognized any particularly great music in a TV series. I'd like NOT to count movies as they have a much larger budget, and it's just ONE movie most of the time. So I'm thinking a TV series (drama, comedy, action, etc. etc.) with seasons, be it on cable, public, etc.
My vote is for Cowboy Bebop. I watch a lot of anime (japanese animation), and typically watch it in the original japanese language with subtitles. This series I got into when I saw it being broadcast on Cartoon Network.
So I started watching it, and now am contemplating buying the full soundtrack (with about 90 tracks spread over a few CDs).
It's mostly very wellplayed jazz/blues. And from various sites that I've read up on this series, EVERY one of them mentions the great music in it.
Not that it means anything, but it did get 5 out of 5 stars on amazon.com's rating system.
Anyone else have any shows that the music strikes them as particularly welldone?
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Camanda
Date: 2004-12-25 23:28
I personally enjoy the music on The West Wing, and not only because it is my favorite television show. W.G. Snuffy Walden does a fantastic job with any show he composes for, anyway.
Amanda Cournoyer
URI Clarinet Ensemble, Bass Clarinet
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-12-25 23:46
FYI,
I have found a website with sample clips of Cowboy Bebop music.
http://www.jameswong.com/ykproject/disc/disc.php?cd=bebop_1
They are one minute samples (much like you would expect from amazon.com or a similar retailor). "Tank" is the opening credits to each episode, I really like "Rush". And for a clarinet related one, "Cat Blues" has a bass clarinet/piccolo playing in unison. Very interesting.....
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-12-26 00:02)
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Author: Shadow
Date: 2004-12-26 02:48
In the older episods of the simpson's (1988-1995) I have heard everything from bass clarinet's to dueting saxophones.
I'd also like to mention that the bleeding gum's murphy episods are in my opinion the king of all the Simpon's episods.
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Author: SGTClarinet_7
Date: 2004-12-26 03:00
I like to go back a few years with a couple. I've always loved the Cheers theme, and I also like the theme from Night Court.
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Author: Squirrel
Date: 2004-12-26 03:05
Most anime seems to have much better music than other TV programs, I've noticed. Not just the opening/closing themes either. Haven't seen Cowboy Bebop but Fullmetal Alchemist has some pretty nice music (Particularily the song "Bratja" which you hear little bits of throughout the series). I seem to recall Inuyasha having some nice clarinet music in it, but I may be confusing it with another series, I'm not sure.
Oh, if you liked Cowboy Bebop, see if you can get hold of Samurai Champloo (which is by the same guy). It has a similar sort of theme, although instead of space mercenaries and blues it's samurai and hiphop. It's hilariously funny and the music actually fits it surprisingly well...
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-12-26 03:51
Personally, I like video game music more than tv music, especially from RPGs. The music usually utilizes a larger pool of instruments and sounds, and the music is far more hummable, easily remembered. Music from games like Chrono Trigger have stuck with me a lot longer than any TV music has. It's always nice to watch old Cheers episodes and point out the occasional Bass Clarinet solo, but I won't remember the music a week later.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-12-26 04:25
I have to say The Simpsons too. The opening theme is by Danny Elfman who is one of my favorite soundtrack composers. He writes a lot of the music on the show too, maybe even all of it.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-12-26 04:33
I just listened to those samples of Cowboy Bebop, and it's not bad at all. There is even a track with bass clarinet and what sounds to me maybe like a picolo flute. The choices of the composer are pretty interesting. Like a big band blues track with Darbuka and not drums, pretty original.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-12-26 05:15
I have to go with GBK on TV's Greatest Hits. I have the first four CD's and they make fascinating listening. You really have to hand it to these composers who have to create a mood and make a statement in such a short time--and possibly with only a fragment of their song.
As for the underscores, I have enjoyed a lot of the work of Fred Steiner, Frank Comstock, and Earle Hagen over the years. Frank Comstock's "Adam-12" theme includes in some versions a terrific dialogue between trumpet and french horn. (unfortunately, this version didn't make the TV Themes CD's) His comical work is also very good with some of my favorites being that Rocky & Bullwinkle theme with the quartal melody, Franctured Fairy Tales, and Peobody's Improbable History.
Fred Steiner is also a fave. It knocks me out that the same guy could write themes for Perry Mason and Dudley Do-Right, plus many of the best underscore themes for Star Trek--a show which was often rescued from silliness by its in-your-face scoring.
Earle Hagen was similarly diverse, contrasting a composition like Harlem Nocturne with themes from Andy Griffith, That Girl, and Gomer Pyle, USMC. The work he did on the Andy Griffith Show was tremendous, and it seems to me that he was very well showcased on that particular show.
From a clarinet perspective, I used to greatly enjoy the Hawaii 5-0 scores, which included a lot of bass and contra clarinet.
Allen Cole
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2004-12-26 06:45
I have noticed that "Joan of Arkadia" uses interesting cuts from popular music that works well with the story line.
Very unusual, but sometimes very successful...
Merry Christmas!
John
Kalakos
Kalakos Music
http://www.TAdelphia.com
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-12-26 07:49
I like the music from Rugrats; if you watch an episode and pay special attention to the music, it's especially hilarious.
I remember a few episodes of Courage the Cowardly Dog where the music made everything work perfectly.
Eek! The Cat (early 90's) was fun as well.
The A-Team has one of the coolest themes I can remember.
I'll agree with the posters above who mentioned Simpsons and Cowboy Bebop, as well as video game music, though that could start a wealth of new discussions.
There are others, of course, but these came to mind first.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: msroboto
Date: 2004-12-26 08:01
The biography series Nero Wolfe has some interesting themes during the shows. They do get repetitive after a while. Lot's of clarinet and sax.
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-12-26 08:14
Cowboy Bebop has awesome songs. If it didn't cost so much to get all the soundtracks for it, I'd buy them in a heartbeat. I think Family Guy has some good music when they use it.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-12-26 15:30
Xena: Warrior Princess has my favorite tv show music of all time...
Nothing like a show with a Bulgarian rachenitsa for a theme song!
;)
Katrina
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2004-12-26 21:16
Katrina is right! I don't watch the show, but a couple of times that I caught it I even heard orchestrated melodies (like Greek) played in 7/8 meter! Also Bulgarian polyphonic songs. Very interesting music indeed!
Kalakos
Kalakos Music
http://www.TAdelphia.com
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Author: Bnatural
Date: 2004-12-26 23:21
This is the first season for it but, House has some great music in the background and often some popular, or formerly popular that ties it together......
I agree w/ West Wing, it has turned me on to more then a few songs.... the finale from two or three seasons ago had a dier straights song "Brothers In Arms" introducing music to a new generation
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2004-12-27 04:18
Not infrequently on West Wing, the music becomes a part of the story line. The best example might be the episode "Noel" from season 2. And included in that episode is a clarinet choir as well as Yo Yo Ma playing a Bach concerto! It ends with the "Carol of the Bells."
The season 1 DVD has an interesting discussion with Walden about his use of musical styles.
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Author: idahofats
Date: 2004-12-27 22:27
I agree with Allen Cole as regards Earle Hagen and Fred Steiner. TV's Greatest Hits also brought to mind Mancini's theme for "Peter Gunn", which has been a favorite since age five for me. I would assume the sax solo to be the work of Plas?
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Author: Camanda
Date: 2004-12-27 22:49
Jim E. wrote:
> Not infrequently on West Wing, the music becomes a part of the story line.
Case in point: Season 2 episode, "Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail". The title is straight out of the song playing at the beginning and end of the episode, Don Henley's "New York Minute".
Even when the music is not originally composed for the episode, the use of the music within the episode is brilliant. The final episodes of Season 2 ("Two Cathedrals") and 3 ("Posse Comitatus") are fine examples.
Amanda Cournoyer
URI Clarinet Ensemble, Bass Clarinet
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Author: psychotic lil clarinet girl (don't as
Date: 2004-12-27 22:54
MARIO! hehe... I agree with Igloo Bob up there.. hehe... Video Game music sticks with you much longer than tv does... hehe... The Sims music is addicting, lol.... I wish they would get the Sims a clarinet... Because you can make them learn piano and stuff, but they don't have clarinet! grr... lol...
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-12-28 03:54
Now that I think about it, Stargate SG-1 has some pretty good orchestrated moments.
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Author: clarinet713
Date: 2004-12-28 16:52
I'm not a huge fan, and actually have only watched 1 and a half episodes of the show, but from what I heard, Gunsmoke has really great bass clarinet lines (or at least this one episode I saw did!)
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Author: idahofats
Date: 2004-12-28 21:18
Contra:
I agree re SG-1, and feel personally that much of the credit goes to Joel Goldsmith. If you saw the Kurt Russell movie, you might remember that the soundtrack was very "muddy" and orchestrated in a less-than-exciting manner---Goldsmith livened it up considerably.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-12-28 21:53
Going way baack....the Lone Ranger Series had great clips of the old war horses. ...no pun intended.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Dawne
Date: 2004-12-31 11:11
Don't forget Mannix....and the theme from the old Bob Newhart show...
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Author: Sue G
Date: 2005-01-01 18:39
Personally I like the theme for "Midsomer Murders" - can't find the music in any form anywhere though sadly :(
Can't imagine how so many folks get bumped off in such a small place but that's telly for you !
Don't suppose any of you know where I could find the music do you ?
Thanks
Sue
:)
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-01-01 21:33
Being a Sci-Fi freak, I've been a huge fan of Stargate SG-1 from the very beginning, and it is very well orchestrated. Someone also mentioned Peter Gunn... we've played that in band, and while I didn't know exactly what it was, it was fun to play.
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Author: David
Date: 2005-01-03 21:49
Firefly
Red Dwarf
The Avengers
Noggin The Nog
Captain Pugwash
Tales of The Riverbank
Pretty much anything by Barry Grey for Gerry Anderson's stuff.
Hawaii Five-O
Dallas
Dr Who (The old BBC Radiophonic Workshop version. Much creepier.)
Blackadder by the Band of the 3rd Batallion, The Royal Anglian Regiment
Pennies From Heaven
The Singing Detective
Soldier, Soldier was another Jim (Midsomer Murders) Parker goodie.
If you want to hear a good Peter Gunn, The Pirates' version.
And finally, the TV Theme tune that everyone on the planet knows. The late Eric Jupp's "Skippy, the Bush Kangaroo."
Sadly, I can't find who sang it. Sounded like a primary / elementary school choir.
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Author: Camanda
Date: 2005-01-03 22:49
Agreed with Mark C -- Mike Post is excellent. Ironically, I had come into this thread to mention the Law & Order, which Post composes for. TNT and USA have shown incessant amounts of the original show and SVU in the last few days due to Jerry Orbach's passing last week, so the music is really sticking with me because of the additional airtime. Also, I think that theme song is among the most recognizable ever on television. The clarinet solo is a nice bonus for us, of course.
Amanda Cournoyer
URI Clarinet Ensemble, Bass Clarinet
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-01-04 06:54
Yep, that Law & Order theme will definitely get you practicing your arpeggios.
Definitely a lot to get from the Mike Post collection. He had all the contemporary gimmicks, but lots of meat as well.
I definitely agree with the kudos to the old Bob Newhart theme. It was beautifully crafted.
Here's a name not widely heard. Vic Mizzy. The guy who did themes & incidental music for Green Acres and The Addams Family. He sounded a bit more conventional in his score for "Shakiest Gun in the West" with Don Knotts. I remember one cue from The Addams Family that has become a favorite warmup on bass clarinet. Very reminiscent of The Simpsons main theme.
Allen Cole
Post Edited (2005-01-04 15:01)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-01-04 08:00
TNT and USA have shown incessant amounts of Law & Order for the past 3 years straight.
It is cool music, in any case. I'd say that one noise/chord is more recognizable than the theme, though. And don't tell me you don't know which I'm talking about.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Camanda
Date: 2005-01-04 18:34
EEBaum wrote:
> TNT and USA have shown incessant amounts of Law & Order for the past 3
> years straight.
O/T -- True, much like FX's former relationship with M*A*S*H. But they usually only show 3 hours a day, as opposed to 12 in one afternoon. And I believe you are talking about what the USA commercials call "the doink-doink".
Amanda Cournoyer
URI Clarinet Ensemble, Bass Clarinet
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-01-05 05:30
It's the sound of yet one more thing--the gavel--being replaced by a synthesizer. <sigh>
Allen Cole
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2005-01-05 13:02
Best TV theme songs ever: a dead-heat tie between "Sanford and Son" and "What's Happening?"
As for today, I love the music from "Arrested Development." And if you've never seen the show, it's far and away the best thing on network TV today -- which is like saying Jascha Heifetz is the best violinist in a room full of Suzuki beginners. It's not merely great; it has no peer.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Alexis
Date: 2005-01-06 07:12
For Sue G:
My mum was surfing the net the other evening and came across this post. Being a music librarian by day, she found these arrangements of the Midsomer Murders theme for horn, sax and recorder which can be ordered online.
http://www.top-note.co.uk/acatalog/Horn_M_W.html
http://www.stgeorgesmusic.co.uk/category/Saxophone_repertoire.html
http://www.musiccorner.co.uk/acatalog/11_21_Recorder___Solos_Ensemble.html
Hope these are useful
Alex
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Author: HedgeWitch
Date: 2005-01-07 07:27
Don't forget of course the music to accompany the UK TV series, 'The Victorian Kitchen Garden ' and 'The Wartime Kitchen Garden' beautiful music performed by Emma Johnson and a mainstay of the ABRSM clarinet exam repertoire for several years now.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-01-07 14:41
....lest we forget....The Singing Detective....
Bob Draznik
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-01-07 18:33
Xena warrior princess? what i remember about that show is grumpy surfers annoyed because the producers would have to clear some of our favourite spots so that we wouldn't be "in shot" (sitting on our boards out to sea trying to get a glimpse of Gabriel biffing Jockster) (no kidding)
but just yesterday
i am ashamed to admit
i ate lunch with "Knight Rider" providing the entertainment
and there was some great clarinet playing going down
(not in the theme tune, but in the background stuff)
donald
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Author: clarispark
Date: 2005-01-07 18:47
Ha! You're so right! The Sims has some clarinet music, but I haven't been able to find one on the Internet for them to play. Maybe I'll try to make one...that's my other hobby, making Sims objects. I'll let you all know if I finally suffer from a stroke of genius.
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Author: me
Date: 2005-01-26 12:38
David,
If you email ray.clark@bbc.co.uk his (Ray's) boss was in the choir and i am sure Rorry will give you the info.
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Author: BlockEyeDan
Date: 2005-01-26 14:49
I second Ralph G's comment on "Arrested Development." Bar none, the funniest show on TV today! The music is phenomenal; I encourage everyone to watch the show, if only for the music (VERY nifty theme song). You'll keep watching because the show is absolutely hilarious!
Dan
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Author: kal
Date: 2005-01-26 19:44
The incidental music from the older X-Files episodes is great...
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Author: Gardini
Date: 2005-01-26 21:30
The movie Terminal had a wonderful John Williams soundtrack with lots of solo clarinet work. The music and Zeta Jones were the only parts of the movie that I can recommend though.
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Author: Sue G
Date: 2005-01-26 21:35
Alexis,
Thanks for your post concerning the Midsomer Murders theme by Jim Parker - I've checked out the links but sadly I play the Bb clarinet so couldn't use any of these arrangements ( I don't think ????)
Sorry I'm a novice clarinetist really and don't know if it's possible to transpose (?) a piece of music written for the F or Eb horn so that it can be played on a Bb one ???
Hopefully one of you could let me know if this is possible please ?
Thanks
Sue
:)
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Author: Alexis
Date: 2005-01-28 03:56
It is possible to transpose these arrangements.
If you wrote the alto sax part down a fifth it would sound right on Bb Clarinet.
You could also write the horn part down a fourth.
And although I can't seem to get my link to work, you could write the recorder part up a tone which might be the easiest way.
I'm sorry I can't help more. If I knew the theme I'd arrange it myself...
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2005-02-08 04:52
Without a doubt the most beautiful Television Music is from The West Wing! I have W.G. Snuffy Walden's album which has a bit more then in the opening credits... terrific score & his other work is equal!
Fred
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-02-08 09:56
i just watched "the ice storm" (an early film by Ang Lee), this had some lovely clarinet playing in it
donald
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