Halo

The Halo series is often type-casted as just another videogame series, but I believe videogames can be just as good or bad as any other forms of art. Halo games have great gameplay, graphics, and most importantly, great soundtracks. Martin O' Donnel wrote the scores to the first three Halo games, and all of these selections are by him. He's a fantastic composer, and I believe he should be doing movies. 

1) The Halo Theme is probably the most iconic videogame theme besides Zelda or Mario. A gregorian chant-like piece is not what one would expect from a shooter, but this piece works so well with this game. It's a haunting work that really picks up throughout and becomes a great action piece. It really sets the mood for the sci-fi nature of the first game. 
Halo Theme


2) Unforgotten is featured in Halo 2. Here, O'Donnel delivers a surprisingly emotional piece full of both sadness and strength. It's a stirring work that seems to come out of a movie rather than a videogame. 
Unforgotten


3) The Epilogue piece to Halo 2 is similar in its emotion to Unforgotten, but it has a greater sense of closure. The strings paint a beautiful backdrop to the ending of this game. It's an amazing work. The guitar solo in this piece is amazing as well- I would die for that tone. 
Epilogue

Star Wars

Well since I had a Star Trek day, I have to follow it up with a Star Wars day! It's probably safe to say that John William's score for the Star Wars series is the most iconic film score ever made. It's rousing, unique, and brilliant in every way. 


1) You have to start with the Theme! This is a video of John Williams himself conducting the Boston Pops. The theme is so grandiose and legendary, and along with the giant scrolling yellow title and plot summary, it makes for the most iconic film opening in film history.
Theme


2) The Imperial March is the best villain theme ever invented. It's ominous, powerful, and dark- the perfect sound for a dictatorship (in this case, an empire). Played behind the cold, half-robotic walk of Darth Vader provides the perfect backdrop for such a great villain (well until the end when he turns good...spoiler? No c'mon, everyone's seen Star Wars). 
Imperial March


3) The Force Theme is so powerful, beautiful, and simple (hey, like the force!). That's all that really needs to be said.
Force Theme

Star Trek

Yep. I'm a huge nerd. I love Star Trek. So I thought I'd dedicate today's post about the music from both the original series, 2009 film, and the most recent 2013 film. 

1) Michael Giacchino is one of the coolest new composers out there. He's scored everything from the tv series Lost to the pixar movie Up. His new theme for J.J. Abrams' 2009 film adaption of Star Trek is epic, catchy, and versatile. It's a great theme for a great series reboot. 
New Theme


2) London Calling is a piece from the recent film Into Darkness. In it, Giacchino differs heavily from the musical style of the 2009 film by making this piece piano based- odd for movies of such scale. However, it provided a cool yet dark theme for John Harrison (Spoilers: He's Khan. I mean who didn't see that coming). 
London Calling


3) When I hear the original series theme, I'm flooded with memories. I've watched it all my life with my family, and I still watch it today. It's one of my favorite shows, and it always will be. It's a perfect sci-fi theme. This is a cool rendition by three violins.
Original Series Theme

Beatles Instrumentals

The Beatles are the best- there's really no way around it. These are some of their songs without vocals, and it helps show how brilliant their music is and how inspired George Martin's production was.

1) Eleanor Rigby is noted for its double string quartet, and it was especially revolutionary in that time period for a pop song to feature such an arrangement. The instrumental track shows how simple and powerful the instrumentation is. It makes you appreciate the piece even more.
Eleanor Rigby


2) She's Leaving Home is one of the most underrated and under-appreciated songs ever written. For some reason, no one except big Beatles fans have heard it, and yet it's easily one of their most beautiful songs. It's a sparkling little gem hidden in Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart's Club Band (which I think is the best album ever made). The credit must go to George Martin for knowing just how to arrange these songs. 
She's Leaving Home


3) The ending of Abbey Road is a long rock medley, and its brilliance isn't often understood until heard instrumentally. The modulations, tone changes, and everything else that goes into this musical work are so well done, and it flows seamlessly. The Beatles are the best because no other 'pop' group could ever pull anything like this off. 
Abbey Road Medley

Stand-alone Film Themes

While trilogies and other such series often have the most memorable themes,  there are many stand-alone films that have great themes as well. These motifs really add to these films and are often what make them so memorable.

1) The theme to Forrest Gump is so simple and beautiful. It fits perfectly with the character of Forrest- honest, sincere, and pure. No matter what happens around Forrest, he sticks to his love of God, his momma, and, of course, Jenny. Alan Silvestri's theme is so excellent in conveying all of these things.
Forrest Gump


2) I wish the audio quality on this one was better, but the score for Rudy is so moving that it really doesn't matter how it's heard.  Rudy's dream of playing Notre Dame football is made realized through his hard work and perseverance, and this theme reflects the goodness of his heart. There's such a strong sense of hope and character in this melody.
Rudy


3) Braveheart has a perfect theme. James Horner's theme is incredibly heartbreaking and yet triumphant- two emotions that are inseparably connected but are so difficult to convey simultaneously.  The uilleann bagpipe in particular is so stirring and magnificent. 
Braveheart

Debussy's Best "B-sides"

When people hear the name Debussy, they immediately think of "Claire de lune" or maybe even "Arabesque 1". But Debussy did so much more, and he's often overlooked more than he deserves. Here are some of Debussy's best "B-sides". 

1) The Snow is Dancing is a wonderful musical painting. It perfectly expresses the imagery of falling snow in a snowstorm. I've heard very few songs of this nature communicate an idea so well.
Snowflakes


2) Doctor gradus ad parnassum is a fun song that often gets butchered in its performance because people tend to play it too quickly. Much too quickly. Debussy is a passionate composer, and when people try to fly through this piece, it kills a lot of the emotion. This recording is excellent- not too fast or too slow, it simply moves with the music. 
Doctor


3) It was a tough pick for this last slot, but this performance of Reverie is perfect. While not being an unknown piece, I think it's severely underrated. I think it's one of Debussy's most beautiful compositions. While his ideas are always impressionistic and vague in their identity, there's a strong sense of melody here. It's quite elegant. 
Reverie

Whitacre

Eric Whitacre is one of my favorite choral composers, and his works are often transcribed into instrumentals. His music beautifully strides the line between intellectualism and beauty- a feat where many modern composers fail.  The instrumental versions of his choral works are outstanding, and they give a new and interesting perspective on the pieces. 

1) This version of Lux Aurumque is for concert band. This renedition of the song gives it more strength while retaining its warmth. The swells are particularly well done in this take, and each instrument successfully accents their part of the piece. I may like the instrumental more than the choral...it's too close to call.
Lux Aurumque 


2) This string rendition of Water Night is breathtaking. The strings add so much more emotion and drama to the piece. The swells, stops, rubato- all of these are excellently executed and well-suited for strings. It changes the solemn, dark tone of the piece into a heartbreaking one. 
Water Night


3) Sleep is a favorite among Whitacre's pieces, and this rendition for concert band is so well done. Little additions throughout the piece such as the chiming bells, brief oboe solos, and quiet flutes at the top of the mix really add depth to the piece. The climax beginning at 3:54 is so magnificent and cathartic- it just reaches into the deepest part of you and tugs at your soul.  
Sleep