#god I love orchestral music

[otsanda]

So @sayuri-of-the-valley and I were talking about the music in Good Omens 2 and particularly the similarities and differences in the music that happens 'Before the Beginning' (that's the song title) and at The Kiss (that's not the song title) and I have accidentally developed Theories and had Thoughts, so I’m gonna share them in case anyone else wants to weigh in.

First of all, the general musical structure is similar. They are both dramatic moments that start quietly, grow to a powerful crescendo at the Big Moment, and then resolve more quietly again, but with subtle changes that make them feel very different. Without actually going through and checking it, they sound to be at roughly the same tempo (around 140 BPM) and comparable time signatures.

Now, I'm treating these two dramatic moments and the surrounding music as two songs, although in the soundtrack the music surrounding The Kiss is actually divided into two songs itself: I Forgive You and Don't Bother, so that's. Fine. I'm normal about that. I'm sure dividing that in half doesn't Mean Anything at all. I'm NORMAL about it!!! Ah... anyways.

The instrumentation for both Before the Beginning and The Kiss is also very similar. Both songs start with orchestral winds and strings and add a powerful choral part (on the same pure round vowel sound, no less!) on the big crescendo. Both add orchestral chimes (bells) for that epic religious feel. Both the nebula creation and the kiss were a revelation. Something like a religious experience.

And then both songs resolve featuring wind and strings again, among other instruments. The "after" part of both songs also features more pitched percussion (harp, maybe a celesta, glockenspiel, possibly a dulcimer or some other fun, ethereal pitched percussion in Before the Beginning, but interestingly a piano in Don't Bother). Ouch. That hurts.

Now, to me: the piano is possibly representing the nightingale, Crowley and Aziraphale's love of Earth and humanity, whereas the glockenspiel and etc. may be more representative of heaven. Just a guess. I would have to do more careful listening for a more solid theory.

I don’t have perfect pitch so it’s hard to tell without getting out my instruments or transcribing the piece, but I’m willing to bet ‘I Forgive You’ is in the relative minor key to Before the Beginning’s mostly major key (I *think* ‘Before the Beginning’ might be mostly in the key of C major and ‘I Forgive You’ in A minor, but I could be wrong). Regardless, the former is major and the latter is more minor, but otherwise a lot of the chord structures, especially at the big moment, sound very similar.

More on instrumentation: ‘Before the Beginning’ uses more (ethereal?) flutes in the wind sections and The Kiss uses more reed-based, (earthy?) winds like clarinet, bassoon, oboe, etc. Different feel, but the same kind of structure. Both moments heavily feature a big string section for the nice full orchestral sound.

Before the Beginning has a lot going on musically before the crescendo and it intentionally feels kind of chaotic and unformed bc each instrument family is doing something a little different, building anticipation, etc. and then at the big crescendo, they all come together. Very powerful. Then after the crescendo, we get a subtle, playful reprise/variation of the Good Omens Main Theme. The strings and the winds are no longer entirely together at this point. They’re sort of playing off one another, leaving space. Having a conversation.

By comparison, in ‘I Forgive You’ the wind/strings start off playing together, in a sad version of unison before the crescendo (they both knew the conversation they were having wasn’t going to end well but they fundamentally *understand* one another now; they’ve been talking for millions of years). And AFTER the crescendo of The Kiss, the song ‘Don’t Bother’ DROPS the majority of the string section and gives the melody to a solo violin (alone!!!!). Even worse (better) the strings and the woodwinds and pitched percussion are no longer playing together. This time, they aren’t even having a conversation. They’re musically doing a separate lines. It feels extremely lonely (because it is). The violin is very exposed. The piano is very exposed. Even the chorus sounds exposed (smaller group of singers?). This ALSO includes a reprise/variation on the main GO theme, but instead of being playful it’s extremely sad (as though you didn't notice). The rest of the orchestra is still there, providing background, but it's not the same.

The Biggest Decision (the song after Don't Bother) has a lot more of those ethereally coded instruments again. Harp, pitched percussion. Full string section. Angelic chorus. Aziraphale is making the hardest/worst decision to return to heaven.

And to round it out, once we get to "The End?" we are back to piano. Our duo is separated. Now in place of the solo violin we have solo cello and piano. Gutting. We get notes of the ethereal celesta (I think). The piano keeps us grounded, but cello is a big focus. We also get more of that haunting chorus and violin runs. And then we end with solo piano playing the same 5-note run three times. Alone. After every other instrument has dropped out. Very lonely.

Just for fun, (and to end on a slightly more positive note), I went back and listened to the ox rib music as well, which was surprisingly consistent with some of my theories from up above and also not on the soundtrack so although I'm sure it has a name, I certainly don't know it.

In the ox rib section, there are more instruments before the first big moment (when Aziraphale tries the food) that are going back and forth. Again it sounds to me like they’re having a conversation… tempting and being tempted. Winds and strings (strings are tremoloing like at the kiss for that sweet, sweet tension), but also brass instruments. We have some more ethereal sounding pitched percussion, especially *before* he tries the food but afterwards it... switches to piano! Like I said: Earth!!!

The choir is on a different vowel altogether for this part (more aggressive and ominous, a taller Ah instead of a round Oh/Aw like the first two musical moments). The choir is also much more rhythmic. Again, increasing tension. And, of course, after he tries the food the music supports the tension of the scene by gradually building, getting louder and bigger after the key moment has already passed. It's super interesting that Aziraphale trying the food is actually quite quiet, but the music grows quickly afterwards. Sort of the inverse of how the other two scenes play out musically! Fascinating!!

Anyways, let me know what you think I got wrong and what I missed and if I thought something was a celesta when it was actually a glockenspiel or something. I am thrilled and devastated by this incredible music.

#Good Omens #Good Omens 2 #Good Omens Soundtrack #Good Omens music #David Arnold #Neil Gaiman #Good Omens meta #I have so much more I could say #but believe it or not this was the condensed version #also the strings used two types of tremolo which is neat #did I detect some col legno in there as well? #god I love orchestral music #Also I think there was mandolin or some other kind of picked tremolo in Before the Beginning #I love to see it... or hear it I guess

[ghostvibesonly]

JAY GOT HIS MOM TO VOICE ODYSSEUS’S MOM I’M SOBBING

god listening to the underworld hurts so much more after learning that “fun” fact (genuinely it’s so sweet oh my god but i’m using humor to cope)

“i took too long. I ventured too far while you were waiting”

“I’ll always love you”

#i guess beautiful voices run in the family #yes i also audibly gasped when polites showed up #epic #epic the musical #epic underworld saga #epic odysseus #epic odyssey #epic spoilers #epic the musical spoilers #it is an actual crime this saga is only three songs #i’m already on my fourth listen (the first two were the watch party) #correction: now on my fifth i finished the fourth listen while making this post #don’t even get me started on no longer you or the powerful orchestrals at the end with tiresias’s haunting vocals #or jay’s acting oh my god the anger and hurt and betrayal throughout the entire saga #tHE GROWLS I LIVE FOR WHEN ACTORS GROWL IN THEIR SINGING ITS SO GOOD #but also the quieter peaceful moments of love when he sees polites and his mom again #congrats on completing act one jorge!! #i am in your walls!!

[divine-buster]

we dont cry enough about undyne the undying though we literally dont cry enough without words about the fact that she defied death to save everyone and has one of the hardest, most amazing bossfights, and oh my god battle against a true hero...i rarely think about her but holy shit

#crying about undertale thoughts tonight aoauhaouhgoughguhghoghg #this was brouhgt on by just by chance ''oh ill finish listenign to undertale music so i can do somethign else sure'' clicking on #the orchestral anniversary version of battle against a true hero #anway holy shit #my posts #undertale #undyne #safeutdr #god i love her #shes what i call ''actual best character'' #shes certainly not my favorite #but she is objectively the best it hink toby fox would agree

[tibialtybalt]

🎶✨When you get this, put 5 songs you actually listen to, publish. Then, if you’re comfortable, send this ask/tag 10 of your followers✨🎶

Thank you @oraclebell17 for tagging me!! And sorry the original post was getting long so I'm starting a new post loll. In no particular order:

Frankenstein (The Mechanisms)

Gwen's Theme (Guild Wars 1 OST)

Blood in the Wine (AURORA)

Mariner's Revenge Song (The Decemberists)

Corrupted Monk (Sekiro OST)

And I'm tagging: @hoidingaroundthecosmere @floffybean @wild-moss-art @skyofdarkmatter42 @sir-buh @sun-dari @mankillercalledbunny @hartro-owns-my-heart-ro @nellyrue @bannerman-for-the-band

#tia posts #no pressure to do this obv #but godd these are so HARD LOL #im trying to convey as much about who i am as a person as possible in 5 songs #which means Not just doing a song from each of the 5 most recent games ive played . much to my dismay #so i disqualified any NieR music bc while i have been listening to it pretty nonstop lately. it doesnt cover ground that gwens theme doesnt #(ie I Like Pretty Orchestral Video Game Music). and i've been listening to gwens theme for Literally My Entire Life so. thats my home fr fr #corrupted monk gets a pass bc i love her. and shes more rambunctious. different vibe. though maybe if i wanted to push that harder #i could've gone with god shattering star (fe3h ost) LOlll #mariners revenge is another one ive listened to since the dawn of time btw

[felt-squirrels]

I can’t find the meme template so you’ll have to imagine it.

We’re getting a new song in Orchestra and we’re playing it with the Choir!

it’s fucking viva la vida by coldplay

#today on i love my music teacher but give us harder songs please i swear to god this is a pop song #call me basic but i want to play orchestral songs #orchestra #school orchestra #felt rants #viva la vida #coldplay

[whats-a-reading]

mmmmm ultrakill music

#j rambles #this is still not an ultrakill blog #I just really love video game music #whether it's orchestral or breakcore or... ngl I'm not sure what genre persona's music js #*is #because I'm bad with music genres #anyway yeah #mmmm music #also if anyone cares my top 3 are: deep blue; death of god's will; glory

[moenmomentsthemoe-en]

WHY CANT I LIKE NORMAL ORCHESTRAL PIECES WHAT THE FUCK IS THE LITTLE IMP BY ANDRE BESANCON AND WHY ARE THERE NO OTHER RECORDINGS OTHER THAN THE CONCERT I WENT TO RAHHH

#moen thoughts #OKAY SORRY DONT MIND ME ILL STOP IN A BIT IM JUST. REVISITINF ORCHESTRAL PIECES IVE HEARD AND PERFORMED AHH #literally The Little Imp (Der Kleine Schelm ?) #its so whimsical and chaotic and was played alongside another piece that was so fucking good and moving (not in the 'wow this really #represents a specific niche topic' BUT the other piece genuinely conveyed so much stress and yearning im going crazy #AND THEN I GOT HIT BY THE LITTLE IMP THAT WAS SO FUCKING WHIMSICAL AND MESSY AND I LOVE IT #IT HAS REPETITION PATTERNS AND MESSINESS AND A FUN LITTLE. WHISTLE? DOOT?? IDK THAT ONE PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT #is it even an instrument. it has one note. its kinda like a kazoo and i am NOT KIDDING #WHY DID THAT CONCERT PULL THAT PIECE OUT OF NOWHERE AND BE THE ONLY CONCERT WHERE I CAN FIND A RECORDING OF THAT PIECE #its so . super fucking good. the piece makes me so fucking confused and my god im never going to recover #IM NOT EVEN A DIEHARD CLASSICAL MUSIC NERD WHY AM I ZEROING IN ON A CLASSICAL PIECE THAT DOESNT HAVE MUCH DIGITAL FOOTPRINT im ruined #I LOVE THIS PIECE BUT WHY IS IT SO OBSCUREEEE GODD I REALLY WANT TO LISTEN TO THE COMPOSER'S ORIGINAL INTENTION FOR THE PIECE CAUSE #Performances of pieces are mostly tweaked by the conductor since every conductor has their own interpretation #well. not all but i know that the orchestra that performed the little imp had a conductor that would interpret the piece their own way i #think #GAHH I DONT KNOW #RIPPINF HAIR OUT #I MAKE DAILY ART OF SONAS AND A FNAF ROBOT WHY AM I CURSED TO ALWAYS FOCUS ON RHE MOST OBSCURE STUFF GAHHHHH #GRABBING YOU BY THE SHOULDERS. IF YOUVE ACTUALLY READ THIS. TY AND ALSO HUH. I HOPE ITS ENTERTAINING GAHHH/GEN #I FUCKING LOVEE this piece so much it was so fucking good it IS so fucking good but I ONLY HAVE ONE RECORDING OF IT AND ITS WITH CLAPPING IM #GOING TO DO A CRIME/J #ITS SO FUCKIGNFN WHIMSICALLL #maybe i am a nerd .

[curioscurio]

I don't know if I really can pick a favorite Undertale song since I love them all but every single boss theme goes so hard... Death by Glamour is definitely up there though. Also this post was supposed to end here but I started infodumping in the tags and reached tag limit AHAHAHA

#i cant listen to Undertale the song because it makes me cry i get so emotional AHAHA #its a special game to me. same with deltarune but undertale came first #being able to experience the undertale to deltarune development in real time has been such a special experience #like when toby fox released chapter one on halloween and i just remember playing it with my friends in college #and then chapter 2 last year #i love finding new secrets in the game and in the code its so fun and i love the characters and everything #and yeah maybe some of the fandom is cringe but god tge normal people about it are so fun to be around and talk with #the fucking orchestral concert !!!!! #also seeing temmie change start streaming on twitch and her own gorgeous game #im just so excited for whatever toby fox does next. i will always be nostalgic for undertale but deltarune is so!! #like i love seeing the new stuff. i love that deltarune is a different game than undertale with new characters. like we get cameos of old #ones and a mysterious connection to the other game but its still its own thing and really is starting to find itself as something uniquely #separate from undertale and earthbound and tobys halloween hack and other pixel games #also unsaid but its funny as all shit #not to mention how the guy puts his whole tobussy into musical motifs #every note and harmony of every song feels intentional like one big song split into different parts #not to idolize the guy like hes still a guy and these games were undoubtedly supported by amazing creators and artists like temmie and patr #patrons #i do highly respect his anonymity though #gosh i try not to be all (foams at the mouth) parasocial relationship whatever with microcelebrities etc etc but i really am just a big fan #for all my shitposting about undertale haha #its the simple things in life. cassie is allowed to be buckwild about undertale and come up with the silliest game theories as a treat #also i just like papyrus . what a guy #sans too #like i obviously goob on him whenever i possibly can but my favorite character is without a doubt papyrus #also since im going insane in these tags can i just say that on youtube The Second Narrator composes some of the most amazing . amazing. #AMAZING orchestral covers of undertale and deltarune music. megalovania is so good but my current fav is his comp of smart race #its like a remix of smart race and berdlys theme and queens stuff but fuck fuck fuck its so good its so good it has ACCORDIAN #the composer adds in little flares of ? idk the music term for it maybe meleodies but theyre new strings of melody in the songs that fit #fit so well imo like they have a specific style that you can hear in every cover

[thatcryptidinthewoods]

All of ya'll WILL listen to this song or so help me I WILL go feral, because it 100% slaps.

#it's turtle time #music #ensemble music #randall d. standridge #deus ex machina #god i fucking LOVE this thing #the orchestral/synthesised combination ROTS MY BRAIN IT'S SO GOOD #AND HEARING IT LIVE??? AUUUUGHUDNVKJASDNJVKDSNAJKVNSKA /POS #this song lives in my head rent free so now ya'll must have it live in yours too #Youtube

[yououghtaknow]

another bpd banger from our pal bill.

#hey girl did you know that uh you WERE the perfect child. past tense. #making the mentally healthy (lie) decision to reread the skambr clip with this song i will post my thoughts here #CLIP OPENS WITH FUCKING NO CHILDREN REGENCY BALL SEQUENCE GOD I LOVE THIS SHOW #no offence but what if we were 18 years old and in a failmarriage via the musical theatre hierarchy of our small city #POST-NO CHILDREN TAX EVASION REVEAL!!!! #the girl and al..... OUGH #AL AND MONICA SCENE. FUCK. AFTER TORCH SONG TUESDAY? #AWKWARD MISGENDERING APOLOGY SMASH CUT TO MAMA MCR YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS #no offence but the acoustic arrangement of mama and the orchestral arrangement of no children..... i DESERVE money for this show #al singing mama about both monica and louise genuinely i am quite a genius when it comes to jukebox musicals #AL AND THE GIRL'S DANCE BEING DESCRIBED AS HALF-MURDER HALF-HUG I AM SO SUCCESSION CORE #monica's house becoming a set for the i love you song...... #louise and monica BOTH singing the mother's parts of the i love you song i am so obsessed with alistair psychologically #he hates louise he wants her to be his mother he wants to be her he wants to kill her the only way she can be his mother is if he marries e #MIRROR IMAGERY!!!!!!!! #monica saying depression runs in their family when al got his bipolar genetically from her OH the o'connell cycles #AND THEN ELLIE TAKING ON THE FATHER'S PART. INSANE INSANE INSANE INSANE. #the thing about al/ellie is they both want a partnerparent. they are bpd4bpd and it is AWFUL and WONDERFUL #the girl looking at al as he picks up the letter he wrote when he was 11......... ough #THE GIRL JOINING IN AS THEY SWITCH TO THE PRESENT TENSE. WHEN AM I RETURNING. INSANE #HE LOOKS TO THE MIRROR TO SEE HIS MOTHER BUT SHE ISN'T LOOKING BACK #I THINK I AM ANGRY MA AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO VS I THINK DAD IS ANGRY MA. THERE IS AN ANGRY MAN IN YOUR HOUSE AND SOMETIMES YOU ARE HI #the Theme of letting go lyrically in s6........ need to do a full analysis on it #THE FOCUS ON ELLIE/AL ELLIE/LOUISE AL/THEGIRL THEGIRL/ELLIE MONICA/THEGIRL AND AL/MONICA FOR I THINK SHE TAKES OUT ON ME #WHAT SHE WANTS TO TAKE OUT ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #CYCLES CYCLES CYCLES CYCLES CYCLES CYCLES I AM INSANE AND FREE #AND THE CHANGE TO 'HOW I WISH I WAS HOME' COMPARED WITH HOW HOME BEETLEJUICE IS USED IN E12 #THE REVEAL OF THE LIVING ROOM BEING A SET AS THE BRIDGE ENDS GOD I AM A WRITER #al and ellie are the biggest proof that mommy issues make you fucking insane #also imagine the fucking four part harmony on this. the arrangements would go INSANE

[vicsep7250]

Self care is listening to a ten hour loop of Mistilteinn, Tree Crown Without a Ruler on repeat as you reread the final chapter of SAO fanfic Unyielding.

#ever since KRTDL DX released I have been inconsolable #like god damn Kirby OST always hits but it REALLY hit for when I read Unyielding #and then listening to Xenoblade Chronicles' To One's Own Future during Kayaba's speech #mmph #what cemented my love for the fic was hearing the main theme of RE6 credita as I read the AN and looked back at parts of the fic #like #if alot of the OST and orchestral songs of today's and yesteryears' music didn't exist #I would still love the fic but it wouldn't be as up there with my favs #fanfic #v rambles #trash rambles #v talks #trash talks

[noxtivagus]

rambling. again. oops.

#🌙.rambles #randomly. thinking of ebenholz n arknights rn. I REALLY SHLD FINISH READING OR WATCHING IT SOMEWHERE FUCK #ständchen is. one of my most favorite songs pls the uh. oh no i'm just basing this off memory i'm not sure how to classify it but #yk ständchen from schubert ^^ late classical/romantic era around there ? n then w arknights oh my god #i love orchestral stuff so much n then the progressive rock melts my heart n the lyrics too n the vocals !!!! it's all so perfect to me #moving on from that though #there's just. so much i want to experience. it sucks #so it just feels like i don't really belong anywhere. i know there r stuff i'm more inclined too but like #it just gets especially lonely when i think of it i think #i don't know how to put it n i'm not thinking through my words rn i'll stop in a bit but it's just #lonely. thinking too much of.. so much i guess. but i'll be fine #didn't realize it was nearly 10 pm #but no i really don't want to think of all those stuff rn so yeah bye i'll fix my posts rlly soon #i have no obligation too but it just makes me hdlkfajsdflkd w how unorganized it is 😭😭 #random edit bcs i just rmbered something i meant to say earlier but forgot #i want to go to orchestras so badly. esp yk hdkfajsdlfka video game music.. so dear to me

[astrxealis]

haha heyy i just listened to 'from the heavens' orchestral version. with the lyrics. i almost cried ngl it is so fucking good please listen to it.

#⋯ ꒰ა starry thoughts ໒꒱ *·˚ #⋯ ꒰ა ffxiv ໒꒱ *·˚ #FFXIV MUSIC NEVER FAILS TO IMPRESS ME GOOD GODS SOKEN IS A FUCKING GENIUS !!!!! #and not just soken holy shit i forgot the names of the other guys but the music in ffxiv is just so fucking good. #and once again i want to say i really extremely appreciate the sound effects in ffxiv. this game is VERY accessible. #i will listen to the orchestral versions (with lyrics) of 'invincible' and 'the worm's tail' soon :)) #i love both songs (as i know them!) so goddamn kuch but for different reasons? #anyways they both hit so hard and are so fucking good. especially with context. GOD.

[owlpuddle]

I was so ready to enjoy Brigadoon solely to spite Beetlejuice, but unfortunately it really is boring

#i am not a romantic person so love stories are always an uphill battle for me #but god the songs are so looong #and don't say much #i know the form of integrated musical was extremely nascent when it was being written #but #need a revival that writes a new book and maybe new orchestrations #or something to fix the music #brigadoon

[nintendont2502]

Guess who's relistening to the Strings Attatched performance again

#its just. GOD #I fucking love live music holy SHIT!!! #when you can hear the crowd!! when you can hear the emotion in the artists voice!! #its so fucking raw i love it #this isnt the strings attatched performance but theres a live version of i still dream about you #where the mic cuts out halfway through the intro and you can only hear the crowd singing #and then when it starts working again you can hear the artist laughing and i just. FUCK #it genuinely drives me insane in such a good wah #dont even get me started on the orchestra aspect if you do an orchestral perfomance of a song i love i will always go insane #i am a simple man i hear violins and lose my shit #me.txt #smith street posting

[yellowcharm]

#kyllah #listening to this on repeat today while i rotate my campaign bbeg in my brain #the second half of this song where they are repeating ''nothing has changed! nothing has changed! your whole life is in the hand of god.'' #like...... oof. #anyway!! very cool song!! love pop songs that incorporate orchestral and choral melodies!!! #music #mikaela rambles in the tags #Spotify