soundtrack – Page 28

Theme from “High Anxiety”

Another submission from MotD member Rob Penttinen:

The theme from Mel Brooks‘ 1977 satirical film High Anxiety, which parodies the suspense genre, features multiple modulations at 1:09, 1:36 and 2:33.

A Summer in Ohio (from “The Last Five Years”)

“A Summer in Ohio” is featured in Jason Robert Brown‘s The Last Five Years (2002), with Sherie Rene Scott on vocals. There’s a textbook half-step modulation at 3:07.

A New Life (from “Jekyll + Hyde”)

Here’s @LindaEder‘s rendition of “A New Life” from “Jekyll and Hyde” (1997), in which she debuted on Broadway as the tragic character Lucy and later garnered a #DramaDesk nomination. The key change is at 3:06.

Barbara Streisand + Seth McFarlane | Pure Imagination

A 2016 classic sung by Babs and Seth Mcfarlane, with a bonus tribute video to Gene Wilder. Key change at 3:05.

Pat Metheny | A Map of the World

Like much of his work, guitarist / composer Pat Metheny‘s 1999 soundtrack release for the film Map of the World features quickly shifting, sometimes nearly constant key-of-the-moment passages. The track features two main sections, each played twice. Section 1 (0:00 and 2:30) pivots between G major and E minor (among others), while section 2 (1:13 and 3:41) is loosely built around A major. At 5:12, there’s a brief return to section 1’s tonality for the outro.

Bring Me to Light (from “Violet”)

“Bring Me To Light” from Jeanine Tesori‘s musical Violet (2015) is filled with some amazing key changes, outlined below:

Starts in A Major
to G Major (0:43)
to E Major (1:02)
to Gb Major (1:33)
to G Major (2:04)
to C Major (subtly) (2:20)
to Eb Major to the end (2:39)

Hear My Song (from “Songs for a New World”)

Closing out the week with the finale from Songs For A New World – The Musical (1995) by Jason Robert Brown, “Hear My Song.” Key changes at 4:16 and 4:38. Enjoy!

Opening Sequence (from “Songs From a New World”)

Here’s the opening number from Songs For a New World by Jason Robert Brown. From The Guide to Musical Theatre‘s synopsis: “The theme is the moment of decision, the point at which you transition from the old to the new. The change may be geographical, emotional, professional or marital but things are different than they were before. The result is neither musical play nor revue; it is closer to a theatrical song cycle, a very theatrical song cycle.”

There are modulations at 2:20, 3:45, 4:12, and 4:39.

Audra McDonald | When Did I Fall in Love (from “Fiorello”)

Audra McDonald singing “When Did I Fall In Love” from the Bock and Harnick musical Fiorello (1959). Key change before the final chorus at 2:43. Enjoy!

Olivia Newton-John | Hopelessly Devoted to You (from “Grease”)

Released 40 years ago this week, 1978’s top-grossing movie, Grease, featured “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” a hit single by Olivia Newton-John. Modulations between each verse and chorus: 1:11, 1:47, and 2:19.