How 'Oppenheimer' Composer Ludwig Göransson Created 'Can You Hear The Music?' | Behind the Song

Summary

Composer Ludwig Goransson describes his creative process for scoring the music in Christopher Nolan's film Oppenheimer. Nolan challenged him to use the violin to portray the complex main character. Goransson began by experimenting with his violinist wife to create ominous sounds. He then wrote a simple, melancholic 4-note motif representing Oppenheimer's isolation. Later, a more upbeat 'Hexatonics' piece with a dangerous synth incorporated mathematical patterns. The key was combining emotional melodies with the mathematics and danger. Recording live musicians to dynamically intensify the tempo was very complex. Ultimately the focus was not on adding more sounds but finding the key melodies to deeply move the audience.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ Ludwig Goransson discusses the creation of the music for the montage 'Can You Hear the Music?' in the film Oppenheimer, highlighting his second collaboration with Christopher Nolan.
• 🎶 The use of the violin was a central idea from Nolan to represent Oppenheimer, chosen for its expressive range, capable of conveying both beauty and horror through its vibrato.
• 👏 The creative process began with experimenting with violin sounds, including manipulating the instrument to produce unique noises and recording long sessions with Goransson's wife, Serena, an accomplished violinist.
• 📚 After reading the script, Goransson focused on capturing the emotional core of Oppenheimer's journey, realizing that melody, rather than sound design, was key to expressing the character's loneliness and complexity.
• 🎧 A simple, yet profound, four-note bassline and a six-note melody were developed to form the foundation of the film's score, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in conveying deep emotions.
• 🖥️ Goransson explored mathematical and scientific concepts in his music, creating a piece called 'Hexatonics' to reflect the theme of mastery and progression, symbolizing Oppenheimer's scientific endeavors.
• ⏱️ The challenge of recording the music live with an ensemble was significant due to the complex tempo changes. The solution involved meticulous planning and the innovative use of click tracks to guide the musicians.
• 🎺 The 'Can You Hear the Music' montage combines themes of mastery and emotional depth, reflecting on the rewarding feeling of achieving fluency and expressiveness in music.
• 📈 Goransson's approach underscores the importance of not overcomplicating the score with too many tracks or sounds, but rather focusing on elements that truly capture the essence of the narrative and characters.
• 🎬 The integration of live orchestra recordings with synthetic elements and the strategic use of room tone added depth and authenticity to the score, highlighting the synergy between traditional and modern music production techniques.

Q & A

What instrument does Nolan suggest using to portray Oppenheimer?

Nolan suggests using the violin to portray Oppenheimer, because it is an expressive instrument that can convey a range of emotions from beautiful and somber to horrific, matching Oppenheimer's complex character.

What is the first piece of music Ludwig writes for the film?

The first piece of music Ludwig writes is a simple four-note bassline played on low strings, with a six-note violin melody over it. This emotional theme aims to capture Oppenheimer's sense of loneliness.

What production technique does Ludwig use to introduce a dangerous sound?

Ludwig introduces a distorted, menacing synth sound called the "saw glide" to bring an element of danger to the otherwise safe-sounding strings and orchestra.

How does Ludwig musically portray the feeling of mastering something?

Ludwig portrays the feeling of mastering something by having the music gradually speed up, going through different tempos and rhythms. This creates a sense of pushing limits and gaining control.

Why does Ludwig emphasize the need for a live ensemble?

Ludwig wants a live ensemble to capture the emotion, imperfections, and overtones that can only come from real musicians recording together. This creates more depth and humanity.

How do they adapt the music for the musicians to play the changing tempos?

They provide the musicians a click track in their headphones that changes tempo ahead of time, allowing them to adapt and keep up with the score.

How do they blend the synthesizer sound with the ensemble?

They play the synth sound through speakers in the room while recording the orchestra. This captures the room's tones and makes the synth sound like part of the ensemble.

What is Ludwig's advice for achieving a big, cinematic sound?

Rather than adding more tracks and sounds, Ludwig advises focusing on just the key elements that are most emotional and impactful.

What was the most challenging aspect of this music?

The most challenging aspect was figuring out how to record the complex and irregular tempo changes live with an ensemble of musicians.

How does Nolan first react to the "Hexatonics" music?

Nolan is immediately drawn to the distorted "saw glide" synth sound, finding it an interesting and fitting tone for the music.