Composers who do primarily instrumental soundtrack work are – excuse the pun but it’s actually true – the unsung heroes of the music world.
If you’ve ever cried during a movie, a commercial, or one of those montages they put together to honour an athlete who’s retiring, a percentage of those tears are owed to the composer. I’m not suggesting that all music in movies and (especially) commercials is good; often it’s as unoriginal and useless as the product or service being advertised. I’m this close to boycotting any company that uses a ukulele in its ads.
But when it’s good, it’s really good. And many of the composers responsible get little to no credit, fame, or money for what they do. People like Michael Giacchino are the exception.
If there’s any justice in the world, Rob McAllister will soon be selling his soothing, gentle compositions to an Oscar-winning Pixar movie.
Having already paid his rent by composing for Lexus, the Discovery Channel, and the San Francisco 49ers, McAllister has recently started releasing some of his music on its own, under the name Music Within. As you might expect from someone who can make you cry at an ad for diapers, his music is highly evocative, and practically begs to be downloaded and thrown into the background of a high school graduation slideshow.
Except that it shouldn’t be in the background of anything. It’s delicate, compelling music that deserves to be enjoyed on its own.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. Part of its hypnotic effect might be a result of its time signature. As we discovered in week 127, songs in 7/4 have a way of making you feel like you’re in zero gravity.
2. The reverb goes on and on, like ripples on a pond, expanding to infinity.
3. The muted quality of the piano makes it sound, for lack of a better description, shy. This is a piano that’s happy to be nominated for an Academy Award, but would rather skip the ceremony and let someone else win.
Recommended listening activity:
Having an ice cube. No water.