Six Feet Under theme music - What instrument?

[Malice]

Anyone know what high-pitched instrument that is that carries the melody?

DEEduhluhDEEEEEE
DEEduhluhDEEEEEE,
DEEduhluhDEEEEEE-duh
DEEduhluhDEEEEEE-duh

[JeffB]

*Originally posted by Malice *
**Anyone know what high-pitched instrument that is that carries the melody?

DEEduhluhDEEEEEE
DEEduhluhDEEEEEE,
DEEduhluhDEEEEEE-duh
DEEduhluhDEEEEEE-duh **

Sounds like some sort of string instrument, but it could also be electronically generated. BTW, did you know the music was composed by Thomas Newman, Randy Newman’s brother?

[Saxman]

Sounds like an oboe to me, possibly an English horn. (This is assuming we’re talking about the same “DEEduhluhDEEEEE” .) Also worth noting, Thomas Newman did the music for “American Beauty” (which Alan Ball wrote).

[Malice]

I was thinking oboe as well, but considering how little attention I paid in music class it could be a didgeridoo for all I know

[Alphagene]

For anyone out there who has never heard the theme (dang cretins), you can hear it here, under “Theme Music from the show”

I’d have to go with oboe, though I don’t what an English horn sounds like.

[Saxman]

On second listen to the theme, it might actually be two oboes playing simultaneously.

[the_O-man]

I’ve got your answer here:

Gary Calamar, a music supervisor for the show, says the lilting hook is courtesy of an “EVI” (electronic valve instrument) that sounds similar to a clarinet.

http://www.dentonrc.com/entertainment/419902_DRC_SixFeetUnder.html

[mobo85]

*Originally posted by JeffB *
BTW, did you know the music was composed by Thomas Newman, Randy Newman’s brother? **

And the father of the family, Alfred Newman, wrote what I think is one of the most famous pieces of music of all time, the Fox fanfare. I guess music-writing runs in the family.

[TubaDiva]

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by mobo85 *
**

And the father of the family, Alfred Newman, wrote what I think is one of the most famous pieces of music of all time, the Fox fanfare. I guess music-writing runs in the family. **

From Thomas Newman’s website, Thomas Newman
(http://www.shef.ac.uk/misc/personal/cm1jwb/tnewman.htm)

“Yet another member of the Newman composing dynasty, and arguably the most successful, Thomas was born on 20 October 1955 in Los Angeles: son of Alfred, nephew of Emil and Lionel, brother of David, cousin of Randy.”

And the Steiner EVI can be made to sound like all sorts of wind instruments – or something not like anything at all. It’s a MIDI wind synthesizer.

If you want more information or just see what one looks like, here’s the webpage of EVI’s designer: Nyle Steiner
(http://members.aol.com/Patchman1/Nyle_Steiner_Homepage.html)

I’ve always wanted one, they’re quite cool. Now of course I want one really bad.

your humble TubaDiva
old enough for my wants not to hurt me.

[JeffB]

*Originally posted by mobo85 *
And the father of the family, Alfred Newman, wrote what I think is one of the most famous pieces of music of all time, the Fox fanfare. I guess music-writing runs in the family.

Wow, a composer AND a cultural icon – what a guy.