Oppenheimer (soundtrack) explained

Oppenheimer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Type:soundtrack
Artist:Ludwig Göransson
Cover:Ludwig Göransson - Oppenheimer.png
Studio:Eastwood Scoring Stage, Burbank, California
Length:94:42
Label:Back Lot
Producer:Ludwig Göransson
Chronology:Ludwig Göransson film score
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Prev Year:2022

Oppenheimer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album composed by Ludwig Göransson for the 2023 film Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan. It was digitally released by Back Lot Music on July 21, 2023, the same day as the film's theatrical release in the United States. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, it won Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media. At the 96th Academy Awards, it won Best Original Score.

Background

On October 8, 2021, Universal Pictures announced production on Oppenheimer and confirmed that composer Ludwig Göransson would be scoring the film.[1] [2] Göransson had previously worked with director Christopher Nolan, scoring Nolan's 2020 film Tenet.[3] [4]

Göransson's score was featured in a trailer for the film on May 8, 2023.[5] It was also featured in the Universal Pictures exclusive five-minute Opening Look on July 13.[6] [7]

Production

Development

When approached to score Oppenheimer, Göransson was initially intimidated by the scope and magnitude of the project.[8] In the film's early stages of production, Nolan shared the script with his visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson as he needed to convey phenomena such as quantum mechanics and nuclear reactions onscreen.[9] [10] The visual effects team began creating experimental footage of particles, waves, and chain reactions. Nolan then showed this footage to Göransson, who used it to draw inspiration for his score.[11] [12]

Scoring Oppenheimer proved to be a unique challenge for Göransson as he had never composed a soundtrack that only represented one character's inner workings and point of view. He later explained, "The movie is about [J. Robert] Oppenheimer's perspective; the audience is meant to feel what he's feeling, to see what he's seeing, to be inside of him. That’s what the music needed to do — it needed to get the audience to feel all of his feelings as you see on screen."[13]

Nolan did not give specific direction on how he wanted the score to sound; the only suggestion he gave Göransson was to represent Oppenheimer's character and the film's main theme with a solo violin. Nolan explained, "There's a tension to the sound in a way that I think fits the highly-strung intellect and emotion of Robert Oppenheimer very well."[14] Using the violin as a starting point, Göransson and his wife Serena, a violinist, began experimenting with vibratos and microtonal glissandos;[15] [16] they aimed to convey the anxiety of Oppenheimer through the violin's ability to instantly switch from a romantic and sentimental sound to something "neurotic" and "horrifying."[17]

For the "Can You Hear the Music" sequence, Nolan wanted a piece that would emulate Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, which he called "one of the best pieces of music ever written." Early in production, Nolan and Göransson attended a performance of The Rite of Spring by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.[18]

Composition

Göransson's score comprises three overarching movements: Oppenheimer's background in physics, the Manhattan Project, and the Atomic Energy Commission hearing. The score begins with lush melodies by strings, harps, and piano as Oppenheimer explores theory and begins his career as a physicist. The core of Oppenheimer's theme is a hexatonic scale that can be heard as a leitmotif throughout the film, beginning in the piece "Can You Hear the Music".[19] As the score transitions into the second movement, the tone shifts as the atomic bomb is being built, with the increased stakes being amplified by thumping bass and metallic ticking sounds.[20] Göransson was careful not to veer his score toward sounding "booming," especially in the film's second act, as he believed that if the score was too explosive, the detonations in the film wouldn't have as much of an impact on the audience.[21]

While the film is a period piece and Göransson did use instrumentation that fit with the times, he also wanted the score to feel "timeless," choosing to infuse the traditional orchestra with synthesizers and mono-production. He and Nolan also chose not to include drums in the score at the risk of it feeling militaristic, instead incorporating percussive elements such as foot stomping, ticking, and Geiger counter static. During the nuclear reactor sequence, Göransson had the cellists play col legno, striking the strings with the stick of their bow to create a percussive sound.[22]

In addition to its instrumentation, Göransson conveyed the energy of the film through the score's tempo. In the piece "Can You Hear the Music", he employed 21 tempo changes—a large feat for a live orchestra. Originally, Göransson called it "unplayable" and planned to record the song bar-by-bar, but his wife encouraged him to record the song in one take. After much experimentation, the music team achieved this by playing a click into the musicians' headphones before every tempo change. This piece alone took three days to record.

Recording

Unlike most cases when scoring begins in post-production, Göransson began attending weekly meetings three months before filming began, writing 10 minutes of music a week for Nolan.[23] Göransson described the process as very "collaborative and open." Nolan was then able to begin filming with two to three hours of music that he could reference. Additionally, when editing began in post-production, Nolan and editor Jennifer Lame were able to use Göransson's preliminary work for the first cut of the film without the need for a temp score. Every Friday during the editing process, Göransson would screen the film with Nolan and Lame, and then tweak his score accordingly.[24] The score took Göransson approximately nine months to complete.[25]

The final score was performed by the Hollywood Studio Orchestra and recorded over five days at the scoring stage at Warner Bros. Studios. At its peak, the orchestra included 40 string players, eight horns, three trombones, three trumpets, one tuba, and one harp.

Release and commercial reception

The soundtrack was released for streaming and digital download on July 21, 2023. By January 2024, the soundtrack garnered over 200 million streams. In particular, the track "Can You Hear the Music" went viral on TikTok, earning 2.1 billion impressions on the app and over 60 million streams across all music streaming platforms.[26]

The soundtrack was released in both CD and LP formats by Mondo in September 2023.[27]

Critical reception

Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times called the score "magnificent",[28] while Robbie Collin of The Telegraph called it "gorgeously relentless".[29] Wendy Ide of The Observer called Göransson's score "masterful and mercurial, surely one of the finest of the year."[30] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Aiding immeasurably in Nolan’s unfaltering control of tone and tension is ... Ludwig Göransson’s extraordinarily forceful, almost wall-to-wall score."[31]

Ross Bonaime of Collider extended great praise to Göransson, stating that "Oppenheimers ever-present score by Ludwig Göransson accompanies nearly every moment of the film, knowing exactly when to pull back, or when to provoke the audience with the sounds of a ticking clock or static underneath the onslaught of an orchestra fully enveloping the viewer in sound. Nolan and [Hoyte] van Hoytema's visuals are always impressive, but it's Göransson's score that takes Oppenheimer to another level, and continues to prove that he's one of the most exciting composers working in film today."[32]

On the contrary, some film critics felt that the score was overbearing. Odie Henderson of The Boston Globe called the score "grating" and stated that "[Nolan's] penchant for drowning out necessary dialogue [became] intolerable" when the score was used.[33] Fred Topel of UPI wrote that "Ludwig Göransson wrote a good score, but the constant use of it is exhausting."[34] Oli Welsh of Polygon echoed these sentiments, noting that the score was "overused."[35]

Live performances

To promote the soundtrack ahead of the 2024 awards season, Universal and Syncopy Inc. presented Oppenheimer: Live in Concert, a live-to-film concert experience featuring a 55-piece orchestra under the direction of Göransson, and conducted by Anthony Parnther. The concert was held at the University of California, Los Angeles's Royce Hall on January 10, 2024, and included an introduction by Nolan and actor Cillian Murphy. The concert was attended by 1,000 people.[36]

Accolades

Oppenheimer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) awards and nominations
AwardYearCategoryRecipientsResult
Hollywood Music in Media Awards2023Best Original Score in a Feature FilmLudwig Göransson[37]
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards2023Best Score[38]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards2023Best Score[39]
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards2023Best Original Score[40]
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards2023Best Musical Score[41]
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards2023Best Score[42]
Astra Film Awards2024Best Score[43]
Golden Globe Awards2024Best Original Score[44]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards2024Best Score[45]
Online Film Critics Society Awards2024Best Original Score[46]
Grammy Awards2024Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media[47]
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella"Can You Hear the Music" (Ludwig Göransson)
Best Instrumental Composition
Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards2024Outstanding Original Score for a Studio FilmLudwig Göransson[48]
British Academy Film Awards2024Best Original Score[49]
Satellite Awards2024Best Original Score[50]
Academy Awards2024Best Original Score[51]

Personnel

Credits adapted from LP liner notes.[52]

All music composed by Ludwig Göransson

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
VariousJuly 21, 2023Back Lot Music[53]
United StatesSeptember 2023

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kroll . Justin . Cillian Murphy Confirmed to Star As J. Robert Oppenheimer In Christopher Nolan's Next Film At Universal, Film Will Bow in July 2023 . Deadline . 8 October 2021 . 13 October 2023.
  2. Web site: Mendelson . Scott . Universal's Oppenheimer To Open Summer 2023 On Chris Nolan's Lucky Release Date . Forbes . 8 October 2021 . 13 October 2023.
  3. Web site: Everything to Know About Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' . A.frame . Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . 12 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  4. Web site: Ludwig Göransson – Tenet [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] ]. AllMusic . 11 November 2023.
  5. Web site: Reul . Katie . New 'Oppenheimer' Trailer Reveals a Sad Albert Einstein, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr. and More in Christopher Nolan's Star-Studded Movie . Variety . 8 May 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  6. OppenheimerFilm . 1679521228787154944 . The exclusive five-minute Opening Look, edited by the film's editor Jennifer Lame, reveals new scenes, images and sounds from the IMAX®-shot epic thriller and features the film's breathtaking score by Academy Award® winner Ludwig Göransson..
  7. Web site: Remley . Hilary . 'Oppenheimer': 5-Minute Video Highlights the IMAX-Shot Epic & Ludwig Göransson's Score . Collider . 13 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  8. Stern . Marlow . Composer: 'Oppenheimer' Score Goes Beyond What's 'Humanly Possible' . Rolling Stone . 18 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  9. Collis . Clark . How Christopher Nolan created 'Oppenheimer' atomic bomb explosion . Entertainment Weekly . en . 18 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  10. 10 July 2023 . Christopher Nolan Interview: Oppenheimer, IMAX, and Editing . Collider Interviews . . 13 October 2023.
  11. Web site: Ebiri . Bilge . How Christopher Nolan Crafted the World of Oppenheimer . Vulture . 17 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  12. Web site: Composer Ludwig Göransson On 'Oppenheimer' . NPR . 20 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  13. Web site: Fernandes . Marriska . 'Oppenheimer' Composer Ludwig Göransson Says He Turned Emotions Into Music . Sharp Magazine . 26 December 2023 . 28 November 2023.
  14. 18 July 2023 . Oppenheimer: The Score . Universal Pictures . . 13 October 2023.
  15. Web site: Ludwig Göransson on Scoring 'Oppenheimer' . WNYC . 24 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  16. Web site: Douglas . Edward . Oppenheimer Composer Ludwig Göransson On Scoring Christopher Nolan's Tragic Opera . Below the Line . 21 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  17. Web site: Tangcay . Jazz . 'Oppenheimer' Composer Ludwig Göransson Recorded the Explosive Score in Five Days . Variety . 20 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  18. Web site: Schiller . Griffin . Interview: Composer Ludwig Göransson Breaks Down the Score of 'Oppenheimer' and Christopher Nolan's Taste in Music . AwardsWatch . 2 January 2024 . 21 November 2023.
  19. Web site: Bamigboye . Baz . Breaking Baz: 'Oppenheimer's Christopher Nolan Says That Ludwig Göransson's Score Is The Film's "Secret Sauce," While Cillian Murphy Confirms That He Wants To Work With 'Anatomy Of A Fall's Justine Triet . Deadline . 12 January 2024 . 11 January 2024.
  20. Neglia, Matt . Interview With "Oppenheimer" Composer Ludwig Göransson . The Next Big Picture Podcast . 20 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  21. News: Betancourt . David . Ludwig Göransson on what inspired his music for 'Oppenheimer' and more . Washington Post . 21 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  22. Web site: Hart . Hugh . "Oppenheimer" Composer Ludwig Göransson Creates a New Kind of Atomic Scale . Motion Picture Association . 27 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  23. Web site: Flood . Alex . "It was unplayable": inside Christopher Nolan's toughest score yet . NME . 21 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  24. Web site: Greiving . Tim . How composer Ludwig Göransson channels J. Robert Oppenheimer and Christopher Nolan too . Los Angeles Times . 2 January 2024 . 14 November 2023.
  25. Web site: Verhoeven . Beatrice . 'Oppenheimer' Composer Ludwig Göransson on Crafting the Music of a Scientist's Mind . The Hollywood Reporter . 2 January 2024 . 30 November 2023.
  26. Web site: Davids . Brian . "Can You Hear the Music?" UCLA's Royce Hall Sure Did at Ludwig Göransson's 'Oppenheimer: Live in Concert' Experience . The Hollywood Reporter . 12 January 2024 . 11 January 2024.
  27. OppenheimerFilm . 1682420170218967040 . The soundtrack for #ChristopherNolan's @OppenheimerFilm by @LudwigGoransson is now available. Listen now on all digital streaming platforms including the #DolbyAtmos version on @applemusic, and pre-order the deluxe three-disc vinyl & double CD from @mondonews today!.
  28. Web site: Chang . Justin . Review: Christopher Nolan's gripping, despairing 'Oppenheimer' ponders history and the future . Los Angeles Times . 19 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  29. Web site: Collin . Robbie . Oppenheimer, review: Cillian Murphy dazzles as the destroyer of worlds . The Telegraph . 19 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  30. Web site: Ide . Wendy . Oppenheimer review – Christopher Nolan's volatile biopic is a towering achievement . The Observer . 22 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  31. Web site: Rooney . David . 'Oppenheimer' Review: Christopher Nolan's Epic Is a Scorching Depiction of America's Ability to Create and Destroy Its Heroes . The Hollywood Reporter . 19 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  32. Web site: Bonaime . Ross . 'Oppenheimer' Review: Christopher Nolan Delivers His Most Colossal and Mature Film Yet . Collider . 19 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  33. Web site: Henderson . Odie . 'Oppenheimer' brings out the best and worst in Christopher Nolan . The Boston Globe . 19 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  34. Web site: Topel . Fred . Movie review: Singular 'Oppenheimer' can be disconcerting . UPI . 19 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  35. Web site: Welsh . Oli . Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan at his most complex, powerful, and human . Polygon . 19 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  36. Web site: Giardina . Carolyn . December 14, 2023 . 'Oppenheimer' Live in Concert Coming to UCLA's Royce Hall . December 14, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  37. Web site: 2023 HMMA WINNERS AND NOMINEES . Hollywood Music In Media Awards . 17 November 2023.
  38. Web site: Annual StLFCA Awards . St. Louis Film Critics Association . 11 December 2023.
  39. Web site: Gordon . Tim . 2023 WAFCA Award Winner - The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) . Washington DC Area Film Critics Association . 11 December 2023 . 10 December 2023.
  40. Web site: Anderson . Erik . Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Nominations: 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' 'Oppenheimer,' 'Poor Things' Lead with 10 Each . AwardsWatch . 11 December 2023 . 8 December 2023.
  41. Web site: Jorgenson . Todd . DFW FILM CRITICS NAME "THE HOLDOVERS" BEST PICTURE OF 2023 . Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association . 19 December 2023 . 18 December 2023.
  42. Web site: Neglia . Matt . The 2023 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners . Next Best Picture . 22 December 2023 . 21 December 2023.
  43. Web site: Feinberg . Scott . Astra Film Awards: 'Barbie' Wins Eight Awards, Including Best Picture . The Hollywood Reporter . 8 January 2024 . 7 January 2024.
  44. Web site: Lang . Brent . Moreau . Jordan . Golden Globes: 'Oppenheimer' Leads With Five Wins, 'Succession' Tops TV With Four (Complete Winners List) . Variety . 8 January 2024 . 8 January 2024.
  45. Web site: Shanfeld . Ethan . 'Oppenheimer' Leads Critics Choice Awards With 8 Wins, 'Barbie' Scores 6 — Full Winners List . Variety . 23 January 2024 . 15 January 2024.
  46. Web site: Anderson . Erik . Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) Awards: 'Oppenheimer' Takes 8 . AwardsWatch . 23 January 2024 . 22 January 2024.
  47. Web site: Enos . Morgan . 2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List . GRAMMY.com . The Recording Academy . 10 November 2023 . 10 November 2023.
  48. Web site: Pedersen . Erik . SCL Awards: Music From 'Oppenheimer' & 'Barbie' Among Society Of Composers & Lyricists Winners . Deadline . 14 February 2024 . 14 February 2024.
  49. Web site: Yossman . K. J. . Shafer . Ellise . BAFTA Awards: 'Oppenheimer' and 'Poor Things' Win Big as 'Barbie' and 'Maestro' Are Shut Out — Full Winners List . Variety . 18 February 2024 . 18 February 2024.
  50. Web site: Neglia . Matt . The 2023 Satellite Award (IPA) Winners . Next Best Picture . 5 March 2024 . 4 March 2024.
  51. Web site: Moreau . Jordan . Oscar Nominations 2024: The Complete List . Variety . 23 January 2024 . 23 January 2024.
  52. Web site: Ludwig Göransson – Oppenheimer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) . Discogs . 15 September 2023 . 13 October 2023.
  53. Web site: Starkey . Adam . Listen to the 'Oppenheimer' soundtrack here . NME . 21 July 2023 . 13 October 2023.

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