It might sound something like this

 

Last night, Idle Muse Theatre Company attended the 39th Annual Joseph Jefferson Awards.  Although it was not our first time being honored with a nomination, it was the first time we attended as a company and joined the Chicago Theatre Community in a night of celebration.  To be present for that collective expression of joy in what we do, on such a big scale, was both humbling and immensely inspiring.

Among the many memorable parts of the evening were the performances we were treated to, from the honorees for Production - Musical. Watching them, I was reminded of the transformative power of music and the magical way in which it can move a moment.

I’ve written before about sense responses and the role they play as raw material in the design process.  In my last post, I wanted to share a quick glimpse into some of the materials that have passed across the design table recently.

When it comes to the music and sound design of the show, that act of sharing becomes a little more challenging because we’re talking about art forms that are intangible in the traditional sense.

Directors and Sound Designers often address this by sharing collections of concept music with each other.  These are tracks that may never make it into the show or may somehow go in a totally different direction from what ultimately becomes the final design – but they serve as opening offerings in the discussion about what a moment might sound like.  They serve as points of navigation from which together we can begin to move toward or away.

Here’s a list of some points of navigation we’re using at the moment, which, if you so desire, you can take to iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora – whatever flavor you like your music in – and come along for the ride.

 

Track	Time	Artist	Album
Terrible Tommy	3:50	Ryan Horne	The Whistler & The Majestic
David	3:39	Noah Gundersen	Family
Fade Into You	4:58	Mazzy Star	So Tonight That I Might See
Into Dust	5:41	Mazzy Star	So Tonight That I Might See
Kells Opening Theme	4:18	Iona	The Book of Kells
Glass	4:32	Bat for Lashes	Two Suns
Keep the Streets Empty for Me	5:34	Fever Ray	Red Riding Hood
Cry, Cry	3:58	Mazzy Star	Among My Swan
So Tonight That I Might See	7:19	Mazzy Star	So Tonight That I Might See
Mercy Street	5:44	Fever Ray	Mercy Street - Single
Prayer in Passing	6:22	Anoushka Shankar	Rise
Putting the Dog to Sleep	5:48	The Antlers	Burst Apart (Deluxe Version)
Siren Song	4:58	Bat for Lashes	Two Suns
All These Things That I've Done	5:04	The Killers	Hot Fuss
Tranquilize (feat Lou Reed)	3:49	The Killers	Sawdust