I was just wondering... this is really annoying me.

What is that sound a string instrument can make that sounds like a clang? You hear it on the PSYCHO score by Herrmann (especially during The Murder) and it seems to accompany celli playing pizzicato, but I'm not sure. You also hear it on numerous Goldenthal scores, like INTERVIEW.

What is that? How do you do that? It sounds more like a percussive sound than a violin, viola, cello, or contrabass. But since PSYCHO contains only strings, it's gotta be strings, right?

WHAT IS IT??? :)

I just wanna know, thanks,

Horner uses it a lot too...

I thought it might be that, but I really wasn't sure and it was bugging me.

Horner!? Horner!!!? Who mentioned Horner? I must go on a killing spree now.... ;)

Well, thanks Dan. It's a cool alarming sound... I didn't think you could do so much with just strings.

One of the string effects I have yet to really hear, but I see it mentioned often, is using a styrofoam cup underneath the strings and bowing that....I know Michael Kamen has mentioned it in some recent score, but I still can't find out what sound it is!

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Originally posted by OHMSS76:
One of the string effects I have yet to really hear, but I see it mentioned often, is using a styrofoam cup underneath the strings and bowing that.

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I think it's called col legno styrofoamo....

;)

Thanks by the way, you've just made me a smarter man,

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Originally posted by John Zimmer:
Ugh!!!

Jz

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Is that for the info about Body Parts above?

I mean, well you see, the strings represent the.....well, ya know, the arms, and legs, and...ya know because their like alive and.......I guess if ya see the movie it.....awww hell, nevermind!

If you think Mystique's theme on the synthesized cello was ear-shattering... play it with styrofoam :) :)

How do they create that echo percussion sound on Aliens? I was hoping the liner notes on the Deluxe Edition would explain it. You can hear it a lot on Sub-Level 3 and Atmosphere Station. I think that's a really cool effect, and just wanted to know how it's done.

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Originally posted by Kosh:
must be the only sound known to man that is able to wake the demons of Hell

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And all this time I thought it was the score to GOLDENEYE......

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Originally posted by jeffy:
How do they create that echo percussion sound on Aliens?

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That's actually the same effect, with the string section reducing the intensite of their hits each time.

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Originally posted by dgoldwas:
And all this time I thought it was the score to GOLDENEYE.

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TA-dum TISH!

:)

I don't think the film music community is ever going to let GOLDENEYE in peace :) Which is fine by me :)

Oh, oh... since this thread has obviously become a "Ask Dan about weird orchestrations and effects" Q&A, take *that* Dan:

I'm sure it's a string effect, possibly a dissonant high-pitched pizzicato 'fest, with some back-bow banging on wood too, but maybe it's not--what's that effect (purely orchestral, I'm sure) you can hear in "Rite of Passage" from Ottman's APT PUPIL? I've heard it in other places too, but that's the most "in your face" version of the effect I can think of. It's when Todd is in the cellar with the wino and hits him with the shovel... it's a really disturbing musical effect that sounds a bit like rain.

You go, Dan! Show 'em what you've got! ;)

the best representation of this effect
is MARS, THE BRINGER OF WAR, first movment of THE PLANETS (Holst)

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Originally posted by Kosh:
I'm sure it's a string effect, possibly a dissonant high-pitched pizzicato 'fest, with some back-bow banging on wood too, but maybe it's not--what's that effect (purely orchestral, I'm sure) you can hear in "Rite of Passage" from Ottman's APT PUPIL? I've heard it in other places too, but that's the most "in your face" version of the effect I can think of.

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Talked with Ottman today, and made sure to ask for you - sorry it took so long! (He's been outta town for the holiday.)

Basically, what they did was a combination of all sorts of things. A bunch of string players were hitting the strings with the back of the bows, and the other bunch was hitting the wooden portion of the instrument. Basically, a combination of the two techniques mentioned above. They all did it randomly, and THEN they did a few overdubs of it on top of that. So it made for a rather interesting effect (as you can hear in the film score).

Ottman says he uses a LOT of that in EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS, so look for it there!

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You go, Dan! Show 'em what you've got!

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Booyeah!

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Originally posted by dgoldwas:
Talked with Ottman today, and made sure to ask for you

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Dan, you're the greatest! You rock!

Hehehehe, well, a lot of thanks to you for asking Our Man, Ottman. It's an interesting take on the technique, and it comes out really weird on the CD, but weird in a good way of course. I think it's one more proof of John's philosophy that sometimes, orchestral effects can be creepier than anything you can do on synth.

Take that Zimmer!!! ;)

Kosh

Ciao.