Mood Matters

We have a saying around here, “Mood Matters.” At the heart of our work as musicians is our desire to be storytellers seeking to sonically capture the raw, the uneasy, and the beautiful. 

Allow me to indulge in a bit of nostalgia for you. It’s the mid-90s and I’m sitting in my living room watching a rugged college professor venture into the jungles of South America in search of a priceless golden statue. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark begins with adventure and mystery, captivating my imagination at an early age. Fast forward to Nepal, then Egypt, a friend named Sallah and a bad date, and finally to the striking Map Room. The cinematography is elaborate: unrest outside of the cave, marked awe on the face of Harrison Ford, and a slow moving beam of light unlocking the greatest mystery of the film right before our eyes.

In that scene, renowned composer John Williams brilliantly underscores nearly four minutes of music with no dialogue, but yet the audience is transported to the desert standing next to Dr. Jones, just as enthralled and in awe as he is.

Melodically, the ark’s theme is unique. Two minor chords separated by a tritone (arguably the most dissonant interval in Western music) beautifully split the octave as the chords mirror Dr. Jones’ descent into the Map Room. This undoubtedly adds tension, but also adds the element of mystery and wonder further intensifying the moment. These melodic devices orchestrated by the strings and woodwinds are set in contrast to the triumphant and rhythmic brass resonating more with Indiana’s astonishment. We as listeners are then hanging in tension, weighing the desire for Indiana’s success against invoking the wrath of God.

Check out this article from NPR's All Things Considered for more historical examples of tritone use.

Can you picture it? Can you feel it? Are you moved? I know I was, and after that moment I was hooked: to the character, to the storytelling, and to music as an emotional vessel capable of transporting even the youngest viewer into the sands of Egypt. Without powerful and intentional music, this scene is nothing more than a man with a stick…and that’s why mood matters. 

We seek to create beautiful storytelling moments like this one that first captured our imaginations and inspired our journey toward musical composition. Our passion is to immerse audiences in the experience, whether they’re watching, playing, or simply listening.

What piece of music or score has inspired you? Let us know back on our social feeds.