"I will stand by my statement that I still don't hear a real
orchestra."

You can stand by it all you want, and certainly what you hear is
subjective, and varies. But you're still wrong.

The music varies, depending on what is needed for the scene. Some of
it is synth'd, but a LOT of it is indeed performed by the Berlin Symphonic
Film Orchestra, Franke's creation. We don't give credit on-screen to
entities we don't use, sorry. I've seen this in action. So you can argue
and disagree until your face turns blue...you're simply, flatly wrong.

And personally, I love the music, as do the majority of the people I
talk to. What you may be reacting to is that we add sounds that you don't
generally see used in SF series, where it's just one more over-wrought,
over-blown, bloated, self-indulgent John Williams ripoff. We *do* use
electronics from time to time and some sampling, for effect. Maybe you
don't like it, that's your choice. But it is not "cheap," and not in
lieu of using real instruments for other elements.

I've heard before from some ST "purists" who think there shouldn't be
any electronic instruments in SF-television scores...just one more attempt
to make every SF series look and sound just like Star Trek. Sorry, not
interested.

As to your allegation that Franke "sampled" (another term for stole)
a piece off the Aliens soundtrack...1) I own that soundtrack, and have
Franke's piece, and they're *not* comparable, 2) this allegation is so
far beneath contempt that it doesn't merit response.

Chris is the most original, hard-working and dedicated composer and
musician I've ever worked with. And as far as the music goes...I was
surprised the other day to get a gift from Chris...a CD with 50 continuous
minutes of music from our first season, orchestrated into a one long and
very beautiful piece. (This isn't a commercial thing; he did it on his
own, making custom covers with my name on my copy.) I've played it to
the point where I'd be worried about wearing it out if it were a standard
record. It's gorgeous, rich and full.

Your subjective tastes have nothing to do with objective reality.
You were simply 100% wrong on one issue, and insulting in the other.

jms

Re: your continued allegations that B5's composer Chris Franke
"uses synthesizers in place of live players"...I am going to say this
just one more time: I don't care *what* your ears tell you; your ears are
hearing what you want to hear. Chris uses both synth AND a live
orchestra. He combines them. What does it take to convince you? I've
BEEN there. I've SEEN the process. It's ONGOING. What you say is being
done is NOT what's being done. Period. You're pointing at a black wall
and saying it's white. I'm not to blame for your problem with colors.

You have two choices, one of which involves calling me a liar.

jms

"Franke...is not cutting it..he's just not the right person for
the program."

1) That's your opinion. 2) Your opinion is irrelevant.

The job of a composer is to work with the material as written and
directed, to fit the vision of the person who's putting it together.
Christopher's music is *exactly* what I envisioned wanting for the show.
So he *is* exactly the right person for the show. You don't get a vote
on that.

And it's pretty cowardly for anyone to step up to the plate and
criticize others behind a pseudonym. My real name's up here, why isn't
yours?

From your comments, your sense that you are obligated to "take on"
me and other show runners, your grandiose sense of importance, your
insistence that the world is the way you say -- no live players even
though there are -- despite being repeatedly told otherwise, I would
almost be tempted to conclude that you are suffering from delusions of
grandeur...but I suspect that closer to the truth is that you are
suffering from delusions of adequacy.

You are being an ass. Go away.

jms

"I've stated that what I put forth was an opinion based on my years
of working in the business of music for films and TV programs."

How can you say that when you operate under a pseudonym? How do WE
know you have "years" working in the music business? We have no proof
of this.

"I've answered your questions with facts."

No you haven't. Not one. Just more opinions.

"I DON'T HEAR AN ORCHESTRA AT ALL IN THE SHOW!"

So what? That's your problem.

This is like two guys standing in a zoo, looking at an elephant.

"That's a duck," one says.

"No it's not, it's an elephant."

"I don't see an elephant. I have experience. It's a duck."

"I don't *care* what YOU see, it's an elephant. Look, see that
thing in front?"

"What? Its bill?"

"That's not a bill, it's a trunk! See how it waves back and forth?"

"Oh, well, then it's a broken bill...pity, you think they could
afford to fix it."

"Look, tell you what, how about I put your head under the 'duck's'
foot and see what happens...?"

We're not responsible for your problems with perception and tone
deafness.

jms

What you address in the last bit of the music in "Signs" is what
I've been trying to get across. The theme music appearing there is not
quite what we use otherwise. I suggested to Chris that it'd be cool to
have the B5 theme there in *minor keys* or minor chords. It's a somewhat
different version, and playing a theme in minor instead of major keys or
chords makes it somber, sad, unsettling. We've just seen B5 explode, and
doing that particular riff on the theme seemed to both of us a good idea.
Play it again, then the regular theme, and you'll see the difference.

jms

I was referring to ST purists, not ST purism, the latter of which is
applicable to many, the former of which refers only to a few. One of the
things we get faulted on is that we're just not ST, and don't do things
the same way ST does things, from music to props to stories, you name it.
It's to that small group that I was referring.

jms

"I don't care if he's using...ten pipe-smoking nuns playing kazoos."

Damn, we've been found out.

Okay, Sister Margaret Mary, who's been running her mouth downtown?!

jms