SPN Episode Composer List & Interviews

[zimshan]

[I've got a bunch of back posts that have been sitting in a word doc for weeks, which I still need to make, so 'Sorry' in advance, flist, for the subsequent spamming.]

The SPN composers Christopher Lennertz and Jay Gruska share the scoring job, usually alternating every other episode. But since more than once they have disrupted the normal "every-other-episode" scoring schedule, I wanted to create a source list to keep track of the composer on each episode.

SEASON ONE

Lennertz Episodes	| Gruska Episodes
101	102
103	104
105	106
107	108
109	---
110	111
112	113
114	115
116	----
117	118
119	120
121	122

SEASON TWO

Lennertz Episodes	| Gruska Episodes
----	201
202	203
204	205
206	207
208	209
210	211
212	213
214	215
216	217
---	218
219	---
220	221
222	---

SEASON THREE

Lennertz Episodes	| Gruska Episodes
301	302
303	304
305	306
307	308
309	310
---	311
312	---
313	314
315	316

SEASON FOUR

Lennertz Episodes	| Gruska Episodes
---	401
402	---
403	404
---	405
406	407
408	---
409	---
410	411
412	413
414	415
416	417
418	419
---	420
---	421
422	---

SEASON FIVE

Lennertz Episodes	| Gruska Episodes
501	502
503	504
505	506
507	508
509	510
---	511
---	512
513	514
515	516
517	518
---	---
---	---
---	---
---	---
---	---

---

COMPOSERS SPEAK
Lennertz Interviews:
- Megan's Minions Interviews Lennertz [Wherein he reveals he's a Dean fangirlboy]
- TrackSounds 2008 Interview with Lennertz
- July '07: Winchester Journal Interview with Lennertz
- May '07: Sequential Tart's Interview with Lennertz
- Cinescape.com Interview with Lennertz (includes info on developing the SPN Sound with Jay Gruska, and Cameron Stone, the electric cellist)
- TrackSounds interviews Lennertz
- Scifi.com article on Lennertz's score and Emmy nod
- Ain't It Cool News interviews Lennertz

---

QUESTIONING THE KRIPKE/SINGER INFLUENCE

The interesting thing I see when looking at the episode list is the aberrations in the regular "every-other-episode" schedule. It's been noted in several interviews that each exec had a composer he wanted to bring in on the project. Kripke brought in Lennertz whom he had worked with for years, while Singer had brought in Gruska who had been his own music man. Both times in season one, Lennertz took on a double shift for an episode depending on more of the MotW scare than the character points, (110 and 117). And in the case of the summer transition, Gruska was given both 122 and 201 for more emotional character situations. So is Singer advocating this? I've noticed, over time Lennertz has become more accepting of expressing sentiment, and started taking on the strings, though still lacking a lot of melody. But still, Gruska seems to get the eps that depend on the sentiment the most because he seems more willing to use strings to express it. But is Singer the reason? Is he the reason Gruska got the finale and the premiere to score? While Kripke was liking more what Lennertz did, but just conceded to Singer’s thoughts. Or is Kripke advocating it too? Why can't they ask this kind of stuff in interviews? Sure no one else would care but I'd be a happy camper. :D

---

BACK TO THE BIG DAMN SPN S1 SCORE POST

Comments

[r-a-l-i-g-h.livejournal.com]

[I've got a bunch of back posts that have been sitting in a word doc for weeks, which I still need to make, so 'Sorry' in advance, flist, for the subsequent spamming.]

I LOVE you!

I thought I was the only one who did that!

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

What, write in a word doc? That's essential! So LJ can't eat up posts like it loves to do...

[roniabirk.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you are into SPN now. Otherwise, I would never learn this stuff. Your next post made me go "Uhhhh .... wow." *scratches head* Hee.

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

HEHE. Glad to oblige. :D

[bellanut.livejournal.com]

I'm finding these posts super fascinating even though I'm probably grasping less than half of the content. Still, KEEP EM' COMING! It's the best when people in a fandom cover different aspects so thoroughly.

I knew there had been a different score in the pre-aired pilot and the aired pilot, but I didn't realize the show regularly used two different composers. I'm I right to assume that's abnormal?

And now I wish they'd interviewed the composer for the DVD too! He wants to be interviewed! I'm really, really hoping the S2 box set includes more than the first set. I'm not sure there's a single aspect of the show they could tell me about that I wouldn't find interesting.

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

YAY! I'm glad you can find them interesting.

but I didn't realize the show regularly used two different composers. I'm I right to assume that's abnormal?

Yea, it happens that shows will use one composer for a couple seasons and then use another one for later ones (like Buffy and Dawson's) but I've never run into a show that SHARES the ep responsibility like this. That's part of what I find so fascinating about it because it provides endless amounts of comparisions. Which are always fun!

But yea, right now I'm especially itching for them to interview Gruska. Lennertz gets all the interviews because he's more young and up and coming whereas Gruska's been around for a while, but I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE SHOW, DAMMIT.

SupNat

[(Anonymous)]

First time at the site---cool musings!
Jay G.

Re: SupNat

[coffee-girl.livejournal.com]

Hey, I found this post via Super-Wiki.

I know, it's so lame to ask, but the links don't work for me - would you...maybe....

And I have a question as well. Maybe the answer just pops in to your head...it's a melody, jused several times in Season 2. At the End of Bloodlust, the beginning of Croatoan when the boys are driving into town.
It's a slow melody and it's beautiful. But nobody seems to know it.

Re: SupNat

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

Hi there! Don't feel bad at all for asking! I've just been MIA for a couple months and haven't been able to reupload them. The links should all be working fine now!

As far as your question, yes, I know the piece you're talking about. It's definitely some pretty Gruska's score. Good ear! I am actually working on the S2 score post now, unfortunately it's hard for me to get much free time to work on it these days so it's taking much longer. But that piece will definitely be on it. Though, while it's a beautiful melody heard a couple times throughout the season (I believe we hear it again in Heart?), I don't believe it's actually a motif. The different instances we hear it have no real similarities (that I can find at least) to constitute it as a motif, though considering Dean's speech over the first instance in Bloodlust, it would have been lovely if it had. Nonetheless, I'll be on the look out.

Hope that helps! Enjoy the links!

Re: SupNat

[coffee-girl.livejournal.com]

First of all, thank you very much!!

Second, sorry for my bad english. It's not my first language, I'm from Germany, so....

Finally, someone know about this melody. I had a season 2 rewatch, and I realize, it's in several episodes. You're right, it's in Heart, too.

So I will add you to my friend list if you don't mind.

Again, thank you very much. It's been a real pleasure.

[orphan-kitten.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for all of this you have put together and shared. I love original scores and the music for this series if just brilliant.

You are truly awesome!