Behind the Score: Oppenheimer

In this new episode of Behind the Score, we explore the musical world of Christopher Nolan's historical epic, OPPENHEIMER, composed by Ludwig Göransson.
The episode features a look at Göransson's collaborative approach with Nolan, the techniques he used, the various core musical themes, and a breakdown of the Oppenheimer suite!
Note: There are a few minutes of the video that were claimed by NBC Universal relating to the behind the scenes/making of the film. These few short clips were removed, so there are a few cuts throughout. I worked as hard as I could to keep them seamless!
Project Background: 05:36
Elements of the Score: 9:30
Oppie's Themes: 15:59
Scoring Approach: 25:34
Standout Moments: 27:35
Suite Breakdown: 38:40
Footage Courtesy of Universal Pictures
» Website: ashtongleckman.com

[@AshtonGleckman]

MIDI File: bit.ly/3GRS9zf

[@Decmanh360]

where did you souce all of the sounds?

[@daniel_bond220]

I agree i would really like to know @@Decmanh360

[@DavidKirkman]

Bro if I was a millionaire, this masterclass still couldn’t have a pricetag. You’re creating good karma and the next gen of composers along the way

[@AshtonGleckman]

🙏

[@Miha-cl3cc]

Too bad he can't work with others

[@ryann9782]

@@Miha-cl3ccwdym?

[@willjordan1560]

Nobody does it like Ashton Gleckman. As a musician knee-deep in college theory, I’ve been looking for someone doing an in-depth analysis of my favorite score of the year! You kill it every single time with such a broad understanding of the score and its context! Thank you, man!

[@AshtonGleckman]

Thank you!!

[@gunplayelijah]

Pretty sure that this is the best score I will hear in my lifetime. I feel so blessed and am so emotional every time I hear this soundtrack.

[@jakebloor]

Göransson is not finished yet!

[@misleadin0]

lol calm down

[@Zeromus5555]

Lol, overreacting a bit. It's a phenomenal soundtrack... but greatest ever? No.

[@phonzyyy7753]

​@@misleadin0u should

[@phonzyyy7753]

​@@Zeromus5555Okay, U'm always interested in other opinions... So, tell me which one is better then? And if it's "better", tell me why, referring to key points in the analysis video.

[@MaayanTalMusic]

Just noticed a tiny detail - Colonel Pash’s theme is two diminished 5ths going down, very similar to Oppenheimer’s theme which is two perfect 5ths going down. The diminished 5th creates this feeling of unease, tension and creepiness of Pash’s character. The similarity between this two themes is genius. Give the Oscar to Ludwig!

[@KeshuvHuriaMusic]

Ludwig will be so proud of you to see this. Just as any Oppenheimer and your fan here is, Ashton!

[@Humcred]

DUDE! You're like the Rick Beato of film scoring! For years I've been waiting for someone like you on youtube. WHERE'VE YOU BEEN? lol This content is GOLD!!

[@Humcred]

Also for now on I will be calling a heavily processed french horn an Oppenhorn.

[@synec7597]

Your Behind the scores are absolutely amazing and helpful! I truly appreciate what you do

[@SkidooMXZTNT]

Amazing breakdown of one of the best movie soundtracks ever made.

[@Markrspooner]

I so glad you continue to do these Behind the Score videos Ashton, it is amazing work and very generous to share the midi

[@nvita7]

I thought i was into movie scores.... but my friend you are on another level. Absolutely amazing breakdown! This score and film in theaters really was something to experience. The brass section hits you in the soul. Oppenheimer should sweep in the oscars.

[@Infuzed]

OH MY GOD, this is gonna be an amazing 1,5 hours! Thanks for this video in advance 🤩

[@BaraMatahariPagi]

This is what I've been waiting for!! Thank you Ashton!

[@isiahaalejandro]

Between Oppenheimer and inception, both scores can take me directly to the part of the movie or place in mind that most scores can’t. ❤

[@avivshuker]

What a FANTASTIC film and score! Thank you for making this, Ashton. Great job, as always!

[@elmovdg]

always was skeptical of the nolan zimmer split up, but goransson brought it back to life

[@TheRationalHawk]

You are so underrated my friend.

[@michaelheck6919]

Hi Ashton...I'm a big fan of your "Behind the Score" series for a long time, but thank you sooo much for this one of a kind deep dive into this phenomenal Score...Love it! 🙂

[@zachpope2672]

I love you Ashton!!! Been waiting for this. You are the best

[@SmileyFabian]

Thanks, Ashton. I always enjoy your behind the score videos. So full of information and entertaining at the same time.

[@Wolfbabypuppylove]

The time you took to do this super generous thankyou.

[@alejandrovillegas177]

This has been one of the scores that have had an impact in me that haven´t happened in a very long time... Still as great as it is, I feel that it has a very Hans Zimmer sound , i felt that also in tenet. Ludwig is a great musician, but i feel that working with Nolan has made his sound be moro close to his previous composer. Still great and amazing work. it's dept and feel really put it in my top 20 best scores of all time.

[@ronami3176]

Wow!! What a wonderful breakdown of this work‘s genesis! Thank you very much, Ashton!!

[@hexedits369]

this was an awesome breakdown, wow. learning a lot from you. thank you

[@arjunjayaprakash2670]

This content is much more precious than anything on Netflix or Prime right now.

[@stellardriftfilms]

This is a fantastic video. So well done and feels completely professional. You did a great job describing Göransson’s process and what the music means. Not to mention you seem to be a good musician yourself.

[@rationalmadman9846]

When I went back and listened to “Trinity” again, I noticed a little detail in the piece about five and a half minutes in. If I’m not mistaken, a reprise of “Fission” begins playing at about 5:35. The Groves motif you were talking about happens at about 6:20. Then, at about 6:35, both themes are played together, being the piano motif for Groves and the slow violin for Oppie. The way I interpret this is that the collaboration between Groves and Oppenheimer helped change history forever with the Trinity Test.

[@herastudio543]

This is incredible, been searching to understand the soundtrack more in depth - cause it’s just stunning work. And wow how did you recreate the score - thank you for this enjoyable video. Will be listening to it again!

[@enfachnick]

YES!!! ive waited for this man, thanks for dropping the midi file for studying. have a nice christmas

[@user-tf6io9ww9z]

extremely well made. Thank you! The pacing is great, keeps you hooked the whole time

[@jand.k.2897]

Awesome! Thank you for great work and insights, Ashton!

[@aninjaguardian]

Amazing! Great analysis and dive into Oppenheimer and its music

[@lionel6869]

I always find your way of going into a score very interesting. your recreation of the score is always on point!

[@arushiejain]

Such a beautiful movie and such a talented and impactful composer it had! Just discovered your channel and I'm blown away by your insights! Thabk you so much for this. Subscribed.

[@blipmachine]

Terrific breakdown! I wish the making of videos dived into this much detail

[@sunnyschramm9650]

Hey Ashton. That was really amazing to watch and hear! So much interesting and useful information ❤ I enjoyed it in my home-cinema and the av-receiver creates a wonderful surround-sound from the video. Now I have to watch other of your videos to come joyful through the night 🙂 THX #insomnia

[@vkhor927]

Great analysis, well put together youtube video. Thank You.

[@CB-Music]

I really appreciate these videos. I always learn lots. Great scoring insights and mad keyboard skills too! 🙂

[@scott_glasgow]

Amazing breakdown and just mental breakdown of this score. Thanks Ashton for making this video.

[@xbiker321]

Been waiting for this analysis. Fantastic video all around, well done sir 👏

[@ridgero]

Well done Ashton. So nice to hear from you, love your work very much!

[@TheSouhaib23]

When you played that piece from Prometheus which I saved in a scores folder years ago and I kept going back to it, I thought that's why I'm watching this hour and 20 min video, this is my 1st time seeing your videos but won't be the last, great work.

[@victornoagbodji]

Thanks for this great analysis! 😊

[@kennethjackson4858]

Loved your video and loved Your explanation of the score. I now see you can compose out of the box. Thank you so much and I will watch your John Kennedy movie. But I must see this movie you etch out for us.🙏🏾🎹

[@imav.20]

i'm a music producer and i compose my own music in a very different genre. i started listening to hans zimmer during covid as his music genuinely helped me go through stuff and yeah since then i've loved soundtracks. i'm trying to get into scoring as its very personal in nature. score allows you to emotionally connect with the movie.i genuinely thank you for showcasing such depth analysis of this, i've never considered how words in the script actually enable us to compose. for the oppenheimer synth tune what i did was take string ensemble (stock vst in fl studio) add reverb from valhalla vsts and added fab-filter's saturn vsts' lofi-maker preset and boom.

[@yashveermalik6558]

i just want to say you man for this clean explaination

[@Ansh-vc3rl]

This is Gold!!

[@javierolabarri8162]

Love the way you explain things. It would be great to see the hands in the piano from above to learn.Thank you!!!

[@axekhar911]

Really great video and attitude. Thank you for your dedicafion!!!

[@nRGmusicproduction]

You have really an amazing ear Ashton. Thank you so much for this incredibly insightful video. Great work as usual!

[@Asyrion]

This is so interesting, I'm very grateful for all your knowledge that you share generously. This is one of my favorite score ever and it'll be for the rest of my life, amazing stuff !

[@kentlouisbernhardsen8338]

Hello, Ashton! Thanks for this video! I would really like to see you also composing your own music to different movie cues :) You're talented (and humble also, haha) Best regards

[@jacknbg6819]

Thank you for this deep insight into the soundtrack.

[@StoutheartEntertain]

awesome vid - thanks for doing this and posting

[@user-uo7oy1ie3r]

yeah baby finely

[@FabMartiniTube]

Well done Ashton!

[@guyshard]

Outstanding. Many thanks for this.

[@laurenzwinklhofer7397]

Thank you so much! This is so helpful!

[@avinashkhandre0321]

Phenomenal work on the mockup Ashton 🙌🏻, BTW what reverb plug-in you used here on the harp and piano, it sounds huge spacious and beautiful, please tell

[@nbenyair]

Amazing analysis! Great work from you!! What libraries do you use during the examples you play in this video? Thanks and keep putting more of these out!

[@AshtonGleckman]

Thanks so much! The libraries are mainly from Orchestral Tools, Spitfire, U-he (synths), omnisphere, and the piano is from Keyscape

[@nbenyair]

Amazing! If you don't mind I'd be happy if you could specify a little more but It's obviously ok if you do mind! @@AshtonGleckman

[@andreirodriguez]

Bro I love this channel

[@imbrokentears]

amazing work! I recreated the main theme a few months ago on my channel, incredible!

[@saiharsha370]

Ohh my god...thanks a ton...Ashton...♥️♥️♥️

[@bacaca]

Amazing work!

[@MyFavorite_Scenes]

"A Lowly Shoe Salesman" would be fire in a only piano cover

[@thekolbaska]

Thank you so much for doing these, I always learn a lot from you. How long does it take you to put together a suite like this? It's a lot of transcribing and programming.

[@davidandronicomusic]

Great job!

[@wendysburgers4326]

All of this Found in the Bonus (Extra) Disc of Oppenheimer (2023) Blu-ray. A Separate Blu-ray Disc.

[@bartoszstepkowski]

Its good to see you back on BTS series!! You provide, so much information and value with your work - Thank you! Congrats on Kennedy Series, I need to watch it :). Btw. What's that on your piano? I mean that "books" from Dunkirk, Oppenheimer and something else

[@AshtonGleckman]

Thank you! Those are Nolan screenplays and Unleashing Oppenheimer, the book about the making of the film 🙂

[@BrianGonsr]

seriously think the reason this movie is so great is the score.

[@Hi-gv4id]

1:18:49 feels different, majestic. Is there any possible way to gets its full version

[@JumpingCow]

So impressed with this video. Your analysis, the editing, and your playing. How do you know all this music?

[@giuseppetatasciore6590]

Great job, as always! Please, can you indicate which vst piano are you using in the presentation? THANKS!!!

[@AshtonGleckman]

Keyscape from Spectrasonics 🙂

[@antoniocordua]

this is soooo cool is there any chance you could make a video on your process when making synth sound like the scratchy sounds?

[@Michael_H_Nielsen]

The percussion sound amazing. What libraries are you using?

[@gianandrelubin]

AMAZING ❤

[@lch7145]

Yes again !!!!

[@kiranthakrar1292]

Simply amazing video and insight...Thank you What piano and orchestral library have you used while demonstrating this ?

[@PCU343]

What about Fusion? I'd say that's probably the best song in the soundtrack

[@BrianGonsr]

easily, that shit slaps

[@Superwing]

How did they feed the performers the new tempos? Were they wearing ear pieces and communication was done that way? Or did they have digital scores in front of them that were manipulated in the control room?

[@herastudio543]

Would you ever consider doing - the saint Graeme revell and twilight?

[@malllllkaii]

Can do u a behind the score with Justin Hurwitz’s like Babylon and La La Land?

[@ohheyitskevinc]

Great stuff, and a beautiful score! Couple of quick technical questions: for Orchestral Tools libraries - do you prefer to use Sine or Kontakt? And which Mac are you using? I’m on a Mac Studio M2 Max with 32GB. Anything over 100 tracks, I get constant system overloads (esp using Kontakt 7 so I tend to use 6 if I can).

[@AshtonGleckman]

Thank you! I’m still on the 2013 Mac Pro, with 64gb of ram. For OT libraries, I’m using the Kontakt versions.

[@gerardocoter]

Very nice! Your work really inspire ❤ Maybe too late but I think if you make a behind the score about first man film and his music I'm sure it will be dope! Hope you can check some material of this movie, in my opinion is one the best soundtracks too, greetings 🙏

[@thetej2000]

Hello Ashton, what are your system's RAM, internal memory, and processor?

[@stereomonologue]

Great video! But Göransson actually didn’t record the whole score in 5 days, rather the part with the orchestra.

[@rupertcornelius]

Oppenheimer sounds like IMAX

[@hyenaboy7504]

Now, can you do one for Turning Red?

[@JCChavz]

Hans Zimmer was just out Zimmered by Ludwig.

[@Birdieupon]

It sounds like Hans Zimmer, but actually written for human beings rather than computers!😂

[@kimseniorb]

Ive come to a conclusion that this is a nolan score. he has his style every time many wrongly attributed to zimmer. but really you can hear it in prestige even before zimmer. the same vibe every time

[@zimerr76]

interstellar gelsin lütfen

[@user-yl4lf9mh1w]

43:47 biggest let down of the film was when this measly little explosion went off

[@citizenworld8094]

The arpeggios were gradus ad parnassum, nearly note for note. Listen to the score of Babel, it's also the same. What's going on? Pure plagiarism frankly. Goes to show, you won't do big score being original any more.

[@bartloomanmusic]

The arpeggio's here and in Babel are not the same as Gradus ad Parnassum at all. If they are pure plagiarism, then all ascending and descending arpeggio's since Debussy are plagiarism. And what are you talking about, Oppenheimer is one of the most original big scores in years!