How this Mulan melody sent me down a rabbit hole

Disney Princess Music Analysis: • Disney Princess Music ...
0:00 The Mulan-Joy Luck Club Connection
1:50 The Minor 7th Up
3:39 The Mandalorian
4:13 The Portamento Minor 3rd
4:36 The Hope Theme
5:00 In the Heights
5:36 Chinese American Question
7:09 Chinese vs. Western Instrumentation
8:30 Erhu in Film
9:46 Over the Moon
11:36 My Grandpa & Beijing Opera
15:00 Reflection
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How this Mulan melody sent me down a rabbit hole
Sources:
Mulan (1998)
Mulan (2020)
West Side Story
Star Trek (Original TV Series)
Star Trek (2009)
TMNT (2007)
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria
Kung Fu Panda
Red Corner
Red Cliff
Total War: Three Kingdoms
About Schmidt
The Mandalorian
In the Heights
The Joy Luck Club
Over the Moon
Hamilton
The Lost Pavilion (Beijing Opera where "Two Countries" is from)
Mulan Review, Movie Music UK
moviemusicuk.us/2020/09/11/mu...
Rachel Portman winning the Oscar
• "Emma" and "The Englis...
"Rachel Portman and The Joy Luck Club," Susan Maltby
era.library.ualberta.ca/items...
Michael Giacchino Interview, StarTrek.com
www.startrek.com/article/mich...
Rolfe Kent Interview, FilmSociety.org
www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_...
The Lost Pavilion (Beijing Opera), CCTV
• Video
Images from Pixabay and Pexels
All music is used in compliance with fair use copyright law.
This video is a labor of love, so I'd love to hear from you. Please like, follow, and comment at me!
WEB: howardhomusic.com/
TWITTER: / ho_howard
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INSTAGRAM: / howardwho
#Mulan #HowardHo #DisneyPlus

[@HowardHoMusic]

Running list of more examples of the melody: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Opening & Minuet of the Forest) Vaughan-Williams - The Lark Ascending In the Flame - Pyre Main Theme Megalovania - Undertale Angel TV Show Theme Song Brianna and Roger Theme - Outlander BoA - Disturbance Jerry Goldsmith - Timeline (unused score) Joseph Koo - The Way of the Dragon score The line "you'll be making good" from "The Wizard and I" - Wicked by Stephen Schwartz The line "Not Today" in "Cheering for me Now" by Lin-Manuel Miranda & John Kander "Rouxls Kaard Shop Hip Shop" - Deltarune Oogway Ascends - Kung Fu Panda

[@kobaltkween]

I would be curious to know if it's in any of the Avatar: the Last Airbender music.

[@jamesbarry1794]

If you wanna hear what it sounds like in action movie mode, check out Jerry Goldsmith’s unused score for the film “Timeline.”

[@geetika6540]

Also in Ladies in Lavender

[@Tustin2121]

> Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Ah, yes, the Minuet of Forest, nice.

[@Tehnameless1]

@@Tustin2121 it's also used in the title theme, with added notes in between like Mulan 2020

[@FunkyMrChicken]

It's all Ming-Na Wen's world, and we're just living in it

[@HowardHoMusic]

100

[@KFblade13373]

Now we gotta find this theme in Agents of Shield somewhere.

[@lianaz906]

I was about to say that!

[@QuikVidGuy]

now I'm singing the Doc Gerbil theme from Courage but with Ming-Na Wen instead

[@JahinKabir]

@@KFblade13373 and The Mandalorian

[@RodrickMarsMoon]

"In other words, I saw my reflection." *Reflection playing smoothly* I didn't expect to cry in a video about soundtrack, but here I am 😭🤗😅.

[@yalmagomez1313]

same, I ended up in tears

[@TheRoxster]

came in here to say I'm also fucking crying man. that was beautiful.

[@TheDanielCal]

me too...

[@PineapplesPerhaps]

Yeah me too Kinda hits different when you're asian but you have no experience with your own culture because your asian parent is an orphan so she was raised by white folks so you'll never be able to see your reflection like that

[@Bootyyyshaker4000]

Brilliant video essay! Sometimes it all makes sense in hindsight. I'm glad you went even back further into your own roots

[@katanrocksketches6717]

I just realized that the minor seventh leap and down a minor second is exactly what is used for the Santa Fe theme in Newsies and my mind has been blown!!

[@HowardHoMusic]

So many minor 7ths in Santa Fe!

[@adrianazashen]

Why is everything pointing to me to watch Newsies...

[@mulinhuan8410]

I am an Erhu player! and my teacher also plays Jinghu (and Gaohu) since the instruments are very similar. It's so sweet that you know your grandfather's melody in your DNA, lovely video!

[@HowardHoMusic]

Oh wow. I hope I did justice to the topic. I just love those instruments so much.

[@JustMeJH]

How sweet! Your heart knew the melody.

[@HowardHoMusic]

It did. Truly.

[@alpha_jasperflair1097]

@@HowardHoMusic your a great musician you have a heart of a musician expert

[@centaurea5293]

such a touching video, at first when you talked about your grandpa playing for you composition I was like 'aww so cute' but then the (1919--2007) at the end really hit me and I cried because I know what it feels like to lose a grandparent

[@carmt7025]

As a Chinese, I get where you were coming from without realising, thank you for this rabbit hole

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

I love how much detail you give to all the musical scales. I also love that music runs in your family!

[@QuikVidGuy]

ha runs cause of scales

[@McBehrer]

ok, that's a really interesting story and everything, but... why were you watching the live action Mulan movie in the first place?

[@HowardHoMusic]

To make a video about it, haha.

[@FTnaririi]

It seems you can watch it for free now and not pay the 30$ to watch it. So, you're not really directly contributing to this movie. I remember they said it'd be free to watch sometime in December. I thought it was later, but I just checked and the button that was there before, for the 29$, is gone. But I didn't press play yet so I'm not 100% sure.

[@ladybirdg5658]

@@FTnaririi Yep! It was removed from Disney+ altogether for a couple weeks, and when it returned, it's now free to watch. Also, Mulan 2020 ONLY made 70 million dollars when their budget was 200 million, so boycotting it did leave a mark

[@-pink]

well, its a very good movie honestly I loved it. But its just not Mulan, it has an amazing plot but it isn't the thing everyone was expecting it would be better if they made a whole new movie out of this :D

[@mochitea5638]

why do you even care

[@eliasbernstein]

How did you make music theory so interesting 🥺 I wish you were my teacher

[@Noodelousart123]

OMG wait those three notes are also the start of the main theme from Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time!

[@HowardHoMusic]

You're correct! Funny thing is I actually made an Ocarina of Time joke in my previous video about Frozen. Good catch!

[@redkb]

Loved it, so good thanks for sharing!

[@ellik02]

can I just say though… "who is that girl I see" "last Christmas I gave you my heart" …..same melody right?? or am I just dumbb??

[@HowardHoMusic]

It's definitely similar.

[@ellaalexander2696]

I can't be the only one who thinks of Santa Fe from Newsies when the two first notes play...

[@theraginginfernape9496]

When a family memory sticks, it sticks in some of the most unexpected ways. I felt that when I listen to old recordings of my now deceased mother singing old hip-hop songs and used them to make some funk tunes. This is video resonates so well with me. Thank you

[@krippysamskrr3501]

Really reminds me of Avatar the last airbender too

[@HowardHoMusic]

I LOVE Avatar...you might be onto something!

[@obliviousfantasy633]

I think....I think I just heard this one piece that seems to be played a bit in the show but idk what it's called or where it's at but I know it's in at least one transitioning after the "Previously" So I could possibly find it...

[@krippysamskrr3501]

@@obliviousfantasy633 yeah I’m pretty sure it’s called “Tsungi Horn” played by Iroh

[@howling_starr]

that's the first thing that came to my mind too! It reminds me of part of the credits theme, probably a similar instrument, but the melody itself also sounds similar to what Iroh played yeah.

[@smelly5465]

@@krippysamskrr3501 they also play that same melody on a dizi im pretty sure

[@jjstarA113]

Funny, when I listened to the Mulan (2020) soundtrack, I thought, "This sounds like John Powell's Paycheck theme!" Seriously, listen to "Rachel's Party" from Paycheck, it's those same five notes.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Cool!

[@MediumDSpeaks]

Yooo remember Paycheck?!?

[@HowardHoMusic]

@@MediumDSpeaks Never saw it, but I remember John Woo directed it, right?

[@MediumDSpeaks]

@@HowardHoMusic dude I was like 5 or 6 or 7 when I saw that, I have no clue who the actors or directors were, it was just the first action movie I saw in theaters and it then became what I thought was my "favorite" movie after seeing it the first time as a kid. I have never re-watched it but I think it was probably really convoluted but to a 6 year old it seemed so innovative and cool lol. Actually I'm gonna re-watch it and I'll tweet about it letting you know if it holds up 20 years later lol

[@Shananahanagan]

The Erhu is used in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when Link encounters one of the very ancient and mysterious dragons. I love it!

[@kellymcginnis9626]

Our childhood makes us who we are as a adult. And the people around and their taste in music morph us in what we enjoy.

[@AlvaroCTV]

Honestly you could make these videos about any piece of media at all, regardless of whether I've seen it or not, and I would still happily watch entranced until the very end.

[@moonspear]

Wow, watching this video was like taking a whole journey, LOVE IT! (and ofc you managed to reference Hamilton multiple times xD)

[@HowardHoMusic]

I mean, I couldn't help myself. (Someone else then commented, that I was helpless. LOL)

[@moonspear]

@@HowardHoMusic you just couldn't Say No To This

[@danimiller9932]

I'm satisfied with this video!

[@99kylies15]

Dude, this is....SO COOL. You introduced me to new instruments, some bomb music, and a really heartfelt story. The way you brought the listener on the journey you yourself went through is just *chef's kiss*

[@adrianazashen]

"I saw my reflection" AWE HECK NO YOU DID NOT JUST DO THIS TO ME 😭

[@kenzgitz9884]

I'm not sure but I think the minor seventh leap that goes down to a minor third is used in the Mulan cartoon. It's in the beginning where they play an instrumental of "You'll bring honor to us all".

[@DavidClay]

This is wonderful. And the story of your grandfather is beautiful. Thank you for thinking of us enough to share it.

[@HowardHoMusic]

I went out on a limb with this one. But I trusted that all of you would support this content. So thank YOU!

[@aleksandernordgardenrdner1520]

That struck right in the feels, thank you. Not being burdened with an abundance of musical knowledge myself, I really appreciate having you explain it so eloquently, deepening my understanding of these properties which I already love.

[@Yesunni]

you can fall in love with a musical analysis? I love it, and I already subscribed

[@streetsorcery3285]

I also hear Legend of Zelda ; Ocarina of Time’s Opening Theme main melody using this melody structure.

[@elsat4702]

I used to learn Jinghu, but then moved back to the states. This is very personal to me. Thank you so much.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Wow, there aren't many people I know who know specifically the jinghu! So glad you saw this.

[@elsat4702]

​@@HowardHoMusic When I started it my mom thought it was the same as erhu and that is why I started jinghu :) Also I find it interesting that you compared jinghu to the violin. I have heard the erhu called the Chinese violin, but I agree that the jinghu sounds more like the violin than erhu.

[@CrystalDragen]

I watched Joy Luck club as a kid because my mom heard it was a great Mother-daughter film...and boy was I traumatized. It is a Great and heartwrenching Film, but it is not something to watch with a 9 year old. But I know for a fact my Mother loved it, because my grandmother immigrated from Mexico to the US in hopes of a better life for her future children, and perhaps my mother saw herself in some of the characters.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Yeah, it's definitely got some "mature" themes in there. Glad to hear it connects to so many people.

[@JennyTheDragon]

Damn you Howard, making me weep during each one of your videos over friggin' notes.

[@mandalevelsup]

First of all, this video is gorgeous. Second: that melody as a bass line just fully slaps.

[@HowardHoMusic]

I know, right? Thank you so much for watching!

[@BK-wb9oq]

2:30 This definition could also apply to Santa Fe from Newsies, with also uses a minor 7th up

[@atashishana2]

Thank you for sharing this personal video, Mr. Ho! I'm not a musically trained person, but your videos are so well-made that I can relate to them. It makes me appreciate how much work and it takes to score media.

[@katharineshade9550]

Just beautiful. There’s something so special about sharing music with your family in this kind of way.

[@julianasilveira4806]

This video is so wholesome! I was in tears by the end. Thank you for sharing your story!

[@kiermamo2580]

sheer genius. with every video you make me fall in love with music anew.

[@austinkottkamp5267]

Howard! What a beautiful and informative journey, thank you for sharing!

[@writermoon9699]

This felt so insightful and reflexive. Loved how you connected everything at the end into your own family. It was really beautiful ☺️✨

[@JessicaRauVoice]

This is wonderful, Howard.

[@MrWhatcat]

This is a stunning story you've revealed to us. The people in music and the music in people. Thank you, from one musician to another, for these stories.

[@keesalemon]

I dont know why I'm tearing up, this was a beautiful video, thank you so much for sharing your family history and your connection with this motif :)

[@OgJamirR]

Awesome video man! Thank you for creating it!

[@gabbym9217]

This whole video was brilliant. Editing, musical break down, history-I really appreciate this video.

[@KFblade13373]

This is so cool, I love the personal connection you shared!

[@slowclapswellwellwell6423]

Amazing video. I sometimes forget how much I really love music, but things like learning about what goes on behind the actual song is really inspiring.

[@andibrimi]

I just wanted to let you know that me and my friends watched this video and we resonated a lot with it. I teared up a little with your last line. Thank you for this 🥺❤

[@asperany6102]

Absolutely in love, and it is my first video of yours. Keep it up, your storytelling capabilities are remarkable. I know very little about music, but I love soundtracks. It's just the way they are constructed that pulls on my emotions and engulfs me in the story. Will come back for sure. For now, thanks!

[@ShaharHarshuv]

Your videos are mind blowing as always!! Looking forward for more

[@renanreixach]

I actually cried in the end. Such a beautiful story and an incredible lesson on music. Thank you so much for that.

[@deoyx]

This was super cool to watch. Thank you for taking us on the trip with you

[@monosTVsports]

This is beautiful. Honestly I was like ight Im gonna watch a bit of this vid and then to sleep but jeeesus this was gold. Saw the whole thing and, I just want to say thanks. Such a heartwarming story❤️

[@CM-yz3ze]

I love everything I've seen from you- but this was SO GOOD.

[@christao408]

Your videos are fascinating. Educational, entertaining, and personal all at once. Well done and please keep them coming.

[@LBBull]

I’m not sorry at all in saying this is my favourite video i’ve watched it about 3 times and I’ve cried every time. Educational and emotional, you knocked this one out the park ❤️

[@losfp]

Great vid Howard, and I love the personal touch to it.

[@camilaGMW]

What an emotional trip... Thank you for sharing

[@codyhanson1344]

One of the most beautiful videos I have ever watched on youtube right here. And to think it all started with the 2020 live action Mulan...

[@sarahcoleman5269]

Aww, genuinely brought a tear to my eye. Super sweet video.

[@jjtong1893]

This is so amazing and such a well done video! I love this so much!!

[@alisonfool]

This is a beautiful video wow it all came together so beautifully

[@arthouston7361]

What a great story, Howard. I got all choked up at the end.

[@jackwriter1908]

Just faszinating how much you can find in the music...

[@pilaralarcon6768]

I can´t express how much I love your videos, ALL my respect to you man, greetings from Argentina

[@z1ggy124]

Bruh, the quality content within these videos is so good.

[@sandrabeach6028]

Usually dont comment on videos, but this video was so well-made!!!! Loved the journey it took us on. Something I can relate to with my own culture

[@meginmd]

Before I even got to the part where you talk about West Side Story, I was like "It reminds me of West Side Story". And I hummed The Mandalorian theme to myself too to see if it matched and lol

[@HowardHoMusic]

Great minds!

[@Carsian]

I really love how you use reverb and delay tails whenever your clips of example music stop, instead of abruptly cutting them off. It added such a strong air of excellence to this video and I'll definitely be using that technique in future videos of mine.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Yup, I'm a sound designer too. That's how I roll.

[@lifewasawillow]

this was fascinating ❤ also, thank you for the pronunciation guide!

[@HowardHoMusic]

Glad to see you caught on to that!

[@crinoline1072]

This is so brilliantly done

[@jiashizhao8121]

I LOVE THIS. Please please do more of these. You’re a real professional and I am more than inspired!!!

[@jiashizhao8121]

(As Chinese myself I’m very impressed

[@HowardHoMusic]

Yes, I'm working on new videos all the time. Thank you so much for your feedback!

[@dannyzhou8292]

Hi Howard, I really liked this video. Keep up the great work.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Thank you!

[@meg7578]

Amazing... this is one of my favorites of yours

[@thefitgamerdad]

Man as always awesome content! Also, super awesome about your grandfather! Such rich history! Thank you for sharing!! I enjoyed learning more about the jing hu vs the erhu! I’ve used the digital erhu in one of my songs before and just love the sound it produces. Loved your track tooooo! Keep up the awesome work!

[@terencema6714]

This was beautiful. Thank you.

[@thesweetembraceofnonexiste3740]

I adore this video for reasons I can't quite put my finger on- Maybe I'm just nostalgic for Mulan.

[@DavidGriffithsmusic]

A very interesting video and not what I was expecting. Thank you for sharing!

[@calebcarlyle1749]

Really excellent video! I love hearing all of the things that I wouldn’t understand or notice on my own

[@maddiemaccheese8170]

What an underrated video. This is such a beautiful story with so much insight!

[@lueagle09]

Such a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing it!

[@thatguy8514]

Thanks for sharing!

[@DDStudio1]

This is great, love your hard works.

[@Eriquilla]

Thank you for sharing this. Glad you had a moment to bond with grandpa.

[@DaBezzzz]

Man you have an awesome career and fascinating insights

[@BogoljubTeofilovic]

you told your story so beautifully, thank you

[@MatthewDoel32]

That was lovely, Howard

[@laurenping9135]

such a lovely video! thank you for sharing :)

[@yangyangDNI]

this was such an informative video!!!

[@SleeplessCoconutGaming]

Joined at the tail end of the premiere. I always learn something new! 😊 Your videos are so interesting.

[@SleeplessCoconutGaming]

Also I can't believe I could pick up which song was the one you were going to mention from Over the Moon! 😊

[@HowardHoMusic]

Nice, sounds like your ears are getting sharper!

[@ericaashby7310]

Aw, that was beautiful. Thanks for sharing your family story

[@livmendel]

this was such an amazing video!! gives me even more of a reason to learn the erhu someday. i fell in love with the instrument a few years ago when i found out “oogway ascends” from kung fu panda and the legend of korra end credit theme are performed on one. now i get really excited when i hear it in movies like over the moon and mulan (2020)! :)

[@alpha_jasperflair1097]

Also i studied this for my music subject homework thank you for sharing its really helpful!

[@something_subliminal3364]

tysm for making this video. i watched over the moon on the last day of my animation class and i loved the music, so i kept singing it around the house for days after watching. i’m not a huge fan of mulan, but everyone knows reflection, and i kept finding myself wanting to switch between “fly away” (right before the last chorus) and the reflection chorus, and i could never explain why. i guess the songs are more similar than i realized. great job!!

[@HowardHoMusic]

That would be a cool mashup!

[@mylescarley32]

This episodes ending was so emotional

[@KellyCannondeBorda]

This has all the makings of a beautiful documentary.

[@alexandraoliva7604]

omg this is beautiful🥺

[@AbsolXGuardian]

14:16 Interesting comparsion, because the clip of your grandfather's music put me in the mind of fast paced western folk music, like the Devil Went Down to Georgia. I know it was because the song depicts a battle, but fiddles are the typical folk instrument used in such pieces. Anyway, you're a very good presenter. I'm tone deaf and you were able to keep my attention

[@HowardHoMusic]

Totally, I hear the similarities in western fiddle music too!

[@karendemars6001]

Thank you for including us on this journey with you, Howard; it was a lovely experience! 😊❤️

[@pasdepseudooriginal]

Such a cool and beautiful video. Thanks!