The Music of Foundation

Composer Bear McCreary details the creation of an "algorithm orchestra" for the score for the epic new AppleTV+ series Foundation.
The original soundtrack to Foundation is available at your favorite music retailer: t.co/ruO3ZFaR1...
For more information about the score to Foundation, visit the composer's website: bearmccreary.c...

[@Saint0bi]

Bear McCreary is one of those names you keep seeing in intros with great music until one day you Google him and then realize that this guy makes music that you've always liked.

[@finnie4394]

Just like John Williams for the old classics like Jurassic Park and Star Wars

[@MarkGalean]

I never, NEVER skip the intro thanks to its beautifully crafted music. It gives me chills, and stare in awe, I don't have enough words to explain what I feel, just want to say THANK YOU for this!!!!!

[@otiagosacramento]

I'm in love with "Gaal Leaves Synnax" and "The Dream of Cleon The First". Congratulations, McCreary. You did a great soubdtrack!

[@dkdeep5505]

Exactly my two favourites!

[@nvcn86]

such a shame the series is a steaming pile of shit the writers have taken on asimov's grave. insulting, to say the least.

[@Hainbach]

It is so good to see your “behind the scenes” videos again. I remember buying a Psalter after the Walking Dead one, very inspiring.

[@joelmulder]

This is the best series soundtrack I’ve heard since the BSG reboot. When I heard the opening in the first episode, I immediately knew it was by Bear McCreary. Absolutely stunning!

[@Philistine47]

One of the best ways a film or TV show can advertise itself is by just saying, "Score by Bear McCreary."

[@arnoldsherrill6305]

You know a composer is on fire when you're spending more time during the movie listening to it instead of actually watching it ., that is the power of bear McCreary as an artist and composer

[@Irridia]

I hadn't realized you did this show. The music was epic and perfect. I think you are destined to become the "John Williams" of the next few generations!

[@kb7iuj]

I've loved Mr. McCreary's work, particularly from "Battlestar Galactica" (Pegasus was awesome) and "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.". I was thrilled to see his name on the credits for the TV show "Foundation", a series I have been a fan of since I was a young child.

[@MrTizzay]

The randomized compositions sound incredible, order within chaos! Fits the shows themes perfectly, another great score

[@PrefoX]

Dear Bear, you are the greatest tv series composer of all time, I even watch some series just because of your music. you are a genious!

[@grabbymcpoosey614]

Seconded. I’ll give a show a view just because of Bear. I still remember having zero interest in the Cloverfield but was blown away by his work in 10 Cloverfield Lane.

[@sherylAA]

I could listen to Bears Music all day. and listen to him explain how he makes it all day as well. :)

[@SydMountaineer]

There’s something about the opening theme that creeps me out, it’s beautiful, but creepy, space-like, as in the isolation & emptiness of space. I LOVE the orchestra, love it!

[@t.miranda176]

If I ever manage to have my novels adapted to films, I'd love to have Bear McCreary scoring them.

[@DarthHunter5]

Imho the best current sci-fi series and no matter how much I binge it, I never skip the intro. So beautifully arranged, really captures the sense of conflict, hope and the grand scale of the entire setting. The underlying sound bed reminds me a little bit of the feel that the Defiance theme gave me, although that one dips more into the dubstep genre.

[@ptajimura]

You know Bear, your music is the only thing in the series that I loved in full, without any objections and gruntles, and watching this I appreciate it even more. This is fantastic!

[@DRUMAdam91]

Damn, you gotta release that software!

[@tiborsramek]

I love this show mainly for two reasons: the emperors are the most interesting characters in ages and the music is fantastic, The Dream of Cleon the First is one of the most beautiful themes I've ever heard

[@errhka]

This is an absolutely incredible breakdown bear, and incredibly fascinating seeing the interface between the computer mathematics and music composition. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@ispowart]

Amazing! The Seldon Black software seems like a similar concept to Stephen Kay’s Karma algorithms. I hope it gets released so I can use it with my old Triton :)

[@arthuroliveirasouza4714]

I can´t wait for the music of next seasons, like music of Hobber Mallow, Bel Riose, The Mule and very other characters and sequences.

[@MattLeger]

I had never even heard of Mr. McCreary, or knowingly heard his music, until my wife got me into watching OUTLANDER and I heard his magnificent reworking of "The Skye Boat Song" for the series' main theme. Since then he's obviously gotten a lot more popular with showrunners, as I've started seeing his name on opening credits of more shows, and his work has just gotten better and more striking. He has the capacity to become one of the all-time great movie/TV music scorers, on a par with John Williams, Bernard Herrmann, Mike Post and Dominic Frontiere. I fully expect this to happen. Thank you, sir, for sharing your process with us in this great video. And you're younger than I thought you'd be (or at least look younger), so we can hope to have you around making terrific music for a good long time to come!

[@neciebooyaw]

Loved this song since the first time I heard it

[@MisterRorschach90]

You are the best television composer in the galaxy.

[@Drumsholic]

Extraordinary composed music similar with the fiction of the series really out of this world production !! Mind blowing!!

[@AW-cm9gv]

This is as beautiful as it is fitting for a story like "Foundation" - initially delicate and intriguing, then ultimately grand and intimidating, It's perfect.

[@FleischYT]

Bear McCreary this is a Masterpiece!

[@olovonb9798]

Glad to see a familiar composer soul keeping on learning ! Thank you for the great sound mister McC! ❤

[@giacomocastellano-official]

I was very happy to discover that was you as composer of "Foundation" series. This "math solution" to make music is also amazing!

[@TCMusic-iv4nd]

Hi Bear, I dabble with music writing, and let me tell you that listening to your music and watching your videos have also taught me a thing or two about composition and the process of music creation. So thank you for that!

[@RickWolfff]

If I could go back in time and have another career, it'd be this. So beautiful. Of course, I'd have to be young, today.

[@geotecnics]

The combination of orchestra, choral and algorythms beautifully captures the essence of creation and life itself so powerfully portrayed by Asimov. Mathematics can be felt in Bear's score not as just an embedded added musical language but as the genesis of language itself. Genius.

[@CarnivoreYoghurt]

This explains the incredible variation that can be heard in the soundtrack! Amazing work!

[@grabbymcpoosey614]

this guy has been amazing for 20 years since he did the reboot of Battlestar Galactica

[@James-gp4ru]

Fantastic soundtrack!

[@Benjamin_Gilbert-Lif]

I want a piano transcription of the main theme so badly

[@SharmaYelverton]

Am absolutely loving the music in the score so far. I really need to attempt transcribe that theme music!

[@thestranger8411]

Your music is brilliant! Now I listen to it on Apple Music. Btw is there any chance to get the software you presented? Is it available for purchase?

[@Dr.Harvey]

I had no idea about randomness in Foundation's music! It's really worked in fascinating way!

[@leefoster4171]

Brilliant themes and motifs. The show is and looks fantastic

[@EmpireOfExcellence]

Amazing music! Thanks Bear 🎉

[@userou-ig1ze]

the main issue with foundation is that the music is not loud enough and Bear is not featured large enough

[@ScoreCues]

Thanks sharing your creative process! Love these videos.

[@jnx4803]

Gaal Leaves Synnax is my favorite. I personally place Foundation score next to Hans Zimmer Interstellar or Dune scores. It's amazing.

[@KAPTAIN_GRE]

Super exited with you’re work in the gow ragnarok trailer. I can’t wait to see all of you’re gow work😉 #RAGNAROKISCOMMING

[@Cuddlebunchesofoats]

Yes!!! I’ve been waiting for this video!! Thank you for taking the time in producing this, like all the others you have done. Thanks for everything you have done! Has helped many shows/movies/games and overall my life is better because of you. See you in the next one! Hope you do your challenge instrument again, like the kazoo! So awesome.

[@fallinginthed33p]

Random arpeggio generator? Seriously cool stuff!

[@Van_Liberty]

If Rachmaninoff were alive today, what could he do with this technology? Wow! Foundation's intro is just something amazing and deep in affect...

[@nikolaykashevnik5906]

Its great but i hears this 4 years ago from music bu Oulafur Arnalds.

[@damono4416]

0:10 that cubase session!!... ho boy... 😭

[@labetefaramine]

I have a few gripes with the show itself but I really enjoyed listening to the soundtrack (my favourite tracks are Gaal leaves Synnax and The Dream of Cleon the First). Mr McCreary's work is truly inspirational and never disappoints. I can't wait to listen his future scores, be it that of See's second season, God of War: Ragnarok, and, if ever some rumors ends up true, Amazon's Lord of the Rings show.

[@arthuroliveirasouza4714]

Foundation by apple it´s a excelent series, dude. Yes, the dumb fans don´t understand the proposal of the main trilogy of books and they are hating the series only because they addicted much more new characters and much more new concepts that don´t exist in the books, but they dont´compromisse the plot,themes and messages of the show. Because the main trilogy of books it´s very dry in characters and development of the same characters and it´s more about world construction and concepts. Yes, i read all the 7 novels of foundation

[@Saint0bi]

@@arthuroliveirasouza4714 I understand what you mean... but I don't fully agree. The pacing is not the best (you have to wait a week to find out basic outcomes )and the actors vary in experience (Really, Salvor?). Also, the script seems... restrained. Censored. It comes off as childish at times and sometimes you're left wondering why you just saw that scene. (Brother Dawn and the Gardener on a ledge?! Why?! ) I think the main MORAL takeaway from all this is that "Girls (and other Youth) need to be in STEM" so the show seems to pander to a Young Adult audience but it doesn't have do so as much as it is doing so currently. All that being said, I have faith in the Producer/Director and Apple TV. Season 2 will prolly kick ass anyway.

[@girlion2001]

Simply Mind Blowing!

[@TheStudioDrummer]

Great Show, Great Score. Thanks for sharing some of the twists and turns you encountered while composing. I need that software!😄 (P.S. I'm staring at my TV waiting on Season 3 as we speak....)lol

[@jensjensen4038]

Amazing video

[@KarelChytilArt]

Perfect!

[@arnoldsherrill6305]

Can you imagine a remix of some of the music from Battlestar Galactica using this software? The thought of it sends my heart pounding

[@jaketanner109]

Anyone know with certainty what keyboard controller he is using?

[@lemonberries]

Computers are tools and tools are merely extensions of ourselves

[@andynonimuss6298]

Love it! So cool!

[@Will2.O]

Truly a genius

[@benjaminduk5764]

Love your stuff Bear!

[@snarf1504]

What's the difference between this and a midi arpeggiator?

[@jensjensen4038]

The mathematics.

[@cindytartt4048]

In the finale of season 2, when Dawn & Sareth escape & are talking with Demerzel, you must have had a deal with the Samuel Barber estate, eh? 😂

[@roninmbattousai]

That software really is truly magic. Gives it a real organic element in that mutifaceted random generation

[@issiewizzie]

I wonder if the app will be released for iOS musician's

[@ДмитрийКнт]

any1 know what song Lady Demerzel sing in a s1e3 siting at baby chamber ?? it's just amazing but can't found out what that song is ???

[@CesarRavenclaw]

The Dream of Cleon the First

[@ronin3381]

Respect and enjoy the music.

[@atliszilla445]

This is actually cool.

[@alfix7]

I wonder what if he Seldon Black-ed his old BSG soundtrack... 🤔🤩

[@TravisLohmannMusic]

I see an MX Ergo!!!!!! :-D

[@OlgierdKowal]

Could you sell scores to this soundtrack please?

[@OlgierdKowal]

I'm a student of music school and I'd like to play it with my friends

[@arthuroliveirasouza4714]

Yes , the series have very new concepts and characters compared to the books, but they don´t compromisse the main plotline, ideas and messages. The Purist and dumb fans need to understand that the original trilogy it´s very dry in characters and in development of the characters and it´s more about concepts and ideas. The showrunner of the show understanded this very well. And let´s face it, if they adapted the first book in literal form, would remain only 4 or 5 episodes. So new material it´s necessary. Even asimov agreed if they adapted foundation, some changes was necessary. So what´s the surprise, the series it´s excellent , the avatar of shows because of visual, scale and effects and also the story it´s excellent.

[@qiancao8667]

What is this software Bear is using in the background? Not the Seldon Black. Is it protools?

[@OneShortMoment]

Nope, that’s Cubase (or possibly Nuendo - it’s impossible to distinguish the two by just a quick glance at the screen, especially if you can’t make out the title bar due to the quality / resizing of the screen capture 😉… and in terms of composing it doesn’t really matter anyway.)

[@Saint0bi]

@@OneShortMoment I thought that looked like Cubase.

[@OneShortMoment]

@@Saint0bi Yes, and it most likely is. But like I already tried to say above : If it would be Nuendo, it would look the same (except for the title bar)

[@cro-magnum7642]

What's the song at 4:24

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Why did the producers decide to say "Harry" (Har-rEE)" instead of "Hari" (Hhar-ii) One is like Prince Harry, the other like Marta Hari. Same with Gail instead of Gaal. (Gay-el vs Gar-l)

[@nataliakunikowska1157]

I like the music but all the time I hear "his dark material" in it, and as far as I know this is not the same composer. It is good that the composer admits.. after 5 minutes that for electronic musicians this is nothting new... thank you and I think allready in the 60ties with the minimal music has allready used some interesting synt. sound, the whole discipline musical technology is build about the idea how to create music from a computer and nowadays what he is working with a lot of composers are usiing.. and think about random music, does cage not use an algortittm to create certain random compositions.. ?? anyway ... personally what I like the most in filmmusic is the ability to make it interesting harmonicly and at the same time make it into such a puzzle that you can use it in the whole series... it is a difficult task but still I wonder why it sounds so much as his dark material :)

[@malwiniuscyranoolframfromy4820]

The series is a slap in the face of Asimov's books, but the music is great - Mr. McCreary delivers-

[@arthuroliveirasouza4714]

Like Handmaid tale ? Handmaid tale show it´s very different from the book and it´s a great show. Like the series of foundation. ´´But they aren´t faithful``. Yes, they are faithful in therms of main plotline and messages and themes, they only additionned much more material in the characters and tecnology and the universe of foundation, because let´s face it, if they adapted literally the first book of foundation, would be only 4 or 5 episodes and the first book it´s short in therms of character development. And in relation of Salvor Hardin, i am shore that she will be like the book in the end of the series with the phrase ´´violence it´s last refuge of incompetent``.

[@krisumusic]

I have never read the books, and the Foundation is one if not the most interesting series I've ever watched and I'm very picky. Sad that the book fans feel so bad about it. If not I think try to watch it as an adaptation, not exact mirror. It's almost never the case with movies/series. Never ever, it's a different medium.

[@Saint0bi]

Buddy, Foundatiion was published in 1942. This show premiered in 2021. A LOT has changed in-between. You're going to have to keep up.

[@thiagohenriqueoliveira8180]

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