Music of Caprica

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For the music of Caprica, composer Bear McCreary utilized a wide variety of ethnic instruments and styles as well as more Western influences to create a soundscape reminiscent of, but vastly different from that of Battlestar Galactica, including the continued use of leitmotifes for characters, events and places.

Main Title Music[edit]

First appearing in the series' second episode, "Rebirth", the main title differed vastly from that of its predecessor, utilizing a theme established in the pilot episode for the Graystone Family as an overarching theme for Caprica as a whole. According to composer Bear McCreary:

"The title begins with a pounding percussion fill that introduces the Main Theme (technically the Graystone Theme), played by Chris Bleth on flute. The track builds in intensity, incorporating electric guitars and bass, played by Steve Bartek and Mike Valerio respectively. Towards the end, a distorted drum kit enters (played by Nate Wood) that gives the track a hard-rock feel, completely unique from anything we heard in the pilot. I wanted to give our delicate, plaintive melody a bad ass metal backbone, representative of the V-Clubs and cultural underbelly of Caprica City that the series depicts." [1]

Character & Event Themes[edit]

Many of themes used throughout the single season run of Caprica were established in the series pilot episode.

Main Characters[edit]

Graystone Family Theme[edit]

Described as the de facto Caprica theme, the Graystone Family Theme was initially created to underscore scenes featuring the Graystones, but later evolved into the series main title. Executive producer David Eick later recalled in "The Music of Caprica" video blog that theme was a remarkable achievement as it was instantly recognizable and easily associated with Caprica. [2]

The theme first appears in the pilot immediately following the destruction of the Caprica City Lev by Ben Stark during a montage in which Daniel and Amanda Graystone mourn the death of their daughter, Zoe Graystone. It appears in virtually every episode of the series, generally played on flute or strings. It notably appears in the series finale "Apotheosis", underscoring the U-87s battling STO terrorists in Atlas Arena. For that episode, McCreary described the piece, titled "Apotheosis", as an extension of the main title, combining strings, percussion and electric guitars. The Graystone Theme is also integral in the final moments of the series, played on string and accompanied by percussion in what McCreary described as a "soaring" final statement. [3]

In the episode, "End of Line", Daniel Graystone appears playing the Graystone Theme on the piano in his home lab. [4]

Graystone Family Ostinato[edit]

McCreary described the Graystone Ostinato as a "simple oscillating pattern...woven throughout the score, serving as the canvas upon which the longer melodies are painted." [5] Usually played on the harp, piano and gamelan, the osinato was restated in the series finale in a more aggressive variation, heard in the climactic battle at Atlas Arena. [6]

Daniel Graystone Ostinato[edit]

Another ostinato is the repetitive figure created to represent Daniel Graystone personally. First signifying Daniel's progressing obsession with the Zoe avatar and his "growing madness", the theme later underscored many of the scientist's scenes. [7] Usually played on harp, the ostinato was also accompanied by aggressive percussive elements in the pilot as well as in the climactic moments of "Know Thy Enemy". [8]

Amanda Graystone Theme[edit]

A lesser used melody, the Amanda Graystone Theme notably appeared during the Graystones' love scene during the pilot. [9] A simple, ascending scale, the theme was also prominently featured in the Amanda-centered episode, "The Imperfections of Memory" in which it was adapted for her deceased brother Darius. Utilized as both a theme and in the form of an ostinato, the Darius melody was Amanda's theme played in reverse order. [10]

Zoe Graystone Chords[edit]

While both the Graystone Theme and Ostinato were utilized to represent Zoe Graystone, a third musical idea connected to Zoe was more specifically constructed for her. [11] The progression first appears when Lacy Rand discovers the Zoe avatar in the virtual world and later recurs in "Rebirth" as Lacy embraces Zoe in her robotic form. [12]

Tauron Theme[edit]

Possibly the second most frequently heard theme throughout Caprica is the theme created for the Tauron side of the series. With the themes for the Graystones given a more traditional Western sound, the Tauron Theme was created as a more ethnic counterpoint. Used in scenes featuring Joseph Adama and his family, the Tauron Theme was frequently played by Paul Cartwright on the acoustic fiddle, or by Chris Bleth on the Chinese membrane flute. [13]

The Tauron Theme is the only theme in Caprica to receive lyrics, heard in the episode "There is Another Sky" during the funeral for Tamara and Shannon Adama. Written by the episode's writer, Kath Lingenfelter, the lyrics for the Tauron Theme were sung in Ancient Greek: [14]

Original English lyrics by Kath Lingenfelter:
These are the voices of those

Who have passed over the river heard
On the wind entwined with the
Eternal and the everlasting
These are the voices of those whom
We have loved, who no more will suffer
Who have returned to the mud
This is the voice of the dead
Entwined with the eternal and the everlasting

Speaking of the Tauron Theme, Bear McCreary said:

"My task was relatively easy because Tauron and its musical traditions are entirely fictional, so I could make Tauronese music sound like whatever I wanted. I drew my inspirations from Russian folk music, and asked Paul Cartwright to play in that style as opposed to the Scottish Fiddle feel he so frequently evokes for “Roslin and Adama” on Battlestar." [15]

External Links[edit]

References[edit]