My obsessions tend to get the better of me. I hardly watch TV, but Fringe stands out for a couple reasons: the zany Dr. Walter Bishop and the theme music. The former has irrepressible cravings for food, the latter is undeniably catchy. Even if Olivia Dunham is meant to be the "main character", the show doesn't work without Bishop's far-flung expertise and polarized reactions.
Fringe's theme is composed by the multitalented J.J. Abrams, and I listened to it so much that I was compelled to learn it on the piano and play it for you. Thanx to No1hotdogguy for helping me figure out, so I could take sheer liberties to blend it with X-Files. (Which Fringe has inevitably drawn comparisons to.) There's also some Rachmaninoff influence because I've been listening to Matt Bellamy's solos lately. The Fringe theme is quite simple and reminiscent of Philip Glass, but fits the opening titles gloriously as a lovely work!
Suitably, I made the video look lo-fi, as if it was a venture into madness performed in a 1960s university lab… not unlike Walter's. Thanx to NewBlue Film Pro for the gritty retro look, and I also used a touch of iZotope Vinyl to scrunge up the audio, tho not much — I wanted the clarity of the piano tones to shine through. I filmed this performance with a refurbished Canon SD1100 IS, a fine bargain. It pays to be resourceful, especially if you're conducting experiments.
Related Posts
Be my friend!
Stay up-to-date
Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to me and be auto-updated when new stuff is out!
November 28th, 2008 at 5:04 PM PST
OMG… I could listen to that all day… That was just so beautiful…
I agree, I'd love to have a music box with that music.
Way to go Torley! :))
I'm yet to see an episode of Fringe, but you made me curious now.
November 28th, 2008 at 5:44 PM PST
Love the show, Love sl…now you kina combined em both for me…hehe!! Awesome!!!ty!!!!
November 29th, 2008 at 12:14 PM PST
Fringe keeps getting better, Dizzy. The mythos is shaping up! So many layers. It's nice because they don't throw it at you in a cluttery way during the show, but for the keen-eyed Observer, the clues are there.
@khloe: WOOHOO! SYNERGY!!
November 30th, 2008 at 11:20 AM PST
Wow, that was exciting! Very entertaining performance as well ha ha. The crossover was brilliant.
December 5th, 2008 at 11:50 AM PST
Wow, that was amazing. PLEASE re-record that and release it as an MP3, I could listen to that all day. I especially loved the x-file cross over.
December 6th, 2008 at 1:20 PM PST
I had so much fun with this, and re: MP3, you have your wish! It's a somewhat different version but… also includes "The Equation". http://torley.com/the-fringe-equation-new-piano-performance-of-that-theme ENJOY!
December 7th, 2008 at 9:14 AM PST
Fringe kicks ass.
December 8th, 2008 at 7:49 PM PST
Not reading your description before watching the video, I started wondering why the video looked that way and seemed to be flickr'ing and then noticed the filmroll scratches and was wondering WTF???
But as I listened to your playing and you getting into the various styles, I suddenly realized what I was seeing and what you had done. BRILLIANT!! LOVED IT!! Hahahahaha
December 11th, 2008 at 3:04 PM PST
that sounds the same as the website on the new "angalina jolie stripper movie" blue something or other…
December 11th, 2008 at 3:09 PM PST
whoops. not Angelina… that chick from seventh heaven, jessica biel.
apparently the song is called "soul's release," by dripping whispers.
similar, but a little more integrated, than your "mozart version of this song…
the movie is called "powder blue".
December 12th, 2008 at 3:38 PM PST
@Kimo: Yes, just like Walter's old film reels. ;D Thanx to NewBlue FX for the video plugins which allowed me to artificially age this digital "film"!
@Phish: I'll check that out… I like it when songs sound similar and can be megamixed or mash-upped.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:31 PM PST
Meghan and I watch Fringe every Tuesday, and this was way cool. I grabbed the mp3. Love how you incorporated the equation as well.
December 27th, 2008 at 9:16 AM PST
@Jadey: Thanx! I can't wait for Fringe to come back on air with NEW EPS. Ravie and I watch it devotedly too.
December 28th, 2008 at 11:09 PM PST
hi my friend i always watch your videos in sl or any for this mater i like you very much, how that you are so clever on all thinks, good look and happy new year. hope to see you in sl.
January 1st, 2009 at 10:01 AM PST
Oh that's way cool, Happy New Year domenico!