“Music course” is probably the most mysterious of the seven music classes on the Emmys, and eligibility guidelines have modified over time. The present definition is: “arranging and orchestrating, composition, supervising of rehearsals and recordings, and conducting each dwell and prerecorded materials.”
Explains Adam Blackstone, who gained final yr as music director of the Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present: “It’s not simply in regards to the music. My job can be referee, to ensure issues go easily.” He’s a twin nominee this yr, for Fox’s Tremendous Bowl LVII Halftime Present starring Rihanna and HBO Max’s 2022 Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame Induction Ceremony.
For the Rihanna present, he began planning three months earlier than the Feb. 12 occasion. “I requested her, what’s the story you’re attempting to convey?” he notes, serving to to pick out the 13 songs that might grow to be a greatest-hits medley working 13 1/2 minutes. There have been 43 completely different variations of the set record earlier than Tremendous Bowl Sunday.
Blackstone labored carefully with co-music director Omar Edwards (additionally nominated) and choreographer Parris Goebel, and though the band was pre-recorded for the precision motion of the dancers, he was additionally onstage taking part in bass throughout the present.
For the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame, the all-star solid included Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Eminem, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar and extra. “It will get slightly difficult to say who’s tributing who, and we’re not in a position to ebook that far prematurely due to touring schedules. It’s slightly little bit of a brain-twister, that’s for certain.”
Blackstone labored on new preparations for nearly every part within the three-hour present, “as a result of it’s for tv, [but] these legendary artists have enter on what sections of every tune work greatest for them.” In contrast to the Tremendous Bowl present, the R&R Corridor of Fame present isn’t dwell, giving Blackstone and firm time to tweak it in post-production earlier than airing per week later.
Two-time Emmy winner Rickey Minor is nominated for a 3rd time as music director of ABC’s Oscar telecast. The 2023 version was particular as a result of the orchestra was on stage for the primary time in a number of years. “It modified every part,” he says. “Sonically, we weren’t within the pit and it gave the music extra room to breathe.”
He performed a 42-piece orchestra throughout the dwell present, and throughout the earlier week rehearsed and pre-recorded most of the 160 particular person items that have been wanted: play-ons, play-offs, music into and out of commercials, and most significantly, the preparations of the very best tune nominees.
This yr was extra of a panic than most as a result of performers Rihanna and Woman Gaga determined to hitch the present on the final minute.
“I like taking a deep dive into the historical past of the Academy,” Minor provides, generally selecting obscure film tunes or these from different nations to play. “What do I would like the viewers to really feel contained in the theater?” he asks. “They dictate how individuals at residence will really feel. I have a look at the pacing of it, that it has an ebb and movement.”
This yr’s Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for In style Music went to Joni Mitchell, captured in a 90-minute PBS particular that featured James Taylor, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Graham Nash, Diana Krall and extra. Greg Phillinganes was nominated as music director.
Ken Ehrlich, who produced the present, praised Phillinganes as having the three requisites for this job: “Nice musical style that must be broad sufficient to embody many alternative kinds of music; the flexibility to pay attention, to the artist, the producer, however largely the music; and the dedication to placing the time and vitality into arising with an nearly unimaginable variety of preparations, kinds and keys in an extremely transient time span.”
