"Office" theme vs. "Northern Exposure's"

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 8:43am

Anyone else notice a similarity? Is it the instrumentation, the arrangement, the whiff of ... what is it? concertina or Native American wind instruments (sorry, I'm not a muscian). I used to love the NORTHERN EXPOSURE theme -- one of the most evocative ever composed that absolutely nailed the feel of the show, both the eccentricity and the slower, unforced rhythms of the storytelling. THE OFFICE theme is startling for its inherent gentleness, the "yin" component of the characters's issues and intentions (Michael's vulnerability rather than ineptitude). It might've been easy to create a hipper, cooler sound, but there's something about its warmth against the snowy Scranton scapes that welcomes you.

Updated On: 4/21/08 at 08:43 AM

[Jon]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 2:20pm

Is it maybe a Melodica - the wind instrument with the piano keyboard, typically sold next to the harmonicas?

They are also known by the nickname "hooters". The was an 80's rock band called The Hooters that used them in their songs.

The Hooters - "And We Danced" Updated On: 4/21/08 at 02:20 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 3:55pm

Thank you. Reminds me of those Native American-esque groups that always play at NYC street festivals (That music, and the smell of funnel cake, just go hand in hand).

NORTHERN EXPOSURE, by the way, is one of those hit series that enjoyed a brief run, disappeared into the ether, one of a kind. I just saw the box set DVD recently -- prohibitively priced, alas.

But I still wonder if the EXPOSURE theme played a conscious or subconscious part in designing the music for OFFICE.