(4) - THE MUSIC (4.1) - Who does the music, and what type of music is it? The following is from a FOX press release , via Todd Palino . For the "sound landscapes," composer John Frizzell (orchestrator of "Wild Palms") creates VR.5's ear-opening score; opera is the key element. The music created represents the subconscious, which is as unpredictable, paradoxical and passionate as virtual reality itself. The theme, which came to Frizzell in a dream, combined with the lush voice of recording artist Dee Carstensen, musically epitomizes Sydney's persona. Contrasting Dee is opera singer Eileen Frizzell, whose striking mezzo sound resonates with power during the scenes. The shape and direction of the score has been profoundly influenced by music supervisor Abby Treloggen, whose precise and eclectic taste has added an array of music to the soundtracks ranging from Sarah McLachlan to Puccini. (4.2) - Is the VR.5 soundtrack available? Maybe. Maybe not. A VR.5 soundtrack was released on 13 June 1995, but is now out of print. A record store near you may have a copy still left in stock. The album is: - available on both CD and tape - called: "VR.5: the original television soundtrack" - apparently available only in the U.S. right now - sold with a suggested price of $17.95 USA (less than $20 including tax), but can be had for less if you shop around - Released by Zoo Entertainment/Zoo Records - Distributed by BMG - The CD number is: 72445-11109-2 CD-NI The tape number is: 72445-11109-4 (Thanks to Terri Ann for the tape number.) The soundtrack contains the following selections: Track # Title Length (min:sec) 1 sydney's theme 0:48 2 highrise rooftop 2:09 3 paradise shower 2:34 4 waterstation clue 1:03 5 to dance again (*) 4:02 6 animal VR / kravitz VR 5:21 7 didjeridu thing 1:34 8 family drowning / cat fight 4:44 9 sydney's theme 0:54 10 the theater 4:16 11 the bank 3:26 12 getting the info / trailerpark 2:59 13 i'd choose you 1:30 14 scriptwriting 2:10 15 morgan freaks / booth's theme 4:36 16 mom freaks 3:17 17 booth's tango 0:58 18 sydney & duncan talk 1:02 19 main title 0:50 20 simon's requiem 4:37 21 sydney's theme 0:49 (*) Composed by Dee Carstensen and John Frizzell; the hauntingly beautiful song played the funeral sequence at the beginning of "5D." See section 4.6 for the song's lyrics. In case you're wondering, yes: the tracks are all labelled in lower case, and everything after "VR.5" on the label ("the original television soundtrack") is in lower case. (4.3) - From which episodes do the tracks come? This list is compiled from conversations taking place on the VR5 listserv. Thanks to Erin , Alexander Soendjaja , Mara Simone Gobovic , and James Watkinson for their help. SONGS ON THE CD FROM NUMEROUS IF NOT ALL EPS: sydney's theme (01,09,21) family drowning/cat fight (08) main title (19) [not played in pilot] SONGS ON THE CD FROM THE PILOT: highrise rooftop (02) paradise shower (03) didjeridu thing (07) animal VR/kravitz VR (06) mom freaks (16) SONGS FROM DOCTOR STRANGECHILD to dance again (05) animal VR/kravitz VR (06) waterstation clue (04) SONGS ON THE CD FROM SISTERS: the theater (10) the bank (11) getting the info/trailerpark (12) scriptwriting (14) i'd choose you (13) SONGS FROM LOVE & DEATH: morgan freaks/booth's theme (15) booth's tango (17) mom freaks (16) sydney & duncan talk (18) SONGS FROM 5D: to dance again (05) SONGS FROM ESCAPE: sydney & duncan talk (18) SONGS FROM SIMON'S CHOICE: simon's requiem (20) (4.4) - What is the VR.5 Advance Cassette and where can I get it? Lisa Cunningham came across an advance cassette which is "slightly different" from the CD. This is different from the Promo CD Samoset is currently offering. This one has liner notes: VR.5, the one hour sci-fi thriller series from acclaimed executive producer and writer John Sacret Young (China Beach) and co-executive producer Thania St. John (Life Goes On) debuted as the Fox network's biggest show in its history. Lori Singer stars as Sydney Bloom, daughter of Dr. Joseph Bloom (David McCallum), a neurobiologist on the cutting edge of virtual reality research and technology. Accidentally tapping into the world of virtual reality, Sydney utilizes this new found skill to address significant individula and social issues. Also starring in the series are Michael Easton (Days of Our Lives) and Anthony Head. John Frizzell's exotic film music blends mesmerizing rhythms with lush vocal, string and horn arrangements. From jazz to classical, bizarre syntheses to aboriginal, the VR.5 soundtrack defies classification yet provides a dramatic ambient listening experience as passionate and volatile as virtual reality itself. 'The possibilities of virtual realities are as limitless as the possibilities of reality.......a doorway to other worlds.' - Scott Fisher, Former NASA Researcher, "Virtual Interface Environments"" Lisa further notes the similarity between that NASA researcher and the name of the boy genius in "Dr. Strangechild." The tape is not commercially available. (4.5) - What is the VR.5 Promo CD and where can I get one? On 31 Jul 96, one of the VR.5 team posted a message to alt.tv.vr5 with a fantastic offer: Hi All, While cleaning out more storage spaces we found a box of CD's that were made for the Premiere Party. It is a limited edition (only 500 made) w/artwork from the Visual Effects Supervisors. (Same music, but in different order from the record label release, and different artwork.) If anyone is interested in obtaining one of these, please send $10 to the Samoset offices - 127 Broadway, Suite 220, Santa Monica, CA 90401. One will be sent to you asap. Thanks. Yes, the offer is legitimate and several people have received their CD's already. The track listing is different, as VR5Prod said, and there are a trio of tracks not on it, but there is also one new track. Here is the track list: Track # Title Length (min:sec) 1 Sydney's Theme 0:48 2 Highrise Rooftop 2:09 3 Paradise Shower 2:33 4 Waterstation Clue 1:03 5 To Dance Again (*) 4:02 6 Animal VR / Kravitz VR 5:20 7 Didjeridu Thing 1:34 8 Family Drowning / Cat Fight 4:44 9 Sydney's Theme 0:53 10 The Theater 4:16 11 The Bank 3:28 12 Getting the info / Trailerpark 2:59 13 I'd Choose You 1:29 14 Scriptwriting 2:10 15 Morgan Freaks / Booth's Theme 4:35 16 Mom Freaks 3:16 17 Booth's Tango 0:58 18 Sydney & Duncan Talk 1:02 19 VR Hot To Cold / Sydney's Theme 2:22 (*) Composed by Dee Carstensen and John Frizzell; the hauntingly beautiful song played the funeral sequence at the beginning of "5D." See section 4.6 for the song's lyrics. Tracks 19 - 22 of the commercially availably CD have been replaced by track 19 on the promo CD. Other than that, the tracks are identical. The packaging is in sepia tone. The front cover is a closeup of Sydney's face in a contemplative mood. The inside of the insert is a pic of Sydney walking down her stairs. The back cover is a black and white picture of the hallway from Escape. And, yes, the track titles do use capital letters. (4.6) - What are the lyrics to the music at the beginning of "5D?" From PencilArts : Here are the lyrics to the hauntingly beautiful song played during the Funeral of Frank Morgan/Syd Smashing Her Computers scene (beginning of episode #4, "5D"): TO DANCE AGAIN <---Track 5 on VR.5 CD soundtrack by Dee Carstensen & John Frizzell if you hear me if you see a shadow of light it's a child lost long ago emerging from the night if you know me if you do remember our dreams and take me back to yesterday before I had to leave we always dreamed as one we danced until we used up all the sun no endings forever free no harm could come to you and me how I long to see you how I long to dance..again (4.7) What does it mean? Gayle Highpine posted one possible explanation for the lyrics in the song. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't know the context of "To Dance Again" (it must be in one of the unaired episodes?) but, unlike Erin, I did not interpret the "I" of the song as being Sydney's. Rather, I always thought that the "I" was Samantha and the "you" was Sydney. Sydney and Samantha have a psychic link. But -- Sydney believes that Samantha is dead, while Samantha knows that Sydney is alive. I interpreted the song as Samantha's attempt to communicate somehow with Sydney: If you hear me, if you see ["you" being Sydney] A shadow of light [a vision of Samantha, sense of her presence, whatever] It's a child lost long ago [Samantha was kidnapped and lost, Sydney believes she was lost to death] Emerging from the night [from her apparent death, as it seems in Sydney's mind; also from the endless night of her life since her kidnapping] If you know me, in/if you/your ? Remember our dreams [referring to the "dreams as one" that she and Sydney shared] And take me back to yesterday Before I had to leave [Samantha was the one who left, not Sydney] We always dreamed as one [referring to psychic link between the twins] We danced until we used up all the sun [referring to the carefree childhood games they played] No endings, forever free No harm could come to you and me [referring to the childhood sense of innocence they shared] How I long to see you [Samantha misses Sydney] How I long to dance again [referring to the childhood games and her desire to return to that innocent happy time] If the "I" of the song is Sydney, it is hard to pin down who would be the "you" or the "we." If the "I" is Samantha, the "you" fits Sydney perfectly and the "we" perfectly fits Sydney and Samantha together. Gayle -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4.7) Where can I find the sheet music or MIDI files of "To Dance Again"? Lori Olson created a Midi transcription of "To Dance Again" based on the sheet music made by Terri Ann (Wynstorm Huntress) Guingab. It is available on her VR.5 Multimedia Web Site: http://pearl.sri.com/vr5/vr5.htm as vr5.mid and can run on any computer which has a sound card and the proper software to play it. (4.8) What is the other music in "The Pilot?" Mara S. Gobovic <105043.3331@compuserve.com> recognized two tracks from The Pilot on Dee Carstensen's CD. The first, "Beloved One," occured during the VR date Sydney set up with Cooper. Before the oceans parted You swam beside the beasts before you found yourself warmhearted you only lived to set your mind at peace Before the days were separate you were always running toward the setting sun Before your feet were worm from centuries you were chasing your beloved one (4x) Come into my, come into my, come into my dreams chasing me (3x) I am your beloved one, Iam your beloved one Before the glaciers melted you were trashing through the bones I shed I believe last night I felt it I know you'll come one day to see me wed Before the nights grew lonely you were wishing this journey done you were saving your eternity for the mouth of your beloved one (CHORUS) "The Wish" was played during the actual date between Sydney and our favorite psychotic murderer, Cooper: He told me I remind him of you you're a spirit on the wind He could never pin you down yet you're his dearest friend (chorus) I imagine that your lips are soft to kiss I imagine your hair falling on his shoulders as you lay him down I imagine you're a presence a man like him would miss I wish that I were you He told me I remind him of when his heart but all stood still time and time again a first love sometimes will (chorus) I imagine that his lips are sweet to kiss I imagine my hair falling on his shoulders as I lay him down I imagine all the heartache I probably will miss I wish that I were you (4.9) - What is the other music in "Sisters?" Mara spotted some music from "Sisters." "It's playing in the beginning... after Sydney wakes up from her nightmare and talks to Duncan." The song is entitled "Sleepwalk" by The Golden Palominos and is off their album, "This Is How It Feels." Here are the lyrics: I think I've been asleep I saw lights on the road Clouds moving overhead At a speed I couldn't follow It was very dark I tried to keep my eyes On the white lines But the sky Where are you? (8x) There were voices in the trees And if he came to me I knew I'd feel him and so I opened Where are you? (8x) Do you believe in anything? Do you think it can be explained? Why if I dreamed was I awake? Why in his love am I afraid? Why did I fall to my knees? Why did I cry out Please? I think I've been asleep I saw lights on the road Clouds moving overhead At a speed I couldn't follow It was very dark And so I can't be sure But it seemed a little pure For a sleepwalk His hands are not soft His voice is not loud His comfort not mine His justice not kind There was movement in the trees And then he came to me I knew I'd feel him And so I opened (4.10) - What is the other music in "Escape?" The lyrics to the song at the beginning of Escape were transcribed by Erin : Down, down, down, down, till you can reach/breathe no further Down, down, down, down, until you find the bottom of the dark Down, down, down, down, settle at the bottom of the pool Cool, dark pool. Will you come to me? Will you come to me? (4.11) - What is the other music in "Simon's Choice?" According to Jon Neill , the music in "Simon's Choice" was from "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber. (Thanks to John Dobbin for first raising the question.) Pat Pruyne adds: Samuel Barber's Adagio was written in 1936 and performed publicly as a meditation during the funeral services of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I believe the performance played in VR.5 may have been performed by the Kronos Quartet; but that is only by ear and familiarity with their rendition; there weren't any credits, as I recall. AmiLoo agreed: Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" was a masterful touch for the final scene of 4/21. Just hearing the first few measures was an auditory cue that his number was up. That piece is so beautiful that it never fails to make me cry. Great job! : - ) (4.12) - What is the other music in "Parallel Lives?" The opening sequence from "Parallel Lives" contains what turns out to be a traditional Irish tune, "My Lagan Love." It is unknown who actually performed the composition for the show. SimPenguin transcribed the lyrics: MY LAGAN LOVE Where Lagan streams sing lullabies there blows a lily fair. The twilight gleam is in her eye, the night is on her hair. And like a lovesick lenashee she hath my heart in thrall. No life have I, no liberty, for love is Lord of all. And often when the beetles horn has lulled the eve to sleep, I'll steal into her sheiling lorn and through the doorway creep. There on the cricket's singing stone, she makes the bogwood fire and sings in sweet undertone, the song of hearts desire. Stephan Roy out of Paris, France pointed out another song, too: There are the references of the Julee Cruise CD. The song heard when Sam went get the money in the building in Parallel Lives is called Kool Kat Walk. The CD title is The Voice of Love and the number is 9362-45390-2. The distributor is Warner Bros. Keep in mind that I bought my CD in Paris - France when it was first released back in 1993. The CD number may vary in other countries. (4.13) - Has Dee Carstensen done anything else besides VR.5? Yes! She is a recording artist in her own right, with four CD's out showcasing her talent. Andrew Tron reports that The first is from 1993 and is entitled "Beloved One." The second, "Regarding The Soul" is a 1995 release. They are put out through the independent label NYC Records. The CD's are very difficult to get through the normal channels. Andrew Tron writes: About the albums: her first album "Beloved One" tends to be more upbeat, with stronger rhythms & backing instrumentals. Her second album is more serene, and features her harp playing more prominently. Though naturally this distinction isn't sharp. Anyways, both come highly recommended. The third CD is a live EP, entitled "Home Away From Home," and is not really commercially available all that much. It can only be ordered through the record company, basically. A fourth CD, "The Map," was released in September 1997. (4.14) - How can I order any of Dee Carstensen's CD's? Andrew Tron reports that Carstensen's record label also makes her CD's available through a 1-800 number. Her music label, Exit Nine/NYC Records is available at 1-800-266-4NYC, can be e-mailed at , phoned also at (212) 627-9426, or faxed at (212) 633-9773. Fans are encouraged to contact Exit Nine/NYC Record through any of the above ways to be put on the Dee Carstensen mailing list. Or, you can order "Regarding the Soul" or "Home Away From Home" on-line through the following page: http://songs.com/dee/index.html (4.15) - Where on the WWW can I find info on VR.5's music? DEE CARSTENSEN: "The Unofficial Dee Carstensen Page" http://www.hkstar.com/~ericnet/moncoeur/deecar.html Her Press Agent's page http://www.flemtam.com/dc.html MISC. "Sydney's Apartment" http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/7007/VR5.html "The Committee's Sound Archive" http://members.aol.com/SydnyBl00m/vr5.html