Ethnomusicalogist Wanda Bryant Interview

• William Shatner and Mi... for Composer Michael Giacchino with William Shatner
Ethnomusicologist Wanda Bryant is responsible for some of the unusual sounds found in the music of James Cameron's epic Avatar. Working hand in hand with composer James Horner and director James Cameron, Wanda was tasked with finding as many unusual musical sounds and unorthodox sound sources as possible and aiding in the construction of a musical culture for the Na'vi in Avatar.
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[@ConvincingPeople]

It's really a shame how little of her and Horner's original work for the project Cameron actually used. Having read her descriptions of what they were going for and hearing the few distinct moments where the score does reflect that make me incredibly curious about what the movie would have sounded like if they had been given freer rein.

[@troykawahara4496]

You have to admire her professionalism. She didn’t speak an ill word about any part of the production here. If she had a TH-cam channel exploring various musical traditions that would be great!
Also, whether one wants to become an ethnomusicologist or not, I think her advice about keeping ones ears open is wise.

[@clarazuxinha]

Wanda Bryant, I wish we had the oportunity to listen to your original work...

[@omfgmusic97]

LET US HEAR THOSE AMAZING DEMOS 😭

[@GTORT]

Yo tell her to release the demos!

[@SublimeTrickaz]

Simon Franglen has them, he might use them in the sequels

[@GTORT]

@@rebbih4719 I choose to believe you don't know what you're talking about unless you prove me wrong

[@CarnivorousCowMan]

She can’t, they belong to Twentieth Century Fox and aren’t available to the public. She even had to get permission from 20th century to use them in a research presentation.
ethnomusicologyreview.ucla.edu/journal/volume/17/piece/583
Info is in the notes at the bottom.

[@somon90]

I really hope they get released at some point in the future. If I was rich I would try to buy the rights to them just to release them. Such a shame that they will probably just be left in obscurity.

[@daddyleon]

@@CarnivorousCowMan Some hackers should make a visit.

[@aquariuslocs7208]

I will pay for those demos please release them!!! You deserve money for your hard work and recognition for it PLEASE RELEASE THEM!!

[@edoardom3677]

Ok but we need those demos, please

[@its_steeeeeeeve]

Cameron kept shutting down their ideas.
P.S. Brought here by Sideways

[@Benloehr]

same

[@alethearia]

same

[@lanzinator4734]

same!!!

[@nora2192]

With all the world building behind Avatar I’m honestly disappointed at what it became. I would love a movie where we just get to know the Na’vi, their music, their language, their world, or maybe it could be a game where you get to explore the world. But not a sequel or prequel, a completely different movie (cause the first one was uhh a little bit too much white saviourism).

[@Nyxira]

Freakin' woman's a legend. I want to hear what she and Horner actually made.

[@sherrilynn7683]

Brilliant!! Well done to you, Wanda Bryant, for such a remarkable achievement!!

[@Dunamis_010]

Great interview. Sideways sent me here.

[@Marunius]

709 views? Deserves way more!

[@lanzinator4734]

Would totally pay to hear the demos!

[@juiceboxfrog]

hey Dr. Bryant can you please release all the rejected demos for the movie? I really loved hearing about how you integrated so many different cultures around the world, and I would love to listen to the music you and Mr. Horner created.

[@juiceboxfrog]

I reached out to the Doc, she said that they're property of Warner Bros and she can't give them out :(

[@youtub-fj8mu]

@@juiceboxfrog This is insulting. Such amazing work of art and research from two great people wasted.

[@juiceboxfrog]

@@youtub-fj8mu fully agree

[@regulate.artificer_g23.mdctlsk]

@@juiceboxfrog huh? How does Warner bros own it? I thought Fox/Disney would own it, most likely.

[@juiceboxfrog]

@@regulate.artificer_g23.mdctlsk dunno man, that's what the email said. I think warner bros was involved back then ? so it's still their property? avatar was much before they were acquired right ?

[@jaybabel3528]

Wanda Bryant thank you for your work :D Know that it is awesome and appreciated, whether or not it was able to appear in the production itself

[@JeremyFrancispiano]

I remember searching everything I could about how Horner was going about scoring Avatar during its production. It was really hard to find much of anything because everything was being done very privately. Soon enough I heard they had invented an entire language for the Navi and that it would be implemented into the score and that Horner hired this ethnomusicologist to help create a very alien sound.
Needless to say, as much as I liked having a new Horner score in 2009, I was overall disappointed with the soundtrack. It wasn't earth-shattering. It was the most Earthy thing about Pandora other than the one guy wearing a cap and blue jeans driving a bulldozer.

[@juffinhally5943]

To paraphrase Jeremy from Cinemasins, you know how much money I'd give to listen to those demos? ALL the money!

[@daddyleon]

Love her shirt as well

[@k8ravenscroft60]

RELEASE THE DEMOS

[@AlternaIce]

hoping in the third (and upcoming movies) they actually incorporate these songs...

[@akshy2021]

Did she say Jim Cameron?

[@willamoore876]

FREE THE DEMOS

[@potentialcaroozin2385]

I would pay for those demos. Granted, I am a broke college student, so nothing more than $20, but I. would. pay.