Stop civilization ending! Heed the warning of the Krell!

How the movie Forbidden Planet created a music genre and inspired ‘Krellaxiom’

Who or what were the Krell?

The Krell are a fictional alien race in the 1956 science fiction film “Forbidden Planet.” They were an advanced civilization that existed 20,000 years ago on the planet Altair IV, and were capable of creating incredible technology, such as a machine that could materialize thoughts. However, their technology ultimately led to their downfall and extinction.

I was remarking that the fate of the Krell provides a warning for us.

Yes, that is one interpretation of the story of the Krell in “Forbidden Planet.” Their advanced technology ultimately led to their downfall and extinction, and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked technological advancement and the potential consequences of harnessing power without fully understanding its implications. It is a reminder that with great power comes great responsibility, and that we must be mindful of the impact our actions may have on ourselves and others.

Back to the Krell, did they make distinctive music?

In the movie “Forbidden Planet,” the Krell were shown to have created a machine that could materialize thoughts, including music. In the film, the crew of the United Planets Cruiser C-57D discovered a underground complex of the Krell and they found there a machine capable of producing music by materializing the thoughts of the operator. The Krell music that was heard in the movie was composed by Louis and Bebe Barron and it was an electronic music, created with early electronic equipment, it was pioneering in the field of electronic music and it was the first entirely electronic score for a Hollywood film.

What equipment did they use?

The music for “Forbidden Planet” was composed by Louis and Bebe Barron using a variety of early electronic equipment. They used several different types of electronic devices to generate the sounds for the film’s score, including:

• Theremins: An electronic musical instrument that produces a sound by the movement of the player’s hand in proximity to two metal antennae.
• Oscillators: Electronic devices that produce a steady tone or a series of tones.
• Tape recorders: Machine that records and plays sound on magnetic tape.
• Filter banks: A device that can separate a range of sound frequencies and modify them individually.
• Ring modulators: A device that modulates the frequency of a sound by mixing it with a second signal from a ring modulator.

These early electronic music devices were used to create the different types of sounds for the film, including the eerie and otherworldly sounds that were used to represent the Krell’s advanced technology.

Did anyone else create ‘Krell’ music?

The original music composed by Louis and Bebe Barron for the film “Forbidden Planet” was considered to be one of the first examples of electronic music used in a Hollywood film. However, since the release of the film, other musicians and composers have been inspired by the concept of the Krell and have created their own interpretations of Krell-like music. The Krell music has become a cult classic and it has been used as an inspiration for many electronic and experimental music composer. Some notable examples include Tangerine Dream, Brian Eno, Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, and many others. Some of them have paid homage to the original Krell music in their own works, creating similar electronic and experimental sounds to evoke the same sense of otherworldliness and technological advancement.

Can you name a specific example?

One example of a musician who was inspired by the Krell music in “Forbidden Planet” is Tangerine Dream. The German electronic music band was heavily influenced by the film and its music, and often incorporated similar electronic sounds and experimental techniques into their own compositions. They often used electronic instruments such as the Moog synthesizer, which was invented in the 60s and heavily used in the electronic music scene and also in film soundtracks. Tangerine Dream’s music, like the Krell’s, is known for its otherworldly, atmospheric sounds and its use of technology to create a sense of mystery and wonder. For example, their 1975 album “Phaedra” is often compared to the music of the Krell, due to its use of electronic textures and experimental sounds to evoke a sense of the unknown.

Phaedra is good. Can you suggest other works, perhaps by other artists?

Sure, here are a few other examples of works by other artists that have been inspired by the Krell music in “Forbidden Planet”:

• Brian Eno’s album “Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks” (1983) – This album, which was created as a soundtrack for a documentary film about the Apollo space missions, incorporates a similar use of electronic sounds and experimental techniques to evoke a sense of otherworldliness and technological advancement.
• Jean-Michel Jarre’s album “Oxygene” (1976) – This album, like the Krell’s music, is known for its use of electronic textures and experimental sounds to evoke a sense of the unknown.
• Vangelis’ album “Albedo 0.39” (1976) – This album, like “Forbidden Planet” music, uses electronic sounds and experimental techniques to evoke a sense of otherworldliness and technological advancement.
• The Album “The Planets” by Holst and conducted by Gustav Holst (1916) – Although not electronic, the orchestral suite is known for its use of unconventional instrumentation, unconventional harmonies and unconventional forms, it was also an inspiration for the Forbidden Planet and many sci-fi movies and series.

These are just a few examples, but there are many other works by other artists that have been influenced by the music of the Krell in “Forbidden Planet.” Electronic and experimental music of the 70s and 80s is known for its use of technology to create a sense of mystery and wonder, and the music of the Krell is considered one of the earliest examples of this trend.