Ballooning Around: Michael Giacchino’s ‘Up’ episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 11, 2026 · 59 MIN

Ballooning Around: Michael Giacchino’s ‘Up’

from The Score Seeker: A Guide to Film and Classical Music · host Noah Marconi

Michael Giacchino’s crowning achievement in film scoring, his score for Up won the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2009. In this episode, where I am joined by composer Johan Macaraeg, we explore how Giacchino uses his two leitmotifs, “Ellie’s Theme,” and “Muntz’s Theme,” to deftly accompany the emotional story. After all is said and done, the score for Up basically can be whittled down to one sonority: a major 7th chord.

Michael Giacchino’s crowning achievement in film scoring, his score for 'Up' won the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2009. In this episode, where I am joined by composer Johan Macaraeg, we explore how Giacchino uses his two leitmotifs, “Ellie’s Theme,” and “Muntz’s Theme,” to deftly accompany the emotional story. After all is said and done, the score for 'Up' basically can be whittled down to one sonority: a major 7th chord.

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Ballooning Around: Michael Giacchino’s ‘Up’

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This episode was published on March 11, 2026.

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Michael Giacchino’s crowning achievement in film scoring, his score for Up won the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2009. In this episode, where I am joined by composer Johan Macaraeg, we explore how Giacchino uses his two leitmotifs,...

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