Mark Mancina scores Moana

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Dan Goldwasser

Earlier this summer, composer Mark Mancina recorded his score to the new Disney animated feature, Moana. Directed by the legendary duo of Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin) the film features the voices of newcomer Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson. The score recording took place at the Eastwood Scoring Stage at Warner Bros., and we’re thrilled to share our exclusive photos from the scoring sessions with our readers!

The Hollywood Studio Symphony performs on Moana with conductor Don Harper
The Hollywood Studio Symphony performs on Moana with conductor Don Harper

The songs for Moana were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, and the music for the songs and Mancina’s score were conducted by Don Harper leading a 79-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony.

The violins prepare for the next cue
The violins prepare for the next cue
The woodwind section
The woodwind section
The trombone section
The trombone section
The French horn section
The French horn section
Pianist Randy Kerber
Pianist Randy Kerber
Harpist JoAnn Turovsky
Harpist JoAnn Turovsky
The percussion section prepares for the next cue
The percussion section prepares for the next cue
Conductor Don Harper at the podium
Conductor Don Harper at the podium

In the booth, composer Mark Mancina was joined by orchstrator Dave Metzger, scoring mixer Dave Boucher, Walt Disney Studios Senior VP of Music Tom MacDougall, music technical consultant Marlon Espino, music editors Earl Ghaffari and Dan Pinder, music production director Andrew Page, and ProTools recordist Larry Mah. Directors Ron Clements and John Musker were also on hand to give feedback and notes.

Inside the booth: (front row) orchestrator Dave Metzger, composer Mark Mancina, scoring mixer Dave Boucher, stage recordist Tom Hardisty; (back row) music editor Earl Ghaffari, Music Production Director Andrew Page, ProTools Larry Mah, music editor Dan Pinder
Inside the booth: (front row) orchestrator Dave Metzger, composer Mark Mancina, scoring mixer Dave Boucher, stage recordist Tom Hardisty; (back row) music editor Earl Ghaffari, Music Production Director Andrew Page, ProTools Larry Mah, music editor Dan Pinder
Director John Musker talks to the booth
Director John Musker talks to the booth
Orchestrator Dave Metzger, composer Mark Mancina, scoring mixer Dave Boucher, Walt Disney Studios Senior VP of Music Tom MacDougall (obscured), music technical consultant Marlon Espino, music editor Earl Ghaffari, music production director Andrew Page, and ProTools recordist Larry Mah
Orchestrator Dave Metzger, composer Mark Mancina, scoring mixer Dave Boucher, Walt Disney Studios Senior VP of Music Tom MacDougall (obscured), music technical consultant Marlon Espino, music editor Earl Ghaffari, music production director Andrew Page, and ProTools recordist Larry Mah
Composer Mark Mancina, music technical consultant Marlon Espino, music editors Earl Ghaffari and Dan Pinder, and music production director Andrew Page
Composer Mark Mancina, music technical consultant Marlon Espino, music editors Earl Ghaffari and Dan Pinder, and music production director Andrew Page
Directors Ron Clement and John Musker talk with folks in the booth
Directors Ron Clement and John Musker talk with folks in the booth

Moana opened in theaters on November 23rd, and a soundtrack album is available from Walt Disney Records.

Advertisement