011 Nothing is Real: Strawberry Fields Forever, take 26

About this episode

This episode delves into the complex recording process of 'Strawberry Fields Forever', focusing on take 26 and George Martin's orchestral arrangement.

Recording Strawberry Fields Forever was a complicated, layered process, famously requiring the cutting together of two different takes in two different keys and tempos. Today we put our magnifying glass on the second of those takes, take 26, with special attention given to George Martin’s dramatic score for three cellos and four trumpets. We go into the recording studio with seven musicians to re-record Martin’s complete score, and cellist Karen Ray returns to help us deconstruct the arrangement and understand what Martin was doing with this composition.

People in this episode

Host: Jason Kruppa

Guest: Karen Ray

Topics covered

• Strawberry Fields Forever
• recording process
• musical arrangement
• George Martin
• cello score
• trumpet score

Keywords

• Strawberry Fields Forever
• George Martin
• cello
• trumpet
• recording studio
• musicians
• arrangement
• take 26

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