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Hello Everyone, This year I ended my bachelor degree in Musicology and wrote thesis about John Williams and I want to share it with you. Let me know what you think about it, I will answer any yours question. Comment it or ask any question here in forum or you can write me on my email tomas.chren14@gmail.com EDITComplete_thesis-Characteristic_principles_of_orchestration_and_composition_of_John_Williams_(final_version).pdf

It depends. In the case of Potter I have very strong, polar preferences (meaning the ones at the top I really like, and the ones at the bottom I really dislike). So a ranking is an easy way to communicate that. In the case of something like Wes Anderson movies or, say, 15 Williams scores or something, the "affection gap" between top and bottom is so minuscule, a ranking isn't useful to me or anyone else. But I definitely see the perspective of doing away with them completely. It's just like, "here's an opinion." Without anything else what the heck am I supposed to take from that? And yeah, pitting works of art against each in competition isn't exactly the best way to think of them.

What I liked best about Ebert was his earnestness and complete lack of cynicism with regards to cinema. He was joyful about film and it showed.

Ebert was a great newspaper writer and is more responsible for turning me on to great and interesting movies than any other person.

She's a carpenter's dream! Flat as a board and in need of a screw!

Its the best film.

What would you say are your top 3 reasons for not making lists?

3,1,2,7,4,8,6,5 is how I would rank the scores. 3,7,1,4,8,6,2,5 is the films for me. 3,4,7,1,5,2,6 of the books I guess but my opinions there change more frequently.

Doyle's Goblet of Fire is fucking amazing! Big, dark, emotional, it was a great follow-up to Williams'.

That's one thing the M:I theme doesn't need. That's a good way to describe it. This is the 2nd most disappointing scoring assignment choice in recent years for me (right after David Arnold not being asked to score ID4 2). I really enjoyed Kraemer's score for the last one and I loved that he used the Puccini melody twice in the score for moments between Ethan and Ilsa, really liked his treatment of Lalo's themes.

I was referring to Bryce Dallas Howard, you nincompoop.

I was introduced to his reviews through Microsoft Cinemania '97.

So true. Transports the listener from the first note. Quite amazing. Violinist did a very good job, too. The orchestra was gave Bernstein's Mambo a thrilling go, too!

They just played Schindler's list. I still can't believe how beautiful this piece is.

Gross.

I'm watching the concert right now A very nice program, as always. John williams work soon (in 10 minutes I would say). Anyway thanks for the tips ! Realy easy, I feel dumb not to have at least tried this before asking

I agree that ranking works of art against each other is not exactly the best way to judge their merits. Here are my rankings for the Harry Potter films/books: Films: Order Half-Blood Deathly 2 Prisoner Goblet Philosopher's Deathly 1 Chamber Books: Fire Prince Azkaban Phoenix Hallows Stone Secrets Goblet of Fire is a great book, but the movie is a bit of a let down...oddly paced, weird colour grading, terrible performance by Gambon (who isn't a great Dumbledore to begin with), a miscast David Tennant, etc. Phoenix is a decent book, but a bit of a slog and the less said about Hermonie's House Elf wokeness, the better. But the movie holds up surprisingly well. Yates cuts even more fat out of the story than usual, and of course Imelda Staunton probably gives the most memorable performance in the whole series (aside of course, from Rickman). The first two do a decent job of world building (especially the first), but otherwise I find them more or less bland and boring (especially the second). I tend to like the Yates films....though I agree with all the comments about the considerable artistic merits of POA. Probably the only Potter movie which is really a work of art as a film in its own right. Objectively speaking, I think it's probably the best film of the bunch, but I still prefer the later ones. I've developed a great deal of affection for these films, despite the fact that they're all flawed in one way or another. I'd need to listen to the scores again to consider ranking them beyond the first three.

Some websites may refer to it as a promo, but it wasn't; It was a completely illegal bootleg in every sense of the word. Nothing official about it whatsoever, just some guy stealing the recordings and making his own assembly and selling it for cash. It's a bootleg.

I think Last Jedi will be remembered in my wet dreams. Actually, no, not even that. My body knows what it really wants.

But three rights make a left!

Live has started

Been awhile since I spent much time on the series as a whole but my rankings always roughly circled around here at the height of my Pottermania. Scores, I really only listen to Williams anymore and my opinions on 1-3's pros and cons are pretty much in line with consensus. 4 and 7 next, GOF is a fun listening experience but it's a little shrill and "conventionally" magical for me. DH1 creates a more effective atmosphere and I prefer its more soothing and exotic orchestrations to Doyle's, but melodically dry even though I can appreciate some of the thematic through-lines Desplat highlights. DH2, "Lily's Theme" is stellar to start with but unfortunately doesn't amount to much for me and the rest of the underscore only occasionally inspires. Sometimes I prefer the Hoopers to that one....his music deserves the flack it gets but those scores are warm and charming. Movies, definitely on the Azkaban bandwagon. More fluidly paced and stylized, funnier, more expressive and inventive, has the clearest emotional narrative. As for the rest, honestly I'd rather go back to the first one anymore because the most worthwhile things about the films originate there and I think it achieves its goals better than the others. End of the day the most enjoyable parts of the movies are in watching a supporting ensemble of master thespians pantomime their way through world-class production design and the first one just indulges in that accompanied by a musical genius. Plus it asks the least of the kids. 2 and 4 are loud and corny entertainments, 5-8 are dull and handsome productions with nice moments. All eight live and die together. The books I can't say enough about personally and don't really care to rank them. They're all very flawed and special.

I think TFA will absolutely be regarded as a classic. It kickstarted a long-dormant franchise in explosive fashion, made 2 billion worldwide, was widely acclaimed among both fans and critics, and is overall just a really fun and well-made ride of a movie. In terms of cultural significance, I imagine it will still be remembered many years from now. TLJ's reception so far has been much more polarizing, but I imagine it will be viewed in a much more positive light by its detractors years from now, much in the same way reception for The Empire Strikes Back has cooled down, and is now regarded as one of the best in the series.

Weirdly enough, something about Goldsmith's theme makes me think of Ready Player One of all things. I assume my ears are broken, as I haven't seen anyone else mention such.

I like the last one best because by then Emma Watson was legal.

Everyone seems to like Half-Blood Prince less than me. I have to admit I wish it had included more of Voldemort's past, and I haven't seen it in a few years, but it's definitely in the upper half for me.

One of my favorite deep cut Copland pieces is "An Immorality," a song for chorus and piano. It's in that great mid-1920s Copland sound of being slightly jazzy and dissonant, very syncopated. One of his secret best melodies. The text is an Ezra Pound poem.

I'll just dig out the sheet music, and see what key and tempo it's in.

Nope, TLJ is a (anti-)hyped film that will leave the spotlight pretty quickly, whereas TFA will pass the test of time as a pretty good film.

Something about the relationship between the monster and the girl is missing. It is all too easy and superficial, which is sad, because it's what the movie is about. It's almost as if Del Toro has never seen E.T.! The Shape Of Water actually feels like a live-action animated film with lots of clichés. Whatever emotions it generates, you all have felt it before and better. For me, it's the disappointment of the year (especially after Crimson Peak)! 5/10

The film will be like a 2 hour long trailer.

My book preference: 3,4,6,1,7,2,5 My film preference: 3,4,6,5,7,1,2,8 For scores: 3,1,2,4,I don't care I never listen to them

Get Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 instead!

Thanks Steven! You can hear more of the score here:

John Williams' trademark Action Thirds!

It's really too bad that they used a take of "Droid Battle" that has a noticeable horn flub at 2:18...

Sounds quite nice! As for an opening, perhaps you could have the harp and maybe strings start playing for a couple of bars before the woodwinds come in.

At least Goldsmith's (shorter) Rick heroic theme he puts through more interesting variations. But yeah, there are at least three other themes in the score (including a beautiful love theme) that I like better. One of the reasons I prefer the Goldsmith score is that his setpieces have more distinct variety, so I'm surprised at your opinion Holko. Night Boarders for me is very distinct from The Camel Race is very distinct from The Sand Volcano. Yavar

The original soundtrack album artwork cannot be beaten though!

It’s also quite a pompous sounding score from the samples, which is very the modern thing. I prefer Kraemer’s lighter-on-its-feet sound. The best sounding ones are those percussion focused samples with lots congas and whatnot.

Shame about the score but I am SUPER pumped for the movie.

I'm typically not much of a CD collector, but I got these used at my local 2nd & Charles for $18. All three were practically new and in great condition. Good bargain!

The final track sample features Schifrin's theme backed up by EPIC CHOIR Overall, not impressed at all.

Kids these days have it so easy!

All the other seasons have better music that season 1. The second half of Season 3 is when it really becomes something special, then season 4 is full of good stuff

I counter with:

So that means the movie lacks a good score.

You're welcome Lieutenant Dickhead

"This Junkin" is one of the most highly respected conductors in the country, in both wind band and orchestral circles; the fact that you don't know his name says a lot more about you than it does about him. Different conductors have different takes on the limitless interpretations of every piece of music. Just because you don't personally like it doesn't make it wrong or "amateurish" (which it most certainly is not). Certainly you've heard the recording of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" on Williams' album "Out of this World" with the Boston Pops, right? It is painfully slow. Does that mean that "This Williams" is an amateur because he conducted it differently than Goldsmith? No, of course not. FYI: I think the album is fine - great playing (I have several friends in that group), but no I don't love Jerry's tempi either in some places. I actually agree with you on those points Bespin, but just please be careful when you make unfounded assumptions.