russds

It most certainly does, it just takes some studying/repeated listens to appreciate it.

Check out the Star Wars and Indy trilogies, Superman, Hook and the Jurassic Parks. Some top-notch action cues in there.

Very true. And yeap he had a good reason for it too with JP and that scene in particular. The music with its religioso feel is just an essential part of the whole sequence not to mention the film.

And it is really terrific news! Another step toward respectablility for film music as something worth serious study and thought.

What he is saying is he puts the seventh of the chord at the bottom which emphasizes the dissonance. He does this frequently. It is also in Lando's palace. Example: in c major the 7th is a B. if you put the seventh at the bottom you hear the B next to the C (a minor second) which emphasizes the dissonance compared to when the 7th is on top of the chord where the dissonance is deemphasized.

This is an interesting topic. I'm listening to Home Alone a lot these days (holiday season), one of my favorite scores. There are so many variations of the celeste sound in there, and I've always been curious what's synth and what's not.
That's a great featurette, I've seen it before, but always enjoy seeing these sorts of things again. (JW on the scoring stage). Also I never noticed, it appears to be Steven Spielberg @11:00 holding the video camera and talking to JW. Funny to think of world class director SS carrying around Sony Handicam, getting these scoring sessions on video.

Great thread, I was thinking about starting one along these lines myself!
I've been listening to The Hobbit score almost non-stop lately, and I can recommend three tracks from it that would be great to work out to:
Warg-Scouts
Brass Buttons
Out of the Frying Pan
Other good ones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex8TDzQYUes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFRiQItyoOQ

I've wondered about this too. Especially with the organ. I guess he really had an organ in there with the orchestra? It was '82, so like Alex said, even if there was some very rudimentary synth happening, it wouldn't be the sampled kind, that could replicate real instruments. At least that's my take on it.

This is a nice discussion thread.
Well, my entire life has truly been tracked by John Williams' music. I was born in 1972 and so you can imagine what it was like to be five years old and hear the Star Wars music for the first time when I first saw the movie during its original release. Therefore, to be sitting here now with the Lincoln music playing makes for quite a sense of a journey taken.
JC

I was going to suggest The Rite of Spring, but since you asked for film music....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT37n3WvAuE

It does work, though.

Glad you liked it. It certainly gets the "Raaaaaaaaaarrggh!!!!" savagery going in me when I listen to it
Below is one for you that would be great for an early morning long distance run over a frosty plain or similar.
From 3:36 onwards, I guarantee that you will feel utterly invincible as you pick up the pace.

Of course, this beauty below could also fit the same scenario.
1:28 as you pick up the pace, and 2:35 for that whole body orgasm!.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjErcQVg0-Y
Melange - "Raaaaaaaaaarrggh!!!!"

Russds, for me, the tracks that really work are :
(TDKR)
Gotham's Reckoning
Bane Suite
Imagine The Fire
The Fire Rises
Why do we Fall?
TDK
Agent of Chaos
Introduce a little Anarchy
BB
Myotis
Molossus

Jane Eyre
– Jane Eyre Theme
Images
– In Search of Unicorns
– Dogs, Ponies & Old Ruins
– Blood Moon
The Sugarland Express
– Main Theme
Jaws
– Main Title and First Victim
– The Shark Cage Fugue
Family Plot
– The First Séance
1941
– March from '1941'
– Swing, Swing, Swing
Raiders of the Lost Ark
– Marion's Theme
– The Miracle of the Ark
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
– End Credits
Monsignor
– Theme from Monsignor
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
– Short Round's Theme
– Slave Children's Crusade
The Witches of Eastwick
– The Dance of the Witches/End Credits
Empire of the Sun
– Suo Gan
– Cadillac of the Skies
– Liberation/Exsultate Justi
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
– Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra
Home Alone
– Star of Bethlehem
Hook
– Prologue
– The Arrival of Tink and the Flight to Neverland
Far and Away
– Country Galway, June 1892
– End Credits
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
We Overslept Again/Holiday Flight
Schindler's List
– Jewish Town (Krakow Ghetto-Winter '41)
– Remembrances
– Schindler's Workforce
– Oyf'n Pripetshok and Nacht Aktion
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
– The Lost World
Saving Private Ryan
– Hymn to the Fallen
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
– The Arrival of Baby Harry
– Diagon Alley and the Gringotts Vault
– The Quidditch Match
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
– Fawkes the Phoenix
– The Chamber of Secrets
– Gilderoy Lockhart
– The Flying Car
– The Dueling Club
– Moaning Myrtle
Catch Me If You Can
– Catch Me If You Can
– The Float
– Recollections (The Father's Theme)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
– Aunt Marge's Waltz
– The Knight Bus
– Buckbeak's Flight
– A Window to the Past
– The Whomping Willow and the Snowball Fight
– Secrets of the Castle
– Hagrid the Professor
– Quidditch, Third YEar
The Terminal
– The Tale of Viktor Navorski
– Jazz Autographs
Memoirs of a Geisha
– Going to School
– The Chaiman's Waltz
– Becoming a Geisha
– A Dream Discarded
– Sayuri's Theme and End Credits
Munich
– Munich, 1972
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
– Call of the Crystal
– Irina's Theme
– The Jungle Chase
The Adventures of Tintin
– The Adventures of Tintin
– Snowy's Theme
– The Secret of the Scrolls
– Introducing the Thompsons and Snowy's Chase
– Sir Francis and the Unicorn
– Red Rackham's Curse and the Treasure
– The Adventures Continues
War Horse
– Dartmoor, 1912
– Plowing
– No Man's Land
Lincoln
– The People's House
– Getting Out the Vote
– "With Malice Toward None"
– The Peterson House and Finale
But really, I'd recommend you to listen to complete CD's instead of selected tracks. It's often the experience of the whole CD that is rewarding. For example "War Horse" is a wonderful release, but it's hard for me to choose specific tracks for you.

Definitely will do. What I like the most about the end battle music of ROTJ is not as much the action music (which is still great and some of his best action music), but the very dark and brooding moments, like the music that plays when Luke goes all mad on Vader and they're clashing lightsabers and Luke pins Vader to the ground, and then the scenes of the final confrontation, etc. It has that random basso-profundo guy singing in a really deep spooky voice throughout almost all those sections. Gives me goosebumps every time. And then there's the subtle yet sad music when the mask is taken off. I just LOVE those moments.

I love the action music in ToD, for example Nightclub Brawl/Fast Streets of Shanghai/Out of Fuel/Slalom on Mt. Humol.
And don't forget Mine Car Chase!

Williams music is still fine

Awesome! Can Gertie come out and play?

That's not a bad looking apprentice! Oh hey look, there's Michael Giacchino, too.

He should have asked why John Williams used a women's choir in Princess Leia's Theme.

I'd ask if he ever gets that guitar guy's fan mail.

less chatter, more lists. Please

Meh. Didn't laugh at all

So, the Atlanta concert happened yesterday! I was sitting in the fourth row, behind the orchestra pit seats, and it was a wonderful evening. To give some background, I attended one of the Film Nights at Tanglewood two years ago, and the 80th birthday concert at Tanglewood this summer. The Film Night I went to was Spielberg themed, although Spielberg wasn't in attendance, so as much as I enjoyed it I missed hearing Star Wars, Harry Potter, or Superman, and was really hoping for some of those last night. I was also hoping for Tintin and War Horse, and maybe Lincoln. Alas, Lincoln was a no-show but otherwise the program was fantastic:
Tribute to the Film Composer - a big montage of film clips, a few seconds each, with accompanying score. Some of the clips included Star Wars, Titanic, Psycho (like Jaws, this got a laugh from the audience), Rocky, Bridge on the River Kwai, The Magnificent Seven, and ET, which segued into Gone with the Wind for the finale. As the concert was held on the same street where Gone with the Wind was written and had its film premiere, this was a great note to end on. The screen went off for the next few pieces, which I was grateful for.
Suite from Far & Away
Hedwig's Theme - At this point Williams addressed the audience, saying this was his first time in Atlanta since the 1996 Olympics. That made me feel awfully lucky to be at this concert. He then announced the next three pieces, all from Harry Potter, meaning all my dreams were about to come true. He described Hedwig in what I'll call a very archetypal sense, as a "great, white bird who delivers the mail."
Fawkes the Phoenix - The highlight for me, as this is one of my favorites and I NEVER would have guessed he'd play it last night. It was also great to hear it the day after listening to the complete Chamber of Secrets score for the first time!
Harry's Wondrous World - Accompanied by some clips from the first four films.
Dartmoor, 1912 - Great to hear in concert. Very lush and sumptuous, and the solos were beautiful
Star Wars Main Title - The main event for me, along with Harry Potter. It was a great reminder that this is why I loved Williams in the first place. The orchestra gave the most powerful performance of the evening; the blasts during the star destroyer attack are so striking, almost primal, compared to the rest of the material in the program. I was also amused to see Williams mouthing the drum hits in the direction of the percussion section in the last few seconds of the piece.
- intermission -
Jaws - As usual, the audience laughed at the opening notes. This piece wasn't listed in the program.
Close Encounters - At last, Spielberg entered, introduced by Williams. He introduced each piece for the rest of the evening, except the final encore, and between each piece he went and sat in a chair on the side of the stage. Most of his introductions didn't give us much info we didn't already know, but of course they were welcome anyway, and it was fun seeing his and Williams' camaraderie. "I love John Williams," quoth he. The Close Encounters piece was played to clips from the end of the film.
Indy's Very First Adventure - I hadn't expected to hear any Indy other than the Raiders March, so this was a really nice surprise. Spielberg and Williams stood and watched the screen as the whole train scene from Last Crusade played, sans music. The audience was very responsive and laughed uproariously at all the gags, with Spielberg himself laughing at all the jokes too. They played the whole scene again with accompaniment from the orchestra; I was struck by how meticulously Williams planned and timed all the little touches in that cue, like the motif for the cross of Coronado, but how quick and effortless he makes it look while conducting.
The Adventure Continues - Introduced as "The Duel" by Spielberg, and presented with a montage of "swashbuckling" film clips. The clips were pretty distracting to be very honest with you. But I was pleased to see one from Muppet Treasure Island.
Theme from Schindler's List
Adventures on Earth - around the end of the piece I could see Spielberg tapping his hand, clenching a fist, etc in time with some of the big orchestral flourishes.
- encore -
Sugarland Express - Haven't heard the score, so I don't know the name of the piece, but it was a nice detour from the rest of the evening and featured a flute solo for pretty much the duration. I thought Lincoln would make a nice bookend with this, but instead we got...
The Raiders March - To thunderous applause. This was the only time throughout the evening where I could find fault with the performance; the tempo was a little slow, although I assume that was Williams' preference. Nevertheless it was a great way to end the evening.
Other details... Star Wars and Schindler's List both got ovations. There was a snobby guy behind me before the show who was asking his friends who would be conducting, and insisted that John Williams "doesn't conduct." I brought my Raiders LP to try for an autograph, but both of the big dudes got in SUVs inside a huge garage in the building, so there was no chance. I did meet some other fans with really impressive and humbling posters covered in Star Wars cast and crew autographs. Someone told me Williams had been in Atlanta all week. According to one of the staff, he was flying out the same night. The highlights of the evening for me were the Harry Potter music, the Star Wars theme, War Horse, and Indy's Very First Adventure. After only seeing Williams conduct once before, and from very far away, and omitting some of my non-Spielberg favorites, this concert was really special!

I like this score a lot too. It's been very underrated on this forum

Oh that is just a lovely article and wonderful to see the inspiration and interest for music and conducting come from the Maestro, among other composers. I wish Charlie a great life in music.