treadmond

I agree completely. The debates over the merits of theory in listening to JW or in writing film music go on continually in numerous threads. I created this one with the intention that those of us who want to break JW's music down theoretically could do so and share observations, etc., and those who didn't want to participate could go elsewhere.

And here all these years I've been using a pencil and manuscript paper, with an occasional piano thrown in to aid my addled ear. Actually what I'd like is software that can break down the harmonies of a track from a CD, as I'd find that pretty educational. Know anything that does that?

Do you have any examples of this? I messed around with it at the keyboard but it didn't ring any bells. Could be my morning ear though. Maybe I just need more coffee.

Well for one thing I believe it uses every pitch in the scale.

All probably true, but why ruin the fun of trying?

Apologies to the mods if something like this already exists. As I watch the back and forth between those of us that like to analyze Williams' techniques, chord progressions, etc., and those who want to enjoy his music for how it sounds and not ruin it with a lot of overanalyzing, it occurred to me it might be helpful to have a thread where we do precisely that kind of overanalyzing, and those who prefer not to do so can avoid it. I'll start with this. Recently someone mentioned JW's use of the major triad with diminished 6th for a "spacey" sound (as used at the end of the Star Wars overture, for instance). I've since observed how often this is used (also by Horner in the Star Trek scores). Another observation is that made by others that the Imperial March combination (tonic minor, diminished sixth minor) is also frequently used (i.e. the "evil" theme in ET). What other favorite chords or progressions have you observed?