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lairdo

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Everything posted by lairdo

  1. My physical CD arrived today (purchased directly from Mark Records). It appears to be a pressed CD. But generally they do not release CDs and focus on digital. But it's possible that the schools do get a number of physical copies. Mark Records does a lot of band competition recordings (which more times than not have a JW track or two).
  2. It appears that a Florida State concert from 2022 has been released on CD and digitally. Available at Presto, Qobuz and probably most other sites (but I have not checked them). From the Mark Records website: ALBUM NOTES John Williams is, without question, one of Americas greatest composers. His vast career began in the 1950s and has continued for seven decades. During this time he has received twenty-five Grammy Awards, five Academy Awards, and countless other awards and recognitions. In 2005, his soundtrack to the film Star Wars (1977) was selected by the American Film Institute as the greatest movie score of all time. While he is best known for his collaborations with Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas, his vast body of work includes television, music composed specifically for the Olympic Games, stand-alone classical compositions, and a thirteen-year tenure as conductor of the world-renowned Boston Pops Orchestra. Tonights concert is a celebration of this extraordinary composer in the year of his ninetieth birthday. We are pleased to feature music from his most popular and enduring film scores. All of the arrangements used this evening were created at Williams request specifically for the two occasions when he conducted the The Presidents Own United States Marine Band. We hope you enjoy our tribute to this musical genius. NOTES ON THE PROGRAM The premieres for the following John Williams Signature Edition arrangements for wind ensemble coincided with the 205th and 210th anniversaries of the United States Marine Band - in 2003 and 2008 respectively - performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington D.C. and conducted by the legendary composer, John Williams. The subsequent program notes are John Williams original words relayed here for you from the conductors scores, including edits for content and length. 1. Overture To The Cowboys (1972) 2. The Jedi Steps & Finale (2015) 3. Viktors Tale (2004) Deborah Bish, clarinet 4. Adventures On Earth (1982) 5. Raiders March (1981) Nickolas Doshier, graduate associate conductor 6. Theme From Schindlers List (1993) Benjamin Sung, violin 7. The Imperial March (Darth Vaders Theme) (1980) 8. Star Wars Main Title (1977)
  3. I listened to this concert live Yes, I believe the concerto is from that concert (and discogs shows a recording window of Nov 2019). This was streamed on the St Louis local classical radio station on Nov 2 2019, the day after John Williams conducted the orchestra. I grabbed a recording of it at the time. Although I think Deneve and Ehnes have played the concerto at other venues too but the is the one from that weekend. https://www.slsostories.org/post/organ-symphony The Bernstein piece is from a concert in January 2023: https://www.slsostories.org/post/program-notes-bernstein-and-sibelius Very cool this is officially coming out.
  4. Agreed. At first (last summer), I thought given it is John Williams, he will get the nom. Then after the film flopped and there was no mention at the Golden Globes, I was sure he would not get a nomination. But actually, starting last week, I had an inkling that maybe he would. He's happy just to be nominated... ?
  5. Just watched the video shared a few posts ago with the opening for this year's game (which I did not see as I was flying). I have to say that the new edit this year worked so well with the music. Clearly the editor worked to the music and has respect for it. The lovely shots from the recording sessions emphasize this, and I appreciate how clear the piece starts: This is the anthem for the College Football Championship game and it was written by John Williams. Big text. On long enough to read. Damn straight! And yes, sign me up for the physical album of "John Williams: The Sound of Sports."
  6. Yeah, my first reaction was one of confusion about what the was saying as part of the Scherzo - was it bits of the theme pulled apart or somehow tied - I admit I could not figure it out. I then listened to it again and it felt more natural to me. I did wonder if JW had written the cadenza or if ASM had. There are some other interesting take on tempo that did not feel put together. I hate to write this but I wondered if they needed 1 more rehearsal. Separately, do we consider The Duel from Tintin to be "new" since is newly arranged for violin and cello? Regardless, I liked it. I did enjoy Anakin's theme.
  7. I have no superlatives to add the have not already been written. I agree and +1 each of them! I have to say that running while listening to this and the other similar podcast episodes is a complete joy. I could listen to these conversations for hours and hours. I learn a lot and my appreciation for the music increase exponentially from an already impossibly high level. Thank you Legacy team!
  8. What a day - Hook from La-La Land Dial of Destiny 4K UHD with isolated track and this showed up too! It's much larger than I expected.
  9. My copy from MusicBox (along with a Desplat DVD) has made it to Cincinnati Ohio! DHL indicates 4 days (Nov 30), but I suspect it will be a day or two sooner. Doesn't matter since I will be out of town when it arrives. But happy to know the Atlantic has been crossed!
  10. Not at all on my list of things to expect, but so very happy to see this expanded and remastered. While the film is not one of my favorite Hitchcock's, I think the score is quite nice. I'll have to watch the new 4K Blu-ray this weekend to refresh my memory and maybe I will like the film more this time. Frenzy last year and now Topaz. Amazing. Could Torn Curtain follow in 2024? Ordered!
  11. Truly, 5 knock out titles. (Although I admit to not knowing Moment to Moment at all!) Amazing. (And all ordered!)
  12. I just finished listening to the audiobook of 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke. I had read this book when it came out in 1982, and I still have the hardback edition in a box somewhere (along with 2061 and 3001 as well as my paperback copy of 2001). I've watched 2001 a few times in recent years, including a great 70 mm screening, and I decided to go back to the book series. In the acknowledgments at the end of the book, Clarke thanks Maurice Jarre, Vangelis and the "incomparable John Williams for providing inspiration whenever it was needed." Richard Strauss and Johann Strauss don't even get a mention. I wonder if JW was ever asked to score 2010, a job that ultimately went to David Shire (with help from Craig Huxley)? Probably not, but maybe nobody asked Clarke.
  13. Gosh, the wording on the US box is super confusing. It's listed under Blu-ray special features, and there is limited likelihood that the Making of is on the UHD. Still, if we are getting Atmos 7.1.4 sound, I don't think Blu-ray supports that data rate so it must be the UHD disc. Hopefully, the film is on a 100GB disc so we get max data rates from the video portion (as Mission Impossible UHD has and with its 5.1 isolated score track on both discs). I would not pick on Criterion too much in this arena. I believe they often can only get US distribution rights for some of the films as the local owners already have a physical media distribution division (such as Canal+ in France). I'm fairly sure the UHD discs in Criterion sets are region-free as per the note above that this is a requirement for UHD. The accompanying Blu-rays (which are often region locked) also contain content that may not be easy to license for a worldwide release (such as excerpts with filmmakers on things like the Dick Cavett show). Given Criterion's commitment to world films but with its small size, niche market and shaky financial standing, I think they are doing the best they can. (Full disclosure, they offered me a job out of grad school in 1991 so I do have a soft spot. I turned it down to go to Lucasfilm instead.) Anyway, for those computer savvy or relatively tech savvy, there are UHD blu-ray drives for the computer and software that is fairly stable for dealing with region encoded discs. That's how I tackle any Region B and C Blu-rays I acquired, and then I stream from a network drive to my TV.
  14. Oh, the Schindler's List encore has been released today! I see it on Tidal and Qobuz and assume it is on Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon Music, Spotify etc. The album shows as pre-release, and this last track is available to stream now. Interesting that they were swapped for the album. Good to know the concert video is what was done live. Also, DG's press release has incorrectly listed the key of Vivaldi 315. It is in G minor (as is correctly shown on the streaming platforms). The press release shows G major. Glad they did not mess up the Williams track names!
  15. Well, because I collect such things, I have pre-ordered the LP and CD with the autographs. Ridiculous shipping costs that DG Shop charges, but I guess that is something those in the EU/UK and other places feel all the time ordering from the US sites. Regarding the content of the album, most of it on DGState+ as it is from a concert this past June. https://www.stage-plus.com/video/vod_concert_APNM8GRFDPHMASJKBSPJEE8 (The concert and album differ on a Vivaldi piece between the main concert video and the "encores" listed in the album tracks. But the Williams' pieces are both there.) (FYI Subscription required with a 7 day trial available.)
  16. Oh I thought you were talking about stuff you had done too! Well, thanks for just posting all the info. I guess I was not parsing what was pasted and what was your voice. I just assumed you helped because you do on other releases!
  17. Really, this was an easy pre-order for me. Mike's excitement is one factor, and I have loved this film since I saw it on a tiny TV in a lounge in a hotel in 1980 when I was 13. I love that there is a blu-ray audio disc included with the album in Atmos. Just a great package, and given similar deluxe album upgrades (Beatles, for example), I think the cost is relatively reasonable. Congrats to Jay and Mike for their work on this.
  18. Just finished watching the third broadcast, and my wife joined in. She is a fan too, and we both very much enjoyed the concert. I agree with the comment that JW looks older than in Vienna or Berlin (but of course he is older!). Still, for 91 years of age to travel internationally to do 2 concerts and be out there for an hour each time, it's just amazing. My dad is 80, and he does not move as well as JW. Across the board, I felt the orchestra really gelled with the music. Deneve was quite good (he is a super fan in my opinion) and his energy was great with the orchestra. He was clearly having fun. (I saw on his website that he is again performing violin concert no. 1 with James Ehnes for a few concerts in Florida in 2024. He is also performing Just Down West Street, the Tanglewood piece.) The energy went up to 11 when JW came on stage. I loved his welcome words and then hearing the lovely Japanese translation. Everything flowed very nicely. I did not see or hear La Scala, but I did feel that the Saito Kinen Orchestra had an evenness across all the instrument groups. There really wasn't any weak area to my ears. And despite having the brass mic'd way too loudly for the start of The Raiders March, the balance and tone was good throughout. Tempi seemed very close to what I would expect from these pieces. This would have been amazing to see live, but I am glad to have this artifact and great that it will be available on the Stage+ platform in the archive (which was posted after the concert ended).
  19. When DG launched their online platform (then called DG Premium), they did have PPV. In fact, I watched Tanglewood's violin 2 concerto concert in 2021 that way as I recall. Earlier this year, DG switched to this Stage+ subscription model. Presumably the PPV was not working financially and they went the route of other streaming options in the classical and opera world. Interestingly, they also provide audio only albums on the platform (typically in Atmos), especially with their new releases. I suspect they either see this as a way to get some of the Apple Music/Qobuz/Tidal/Presto business directly or perhaps even as a marketing tool for new releases. The difference is that premium content such as this upcoming Tokyo concert are not on demand. I suspect that after the album makes it to Blu-ray (and maybe even Great Performances) that the concert will quietly go back on Stage+ a few months later and then be up there. That is the case with Vienna 1, Berlin, the aforementioned Tanglewood concert and Tanglewood 75th. Also recommended is Waldbühne 2015 with the Rattle conducting the Berlin Phil in a film music concert. One other oddity - the Tokyo concert listing does not show the encores in the track list. Just the published program. Anyway, I have a sub to Stege+ but I have to say I don't watch it enough and will probably start to go monthly only when I want to watch something (such as this weekend). My guess on any Tokyo physical releases is that we will see them around February for JW's 92nd birthday. When DG launched their online platform (then called DG Premium), they did have PPV. In fact, I watched Tanglewood's violin 2 concerto concert in 2021 that way as I recall. Earlier this year, DG switched to this Stage+ subscription model. Presumably the PPV was not working financially and they went the route of other streaming options in the classical and opera world. Interestingly, they also provide audio only albums on the platform (typically in Atmos), especially with their new releases. I suspect they either see this as a way to get some of the Apple Music/Qobuz/Tidal/Presto business directly or perhaps even as a marketing tool for new releases. The difference is that premium content such as this upcoming Tokyo concert are not on demand. I suspect that after this concert makes it to Blu-ray (and maybe even Great Performances) that the concert will quietly go back on Stage+ a few months later and then be up there. That is the case with Vienna 1, Berlin, the aforementioned Tanglewood concert and Tanglewood 75th. Also recommended is Waldbühne 2015 with the Rattle conducting the Berlin Phil in a film music concert. One other oddity - the Tokyo concert listing does not show the encores in the track list. Just the published program. Anyway, I have a sub to Stege+ but I have to say I don't watch it enough and will probably start to go monthly only when I want to watch something (such as this weekend). My guess on any Tokyo physical releases is that we will see them around February for JW's 92nd birthday.
  20. I think there is a good chance we'll get this on CD (and SACD for Japan for that matter). I think Berlin and Vienna did well for DG - beyond their expectations - and while Vienna 2 was probably too much of a repeat and would eat into their sales of the various current releases from Vienna, adding the Japan venue and orchestra would be complimentary. It would also have greater appeal in Asia.
  21. Wow, completely missed this thread until now! Glad it was still active. Just ordered the Special Edition Vienna and the remastered Gerhardt's from CDJapan. Thanks for the finds. I believe this will give me every Vienna version out there including the LPs. (Pleased don't mention this to my wife! Although she knows I am sure.)
  22. Been listening since the beginning and as we approach a third encore (Imperial March - what else?), what can I say? Amazing as ever. The chorus pieces were very interesting since it seemed their parts were push forward in the arrangements and performance at least on the radio stream. Did the balance of them seem to favor the chorus to those who were there?
  23. I ordered the CD and LP as soon as the preorder dropped. Then when the 1 day anniversary sale happened, I canceled that order and re-ordered to capture the discount. I do wish I had kept the original order too! But glad for what I have on the way at some point. No shipping notice yet though as I assume they will only send the complete order together in August although perhaps I am wrong and my CD order will ship tomorrow. For no other reason than very wishful thinking and with absolutely nothing to back up my idea, I am hoping there is a fairy tale developing here. Once upon a time, there is some very passionate soundtrack person behind this decision to go with the very small limited run. That person then will leverage the fact that it sold out before release of the demand for more, the outrage of the JW fans being intentionally. And from there, this saint/angel/fairy godmother will be able to convince the powers that be/evil prince/Bob Iger to allow an expanded complete release in the very near future. Like for the home video release. And we all live happily ever after. (In the sequel to this story, we get the other 4 Indy films and all 9 numbered SW films. And any Fox TV music Johnny did in the 60's we don't have.) One can dream.
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