Popular Post WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted November 25, 2015 Hi guys I'm new to JWFAN.com As you can see by the title of this thread I'm going to be talking about the Sabrina theme. In my opinion its a hidden gem , and could be one of John Williams best pieces of work. The emotions that are conveyed by the piano and the orchestra are just breath taking. The track has a strong sense of sadness and beauty, and if I have heard correctly Williams dedicated this song to his late wife? It's such a shame that some of his best work ( musically) is almost hidden. It does make me cringe when I see these ' Top John Williams music' videos and its full of ST main theme, Imperial March and raiders march. Yes these themes are amazing but its the incidental music that I feel shows of Williams talent Feel free to voice your opinions on the Sabrina theme and everything else I have said. thank you Incanus, apples, Jacck and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Welcome aboard! John Williams has written quite a few of these smaller little scores during his career that are not widely talked about. While Sabrina is certainly a lovely little romantic score on the whole, the main theme is a gorgeous one with such wonderful narrative quality to it, telling a story with little peaks and valleys within those 5 minutes.I have never heard that he would have dedicated this piece to his late wife though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post crumbs 14,316 Posted November 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted November 25, 2015 Theme From Sabrina Featuring John Williams on Piano Timo Martikainen, Cerebral Cortex and Jacck 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 Thank you very much Every time the orchestra kicks in on that track I get shivers. I saw someone say it on a video on youtube. I think it was a video of John williams playing the theme live. Thats the video Crumbs ty crumbs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Another wonderful version from the album Keisuke Wakao Plays the Music of John Williams, arrangement for a chamber orchestra, oboe and piano, oboe soloist Keisuke Wakao, the principal oboe of the Boston Symphony Orchestra: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 JW is a fabulously talented pianist. Eat that, Gloria Cheng! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 ''That's because he lost his first wife in '73. I think that he did Sabrina theme inspired on her!'' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 ''That's because he lost his first wife in '73. I think that he did Sabrina theme inspired on her!''The source of this quote? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 Regardless its an amazing piece of music, and I'm glad people appreciate it The video that crumbs posted. In the comments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 And to complement this thread with another version, here is the Cinema Serenade version with Itzhak Perlman on solo violin: Jacck 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post crumbs 14,316 Posted November 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted November 25, 2015 Williams sure knows how to write a good love theme. Han Solo and the Princess, The Fountain Scene, Across the Stars, Love Theme from Superman, Sabrina... there's not one that isn't instantly memorable. JW achieves his best work when he writes from the heart.It's about time Star Wars gets its first love theme though, the saga is sorely lacking in those up to this point. Hopefully he can write the first one for TFA. Incanus, Taikomochi and WilliamHorne97 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 Very nice indeed. Was thinking of taking up violin. I play guitar but nothing else at the moment Williams sure knows how to write a good love theme. Han Solo and the Princess, The Fountain Scene, Across the Stars, Love Theme from Superman, Sabrina... there's not one that isn't instantly memorable. JW achieves his best work when he writes from the heart.It's about time Star Wars gets its first love theme though, the saga is sorely lacking in those up to this point. Hopefully he can write the first one for TFA.The way he incorporates ' han and the princess' through out the whole of empire is amazing I love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 I'm sure he's forgotten that theme by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 Yeah. Though by the looks of it there isn't going to be much romance in force awakens. He might use the theme with han and leia together ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 I doubt he even remembers Main Title or Princess Leia's Theme. If we're lucky, we might get an extended new recording of The Throne Room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 For me I want all new themes. By the sound of the clip we got, we are getting some new exciting music. I think we will have little call backs and motifs of the original music in there as well. Which will be a nice little call back. But as soon as the original cast is gone, new themes all the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 The SABRINA theme is lovely; has that sort of haunting quality (something about the middle notes or whatever it's called) that you also can find in David Raksin's LAURA -- which I know Williams loves. The film leaves something to be desired, but I've always been fond of the music and album. WilliamHorne97 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 The bridge at 01:48 and and at 04:17 gets me everytime. Absolutely lovely WilliamHorne97 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 The bridge at 01:48 and and at 04:17 gets me everytime. Absolutely lovely The orchestra kicking in always gets me. In fact the whole theme gets me, its wonderful and deserves more praise then it gets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,482 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 I was listening to the theme this morning while on the beach in Mexico, such lovely. One of the too few themes John Williams wrote for the piano. WilliamHorne97 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Something special always comes through when he makes a pure piano cue. War Horse, ET and AI all feature some stunning piano writing but it feels underutilised when looking at his overall body of work. WilliamHorne97 and Bespin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Well, it shouldn't be a hidden gem. Are people confusing it with Sabrina the Teenage Witch because of that fucking Sony CD?Sabrina is one of JW's loveliest scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Agreed, his Sabrina: The Teenage Witch theme is memorable as hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Well, it shouldn't be a hidden gem. Are people confusing it with Sabrina the Teenage Witch because of that fucking Sony CD?Sabrina is one of JW's loveliest scores.The shadow of Star Wars and Indiana Jones looms large indeed usually drowning out these smaller scores. WilliamHorne97 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 least we know they're fans out there who will listen to a whole bunch of Williams work , an appreciate all of it Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacck 23 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 And to complement this thread with another version, here is the Cinema Serenade version with Itzhak Perlman on solo violin:This is gorgeous. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 That version is actually the first one I heard outside the film itself back in late 90's. I have to admit I have a soft spot for it too. And that whole album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 least we know they're fans out there who will listen to a whole bunch of Williams work , an appreciate all of it I love the STAR WARSes and HARRY POTTERs and INDIANA JONESes as much as the next guy, but the amount of discussion of these scores is rather overwhelming in here, so I don't usually click and participate in those threads. I'm far more keen on talking about the 'smaller' or more unknown works of Williams. SABRINA isn't unknown, but it IS one of the smaller ones. WilliamHorne97 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ins 42 Posted November 26, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted November 26, 2015 One further hidden gem on this album in my opinion is "Nantucket Visit". I really like how this simple but brilliant little motif is bounced between the individual instruments. The small piano interludes are magnificent and so hard to transcribe by ear (at least for me ). WilliamHorne97, mahler3 and Marc 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I think that's the Linus Larrabee motif. It appears at various points in the film score, but it's only heard in that one instance on the album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hlao-roo 389 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Well, it shouldn't be a hidden gem. Are people confusing it with Sabrina the Teenage Witch because of that fucking Sony CD?Sabrina is one of JW's loveliest scores.The shadow of Star Wars and Indiana Jones looms large indeed usually drowning out these smaller scores.Only if you play them at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,478 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 It was achingly lovely. Williams career is full of dazzling themes which don't get as much air due to his other monumentally famous scores. One of my absolute favorite themes by Williams that I think is little known is The Reivers. God I love that theme. I'd maybe even put in a Top 5 or Top 10 of themes by Williams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 As it was the score that got the attention of Steven Spielberg, I assume most people here are familiar with The Reivers. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uni 306 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Most people here are. Most folks out there who know JW only from his Golden Age scores won't have a clue. That's unfortunate, but hardly unexpected.Sabrina is indeed a gorgeous theme, and one of his best romantic works. I think one of the reasons it winds up on the back burner for most people (even many JW fans) is the movie it's correlated with. The original was so much better. As much as they tried to recreate the magic, Ormond wasn't able to come close to projecting the bright innocence of Hepburn, and Ford just wasn't gruff enough to match Bogart's portrayal. You expect Ford to be the romantic lead who gets the girl (no matter how old he is); audiences weren't sure it would be Bogey who won out back in 1954. It dampened the story, and that impression--at least for me--prevented a true appreciation of the music for a while.I've grown to love it, though. And now I'm going to listen to it again, just 'cause you put it back on my radar, William. (Welcome to the boards, by the way. . . !) WilliamHorne97 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 27, 2015 Author Share Posted November 27, 2015 Most people here are. Most folks out there who know JW only from his Golden Age scores won't have a clue. That's unfortunate, but hardly unexpected.Sabrina is indeed a gorgeous theme, and one of his best romantic works. I think one of the reasons it winds up on the back burner for most people (even many JW fans) is the movie it's correlated with. The original was so much better. As much as they tried to recreate the magic, Ormond wasn't able to come close to projecting the bright innocence of Hepburn, and Ford just wasn't gruff enough to match Bogart's portrayal. You expect Ford to be the romantic lead who gets the girl (no matter how old he is); audiences weren't sure it would be Bogey who won out back in 1954. It dampened the story, and that impression--at least for me--prevented a true appreciation of the music for a while.I've grown to love it, though. And now I'm going to listen to it again, just 'cause you put it back on my radar, William. (Welcome to the boards, by the way. . . !)Thank you very much Uni Enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarpia 132 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I've never watched Sabrina, but I love the score. I usually play the main theme on the piano. WilliamHorne97 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 The theme is indeed gorgeous. The film is meh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I actually find the movie really endearing, I just try to ignore the Sabrina/Linus age difference as in the original. WilliamHorne97 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I've seen the film once and I've listened to the score twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted November 28, 2015 Author Share Posted November 28, 2015 I watched the film awhile ago. I don't remember hating it if I recall.. But I forgot the theme!! never even listened to it after I watched the movie, until I stumbled upon it later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahler3 478 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 I remember being very excited to see this at the cinema, as it was the first new score since 1993.The woodwind and string measures during the instrumental of Moonlight are gorgeous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 While the film was dreadful i enjoyed the theme. It's Williams perfectly homaging the Golden Age while updating the harmonic language just enough to make it credible for the 90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 The melody is inoffensive I suppose, and I find the theme okay during the playful sweetness of its piano lead, but again it all gets a bit Andre Rieu whenever the strings swell up into full JW romance mode, a trait of the composer's I never have really cliqued with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 The Broadway mode, as i call it. Though i don't find SABRINA offensive in that regard. Selected moments from HOOK and HARRY POTTER are much more annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 "Broadway mode" YES! That's the way to put it. It's what used to date his music the most, but thankfully his sweeping romance side has been a bit more um... solemn and er... classy since he hit 80. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 907 Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Saw Sting last night. He performed a 90-minute set, and he didn't even sing Moonlight! Just a bunch of Police and Sting songs. Marc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,658 Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 He used to perform it, but the last time someone in the audience tried to record it. pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 On 11/25/2015 at 1:38 PM, Incanus said: Another wonderful version from the album Keisuke Wakao Plays the Music of John Williams, arrangement for a chamber orchestra, oboe and piano, oboe soloist Keisuke Wakao, the principal oboe of the Boston Symphony Orchestra: Does anyone know what involvement Williams had on this album? Did he arrange all the selections, similar to the recent Mutter release..? Update: never mind. I just read Williams only arranged the Stepmom cue himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 15 minutes ago, Sandor said: Update: never mind. I just read Williams only arranged the Stepmom cue himself. He also plays piano on that cue on the album. Sandor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Maybe for some people it's a hidden gem, but not for any serious JW fan! It's a fantastic theme. It so vividly expresses love, desire, opulence, and heartache.... A glamorous, elegant, gorgeous theme. One of JW's best, agreed! I especially like the oboe and flute counterpoints about halfway through.... They are so JW, they give me pleasurable goosebumps. From 3:12 onward... And especially at 3:40. Marc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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