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(Best) John Williams Tracks by Type of Composition?


Pieter Boelen

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Because I am no expert of musical theory at all, my familiarity with different types of composition is limited to say the least.

But of course John Williams IS such an expert and has written many brilliant examples.

So out of interest, I was wondering what specific examples you could think of. And which ones do you like best?

 

Here are some examples to get started:

 

PARADES:

The Flag Parade from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Parade of the Ewoks from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

Parade of the Slave Children from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

 

MARCHES:

The Raiders March from Indiana Jones

The Imperial March from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Superman March

March of the Resistance from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The March of the Villains from Superman

Midway March

Men of Yorktown March

March from 1941

Pops on the March

 

SCHERZO'S:

"Scherzo" from Black Sunday

"The Basket Game" from Raiders of the Lost Ark

"Bug Tunnel, Death Trap" from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (kind of)
The latter half of "Indy's Very First Adventure" from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
"Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
"Scherzo for Today" from NBC News
"Tintin soundtrack" is essentially one long scherzo (well, most of it...)

"Scherzo for X-Wings" from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

 

FUGUES:

The Shark Cage Fugue from Jaws

Prelude and Fugue (Concert work)

Fugue from Black Sunday

Fugue for Changing Times from NBC News

 

Of course there must be many more; and probably also some that don't have this marked in their track title.

So please enlighten me. :music:

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Don't forget John Williams is also an expert of the Moon.

 

Blood Moon (Images)

Over The Moon (E.T.)

The Canyon Of The Crescent Moon (Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade)

Moonlight (Sabrina)

The Moon Rising (A.I.)

 

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7 minutes ago, Cerebral Cortex said:

Aunt Marge's Waltz, from Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban 

The Chairman's Waltz, from Memoirs of a Geisha

 

The Weightless Waltz from Lost in Space

Calliope Waltz from The Fury

 

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And here's a Valentine's Day special for all you lovers.

 

Penelope (Love Theme)

Love Theme From "Heidi"

Cinderella Liberty Love Theme

Love Theme from Earthquake

Love Theme From The Misouri Breaks

Love Theme From Superman

Love Theme from The River

Love Theme from The Paper Chase

Love Theme From Attack Of The Clones

Love Theme From "The Long Goodbye"

Han Solo and The Princess (Love Theme) from Empire Strikes Back

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I think my question might have been somewhat misunderstood. So let me try it again....

In all of Williams' work, what tracks can be considered "scherzo's"?

The obvious ones are those from the opening post where the track names give it away.

But how about the non-obvious ones?

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The entire Tintin soundtrack is essentially one long scherzo (well, most of it...)

 

"Bug Tunnel, Death Trap" from TOD is also a kind of scherzo. The latter half of Indy's Very First Adventure from TLC as well. Oh, and The Basket Game!

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13 minutes ago, loert423 said:

The entire Tintin soundtrack is essentially one long scherzo (well, most of it...)

 

"Bug Tunnel, Death Trap" from TOD is also a kind of scherzo. The latter half of Indy's Very First Adventure from TLC as well. Oh, and The Basket Game!

Thanks! I added that to the opening post now; hopefully we can create some sort of vaguely comprehensive list. :D

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"Blood Moon" from 'Images' is in my opinion his BEST fugue, creatively and technically. An incessantly beautiful melody, with layer upon layer added on each repetition.

 

For scherzos, I have the softest spot for "Scherzo for Today", and "The Asteroid Field" from TESB, which is also arguably a scherzo.

CORRECTION: I have overlooked "To Thornfield" from Jane Eyre (1970), which is also an incredibly sophisticated work.

 

Don't know if one can stylistically distinguish between a 'parade' and a 'march', ultimately they both lead to relatively similar musical results.

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