THE ADVENTURES OF HAN - 2018 John Williams theme for Solo: A Star Wars Story

[Damien F 1,742]

2 hours ago, crumbs said:

Also clears up any misconception about exactly what Williams contributed to the film; certainly not just a melody scribbled on some paper!

 

 

The maestro never scribbles, he CREATES!!

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

...but indeed on paper.

[Alan 689]

3 hours ago, Smeltington said:

 

YAYYYYYYYYYYYY what an exciting time!! I really hope we hear this in London!!!!!!!

 

This will be the first Star Wars score to have all the music JW wrote released on the OST. And only the second to be released in its entirety EVER (counting SW77)!

 

Nah, they'll be a microedit right as it reaches the best bit

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

The theme's so short in duration that it almost qualifies as a microedit...

[Cerebral Cortex 3,357]

This all still feels a little too surreal. 

[mrbellamy 6,272]

It's pretty hot, man.

[Henry Sítrónu 494]

6 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

I guess he conducted it via Skype.

When I ordered Elfman's The Unknown Known from LLL it took more than 4 weeks to arrive here in Berlin. What an odd surprise when I read the credits and found out that the score was recorded in Berlin. 

[TheUlyssesian 2,473]

5 hours ago, The Illustrious Jerry said:

Hmm. Yeah. Giacchino stuck three in on Rogue One (Jyn Erso And Hope, Imperial, Guardians of the Whills suites). Would be nice for a proper concert arrangement, especially with Powell reportedly having an additional five or something new themes and motifs.

Technically he stuck in 5 concert arrangements in 3 suites as Jyn Erso and Hope suite highlights those 2 themes and Imperial suite highlights Krennick's theme and Empire theme.

[Tom 4,640]

This will likely never be confirmed one way or the other, but I would guess that the person who initiated the "Williams do a theme for Han" thing was Larry Kasdan.  It sounds like this was in many ways his movie (writing it with his son and the story of him being instrumental in the director change).  If he asked for it, the Kennedy would have been onboard.  I just cannot see Williams being the one who asked, but maybe. 

[mrbellamy 6,272]

I could see it being Kennedy's idea too. 

[King Mark 3,626]

we don't know the  track's time yet, it could be 1 minute 30 seconds

 

or what if it's actually the revised Han solo and the Princess?

[Tom 4,640]

1 hour ago, King Mark said:

 

 

or what if it's actually the revised Han solo and the Princess?

Then the climax of the piece would give insight into the nature of Han's adventures. 

[Arpy 4,145]

01. The Adventures of Han: 74 minutes

[igger6 894]

11 hours ago, Obi said:

Reminds me "The Adventures of Mutt".

 

Actually, there's an in-universe precedent for that title...

[Arpy 4,145]

15 minutes ago, igger6 said:

 

Actually, there's an in-universe precedent for that title...

 

[mrbellamy 6,272]

Jar Jar Binks

Mutt Williams

Han Solo

 

[Amer 2,080]

Good news indeed! 

 

Question is who conducted first Williams or Powell? 

[Arpy 4,145]

6 minutes ago, Amer said:

Good news indeed! 

 

Question is who conducted first Williams or Powell? 

Our old pal, Bill Ross of course!

[artguy360 1,843]

Composed and conducted by JW? This is great news. I do hope the track is at least 3 mins long. That seems to be the standard minimum for a Star Wars theme.

[mrbellamy 6,272]

"March of the Resistance" is around 2:36 and that piece doesn't feel like it needs to be any longer. I'll be disappointed if "Adventures of Han" is less than 2...

 

But regardless, we'll have a whole score to hear this theme so as long as Powell gets some good mileage out of it, I won't be too fussed about how much we're getting from Williams himself. This is a John Powell score so I'm gonna look at this as Williams throwing out a pitch for Powell to hit a homer.

[Bilbo 3,709]

5 hours ago, mrbellamy said:

Jar Jar Binks

Mutt Williams

Han Solo

 

 

Yeah. Jar Jar is cool. The others...

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

1 hour ago, mrbellamy said:

"March of the Resistance" is around 2:36 and that piece doesn't feel like it needs to be any longer. I'll be disappointed if "Adventures of Han" is less than 2...

 

But regardless, we'll have a whole score to hear this theme so as long as Powell gets some good mileage out of it, I won't be too fussed about how much we're getting from Williams himself. This is a John Powell score so I'm gonna look at this as Williams throwing out a pitch for Powell to hit a homer.

 

The prologue from Hook is less than 2 minutes but still a perfect piece of music.

[YoYoMama 48]

I'm really quite excited to hear a new Star Wars score recorded with the LSO at Abbey Road studios. As much as I like the scores for the ST, the mix is so dry compared to previous incarnations. I think it had a lot to do with the room it was recorded in. Plus, something about the brass didn't seem to pop as much as should have.

[Richard Penna 3,673]

4 hours ago, mrbellamy said:

This is a John Powell score so I'm gonna look at this as Williams throwing out a pitch for Powell to hit a homer.

 

Indeed. While it's great that we get a new JW concert piece, this is Powell's gig.

 

Given that I have an issue with the sound quality in older scores (and the OT is a major offender), I'm rather looking forward to hearing some old themes and classic moments (such as Asteroid Field) with a newer recording and Powell's orchestration.

[TownerFan 4,983]

3 hours ago, YoYoMama said:

I'm really quite excited to hear a new Star Wars score recorded with the LSO at Abbey Road studios.

 

The LSO didn't do the score for Solo. It was recorded at Abbey Road with London-based contracted players.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

12 minutes ago, TownerFan said:

 

The LSO didn't do the score for Solo. It was recorded at Abbey Road with London-based contracted players.

 

So there'll be a percentage of LSO players.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Kinda funny this movie/OST coming out the same month as LLL's Superman IV release. Two movies that have other composers adapt both an original Williams concert arrangement and pre-existing Williams themes from the franchise.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

24 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Kinda funny this movie/OST coming out the same month as LLL's Superman IV release. Two movies that have other composers adapt both an original Williams concert arrangement and pre-existing Williams themes from the franchise.

 

But did JW really do the arrangements of his new themes for Superman IV?

[Luke Skywalker 1,792]

Wow everyone forgot about Tintin...he had his adventures too...  

[rpvee 805]

Any chance he’d include it in the Boston shows coming up? The second one is literally on Solo’s opening night (and if there’s any reason for me to miss the first showing of a Star Wars film, it’s John Williams! lol).

[Disco Stu 15,495]

26 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

But did JW really do the arrangements of his new themes for Superman IV?

 

Well, even if Williams didn't do the full-length arrangements for those, it's still new themes in a franchise started by Williams provided for another composer to adapt.  Are these the only two times that's happened?

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

4 minutes ago, rpvee said:

Any chance he’d include it in the Boston shows coming up? The second one is literally on Solo’s opening night (and if there’s any reason for me to miss the first showing of a Star Wars film, it’s John Williams! lol).

 

Why don't you ask him? You seem to be buddies!

 

Just now, Disco Stu said:

 

Well, even if Williams didn't do the full-length arrangements for those, it's still new themes provided for another composer to adapt.  Are these the only two times that's happened?

 

Chamber of Secrets?

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Just now, Jurassic Shark said:

Chamber of Secrets?

 

Gray area, as always.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

1 minute ago, Disco Stu said:

 

Gray area, as always.

 

Well, JW only wrote the set of new themes and orchestrated them, didn't he?

[Disco Stu 15,495]

1 minute ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

Well, JW only wrote the set of new themes and orchestrated them, didn't he?

 

No, it's not like Solo and Superman IV at all.  Williams wrote the vast majority of the underscore for Chamber himself.  He didn't just hand off a couple of new melodies to Ross.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

1 minute ago, Disco Stu said:

 

No, it's not like Solo and Superman IV at all.  Williams wrote the vast majority of the underscore for Chamber himself.  He didn't just hand off a couple of new melodies to Ross.

 

Interesting. Do you have some reference on this?

[Disco Stu 15,495]

It's not some big secret.

 

 

The only debate was just how much adaption was necessary by Ross, especially "podium changes" or last minute edit changes and such.  There are approximately 2500 pages of debate on that very subject at http://www.jwfan.com 

 

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

Just now, Disco Stu said:

It's not some big secret.

 

 

The only debate was just how much adaption was necessary by Ross, especially "podium changes" or last minute edit changes and such.  There are approximately 2500 pages of debate on that very subject at http://www.jwfan.com 

 

 

I've aware of what's stated on the cover, but that can be interpreted in a number of ways. I'm rather wondering if JW himself has commented on the specifics of Ross' contributions.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

6 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

I've aware of what's stated on the cover, but that can be interpreted in a number of ways. I'm rather wondering if JW himself has commented on the specifics of Ross' contributions.

 

Try reading this http://www.runmovies.eu/william-ross-on-adapting-harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets/

 

Ross basically says that Williams wrote all the new stuff, and any cues that are essentially just rearrangements of Philosopher's Stone cues were done by him.  And Williams was actively still writing even when the score was being recorded

 

Quote

How much music is in the film?
It may surprise you to know I’m not sure! In addition to the new material he wrote specifically for the film, he took several themes and expanded them into more developed pieces for the album. I was stunned by the amount of music he wrote. We were on the 12th day of a 13-day recording schedule and I received a package with new cues to record. That night I actually called John and told him I was sending the music police to confiscate his pencil. I think he just couldn’t stop writing.

 

But besides all that, Williams would not have taken a "Composed by" credit in the film and on the OST if he hadn't, well, composed the score!

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

I didn't know that Ross had a stint as a composer for MacGyver!

 

17 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

 

Try reading this http://www.runmovies.eu/william-ross-on-adapting-harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets/

 

Very informative interview. I especially like the clarity of the following paragraph:

 

Quote

Are there any moments in the score that you can identity as being predominantly John’s work, versus those that you can identify as being primarily yours?
I’m not sure how to answer that question. I think some people get confused because they see the “Music Adapted by” credit. That was something that John insisted on from our first meeting. The reality however is that CHAMBER OF SECRETS is a John Williams score beginning to end.

 

And this quote about some new artist is funny in retrospect:

 

Quote

Josh Groban (a new artist at Warner Records) is preparing to do a second album. I really enjoyed his first album and I’m looking forward to working on the next one.

 

[Jay 37,310]

Ross didn't "write" anything for COS.  Everything you hear in COS is either brand new by JW, or JW's HP1 material (or, let's be honest: AOTC material in some cases) adapted by Ross.  Adapting in this case essentially means changing the tempo / trimming bars / seguing from one piece of one cue to another piece from another cue to conform to the exact HP2 picture edit instead of whatever the music originally fit to in HP1.  It's a JW score all the way through.

Ross was also the conductor, so would have been in charge of any podium changes, too, but that wouldn't include literally writing new music.  It would be adapting things if the musicians couldn't play a difficult section properly, or if it wasn't sounding like they though it would on paper, etc.  Ross played a large and important role in COS, but it isn't fair to say he wrote any of the score.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

Yes, this has already been clarified by the informative interview Stu linked to.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

4 minutes ago, Jay said:

Ross didn't "write" anything for COS.

 

Yeah, it's like a long-running in-joke to insinuate otherwise on JWFan, which probably just confuses newer members or lurkers who don't realize it's a joke.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

Anyway, "William Ross" is just one of JW's many artist names.

[Cerebral Cortex 3,357]

5 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

 

Yeah, it's like a long-running in-joke to insinuate otherwise on JWFan, which probably just confuses newer members or lurkers who don't realize it's a joke.

 

Implying that Williams wrote all of the music for COS and not Ross is the real joke here. 

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

Pretending that Williams and Ross isn't the same guy is the real joke!

[Disco Stu 15,495]

43 minutes ago, Cerebral Cortex said:

 

Implying that Williams wrote all of the music for COS and not Ross is the real joke here. 

 

[Manakin Skywalker 4,891]

46 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Pretending that Williams and Ross isn't the same guy is the real joke!

John William Ross. It all makes sense now!

[Loert 2,510]

So how many music did William Ross actually contributed?

 

Discuss.

[Tom 4,640]

Back to Solo (which should be the ONLY topic discussed on this thread), the Powell thread mentions this piece is probably only around 2 minutes.  I wonder if Williams will work up a longer piece for concerts/Hal Leonard.

 

Btw, "only" means "one," as in "solo," so settle down.