SteveMc 2,674 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 So, what do y'all feel is John Williams's most original score? That is to say, his score that is least dependent on the influence of other composers (not that there's anything wrong with that). From an original idea by @crumbs, over on the Discord channel ( @Holko presiding). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Thor 7,504 Posted March 5, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 5, 2019 IMAGES -- always and forever. Once, Obi, Naïve Old Fart and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John 2,032 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 A.I. is a very original and unusual score. Lots of varying textures and ambitious orchestrations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 23 minutes ago, John said: A.I. is a very original and unusual score. Lots of varying textures and ambitious orchestrations. But very "John Adams"? (one of my favourite JW scores, certainly, but I'm not sure it's bereft of influence -- then again, what is?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,348 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Harry Potter 3? Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 AI has little bits of influence from a number of sources, but those moments are brief and scattered. On the whole I reckon the score is deeply connected to Williams' personal voice as a concert composer, with all the influences and innovations that make that up. A solid choice for his most original score with the understanding that nothing is ever really original. Taikomochi and SteveMc 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jay 37,364 Posted March 5, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 5, 2019 Close Encounters? bollemanneke, Jediwashington, Once and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Kockroach 2,344 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Star Wars, because no one had ever done an action-adventure score before. Jurassic Shark and mstrox 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holko 9,526 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 1 minute ago, Jay said: Close Encounters? Yep, that came up on the Discord as well. The Illustrious Jerry and Jediwashington 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post crumbs 14,316 Posted March 5, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 5, 2019 I feel like War of the Worlds is a very unique score. I've certainly not heard another like it. Were there influences there? 1977, Taikomochi and The Illustrious Jerry 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 2,835 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Amistad Schindler’s List Presumed Innocent War of the Worlds SteveMc and The Illustrious Jerry 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,533 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Thor said: IMAGES -- always and forever. Very. Well. Said. Nothing comes even remotely close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post KK 3,307 Posted March 5, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Thor said: But very "John Adams"? (one of my favourite JW scores, certainly, but I'm not sure it's bereft of influence -- then again, what is?). A.I. has numerous influences (Katchadourian, Ligeti, Adams, etc), but as Grey said, it's all filtered through his voice. I think the sonic pools he dipped into with that score went on to inform the evolution of his own sound in the 21st century, especially in his concert work. A seminal work in his career, no doubt. SteveMc, crumbs and Arpy 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share Posted March 5, 2019 Images, Close Encounters and A.I. are the three leading candidates here. I agree that it is hard to top Images, though. Jediwashington 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falstaft 2,132 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 The Long Goodbye, conceptually speaking. Bryant Burnette 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 It's not like Images is devoid of influences, either. I say AI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Cinderella Liberty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,478 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 E.T. Might sound like an odd answer but for the reason of scoring. The music might not be extremely original, it is your traditional symphonic sound but the way the film is scored is original I would say. I don't think anyone else would have scored the film this way. And the chase theme is the single most original theme he has written. There is really nothing like it. And the climax is tremendous because throughout the film Williams is very disciplined, and keeps a relatively low profile for the most part but then goes absolutely HUGE for the climax. It really helps escalate the suspense and drama of the film. Jediwashington and Oomoog the Ecstatic 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 "Original" is often code for "weird". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 1 hour ago, TheUlyssesian said: And the chase theme is the single most original theme he has written. There is really nothing like it. Hate to be that guy but let's not go crazy. Falstaft and Jurassic Shark 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 On that note, I wonder if the more interesting question to ask is: What is John Williams' most original theme? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Lando's Palace The Illustrious Jerry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 12 minutes ago, Knox Harrington said: Hate to be that guy but let's not go crazy. I find John's usage of this as a template for E.T. to be a magnificent, and, in its own way, strikingly original tribute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,715 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Close Encounters or Images. Also A Long Goodbye, original in the sense how it was used in the film, as a sort of all permeating motto throughout the film and how it morphed and fluidly flowed through everything as the melancholy commentary of the story and mostly as in-world diegetic music. I really wish Williams had collaborated more with Altman. Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Does a track like Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant have a clear influence? I've always found that track wildly original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 2,835 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 1 hour ago, crumbs said: Does a track like Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant have a clear influence? I've always found that track wildly original. It certainly influenced Quidditch, Second Year xD crumbs and ins 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi 404 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Rosewood ! (After Images) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,076 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 12 hours ago, Thor said: But very "John Adams"? (one of my favourite JW scores, certainly, but I'm not sure it's bereft of influence -- then again, what is?). You should check out the expanded release then. 20 minutes ago, Obi said: Rosewood ! (After Images) He asked for original, not boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi 404 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Fake fan. 1977 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,076 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 To answer the thread title: The Last Jedi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_deleted_ 203 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Schindler's List The Illustrious Jerry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,076 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 I can do even bigger letters: The Last Jedi _deleted_ and The Illustrious Jerry 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,483 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 I would say The Empire Strikes back, you will tell me, well, it’s a sequel to Star Wars, but do you know that « Fame » won the oscar for best musical score this year? John Williams since Jaws in 1975 always continued in the big romantic orchestral score genre ignoring completely the current fashion, and he proved that again a year later with Raiders. At the end the 70s that was « Original » and a statement I think. The Illustrious Jerry and _deleted_ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Thor 7,504 Posted March 6, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 6, 2019 5 minutes ago, Bespin said: I would say The Empire Strikes back, you will tell me, well, it’s a sequel to Star Wars, but do you know that « Fame » won the oscar for best musical score this year? John Williams since Jaws in 1975 always continued in the big romantic orchestral score genre ignoring completely the current fashion Not quite. Falstaft, _deleted_ and SteveMc 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 That may be the most 80s thing I have ever heard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Minority Report or The Book Thief Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 Just now, hornist said: Minority Report or The Book Thief Minority Report is a contender. The Book Thief has a unique presentation, but it does bear the mark of influence. The 2nd movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 reminds me strongly of John's work here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,076 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 7 minutes ago, SteveMc said: That may be the most 80s thing I have ever heard. JW invented the 80s sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 Just now, Jurassic Shark said: JW invented the 80s sound. Give me proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,076 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 2 minutes ago, SteveMc said: Give me proof. Thor just did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 The 80s was already in full swing with that one! I want a demo tape dated 1975 with gated reverb and cutting edge top-secret FM synths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 9 minutes ago, hornist said: The Book Thief You mean the Angela's Ashes retake? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 This is veering off-topic, but the pioneers of the burgeoning MIDI technology in the 80s were obvioulsy people like Moroder, Faltermeyer, Hammer etc. I guess in a way you could say that MIDNIGHT EXPRESS was an early prototype of the prevalent synth scores that defined the 80s, as pop producers brought to film music what was already happening on the electropop scene. The SPACE CAMP cue was clearly feeding off of that, with a definite Vince di Cola vibe going on. SteveMc and Obi 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 3 minutes ago, KK said: You mean the Angela's Ashes retake? Superior retake in my book, no pun intended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,076 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 9 minutes ago, SteveMc said: The 80s was already in full swing with that one! That's when it really started. SteveMc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, SteveMc said: Superior retake in my book, no pun intended. Ah, just when you were doing so well Steve! Angela's Ashes is clearly the far superior work. The Book Thief is pleasant, but unremarkable in my books. (cue: hornist's vitriol...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, KK said: Ah, just when you were doing so well Steve! Angela's Ashes is clearly the far superior work. The Book Thief is pleasant, but unremarkable in my books. (cue: hornist's vitriol...) I greatly appreciate Angela's Ashes, but there is a mood and an intimacy in The Book Thief , that truly connects with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,483 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 @Thor I was speaking of ESB and Raiders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1977 1,743 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Heartbeeps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,076 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 He asked for most original, not worst! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now