What is John Williams's 'smallest' score?

[Hlao-roo 390]

In the sense that Rosza's Ben Hur, Debney's Cutthroat Island or Horner's Willow are 'BIG' scores and Williams' Stanley And Iris or Horner's The Spitfire Grill are 'small' scores, what is Williams' smallest score..?

[crocodile 9,724]

Rosewood, perhaps?

Karol

[Miguel Andrade 1,727]

Missouri Breaks was scored for 12 instruments if memory serves.

Rosewood uses a full orchestra, so I wouldn't call it small... not in instrumentals forces used and not in the soundscape it conjures.

[Josh500 1,620]

Small in the sense that it uses few instruments? Or small in the sense that it has had little impact on the listener?

[Charlie Brigden 7]

The Long Goodbye

[King Mark 3,975]

Presumed Innocent

[Josh500 1,620]

The Long Goodbye

Why?

[Charlie Brigden 7]

It just feels very small and intimate, especially being diegetic.

[Josh500 1,620]

It just feels very small and intimate, especially being diegetic.

Hmmm, I haven't listened to this score, so I can't say one way or the other...

It just occurred to me, Schindler's List has no brass section at all, does it? So in terms of orchestra, it's quite a small score... and yet, in terms of impact, it was HUGE!

[MSM 194]

Conrack I think, it's a small ensemble and not many notes.

[Maurizio 6,913]

Schindler's List definitely have brass. It does not feature trumpets however, a choice JW often makes when scoring dramas (Angela's Ashes, Munich).

As for JW's smallest score, I think Missouri Breaks and Conrack are probably the ones.

[Josh500 1,620]

Schindler's List definitely have brass. It does not feature trumpets however, a choice JW often makes when scoring dramas (Angela's Ashes, Munich).

I just couldn't think of any "brassy" section off the top of my head... where do we hear trombones or the tuba?

The horn we hear at the beginning of Schindler's Workforce, yes. But other than that...?

[Maurizio 6,913]

On Schindler's List JW uses horns mostly to double strings and woodwinds, or to sustain/enrich the harmonies. They're never used in fanfare-like fashion because, well, the film doesn't need that. A few cues feature also parts for trumpets and trombones.

But there are brass all over the score.

[Josh500 1,620]

I am looking for examples...

[Maurizio 6,913]

Well, there are numerous examples, I'm not able to make a full list right now. Just listen to it.

[MSM 194]

From what I remember there are at least no trombones in the main title.

[Josh500 1,620]

The main title at least has no brass section at all.

http://www.sheetmusi...s-List/18101373

Oh yeah, in "Making the List"... brass features briefly in the background... from 1:30 onward. What is that? Trombones?

[Maurizio 6,913]

Horns are definitely there in several cues (Give Me Your Names even has a touching horn solo).

Trumpets and trombones are featured only in few cues (Schindler's Workforce)

[Josh500 1,620]

Yes, you're right!

Ok, so then Schindler's List is not a small score... in any sense!

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS.

[Thor 9,362]

Again a topic that suffers from not being specific enough. What is 'small', anyway? Number of instruments used?

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

Pretty much, I guess. Scope too, though that's a little vague.

[MSM 194]

I think Dracula has a very short running time on the album. Does that count as small too?

[tharpdevenport 4]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9d-ZGBRxGQ

;-)

[Xander Harris 9,676]

Ladd Company logo.

[Alejandro 31]

Long Goodbye. I think that one beats all others.

[Thor 9,362]

Long Goodbye. I think that one beats all others.

Really? I think there are quite a few instruments used in that, as the theme is performed by various ensembles of various sizes.

[Sandor 918]

Again a topic that suffers from not being specific enough. What is 'small', anyway? Number of instruments used?

In the sense that Rosza's Ben Hur, Debney's Cutthroat Island or Horner's Willow are 'BIG' scores and Williams' Stanley And Iris or Horner's The Spitfire Grill are 'small' scores, what is Williams' smallest score..?

[Thor 9,362]

So somewhat of a subjective idea, then. Seems to be more a difference between 'bombasticism' and 'softspoken drama' in your sense. But that means you can have huge orchestral forces for softspoken dramas (LEGENDS OF THE FALL) as well as a minimum of instruments for big, fat, bombastic sounds (TRON LEGACY).

[Naïve Old Fart 13,025]

Long Goodbye. I think that one beats all others.

Really? I think there are quite a few instruments used in that, as the theme is performed by various ensembles of various sizes.

There are, and there's also some incidental music heard at the end of the film. Remember that "Hooray For Hollywood" was niether scored, nor adapted by J.W.

If you ,mean small "physically", then Miguel's right; it would be "The Missouri Breaks". If you mean "emotionally", then it's either "The Accidental Tourist", "Pete 'N' Tillie", "Conrack","Cinderella Liberty",or "Stanley And Iris". I'd go with "Pete 'N' Tillie".

I know it is not as score as such, but "Cantina Band" only had 4 players.

E.T.'s suggestion of the Ladd Company logo, is interesting. Does anyone know exactly what it was scored for?

[Thor 9,362]

Long Goodbye. I think that one beats all others.

Really? I think there are quite a few instruments used in that, as the theme is performed by various ensembles of various sizes.

There are, and there's also some incidental music heard at the end of the film. Remember that "Hooray For Hollywood" was niether scored, nor adapted by J.W.

If you ,mean small "physically", then Miguel's right; it would be "The Missouri Breaks". If you mean "emotionally", then it's either "The Accidental Tourist", "Pete 'N' Tillie", "Conrack","Cinderella Liberty",or "Stanley And Iris". I'd go with "Pete 'N' Tillie".

I know it is not as score as such, but "Cantina Band" only had 4 players.

E.T.'s suggestion of the Ladd Company logo, is interesting. Does anyone know exactly what it was scored for?

For the Ladd company.

[Miguel Andrade 1,727]

There are, and there's also some incidental music heard at the end of the film. Remember that "Hooray For Hollywood" was niether scored, nor adapted by J.W.

If you ,mean small "physically", then Miguel's right; it would be "The Missouri Breaks". If you mean "emotionally", then it's either "The Accidental Tourist", "Pete 'N' Tillie", "Conrack","Cinderella Liberty",or "Stanley And Iris". I'd go with "Pete 'N' Tillie".

I know it is not as score as such, but "Cantina Band" only had 4 players.

E.T.'s suggestion of the Ladd Company logo, is interesting. Does anyone know exactly what it was scored for?

Actually, in The Long Goodbye there are some parts that use less than the 12 players in The Missouri Breaks. And the incidental cue in the end of The Long Goodbye sounds "small"...

Emotionally wise, there are parts of Cinderella Liberty that don't sound that small, at least for me. In that respect, I would go with the wonderful scores for Martin Ritt or then Accidental Tourist.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Even when working with a small ensemble Williams never really sounds "small".

I never get the feeling there's anything missing. Even with a 4 player piece like Air and Simple Gifts. The way he layers instruments, it just always sounds full-bodied.

[Sandor 918]

Even when working with a small ensemble Williams never really sounds "small".

I never get the feeling there's anything missing. Even with a 4 player piece like Air and Simple Gifts. The way he layers instruments, it just always sounds full-bodied.

Yeah, or his great Devil's Dance arrangment for violin and piano only.

[MSM 194]

Even when working with a small ensemble Williams never really sounds "small".

I never get the feeling there's anything missing. Even with a 4 player piece like Air and Simple Gifts. The way he layers instruments, it just always sounds full-bodied.

Yeah, or his great Devil's Dance arrangment for violin and piano only.

Also his recent La Jolla Quartet is a great example.