The Quick Question Thread

[Incanus 5,890]

When does Hans Zimmer use a real orchestra? i was listening to the scores from Sherlock Holmes 2 and On Stranger Tides, and while they have the Zimmer sound I enjoy from time to time, I could tell the brass and strings were VERY fake. I'm just wondering how often Zimmer uses real instruments or real ensambles if ever.

Surprisingly enough he uses real ensembles very frequently. His horrible trick is that he makes them sound like synths more often than not.

Really? How does he do that?

I really thought those strings were synth..

Naturally he uses synths and samples heavily but he also has live ensemble playing on, I would dare to say, all his recordings for these modern scores. Overall effect is still that in the end it all sounds synth.

[indy4 160]

Is the theme heard at 3:00 of "Star Wars Main Title And Ambush On Coruscant" from AotC heard at all in Revenge of the Sith?

[Incanus 5,890]

The Separatist motif doesn't appear as such in ROTS. Williams composed another similar one which he uses throughout the score and develops it into the waltz like march for Grievous.

[The Dark Trilogy 40]

I have questions about sound quality camparison for those releases, I hope someone can help me out:

Raiders of the Lost Ark DCC (DZS-090) vs. Silva Screen (Raiders 001) and Close Encounters old Arista CD (ARCD 8365) vs. Varese (VSD-5275).

For Raiders, I cannot decide which one is better. I hear a difference between those, but I cannot say if the DCC sounded better or Silva Screen. The wind section on Silva Screen is a bit louder and the cellos are "wider", whereas the DCC is more "compressed", more focused... If anyone can give me a clue or an explanation, that would be great!

For Close Encounters I do own the old Arista CD only. I do not mind about the Collector's Edition. I have this one too, but I find the original album superior. I read in comments that the Varese has better sound quality. I'm thinking about buying the Varese CD, but would you say it is worth to buy it, although I own the Arista CD? The disco version track does not interest me.

Thanks in Advance.

[indy4 160]

The Separatist motif doesn't appear as such in ROTS. Williams composed another similar one which he uses throughout the score and develops it into the waltz like march for Grievous.

Thanks! Perhaps the Seperatist motif develops into some of the more straightforward variations on Dies Irae heard in RotS, as that seems to be where the Seperatist motif comes from.

[Incanus 5,890]

The Separatist motif doesn't appear as such in ROTS. Williams composed another similar one which he uses throughout the score and develops it into the waltz like march for Grievous.

Thanks! Perhaps the Seperatist motif develops into some of the more straightforward variations on Dies Irae heard in RotS, as that seems to be where the Seperatist motif comes from.

As I am not a musicologist I can't exactly speak of the musical similarities between Dies Irae and these bad guy motifs but I honestly can't hear much connection between them. Williams uses a Dies Irae styled motif for Anakin in Episodes II and III which seems to connect to his gradual fall to the dark side and its emergence. It is used even in Across the Stars C-section as a string counter point to the horns.

[indy4 160]

The Separatist motif doesn't appear as such in ROTS. Williams composed another similar one which he uses throughout the score and develops it into the waltz like march for Grievous.

Thanks! Perhaps the Seperatist motif develops into some of the more straightforward variations on Dies Irae heard in RotS, as that seems to be where the Seperatist motif comes from.

As I am not a musicologist I can't exactly speak of the musical similarities between Dies Irae and these bad guy motifs but I honestly can't hear much connection between them. Williams uses a Dies Irae styled motif for Anakin in Episodes II and III which seems to connect to his gradual fall to the dark side and its emergence. It is used even in Across the Stars C-section as a string counter point to the horns.

The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh notes of the Seperatist Theme are the first four notes of Dies Irae. Whether it was intentional or not is debatable, but I think it is given the extraordinarily frequent references to Dies Irae in AotC and especially RotS. Is that C-section around the 2 minute mark? If so it doesn't sound like Dies Irae to me, although perhaps in another variation it's easier to detect the link.

[Incanus 5,890]

Anakin's confession scene in Episode II has the most extensive use of this Dies Irae motif when he admits killing the Sand People. The whole cue is built on the idea. In Across the Stars the motif is sped up and more angular but it is the same material. The string motif I am talking about can be heard at 2:26 onwards underneath the brass in Across the stars. Williams uses this tortured string music quite often for Anakin's inner struggle and when he gets angry and the Dark Side is starting to emerge both in Episode II and Episode III. He weaves it into the Lament/Anakin's Betrayal as well, a great musical reminder of who actually played a large part in the betrayal of the Jedi.

[Schlockading 0]

Hello all. Does anyone know anything about John Williams' position as faculty/staff at the Tanglewood Music Center or BU Tanglewood Institute, or if he still does that (or ever did it in the first place)? I'm not necessarily interested in applying, but merely if I might be able to find him there during the summer. I'm actually looking for some different internship possibilities - everything that I've found so far seems pretty unexciting and I thought I might be able to pull some strings and get to meet/work with him somehow if he were there. Any info is much appreciated!

[Andy 7,730]

Return of the Jedi Special Edition CDs:

In the "Land of the Ewoks" cue...

Why is Han/Leia's love theme played right after Artoo cuts the Ewok net and they all fall out?

Is this a case of "they dialed it out in the film" or is it a mistake, or an alternate insert?

Anybody know the story there?

[Jay 46,244]

It's the film version insert for "Han Solo Returns". I guess they had to stick it somewhere, and they went with there!

Things were done different in 1997 than in 2007+...

[Andy 7,730]

Weird!

That CD needs to be re-done. The sound quality is that of a bootleg.

[Jay 46,244]

All three Original Trilogy scores deserve a proper 2007+ standard treatment. The Prequel scores too

[Andy 7,730]

Indeed.

[Datameister 2,586]

Seriously. I would pay so much money for a 12-disc set of all 6 scores properly remastered in complete form by La-La Land or the likes.

[indy4 160]

Anakin's confession scene in Episode II has the most extensive use of this Dies Irae motif when he admits killing the Sand People. The whole cue is built on the idea. In Across the Stars the motif is sped up and more angular but it is the same material. The string motif I am talking about can be heard at 2:26 onwards underneath the brass in Across the stars. Williams uses this tortured string music quite often for Anakin's inner struggle and when he gets angry and the Dark Side is starting to emerge both in Episode II and Episode III. He weaves it into the Lament/Anakin's Betrayal as well, a great musical reminder of who actually played a large part in the betrayal of the Jedi.

Very interesting, I never noticed the use of this motif. I don't really see how it's derived from Dies Irae, though. I don't hear hints of Dies Irae in the confession scene until about 5:15 of "The Tusken Camp And The Homestead." I agree though that the use of Dies Irae in Lament is great. Some parts almost sound like the use of Dies Irae in the alternate Binary Sunset.

[Incanus 5,890]

Anakin's confession scene in Episode II has the most extensive use of this Dies Irae motif when he admits killing the Sand People. The whole cue is built on the idea. In Across the Stars the motif is sped up and more angular but it is the same material. The string motif I am talking about can be heard at 2:26 onwards underneath the brass in Across the stars. Williams uses this tortured string music quite often for Anakin's inner struggle and when he gets angry and the Dark Side is starting to emerge both in Episode II and Episode III. He weaves it into the Lament/Anakin's Betrayal as well, a great musical reminder of who actually played a large part in the betrayal of the Jedi.

Very interesting, I never noticed the use of this motif. I don't really see how it's derived from Dies Irae, though. I don't hear hints of Dies Irae in the confession scene until about 5:15 of "The Tusken Camp And The Homestead." I agree though that the use of Dies Irae in Lament is great. Some parts almost sound like the use of Dies Irae in the alternate Binary Sunset.

The confession scene music is not on the OST. It is the clearest example of this motif. Tusken Camp and Home Stead contains that ponderous rendition of the motif as Anakin is carrying Shmi home.

[indy4 160]

Ah, that would explain it.

[Xander Harris 9,675]

Weird!

That CD needs to be re-done. The sound quality is that of a bootleg.

I heard Williams intervened at the time and demanded the sound mixes be altered because they weren't in tone.

[Jay 46,244]

You're thinking of the TESB disc; On that one Lucasfilm intervened and demanded a list-minute remix of any cues that were on the first present on the Anthology box set, which is why all those cues have a narrow stereo field and the "new" cues sound normal

[Xander Harris 9,675]

I still don't hear that difference. To me, it all sounds similarly exiguous, old and new material. Only Star Wars Special Edition sounds good, and I actually still prefer the Anthology versions.

[Josh500 1,620]

Here is a (rather silly, but maybe justified) question for you regarding Tintin! Actually my girlfriend asked me this when we first saw it... and I couldn't really answer her.

In the scene "Snowy to the Rescue," why doesn't Snowy just run straight to the window, but instead first jumps onto the end table, then onto a chair, then onto another chair, then onto the floor, and THEN to the window?

I can think of only 2 reasons:

1. Snowy isn't that bright, at least in this moment.

2. Snow just wanted to show off (or else the animators or Spielberg wanted to show off).

Maybe you guys have a better answer?

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Josh500 1,620]

who gives a shit?

That's your answer to everything, isn't it?

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Josh500 1,620]

I have some questions regarding BloodBoal!

1. What does "blood boal" mean anyway?

2. How old is BloodBoal? (I am thinking around 17, but I could be wrong.)

3. Where is BloodBoal located? Europe? US? Africa?

4. What's up with BloodBoal's unique sense of humor? What is he really thinking? What's behind that facade?

[indy4 160]

The characteristic theme of Tintin's model of realism is a self-fulfilling whole. But with Snowy, Spielberg deconstructs subdeconstructivist narrative; in this scene, although, he denies the precapitalist paradigm of narrative. The main theme of The Adventures of Tintin is the meaninglessness, and hence the stasis, of dialectic society.

That's why.

[Josh500 1,620]

The characteristic theme of Tintin's model of realism is a self-fulfilling whole. But with Snowy, Spielberg deconstructs subdeconstructivist narrative; in this scene, although, he denies the precapitalist paradigm of narrative. The main theme of the works of Tintin is the meaninglessness, and hence the stasis, of dialectic society.

Yes. And that's exactly what I told my girlfriend.

But she didn't buy it. She was looking for something more profound!

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

Snowy had sprained his ankle before filming. he fell from his bed during the night

[ComposerEthan 24]

Is the short section (0:04-0:12) supposed to be or represent General Grievous, even though he isn't in the scene? I'm not exactly sure when in the scene it plays, but perhaps it plays when Windu mentions Grievous' death?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v9I2P_G7zo

[Incanus 5,890]

You are referring to the tremoloing strings and the deep brass? This material is from the beginning of I am the Senate but I can't hear any thematic connection to anything in the tense opening. It just underscores the brief dialogue between Palpatine and Mace Windu before the sword fight.

[ComposerEthan 24]

You are referring to the tremoloing strings and the deep brass? This material is from the beginning of I am the Senate but I can't hear any thematic connection to anything in the tense opening. It just underscores the brief dialogue between Palpatine and Mace Windu.

Well I'm referring most specifically to the brass part at 0:09-0:011.

It sounds remarkably close to 0:14-0:15 of Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZuEgZxliZA

And 4:52-53 of Star Wars and the Revenge of the Sith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUr3Ar43gaw

Both are examples of Grievous' theme, and IMO that small brass phrase is clearly evident in I Am The Senate.

[Incanus 5,890]

The Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious is the clearest rendition of his theme in march form but I can't hear a connection of I Am the Senate, sorry. Also the time stamp of your second clip is refering to the SW main title at the moment when you mark it 0:52-0:53.

Grievous' theme in a much less elaborate and clear lined form is used for both Grievous and Palpatine's plot much in the same way as the Separatist motif is used in Episode II. This can be heard in your clip no 1 Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious from 1:28 to 1:50 in the brass solo.

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

the bit does sound a bit similar, but I don't think its a thematic connection.

[ComposerEthan 24]

Sorry, just fixed that time mark.

Ah, maybe I'm just overthinking.

[sherief83 2]

A question About John williams him self. Does he have private students that he teaches? has he sponsered composers before (not just film)? I've always been curios about it and so far there is no info out there that shows him doing that...Hope to be wrong though.

[ComposerEthan 24]

Another question, is there any composer that does action like Williams' modern action stuff? Williams makes his action so random and complex, and I'm just wondering if any one has made something that comes close or sounds similar.

[Wojo 2,458]

William Ross?

<ducks>

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Lair by John Debney and Kevin Kaska has some stuff taht is similar to modern Williams.

[Wojo 2,458]

Hey, what's Lair? Isn't that...a....OH MY GOD ARE YOU KIDDING ME IT'S A VIDEO GAME!!!!

[hornist 1,261]

A question About John williams him self. Does he have private students that he teaches? has he sponsered composers before (not just film)? I've always been curios about it and so far there is no info out there that shows him doing that...Hope to be wrong though.

I have heard many times from very reliable sources(as they say) that Williams has students who

actually compose almost all the material we can hear in the movies, as if its composed by JW.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

And a trainwreck of a videogame, so I have been told. But John Debney composed a good score for it.

[indy4 160]

Another question, is there any composer that does action like Williams' modern action stuff? Williams makes his action so random and complex, and I'm just wondering if any one has made something that comes close or sounds similar.

While a lot of Williams' action music sounds frenetic and random, there's quite a bit of thought that goes into it. Most of the motifs are based on a primary theme, they're just so cleverly disguised that's it's hard to tell. For instance, "A Whirl Through Academe" is mostly based on Indy's theme.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

No it isn't!

[indy4 160]

Sorry, I meant to type "Adventures of Mutt." Although "Whirl" has some of Indy's influence too.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Yes you can hear Indy's theme in it, that's it!

But mostly it's Dies Irea over and over again.

[indy4 160]

It's "Irae"

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Yes Jason...

[ComposerEthan 24]

Can someone explain to me this Dies Irae business? All I know is that composers like to use it, but I don't see how. I've heard Verdi's Dies Irae, but that's it. I'm thoroughly confused.

[indy4 160]

This is the version most composers use, mostly just the first 4-8 pitches. John Williams uses it in Star Wars, War of the Worlds, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, Home Alone, Amistad, AI, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith.