Which John Williams Piece...

[brenn 1]

Which is your favorite John Williams piece that is very emotionally moving to you?

[Jay 46,243]

Olympic Fanfare and Theme

[Miguel Andrade 1,725]

Concerto for Cello and Orchestra

[tannhauser 101]

Horn Concerto and theme from the Eiger Sanction (the trumpet solo variation)

[jocores 98]

Elegy for Cello and Orchestra

[Jilal 681]

"The Reunion" from War Horse.

[Uni 307]

"E.T. and Me" (from the OST).

- Uni

[Sandor 918]

Born On The Fourth Of July, End Credits

[indy4 160]

"Jazz Autographs" from The Terminal

[ShowUStheHOOK 8]

You Are The Pan From HOOK

[Tom 6,860]

Seemingly anything featuring the cello, but with priority given to The Chairman's Waltz from the memoirs suite for cello and orchesta.

[Uni 307]

Born On The Fourth Of July, End Credits

Almost went there. (The suite, though, more than the end credits.)

- Uni

[brenn 1]

Mine personally is Farewell Neverland, especially the children's chorus and the ending section

[Romão 2,473]

Aproaching the Summit from Seven Years in Tibet

[Incanus 5,890]

Theme from Angela's Ashes

[Marcus 395]

Most of what Williams writes tends to resonate deeply with me, but his concert works perhaps even more profoundly. Especially "Five Sacred Trees" (particularly first, second and fifth movements), as well as "Treesong", "Cello Concerto" (particularly first and last movements), first and second movements of the Violin concerto, and the final movement of the Horn concerto.

...I'm chickening out; it's impossible to settle for just one piece. Rather, there's an emotional core in all of his output that simply stirs me more than most other music; a sense of empathy, wisdom and even kindness (perhaps "humanity" is more accurate) that I find uplifting and comforting, as well as aesthetically and intellectually stimulating.

[Incanus 5,890]

Well put. Naming just one single composition is extremely difficult if not impossible. E.g. I think I could name just about every piece mentioned in this thread as moving or even supremely emotional to me.

[Mr. K 12]

Angela's Prayer from Angela's Ashes or The Ballroom Scene from Witches of Eastwick.

Years ago it would have been the finale from E.T., but I've over-listened to it... desensitized.

Mr. K

[Not Mr. Big 5,011]

The Throne Room from Star Wars.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

"E.T. and Me" (from the OST).

- Uni

ditto

also

Liberation: Exultate Justi

[Quintus 6,495]

That secondary theme in ET never really did click with me. It's nice as gentle underscore, but in pure musical melody terms it doesn't stir the blood in my arms and shoulders.

Jonathan Kent's funeral (as the camera retreats up into the air), the strings there are so achingly lush and the pay off is just devine. Followed of course by Clarke's farewell as the camera once again takes flight, but this time going up and forward toward his destiny.

For me Williams is at his most emotionally effective when he brings his deep understanding of operatic mythology with him.

[Thor 9,362]

You Are The Pan From HOOK

Yeah, that....and any other piece where he taps into the "religious" (or spiritual sound) -- usually minor-mode and on solo woodwinds. My favourite sound of his and the main reason I'm a fan, really.

[Quintus 6,495]

It's a stunning piece, but I'm surprised people are happy to overlook that it's lifted wholesale from Georges Delerue.

[Thor 9,362]

It's a stunning piece, but I'm surprised people are happy to overlook that it's lifted wholesale from Georges Delerue.

Stylistic-wise, maybe, but hardly more than that. I rather think it's more a matter of both composers having a knack for the bittersweet and melancholic.

[Quintus 6,495]

Maybe. I do like really like You Are the Pan, but I can never shake the feeling that its an inspired by temp track piece.

[JamieC 13]

Well, the day that I found out that I had secured a place at university I played the Throne Room and End Title from Star Wars in celebration of the fact. I have to say that With Malice Towards None is absolutely one of the most moving pieces, despite its brevity. Actually, perhaps its brevity is why it works so well.

I've also always liked I Could Have Done More from Schindler's List and I think that The Reivers suite, with narration, is very moving too. Being moved to smile is just as valuable as being moved to something more sombre of course.

In terms of pieces written expressly for the concert hall I have always enjoyed The Five Sacred Trees.

JC

PS: this is a nicely impossible task.

[mahler3 548]

Toy Planes, Home and Hearth from Empire of the Sun.

[Romão 2,473]

Maybe. I do like really like You Are the Pan, but I can never shake the feeling that its an inspired by temp track piece.

Yes, but the most stunning part of the piece (the choir section) is wholy, original, I reckon

[Quintus 6,495]

True.

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

Anything Williams really poured himself into.

[Ollie 1,375]

Hymn to the Fallen.

[Red 75]

"David and the Supermecha" from Artificial Intelligence is one of them. That score also has my favorite love theme that Williams has ever done: Monica's theme.

[p0llux 435]

"Confluence" from Memoirs of a Geisha

[stuttersteps 1]

Omaha Beach (dare I say, the main theme of Saving Private Theme). To me, conveys the weight and dignity of the soldiers w/o being overly sentimental.

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

Sean and Lara from MINORITY REPORT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT0qO_IIk4s

Honourable mentions to E.T. Is Alive from E.T., The Reunion from A.I., Arlington from JFK, Hatching Baby Raptor and Remembering Petticoat Lane.from JURASSIC PARK.

[tedfud 39]

too many.....but i am very fond of the map room...and call of the crystal is pretty nifty too

T