Question about JW's use of synth choir and more

[indy4 160]

Hi everybody,

I have two orchestration questions. First, does anybody know whether JW used synthesized or real choirs in the following scores:

Jurassic Park (this is the one I'm most curious about)

War of the Worlds

AI

Last Crusade

Second, does anybody know the type of flute used in "Dennis Steal the Embryo," at 1:40? And is it the same as the flute used in JP's "Opening Titles," to give the first statement of the raptor theme?

I'm writing a JP analysis and answers to these questions would be very helpful--thanks!

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

I have two orchestration questions. First, does anybody know whether JW used synthesized or real choirs in the following scores:

Jurassic Park (this is the one I'm most curious about)

War of the Worlds

AI

Last Crusade

Both in all examples. Contact Randy Kerber on Facebook to find what choir samples he used.

Second, does anybody know the type of flute used in "Dennis Steal the Embryo," at 1:40? And is it the same as the flute used in JP's "Opening Titles," to give the first statement of the raptor theme?

Shakuthatchi, played by Masakazu Yoshizawa. Williams also used it in IMAGES and EMPIRE OF THE SUN.

[indy4 160]

Wow, thanks! That was quick and helpful.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

TLC uses a synth choir.

Jurassic Park uses a real one.

[Luke Skywalker 2,385]

For me THe opening titles of JP sound like sampled choir...but depending on the day it sounds like real choir... It's just that the opening sounds all synth... so a synth choir could have been used.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

The other tracks like Hatching Baby Raptor, Journey To The Island use a real one though.

Were synth choirs already realistic sounding in 1993?

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

For me THe opening titles of JP sound like sampled choir...but depending on the day it sounds like real choir... It's just that the opening sounds all synth... so a synth choir could have been used.

That's a real SATB choir singing "awe". That grainy sound is a synth doubling the strings, written as "Mysterioso" with slight "buzzing" effect. There's also a synth doubling the Shakuhatchi (it's probably the same famous Shakuhatchi sample from the Emu Emulator heard on Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer). In fact, a lot of the synth sounds on JP sound like they're from the Emu Emulator II, Ensoniq Mirage, Ensoniq EPS or the Kurzweil K250/K1000.

[Luke Skywalker 2,385]

what does SATB stand for? i got lost there

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

Sopranos, altos, tenors and basses.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,025]

^{I assume that he used a real choir for "The Map Room: Dawn"..?}

[Incanus 5,890]

YES

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

^{I assume that he used a real choir for "The Map Room: Dawn"..?}

Yep, but just women. Sopranos and altos.

[indy4 160]

Okay, another question. JW wrote the finale/end credits piece with a full SATB choir. But in the OST release I don't hear a choir at all in "Welcome to Jurassic Park." I tried to watch the film part, but my DVD literally skipped over that exact moment. Anybody know which version was used in the film? And is there a choir in the OST that's just mixed really low?

[dylan345 3]

There's no choir in the sheet music for the end finale or end credits, so if its in the end credits in the film then it is tracked. The only cue in the latter part of the film to contain choir is 12m3-13m1 into the kitchen and that's just men's voices, but any other choir is tracked in.

[indy4 160]

There's no choir in the sheet music for the end finale or end credits, so if its in the end credits in the film then it is tracked. The only cue in the latter part of the film to contain choir is 12m3-13m1 into the kitchen and that's just men's voices, but any other choir is tracked in.

In the sheet music the choir originally says tacet, but starting on page 9 of the end credits cue there is material written for the choir.

EDIT: It appears on page 7 the choir part says "tacet to the end." So I'm guessing the orchestrator copied the music from an earlier cue (either the concert version of the theme or "The Dinosaurs") but wanted everything minus the choir? That would explain why he says tacet but then writes a detailed choir part.

[dylan345 3]

Pages 7-12 were definitely copied from 3m2, so that explains why the choral part is written out.

[indy4 160]

Ah okay, thanks!