The Force Awakens London or Los Angeles for Star Wars VII score? [UPDATE: It's Los Angeles]

[Luke Skywalker 1,792]

I can't think of any reason at all why Williams would want to record SW VII in London, other than nostalgia.

This sequel trilogy is being made out of nostalgia.

If not, they could have set it 30 years after what they are planning now and all the main cast from the OT would be dead of old age.

I think this bit of news could reinforce the possibility that the score will be recorded in LA instead of London:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-wars-j-j-abrams-625516

Um, why would JJ do that... if skywalker sound and kerner optical are based on California? Waste of expenses i think...

[lostinspace 8]

I don't think the problem is so much with the LA AFM musicians although some of the trumpet work is not as refined as LSO (however now that Maurice Murphy is gone they might be comparable). I think LA severly lacks a room with the "abbey road" acoustics. Sony is too dry... even to the extent of adding artificial reverb on Tintin. They need another Todd AO or paramount... Then again JW has never recorded in those rooms so it's probably unlikely he'll record anywhere other than Sony.

[TownerFan 4,983]

Well, he's currently recording The Book Thief at the Newman Stage at Fox.

[chuck 154]

Well, I guess that's as closest to SW nostalgia as you get...

[lostinspace 8]

Well, he's currently recording The Book Thief at the Newman Stage at Fox.

Are you sure thats not 20th Century "Fox" Barbara Streisand Scoring Stage.... Never heard of JW recording at the actual fox scoring stage?!

[TownerFan 4,983]

The Barbra Streisand Scoring Stage is actually the Sony Scoring Stage (i.e. the old MGM stage).

Williams is recording The Book Thief at the Newman Stage at the 20th Century Fox lot.

[karelm 2,903]

Let's be logical here. JW has spent a lot of time the past year or two supporting US musician pension and local orchestras at great expense to himself (waving his fees). If not for financial advantage (buy out) why would he record in London rather than LA for Star Wars VII - IX? The only possible reason would be nostalgia and that's not sufficient. What was the last time JJ Abrams directed a film where the score was recorded outside of LA? What was the last time JW recorded a score in London for a non-George Lucas produced film? When was the last time Disney produced film was recorded in London? Lucas recorded in London not because of the musicianship but because of the buy out provisions. Remove him from the equation and you have Abrams who supports the LA musicians who will nail it...I love the fact that Star Wars I-VI were recorded in London because that adds to the non studio feel of the films. The musicianship is excellent but it was excellent in LA scored films too (Close Encounters, E.T, Temple of Doom, 1941, etc.).

Okay, I'll change my mind on this. It might be London.

[Datameister 2,037]

If this were just any upcoming Williams score, it would be unreasonable to expect recording sessions in London. But this is a world-famous film franchise with a set of world-famous scores spanning nearly forty years, all of which used the LSO. It's part of the genetic code of Star Wars. That's not to say it's a guarantee or anything, but there would be good reasons to go back to them.

[chuck 154]

Probably Boston Pops. Hell, the only other orchestra who's intimately familiar with the scores aside from LSO would probably be the Boston Pops.

[TownerFan 4,983]

If this were just any upcoming Williams score, it would be unreasonable to expect recording sessions in London. But this is a world-famous film franchise with a set of world-famous scores spanning nearly forty years, all of which used the LSO. It's part of the genetic code of Star Wars. That's not to say it's a guarantee or anything, but there would be good reasons to go back to them.

Exactly my thought. The LSO is definitely part of Star Wars' DNA. I wouldn't be surprised if JW thinks the same, considering how instrumental (pardon the pun) the orchestral performance is for him.

[Hlao-roo 389]

George Lucas is part of Star Wars' DNA, too.

[chuck 154]

Actually he's part of the malignant cells.

[Datameister 2,037]

George Lucas is part of Star Wars' DNA, too.

Yeah, but people actually like the LSO's contributions.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Incanus 5,713]

Yeah, but people actually like the LSO's contributions.

Regular people don't give a shit about which orchestra will do the score. Most people probably don't even know the LSO did the previous scores.

You soundtrack collectors weirdos tend to forget that.

Says one soundtrack collector weirdo to another.

[Datameister 2,037]

Yeah, but people actually like the LSO's contributions.

Regular people don't give a shit about which orchestra will do the score. Most people probably don't even know the LSO did the previous scores.

You soundtrack collectors weirdos tend to forget that.

Allow me to correct myself - people who give a shit actually like the LSO's contributions.

[chuck 154]

What's the last LSO contribution to the cinema?

[karelm 2,903]

What's the last LSO contribution to the cinema?

Desplat uses them so the last two Harry Potters, Rise of the Gusrdians.

[chuck 154]

Yeah, but Desplat is not Williams.

[TownerFan 4,983]

http://lso.co.uk/lso-and-film-music

[Luke Skywalker 1,792]

if the LSO does not do this and the metal wind does not sound as good, people is going to notice.

just listen to the different orchestras SW main theme recorded by williams. no one comes close.

I have to say that the indy scores are consistent throughout, though.

[Jay 37,287]

How come that list at the bottom lists Star Wars and Revenge of the Sith, but not the middle 4 movies?

[chuck 154]

And the last film Jamie did for them was 1995's Braveheart?

[Luke Skywalker 1,792]

http://lso.co.uk/lso-and-film-music

the article says SW was the main event that made films use that orchestra.

yet the list only ackownledges SW and ROTS omiting the other movies...

[Incanus 5,713]

The title of the list is On Screen Highlights, not all scores LSO has recorded throughout its history.

[Jay 37,287]

Empire Strikes Back is a highlight!!

[Luke Skywalker 1,792]

yeah... and being fair all of the LSO potters are not highlights.

[Jay 37,287]

Too bad 1 and 3 weren't recorded with the LSO! 2 sounds amazing!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Can you really hear a difference in performance between 1 and 2?

[Jay 37,287]

Oh definitely. Harry Potter 2 is a powerhouse!

[Quintus 5,399]

The score itself wasn't, though.

[Datameister 2,037]

I think 1 sounds fantastic as well. 3...a little less so, but still not bad.

[Quintus 5,399]

It wasn't bad but I prefer a much wetter sound.

[TownerFan 4,983]

Too bad 1 and 3 weren't recorded with the LSO! 2 sounds amazing!

Actually most of the orchestra members in both 1 and 3 were LSO players!

[Jay 37,287]

Good point.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I can hear that the recording for Potter 2 is slightly more dynamic. That doesn't have a lot to do with the performance though. Either a different venue, different mike set up etc...

POA was probably done with many of the same players, but sounds different because a different engineer recorded it.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[chuck 154]

That's alot of Desplat and not a lot of Williams.

[Foxfan 128]

And "Harry's Wondrous World" is the same recording used in both 1 and 2, but 2 uses the ending that is now part of the concert suite. The patching is totally seamless, even if it's a different orchestra.

[lostinspace 8]

You guys bring up some interesting thoughts about sound of HP 1 , 2 and 3

I think 2 sounds the most wet, there is also quite a lot of room noise on some of the tracks.

3 sounds like it was recorded in a different room with different players using a very precise click track. Seriously, 3 sounds sooo different. Still good but much dryer sound.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Because it was done by a different recording engineer.

[Incanus 5,713]

Because it was done by a different recording engineer.

Yes it was the Shawn "Hit and Miss" Murphy.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

POA is hit, though.

[Jay 37,287]

Hit?

[chuck 154]

A bump.

[Faleel 5,339]

Hit?

its not amiss.

[Hlao-roo 389]

Something's amiss.

[chuck 154]

Blink and you'll miss it.

[Faleel 5,339]

Don't turn your head now foo! you miss it!

[chuck 154]

It's kinda remiss.