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Summon the Heroes (Full Version)

Started by Josh500, Jul 06 2007 11:39 AM

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20 replies to this topic

Poll: Summon the Heroes (18 member(s) have cast votes)

Which version do you like better?

  1. Short version (3 votes [16.67%])

    Percentage of vote: 16.67%

  2. Full version (15 votes [83.33%])

    Percentage of vote: 83.33%

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#1 Josh500

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Posted 06 July 2007 - 11:39 AM

I want to know what you think! In the full version, there's a section (3:40 - 4:30) that sounds kinda dangerous and menacing. It reminds me somehow of the assassination music from JFK! I was wondering what's this part supposed to MEAN??? This is music for the Olympics, so it should be full of energy and vigor and power, right? Well, that's what you'd think, but this . . . when I first heard it, I was like, "What the hell . . ." (Not that I wasn't impressed, though.) And finally I decided, JW must be psychic as well! STH was composed for the Atlanta games, and there was this incident, right? I think it was a bomb threat, or something. And THAT must have been what JW was thinking about when he wrote that section! Haha. Am I kidding? Maybe . . . but, what do YOU think?

#2 Pasi Tiitinen

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Posted 06 July 2007 - 12:04 PM

Short version.

Full version always sounded weird( except the beautiful trumpet solo) and... too...long.

#3 Miguel Andrade

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Posted 06 July 2007 - 01:09 PM

Long Version.
I've always imagined that that section stands for the strugle to reach the finish line.
And I fail to understand the bomb threath connection, as the piece was written months before the opening of the games.
Miguel Andrade
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"I owe a tremendous debt of gratitute do John Williams. Without his music, Superman's powers are greatly deminished. Believe me, if you try to fly without that theme, you go nowhere... one step, two steps and... down!" -- Christopher Reeve, May 1993
"John Williams will go down as one of the greatest composers." -- Leonard Slatkin, american conductor
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#4 Josh500

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Posted 06 July 2007 - 01:13 PM

Long Version.
I've always imagined that that section stands for the strugle to reach the finish line.
And I fail to understand the bomb threath connection, as the piece was written months before the opening of the games.


That was actually meant as a quasi-joke, that's why I said he must be psychic! :wub:

#5 BurgaFlippinMan

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Posted 06 July 2007 - 03:00 PM

i have summon the heroes on american journey, greatest hits and the summon of the heroes album itself. i guess i dont have the short version?

#6 Ray Barnsbury

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Posted 06 July 2007 - 05:29 PM

Yeah, from the sounds of it, I don't believe I have the short version either. What album(s) is it on?

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#7 Blumenkohl

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Posted 06 July 2007 - 05:31 PM

Short version sounds way better, structurally.

The whole last couple of minutes of each is brilliant.

#8 Red Rabbit

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Posted 06 July 2007 - 06:06 PM

I've only heard the long version, so the long version it is.
Do you like John Williams? His early work was a little too jazzy for my taste, but when Jaws came out in '75 I really think he came into his own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and an air of consummate professionalism that really gives the pieces a big boost. He's been compared to Jerry Goldsmith but I think John has a far more leitmotif-driven style of composing. In '82 John composed this, E.T., his most accomplished album to date. I think his undisputed masterpiece is "The Magic of Halloween", a theme so catchy most people don't listen to what it means. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of childhood and the importance of friendship, it's also a personal statement about the man himself. Hey Paul!
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#9 Josh500

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Posted 06 July 2007 - 06:07 PM

i have summon the heroes on american journey, greatest hits and the summon of the heroes album itself. i guess i dont have the short version?


Ehhhh, on the Summon the Heroes album, first track??? Hello??? :(

Short version sounds way better, structurally.



Not only structually, I think the short version is performed better. I am still convinced that it's a different recording.

#10 Marian Schedenig

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 12:12 AM

The short version was only on the European release of the album, and it's nothing but a cheap cut & paste job of sections from the long version. Rather worthless.

I've always imagined that that section stands for the strugle to reach the finish line.


Same here. I like the concept of the piece... Unsuccessful attempts at the beginning (all those stray notes), then improvement, the aforementioned struggle and finally the "classic" triumphant march section.
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#11 BurgaFlippinMan

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 02:34 AM

i have summon the heroes on american journey, greatest hits and the summon of the heroes album itself. i guess i dont have the short version?


Ehhhh, on the Summon the Heroes album, first track??? Hello??? :P


they are all about 6min 15sec long. :S

#12 tuneman_21

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 03:56 AM

Long Version.
I've always imagined that that section stands for the strugle to reach the finish line.
And I fail to understand the bomb threath connection, as the piece was written months before the opening of the games.


I have the Signature Score of this - as it is my most favorite JW piece ever. In the score, the piece is sectioned off and is, for all intents and purposes, a 6 minute musical representation of the games themselves. The atonal section is supposed to represent the struggle for victory and reaching the finish line. So, you're right Miguel. It says right in the score.

It does not represent anything other than that.

#13 king mark

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 09:28 AM

Of course there is also the 2004 re-recording which is pretty awesome.

K.M.

#14 Josh500

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 12:39 PM

The short version was only on the European release of the album, and it's nothing but a cheap cut & paste job of sections from the long version. Rather worthless.


I beg to disagree. I like the short version better--it seems to make much more sense and is more coherent. The beginning from 2:02 onward is played slightly better than in the longer version, somehow tighter. It IS a different recording. (Of the rest I am no so sure!)

#15 andrea

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 01:48 PM

long version......it's fantastic piece!!!

#16 Marian Schedenig

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 05:04 PM

Of course there is also the 2004 re-recording which is pretty awesome.

K.M.


2004 re-recording? ;)
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#17 Mark Olivarez

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 06:36 PM

;)


What recording?

#18 king mark

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 08:06 PM

It was rerecorded for Athens and sounds more actionny with new transitions and ending.THX99 (I think) recorded it off his TIVO and made a file then.

#19 Mr. Breathmask

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Posted 07 July 2007 - 08:08 PM

I think I have that.

It's awesome.

Vrrrroooooommmmm!

#20 Ray Barnsbury

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Posted 08 July 2007 - 12:01 AM

Is that the 2:55 length version? Yeah, it's a great reworking of the original piece.

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#21 pi

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Posted 09 July 2007 - 01:10 AM

I think musically this is the most well written concert piece of JW's career. It stands right next to the shostakovitch with no weaknesses.
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