1294 replies to this topic

[Blumenkohl]

It's a sad day when that statement is true.

[BloodBoal]

It already is.

[KK.]

Emily Howell could write better music in her sleep!

Emily Howell knows no sleep.

[BloodBoal]

Of course, she does! You just have to put her power button on "OFF"

[FilmComposer518]

First of all, thanks to the welcome back from several members in PM.  I apologize that I can't post more - I am incredibly busy and honestly just do not have the time to do anything fun on the internet.  Having a busy career is a double-edged sword, I'm afraid.

Yeah that melody is pretty much the main melody.  So if you don't like it, you probably wont' really care for the score.  It goes through several orchestrations.  However, that is NOT the "hymn" from the score, unless I am mistaken.  There is a piece of music that is actually very harsh sounding at times (jarring...emotional...painful) that refers to obvious things -= the war, Lincoln dying (spoiler...Lincoln dies) etc.  

Not my favorite score.  There's a lot of "reflective John Williams battle horns in the distance" with lots of moody strings...tiny orchestration for most of it (which isn't bad) and the piano melody is throughout the whole score.  Let's just say that I'd be sad if Williams goes out with this one.  After further reflection, I have actually decided that I like Tin Tin's score more than War Horse - I just love how fun and quirky it is.  Mind you, my opinion could change, but here is the rating for the 3 to give you perspective:

Tin Tin - 8.5
War Horse - 7
Lincoln - 6

Sorry to give bad news... :-(  Who knows maybe some soulful playing from the orchestra (as I have not HEARD the music...just read it) will elevate it.  It's quality music...and I'm sure it works well for the film...it's just...well...boring.

[Hlao-roo]

Could this be Williams's most mature score yet?

[Incanus]

Could this be Williams's most mature score yet?

I am sure that most fan will equate that with boredom. Mature=boring=no fun.

[Marcus]

Sounds reverent, warm, understated... I'm loving this already!

[Hlao-roo]

Well, I think it's beyond dispute that if there's no "TIE Fighter Attack"-type cue, the score is an unequivocal failure.

[crocodile]

Yeah, I want my Lincoln march!

Karol

[Incanus]

Well, I think it's beyond dispute that if there's no "TIE Fighter Attack"-type cue, the score is an unequivocal failure.

Yeah, I want my Lincoln march!

Karol

Amen!

And it will probably be the well tread Americana Williams has done so many times. Why not a hip-hop score for some anachronistically hipstery sarcasm I ask you?

[publicist]

I hear nothing. Just some random piano tinkles.

[Hlao-roo]

Nay, with Williams, every note is pregnant with providential purpose and incandescent intention.

[Incanus]

Nay, with Williams, every note is pregnant with providential purpose and incandescent intention.

Hence his smallest gesture is a reflection of what the totality of the music will be. It is like Plato's cave analogy, where individual moment of Williams' score casts a shadow that reflects the whole, perhaps imperfect but still a reflection of the ideal whole.

That is why it is so easy to extrapolate how the complete score will sound from just a few notes.

[Maurizio]

The people's reactions are really what I was expecting

[Hedwig]

First of all, thanks to the welcome back from several members in PM. I apologize that I can't post more - I am incredibly busy and honestly just do not have the time to do anything fun on the internet. Having a busy career is a double-edged sword, I'm afraid.

Yeah that melody is pretty much the main melody. So if you don't like it, you probably wont' really care for the score. It goes through several orchestrations. However, that is NOT the "hymn" from the score, unless I am mistaken. There is a piece of music that is actually very harsh sounding at times (jarring...emotional...painful) that refers to obvious things -= the war, Lincoln dying (spoiler...Lincoln dies) etc.

Not my favorite score. There's a lot of "reflective John Williams battle horns in the distance" with lots of moody strings...tiny orchestration for most of it (which isn't bad) and the piano melody is throughout the whole score. Let's just say that I'd be sad if Williams goes out with this one. After further reflection, I have actually decided that I like Tin Tin's score more than War Horse - I just love how fun and quirky it is. Mind you, my opinion could change, but here is the rating for the 3 to give you perspective:

Tin Tin - 8.5
War Horse - 7
Lincoln - 6

Sorry to give bad news... :-( Who knows maybe some soulful playing from the orchestra (as I have not HEARD the music...just read it) will elevate it. It's quality music...and I'm sure it works well for the film...it's just...well...boring.

Great info, thank you!

So the melody in the trailer is the main theme, no bits missed out or edits? I really like it, especially the cadence about half way through, think it could be orchestrated really nicely. Just sometimes they edit bits or make it quicker in some parts for trailers...

And I'm intrigued about this painful 'hymn' you've mentioned, sounds like some powerful writing!

[Sandor]

First of all, thanks to the welcome back from several members in PM. I apologize that I can't post more - I am incredibly busy and honestly just do not have the time to do anything fun on the internet. Having a busy career is a double-edged sword, I'm afraid.

Yeah that melody is pretty much the main melody. So if you don't like it, you probably wont' really care for the score. It goes through several orchestrations. However, that is NOT the "hymn" from the score, unless I am mistaken. There is a piece of music that is actually very harsh sounding at times (jarring...emotional...painful) that refers to obvious things -= the war, Lincoln dying (spoiler...Lincoln dies) etc.

Not my favorite score. There's a lot of "reflective John Williams battle horns in the distance" with lots of moody strings...tiny orchestration for most of it (which isn't bad) and the piano melody is throughout the whole score. Let's just say that I'd be sad if Williams goes out with this one. After further reflection, I have actually decided that I like Tin Tin's score more than War Horse - I just love how fun and quirky it is. Mind you, my opinion could change, but here is the rating for the 3 to give you perspective:

Tin Tin - 8.5
War Horse - 7
Lincoln - 6

Sorry to give bad news... :-( Who knows maybe some soulful playing from the orchestra (as I have not HEARD the music...just read it) will elevate it. It's quality music...and I'm sure it works well for the film...it's just...well...boring.

Thanks for the info.

In all honesty, your initial opinion regarding Tintin wasn't very optimistic either. I remember you called it 'Williams on auto-pilot' and that War Horse was 'the kind of the score that made you want to become a composer'. So I guess things can change over time, and who knows; a year from now you might rate Lincoln much higher.

[TheTennisBallKid]

So I guess things can change over time, and who knows; a year from now you might rate Lincoln much higher.

Maybe even as soon as...actually hearing it.

[Richard Penna]

Melody is fairly good I suppose, although it's definitely one that needs several listens before it gets etched in your head.

[Blumenkohl]

I don't want a melody to be etched in my head, I want it to be interesting. To carry SOME sense of motion. To make me go...what a genuinely good combo of notes.

This sounds like the maestro sat at the piano, bounced a heavy red ball on the keys, and recorded which keys got pressed.


Actually it's worse than that. It sounds like something out of War Horse deliberately boringfied.

[Quint]

Well, I think it's beyond dispute that if there's no "TIE Fighter Attack"-type cue, the score is an unequivocal failure.

Yeah, I want my Lincoln march!

Karol

Amen!

Yes, because let us not forget that Williams is infallible and can do no wrong.

[Chaac]

I think it'll be a good score.

However I don't expect this particular film to fire John's imagination.

[Quint]

I have actually decided that I like Tin Tin's score more than War Horse

Glad you eventually saw sense.

[BloodBoal]

He may have seen sense, but he certainly has not seen LeBlanc's posts about how to write "Tintin" properly!

[Jason LeBlanc]

Yea dude, the name of the film/character is "Tintin", not "Tin Tin"

[Quint]

Nitnit was a missed opportunity.

[Incanus]

Well, I think it's beyond dispute that if there's no "TIE Fighter Attack"-type cue, the score is an unequivocal failure.

Yeah, I want my Lincoln march!

Karol

Amen!

Yes, because let us not forget that Williams is infallible and can do no wrong.

Amen brother! Amen! Testify!

But also I would like to remind that there are enough of those who take up the enthusiastic positive stand and those who view each new score with skeptical and critical eye after hearing a couple of notes of it. We kind of balance each other out.

[Wojo]

This sounds like the maestro sat at the piano, bounced a heavy red ball on the keys, and recorded which keys got pressed.

Heyo!

[Incanus]

[Josh500]

I have an idea the Lincoln score will be one of JW's less noticeable works...

But I sure hope it's got at least one memorable (meaning mind-blowing) theme/track, kinda like "Hymn to the Fallen"!

Can't judge one way or the other, just by this very brief snippet.

[Quint]

You're letting yourself and the board down, Josh. Have you no respect for your fellow enthusiasts who are able to discern with immediate unshakable conviction that these few notes are unquestionably indicative of a masterpiece in waiting, the sincere, precise and heartfelt musings of an artist at the top of his game, a master with no equal?

Frankly, I'm disgusted by your reckless reservations.

[crocodile]

It is certainly the best score he has penned this year. Of this, I'm sure.

Karol

[Wojo]

You're letting yourself and the board down, Josh. Have you no respect for your fellow enthusiasts who are able to discern with immediate unshakable conviction that these few notes are unquestionably indicative of a masterpiece in waiting, the sincere, precise and heartfelt musings of an artist at the top of his game, a master with no equal?

Frankly, I'm disgusted by your reckless reservations.

So say we all, Hlao-Quint.

[Josh500]

You're letting yourself and the board down, Josh. Have you no respect for your fellow enthusiasts who are able to discern with immediate unshakable conviction that these few notes are unquestionably indicative of a masterpiece in waiting, the sincere, precise and heartfelt musings of an artist at the top of his game, a master with no equal?

Frankly, I'm disgusted by your reckless reservations.

Just guarding myself against disappointment.

I know from past experience what expectations set too high can do...

[Blumenkohl]

Hey man...I'm just judging the notes and silences we heard and their lengths. Not the whole score.

[Alexander]

The cinematography shown in the teaser is stunning.

[Blumenkohl]

So who's actually read Team of Rivals?

*Raises hand* good book, worth a read before the movie comes out. Though I would start now. It is quite lengthy.

The cinematography shown in the teaser is stunning.

Eh, it's OK just a lot of generic blue backlight night scenes and generic blue rainy muddy day battle scenes we've seen ad nauseum since Marcus Aurelius and Maximus defeated the Germans, and the Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy.

It's getting old.

[Wojo]

So who's actually read Team of Rivals?

*Raises hand* good book, worth a read before the movie comes out. Though I would start now. It is quite lengthy.

Looks interesting. There's one book about Lincoln that I saw in a bookstore and passed up, and have been looking for ever since. Something to the effect of his final decisions as President, or a compendium of his political and/or military decisions. I forget the author and everything, just that it had "decision" in the title. It's bugging me that I can't remember what it is.

[Blumenkohl]

"Abraham Lincoln (Presidents and Their Decisions)" maybe?

Team of Rivals (by Goodwin) is actually what Lincoln the film is based on I believe? The first 250 pages are slow and overly suspenseful, but it picks up.

[Henry Buck]

Ehhh, I think it's too earlier to make a judgment about this score. It sounds like a simple theme, but we haven't heard any of the development. The "bonding" theme from War Horse would sound pretty much the same if played in a plaintive piano solo style.