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We already have a thread for discussing The Lost World:

On Friday August 11 JW’s La Jolla quartet was performed by BSO members among whom Jessica Zhou in Ozawa Hall. Then they played Theme from Sabrina in an arrangement for the same ensemble. Sabrina is my all time fav JW score and this version was just too beautiful😪 At 8:00 pm Anne-Sophie Mutter masterfully performed JW’s Violin Concerto no. 2 in the Shed (conducted by Andris Nelsons) after which the Maestro took the stage once again to lead ASM and the BSO in two wonderful encores (Hedwig’s Theme and Helena’s Theme).

Count me in the group of people who last month or so put in my cart ready to order, saw the shipping cost, then decided to wait and see if Amazon was going to sell it with free shipping in August. And then, if Amazon or anywhere else with cheaper shipping didn't, just go ahead and pay for the excessive shipping from Disney Music Emporium. Nowhere did I see "limited" anywhere, and stunned to see it gone. More stunned to find people all as stunned as I was. Quite frankly, I'm appalled like I see many of you are as well. I don't post very often like I used to and tend to only log in when something big pops up, but those that know me know I'm a John Williams Soundtrack/Score CD completionist and 45+ years of collecting Williams soundtracks and a completionist on JW score CDs for over 30+ years comes to an end... because Disney -- especially in the last decade or so -- seems to be masters at biting the hands that feed them! Zero sense in what they did here.

Was sorta hoping this post was the announcement for it

It appears that an official from Varèse has stated that the mixing on the new set was intentional (source: the FSM forum). Therefore, they do not acknowledge any defects in it. The matter is now considered closed. In my situation, it's likely an issue I would never have discovered on my own!

Could we at least get the Series 10 soundtrack before you do a music concert because i'm guessing Murray Gold might do music from Series 10

Does anyone still want to discuss TLW, or is this what we’re talking about now?

Emporium gave it to him in 2023. That CD is an important artifact. It belongs in a JWFan members collection.

WILLIAMS IN LONDON 1996 Press gathering sometime before June 1996 at Watford Town Hall, with the Pro Arte Orchestra, presenting "Summon the Heroes" (source Classic CD magazine #74, June 1996) June 21st, at the Royal Academy of Music with the RAM Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Judith LeClaire solo bassoon on the Bassoon Concerto "The Five Sacred Trees" (https://johnwilliams.org/reference/bibliography/1996/harris) June 26th, 28th and 30th, at the Barbican, with the London Symphony (source, concert flyer) -- note the dates added, missing from the post by @QuartalHarmony post. The June 30th performance was the one broadcast, hence the one everyone is likely to know about.

Clearly it was a mistake and they’re not owning it because of the expense of correcting it, but also it’s not a big deal at all IMO. All the music is there, who cares which speaker is playing which portion

From JW’s liner notes to the 1983 Leonard Slatkin recording of the Flute and first Violin Concertos (VSD-5345): ’I began composing the [violin] concerto in 1974, finishing it October 19, 1976.’ 1990s London Symphony Orchestra concert dates, all at the Barbican Concert Hall, London: 1996/06/30 1998/07/02 1998/07/03 Some more recording dates (all taken from the relevant liner notes): 1956/10/03 + 18: The John Towner Touch; recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood (the track Hello was recorded on the 18th - the first John Williams composition to be professionally recorded for general release?) 1956/11/02: four tracks for Modern Jazz Gallery; recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood 1957/05/08: two tracks for Remembering with Marjorie Lee; recorded at Glen Sound, Hollywood 1957/10/03, 04 + 14: World on a String; recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood 1958/02/24: Son Nice!; recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood 1990/03/19 + 20: John Williams conducts John Williams - The Star Wars Trilogy (SK45947); recorded at Skywalker Sound, CA 1990/05/18, 19 + 25: The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration (SK45997); recorded at Symphony Hall, Boston 1995/05/25, 26 + 29: Williams on Williams - The Classic Spielberg Scores (SK68419); recorded at Symphony Hall, Boston 1996/01/06, 10 + 13: Summon the Heroes (SK62622); recorded at Symphony Hall, Boston 1996/06/22 + 29: The Five Sacred Trees (SK62729); recorded at Abbey Road Studio No 1, London 1996/07/01 + 02: The Hollywood Sound (SK62788); recorded at Abbey Road Studio No 1, London Great to have a record of just how active he was in London in summer 1996!

Williams did conduct the Boston Pops on tour in LA at the Bowl, around 1978 and/or 79, filling it for an ailing Arthur Fiedler. During the late 70's he started doing a lot more of public conducting, both in LA and in the UK. He appeared at Filmharmonic a few times. Before that he surely had done some public performing (in his teens he had a band and during his time in New York he played in clubs with Vic Damone and others, including the prestigious Copacabana), but it was cut down has he become more engaged with the Hollywood studios work. He also did some band directing in Las Vegas, in the late 50's or early 60's. There was a concert, in the early 60's that featured his music from Checkmate, I think at the Hollywood Bowl, but I can't recall right now if he was one of the conductors.

Not sure if this has ever been posted but I just discovered this stunning flute version of Where Dreams Are Born. It fits right at home near the end of LLL disc 3 so I'll probably integrate this into my playlist. It reiterates the genius of Williams' writing, in that you can substitute a vocal line for an instrument and not only does it click immediately but takes on a life of its own, as if it was always intended for flute.

What's TLW?

You mean like this?

Oh, and: Call of the Champions: Tracks 2-12, 14: recorded at Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, 1999/12/9 + 10 and 2000/06/19 + 20. Tracks 1 & 13: recorded 2001/11/27 at Maurice Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City From liner notes to the 2006 compilation Jazz Beginnings:

My only compliant is the missing staccato piano overlays from "The Ambush" and the unreleased film take of "Deleting The Evidence", but other than that, it looks like a fantastic set

"Deliberate", I thought.

Me, neither. So from now on I’ll consider it not having any issue.

ASM: Here’s to John’s glasses!

If nothing else, the end titles are some of Williams's best.

I suddenly remembered this bit from The Simpsons, from way back when it was funny... https://comb.io/CN2IRM

I grabbed Clear and Present Danger last year, and I quite enjoy the orchestral sections of the score, especially the action writing - "The Ambush" is a highlight in that regard. The extended synth/shakuhachi portions do become a little dull after a while though, especially as their musical construction is so simplistic and repetitive. I've made an "orchestra-only" playlist which I honestly prefer to listen to. And while I don't have the older Intrada edition to compare it with, I think the LLL audio sounds good overall. On another note, I noticed that some of the takes used in the LLL release are different compared to the 1994 OST. What grabbed my attention was the trumpet flub at 3:28 in "Truth Needs a Soldier / End Title" on the LLL, which is not present at the same spot on the OST due to that section of the piece using another take. I haven't checked which take was used on the older Intrada release. I'm not intimately familiar with every track in this score, so there may be other different takes that I haven't picked up on, but the end titles is one of my favourite pieces and so it stood out to me.

I just figured if the titles were mashed up, the movies themselves probably would be too. And to be fair, there’s been a pterosaur on the cover since my first attempt. But in the interest of including more dinosaurs...

T Rex gun you say? I actually know of such a thing...

A couple of sad dates that just occurred to me: 1974/03/03 Barbara Ruick dies in Reno, NV 1985/10/19 Johnny Williams dies in LA And a rather happier one: 1960/09/01 Joseph Stanley Williams born in Santa Monica, CA Source for all: Wikipedia (yawn)

My copy arrived, and it sounds fantastic. Improves on Intrada significantly. I suspect a better source has been found.

Ah; some enterprising soul in Ontario is asking a much more "reasonable" price of only $1,191: https://www.ebay.com/itm/186032282344 These people have no scruples...

fuck adobe

A subscription to adobe is just worth it in general.

Ok just pushed a big update Mostly adding a whole bunch more recording sessions dates.... Lots more to come. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Sgepya2i8LU2TPesQRGltWtQJ7yNXDCOubwqDKqwg4I/edit?usp=sharing

None taken. I want to be buried next to Beethoven, anyway. 2073, Los Angeles — Disney: You’ll need better fans. JW: I know, but they’re all dead.

Smeltington, in honor of your 1,941st post...

The "blasé cellist"? You mean who looks like this fella?

Luke and Leia's theme should have been in ROTS when they were freaking being born!

Here's one more pic from Saturday. The fan next to me was hoping for a Harry Potter selection for the final encore, and shouted "Harry Potter!". John's reaction was to do his best impression of Dumbledore...

Maybe the music for R2 with the Jawas? Nope!

I like to think that the motorcycle music served as a template for Williams's own Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra:

The Great Escape What a fantastic film!!! I absolutely loved it!! The whole cast was incredible, just like their characters were fantastic. I loved how the film was 2 hours of buildup to the escape and the last hour the escape itself. Really well done!! Masterclass in how to make a film. My favorite scene in the first 2 hours was the Fourth Of July celebration and the death of Ives. The juxtaposition between joy and sadness was incredible. I loved how the escape focused on a lot of different parts. Duos or individuals who made their way out of Germany. Some of them succeeded (Sedgewick's part was great), some failed (Hilts, incredible chase!) and some really failed (Blythe's death was really sad). Steve McQueen is just so incredibly cool. James Garner was great as was his chemistry with Donald Pleasance. I only knew him as Blofeld, so it was wonderful to see him in a different role. Attenborough also made a fantastic impression. Only ever seen him in Jurassic Park, so great to see him earlier in his career. Bernstein's music was also fantastic. It's even better after seeing the film! One of my favorites of the older films I've seen!

His Assassin’s Creed: Revelations score was incredible in my opinion. It’s my personal favorite work of Balfe’s.

Think VI was great so it is a good idea for the creative team to end on a high. I am sure they will keep making those until the final installment set in a nursing home. Karol

Yeah, I made those. I guess I'll make one for DoD as well.

Maybe the problem is that I can't help but compare his scores when he writes the umpth installment to a franchise, to the ones that came before his, and in that regard his music always lets me down. I mean his Batman theme sounds like a half-finished idea by itself, but especially when comparing it to Elfman's, Walker's, Goldenthal's Batman themes, Giacchino's - imho - doesn't even come close. Maybe that's the problem, that he always has so big shoes to fill that he just can't succeed (for me). If his theme had been the first Batman theme I’d ever heard, then I would probably like it. But that's a big if. His theme has a great beginning, but then I start to feel the urge for it to get developed into something grander, into the "real" theme which alas never happens, and I feel disappointed like I was promised something bigger and I was let down in the end.

Chronological order 01. Songcord Opening 02. Happiness Is Simple 03. A New Star 04. Train Attack 05. Masks Off 06. Converging Paths 07. Rescue and Loss 08. Family Is Our Fortress 09. Sanctuary 10. Into the Water 11. Training Montage 12. The Way of Water 13. Where the Men Hunt 14. Payakan 15. Mighty Eywa 16. Friends 17. Cove of the Ancestors 18. The Tulkun Return 19. The Hunt 20. Kids in Peril 21. Na’vi Attack 22. A Farewell to Arm 23. Eclipse 24. Bad Parents 25. Knife Fight 26. World Upside Down 27. From Darkness to Light 28. Family 29. Songcord Chapter 30. The Spirit Tree 31. Nothing is Lost - The Weeknd 32. Leaving Home 33. The Songcord – Zoë Saldana Note: I contacted S Franglen a few hours ago: "Leaving Home is the full version of Sanctuary first half used in the end credits. It was an important cue to Jim and me."

Here's my first attempt at a first thematic breakdown. The appearances of Horner's themes were already covered by @MaxMovieMan, so I will stick with Franglen's new themes Family Theme / Songchord This is Franglen's new main theme, and it not only serves as the emotional backbone of the entire score, but also serves as a foundation of the two songs, both The Weeknd song and the Songchord and the variations that appear through the movie. It has two separate sections, the first one being the one played the most, and the second one serving as a support for the main idea in longer cues. The track Hometree (also know as Leaving Home) serves as a sort of suite arrangement of both sections of the theme. Leaving Home - 0:25, 1:10, 1:52 (B Section), 2:21 Hapiness Is Simple - 0:03 (variation), 1:02 (variation) Family Is Our Fortress - 1:05, 1:30 (B Section) Sanctuary - 0:19, 0:37, 1:14 (B Section) Kids in Peril - 1:19 (only first 3 notes) Na'vi Attack - 2:01 A Farwell to Arm - 0:20 (only first 3 notes) Bad Parents - 1:49, 2:37, 3:07 Knife Fight - 0:25, 0:59, 1:32 From Darkness to Light - 0:54, 2:35, 3:26 The Spirit Tree - 1:30, 2:26 Water Tribe / Underwater Theme The theme that represents the water tribe of the Metkayina clan, and the underwater world that surrounds them I think is the one that makes more of an impact because of its orchestrations, and it dominates the middle part of the score. It has two clear sections, one that represents more the wonder aspect of the underwater world, while the descending melody serves as an emotional interlude. Sanctuary - 1:28 Into the Water - 0:20, 1:01 (B Section), 1:55 (B Section), 2:08, 2:39 (B Section) The Way of Water - 0:26, 0:57 (B Section), 1:15 Friends - 0:45 The Tulkun Return - 0:17, 0:37 (B Section), 0:51, 1:01 (B Section), 1:11, 2:21 (B Section) Kiri's Theme The theme for Kiri, one of Jake and Neytiri's kids that has quite an important role in the movie, could go unnoticed by just listening to the album, but it makes a huge emotional impact when watching the movie, especially towards the third act in a very important scene where it joins with the Family theme, in the "From Darkness to Light" track. It also gets hinted at the very beginning of "The Songchord". This is definitely a theme with a lot of potential to be expanded and developed in future sequels as Kiri's story is developed. Converging Paths - 0:28, 1:14 The Way of Water - 1:44 Might Eywa - 0:46 Cove of the Ancestors - 0:41, 0:57, 1:39, 2:17 Na'vi Attack - 3:13 From Darkness to Light - 0:32, 1:21 Payakan / Tulkun Theme We also have gorgeous melody for Payakan, one of the Tulkun, that makes an especial connection with Lo'ak, one of Jake and Neytiri's kids. I think this theme is intended to develop greatly in upcoming sequels. Payakan - 0:37 (hinted), 1:25 (hinted), 2:10, 2:54 Friends - 0:00 (hinted) The Hunt - 1:41 Kids in Peril - 2:29 Na'vi Attack - 0:48, 1:30 (hinted) A Farewell to Arm - 1:54 Quaritch Theme The last theme I will cover in the first part of the analysis is a trumpet melody that gets associated with Quaritch during the third act of the movie, and I think will play an important role as the character comes back in the sequels Eclipse - 2:10, 2:42 Bad Parents - 0:42 Knife Fight - 0:09, 0:44 So this is it for the main ideas. I know I left some out, like the different ideas associated with the RDA, and some secondary motifs for the kids, but I think this serves as a great introduction to the score. I don't know if this format is adequate, so if you have any suggestions or corrections feel free to share!