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Sandor

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Posts posted by Sandor

    So what's the deal with A Winter's Spell?

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    Only until yesterday I learned of the song A Winter's Spell from POA since someone mentioned it in the song-thread. 

     

    I heard of the title before, but somehow never took the time to look it up or listen to it expecting something similar to Christmas At Hogwarts (which I find a bit too atmospheric and subdued).

     

    Now that I've heard the song (YouTube live-recordings of student-choirs, piano renditions and such) I must say it is pleasantly surprising! The song is actually very good and much more profound that I expected! 

     

    A few questions:

     

    1. Why is the song not on the soundtrack? Was it ever recorded during the sessions?

    2. Is there a good re-recording out there?  

     

    Thanks!

     

     

    Lights, Camera... Music! Six Decades of John Williams -- Keith Lockhart conducted CD of rarities

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    17 hours ago, Tom said:

    The long, drawn-out version has been around for some time.  I remember hearing it at a 4th of July concert a good ten years back (hey, another possible Williams fanfare).  So, I don't think so, unless he tweaked a bit here or there. 

     

    I'm also refering to the version that's been out there for awhile and now recorded: is it a rearrangement of The Patriot themes made by Williams himself, or by someone else..? 

    What happened to the choir?

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    Just now, Disco Stu said:

    My favorite use of choir in a Williams score is definitely Close Encounters, where it mostly serves as subtle coloration.  That's generally my favorite way he uses choir, to add an "otherworldliness" on top of the orchestra.

     

    Yes, that's why I think The BFG could have benefited so much from this coloring, almost literally in this regard...

    What happened to the choir?

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    1 minute ago, mstrox said:

    I think ROTS had choir because George Lucas loved the epic-sounding Duel of the Fates and wanted a repeat.

     

    If you go through each decade of Williams' stuff, there are large swaths of time that there is no "big choir."  I'm sure he's not averse, but he's waiting for the right time to use it.  The sensibility of modern films and modern scores certainly pooh-poohs big choir to some extent as well.

     

    Probably true.

    What happened to the choir?

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    It just occured to me that Williams didn't infuse his scores with choir parts since 2005's Revenge Of The Sith.

     

    Ok, I know there is some subtle choral writing in scores like Lincoln or The Force Awakens, but that is limited to a single cue and used more atmospheric as opposed to actually supporting central themes like it did in ROTS.

     

    I know Williams didn't write a lot of scores since 2005, but the 12 years gap is substantial and noteworthy especially since scores like The BFG, TFA or KOTCS were easy candidates for prevalent choir additions and would have possible enhanced them even further. I've always felt that cues like Call Of The Crystal or Dream Country would have been even more interesting if supported by a choir.

     

    So is it just as simple that Williams felt the scores since ROTS wouldn't benefit from more prominent choral parts? Was it a deliberate and creative choice? Or did the four scoring assignments in 2005 take its toll and Williams adjusted his composing and arranging choices since then?

     

    Or am I just overthinking it?

    The Patriot (John Williams)

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    The long-lined gentle theme that opens the album, especially the violin rendition, is absolute gold and worth the price of the album alone. Otherwise, I feel Williams' score sounded a bit dated at that time when historical epics like Braveheart or Gladiator (to which The Patriot was often compared) made a more 'feminine' and vulnerable sound the norm. Willams went for bombast and a more traditional, heroic approach which in the end hurt the film more than it did good. One of my least played Williams soundtracks...

    What's your favourite John Williams SONG?

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, Thor said:

     

    I did! I had completely forgotten about that, as it doesn't feature on the soundtrack album. In fact, I don't even own the song version! Thanks for the reminder -- also in trying to acquire it.

     

     

    Are they? I have the 2CD set and they're not there. Are they on the even newer expansion?

     

    Sorry, the songs are on the La La Land release: https://www.discogs.com/John-Williams-The-Fury-Expanded-Original-Motion-Picture-Score/release/4359423

    What's your favourite John Williams SONG?

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Thor said:

    True, but can you see the "progression" I lined out there? How is "Exultate Justi" not a song if the HOME ALONE songs are? And if "Exultate Justi" is a song (with its limited amount of lyrics), how can "Duel of the Fates" not be (also with a limited set of lyrics)? etc.

     

    I get you Thor.

    What's your favourite John Williams SONG?

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, Thor said:

     

    Yes. The instrumental versions are featured on the WAGON TRAIN soundtrack. Not sure he wrote the lyrics, though. He wrote these songs in collaboration with Stanley Wilson, but has sole credit on the album.

     

     

    From the same episode, or was that another one (I've forgotten)?

     

    Ok thanks..! Was it ever released on CD..?

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