Josh500

In 1994, while watching the Oscars. John Williams won the Oscar for Schindler's List, and I was forever enchanted by the hauntingly beautiful violin music. I did get the CD soon after, although I didn't even have a CD player back then (I was twelve!!!). So the very first CD I bought was the soundtrack of Schindler's List! Soon after, I got a Discman for my birthday, and I actually got to listen to it!!!!

I don't get this. Did John Williams and/or George Lucas strike an exclusive deal with Walmart? And what about those who live OUTSIDE the US? I live in Austria, and we don't have any Walmart here!!! So we don't get to enjoy the bonus track? But I suppose it's like the "On The Conveyor Belt" from AotC -- in the end, everybody who's a bit dedicated gets the bonus track. And "limited time" can mean anything . . . i.e. three years or more.

Does anyone know what JW said in his acceptance speeches when he won the Oscars for Jaws, Star Wars, and E.T.? Better yet, does anyone have these shows on tape (I don't know whether they were broadcast on TV back then, though)? I remember watching him win an Oscar for Schindler's List in 1994 (I was 12 then!!!), but can't really remember what he said there, either.

Now, it's been almost nine years ever since I heard this for the first time, and it still takes my breath away. What is so great about it? some may ask, and I say, Everything. The performance by the Boston Pops Orchestra is top-notch, of course, and John Williams having written this doesn't hurt, either. My favorite part starts at 1:58 with the drum roll, and then this rhythmic brass section, rather low, comes on . . . I have to grin every time I hear it. And then at 2:42, the main melody starts again, this time with the trumpet accompaniment by Tim Morrison. God, I had no idea a trumpet could play this fast . . . the best part then, I think, is the trilly thing (is it a trill? I don't think so, but it's so fast I can't really tell) the trumpet does at the 2:49 and 2:50. This is where JW REALLY outdoes himself.

I like both pieces, naturally, but I think Spielberg (as always) uses the music to greater effect, because you can actually hear most of it. In the case of Jango, it appears as though the sound effects are trying to drown out the music. But I agree with some of you that Jango is probably the more original . . .

I'm referring here to "Jango's Escape" and "Anderton's Great Escape." I think "Jango" is one of the best action pieces JW has written in recent years (although some of you superficial listeners complained that it sounds like JW on auto-pilot), and I just love it!!! Especially the horn/trombone counterpoint to the clarinet from 2:17 to 2:24 is nice -- I think only JW could have written this passage, and then conducted it so it sounds the way you hear it. "Anderton" is, I guess, a close cousin to "Jango", and yet somehow completely different -- both music accompanies action scenes in the future, but if you listen to them often enough, you can't imagine these two being interchangeable. In "Anderton", my favorite part is from 5:14 to 5:23. I can almost imagine JW sitting at the piano, hammering out these notes while the final cut of MR is playing on a big screen TV . . . Outstanding, really outstanding.

TITANIC would be MY first choice, then LORD OF THE RINGS (although I would bet with you that, if Williams had scored those movies, he wouldn't have won a single Oscar). Also, I would have loved it if Williams had written the score to The Color Purple -- the only Spielberg movie NOT scored by JW. Then, of course, GoF. I love seeing what those three brats are up to this time, but I imagine it's going to be only half as much fun without JW's music accompanying them each step of the way.

All jokes aside, I think this is a great picture. I think all three of them are very lucky to have such talented and good colleagues, especially Steven and Mike.

Believe it or not, she thought the short reprise of the Star Wars Main Theme (played by trombones) was the Mickey Mouse theme. LOL It's really funny when you stop to think about it, but in some way I can't really put it words it DOES sort of make a certain amount of sense . . .

Here's a story some of you are probably going to hate me for. Recently a female friend of mine asked me what I was listening to on my Discman. I said John Williams. Naturally, she had no idea who that was and asked me if she could take a listen. Now, at that time I was taking in the End Credits of TPM -- Augie's Great Municipal Band and then the triple trumpet fanfare and the Main Theme -- but didn't tell her what it was. So I rewinded a little and then gave her the headphones, kinda curious whether she'd recognize the main melody . . . after all, even a girl should have watched Star Wars at one point or other in her lifetime. So I was really gladdened when she smiled instantly, nodded, and then said, "Yeah, of course I know what this is!" "Really? You do?" I asked, grinning myself now. "What is it?" And she said, "That's the music from the Mickey Mouse club!!!" The smile slid off my face. "No, it's not," I said. "Are you serious?" "Yeah, I am," she said, and then started doing this stupid little dance, miming (I guess) Mickey Mouse. "I know what I'm talking about!!!!" "No, it's not," I insisted. "Trust me, I know what I'm talking about!" With any other girl I would have been kinda miffed (I guess), but this one was really cute so I laughed along in the end and said resignedly, "Actually it's the music from Star Wars." And she said, "Oh really? Sounds kinda Mickey Mouse-y." And she walked blithely away, leaving me to watch after her. What do you make of this? Does the Main Theme performed in the End Credits of Star Wars (the part played by trombones) sound Mickey Mouse-y??? You may laugh, but ever since that remark, I can't help thinking of Mickey Mouse when I listen to it. Now, I have never heard the music from the Mickey Mouse club in my life, so I have no basis for comparison, but . . . for those of you who DO know both melodies, do they sound similar in any way??? I certainly hope not!!! :roll: !!!!GIRLS!!!! :roll:

What do you think? I'm a big Spielberg fan, naturally, but some of my friends claim that while Spielberg is a great director, his movies of late have been too sentimental/schmaltzy to bear watching. Particularly the endings of A.I. and Minority Report stand out. Both movies have produced some of JW's best scores -- Monica's Theme and Sean's Theme (from AI and MR, respectively) are some of my favorites -- but are those scenes too schmaltzy (not the music, but the scenes)??? :oops:

Actually I DO love all the sneaking around music in PoA. The unreleased cue (in the movie between "Forward to Time Past" and the marimba-section of "Saving Buckbeak") is really most fascinating. See, how the tension continues throughout the scene, and the best part of all -- get this -- is when Hermione throws the two stones through the window, first hitting a vase then Harry in the back of the head. Did anyone else notice that JW accompanies the shots while the stones fly through the window with high flutes/piccolos? I think this is so well done . . . perfect timing, really . . . I didn't notice this the first time, only while later watching it on DVD. Awesome!!!

What does everyone think of that cue (while we're on the subject)? On the CD, I mean specifically the music starting at 2:19. At first I thought it was too soft, too low-key somehow for JW, but the more I listen to it, the more I've come to appreciate it. Ever since JW used marimbas (is that the right word?) in the score to AI, he seems to have fallen in love with the instrument!!! I love the way it starts, in the movie as Hermione sends Harry to get Buckbeak . . . it gives the entire scene such a sense of urgency. Also, I love the way the music swells as it accomapnies the executioner striking the pumpkin!!! Great . . . just great. But could it have been better? What do you think? P.S.: Someone mentioned somewhere that the track Saving Buckbeak on the OS contains the Buckbeak's Flight theme. Is that true? I don't think so, but if it is, I can't find it.

Hey good news, you guys. Check this out. http://www.hpana.com/news.18516.html So Hedwig's Theme AND Harry's Wondrous World will be used!!!! Hey, it's just a rumor but, yay!!! LOL

I agree with you that Doyle is no secondary composer, but I somehow don't think that Doyle gets to decide whether John Williams's Hedwig's Theme should be incorporated or not. If the producers want the theme used, I think Dolye must accede to their wishes. Also, I can remember one of the producers saying that Hedwig's Theme is such an integral part of the entire series -- almost a trademark -- that it would be used no matter what. I certainly hope so . . .

I don't think this thread is in bad taste, but yeah, I agree with some of you that the topic of his death/health is getting tedious. Well, I guess I'm just a bit worried . . . after all, I don't know any other 73-year-old whom I admire so much. I just hope that JW will keep scoring movies till the very end, which will still be in the distant future (I have no doubt about that, since he still seems in pretty good shape). P.S. I think those of you who voted for the first two options ARE tasteless. I don't think you can call yourself a John Williams fan in good conscience. That's the God-honest truth. LOL LOL LOL

I like the third from left. IMHO, she's the cutest. Does anyone know her name??? I don't think she's credited.

1. oboe, bassoon... flute, oboe, bassoon 2. muted horn, muted trumpet... upper strings 3. muted horn, strings... muted horns 4. upper flutes, muted horn, muted upper trumpet, strings... 5. muted horn, clarinet... Thanks for that. Do you know that for sure, or is it just a guess???

So no one can give a definite answer to my original question??? :roll:

I expect JW to be active for at least ten more years (then he's "only" 83), and if he scored an average of 2 movies per year, that would be at least 20 movies. And JW is sort of immortal . . . he will always be remembered through his music. I don't think he will be forgotten quickly like, say, Beethoven.

Maybe, but I remember someone saying -- I think it was one of the producers -- that the music by John Williams is such an integral part of the Harry Potter series that it would be included no matter what, even if JW himself is no longer involved. Could that be true? I certainly hope so. LOL

I can't find the official Harry Potter thread, so I'm just creating my own thread. Does anyone know whether any of John Williams' themes are used in GoF? Why isn't his name attached to GoF at IMDB --meaning no "Original Themes by John Williams"? Is Patrick Doyle composing all the music, without reusing any of the older JW themes? Does anyone have answers to the these questions? Also, would you like to hear JW music adapated by Patrick Doyle? I'm really looking forward to the movie, but don't know how good it's gonna be without "Hedwig's Theme." But then again, Patrick Doyle might write his own Hedwig's Theme.

Except when the music is composed by John Williams!!!!!

Yeah, YOU are. Do you have problems with the issue of death? There's no denying that we're all gonna die someday. Besides, the question was how many more movies will he score. I don't think there's anything disgusting about this thread. What do you mean cause of death? Am I missing here something?