crumbs

There is an alternate version of Jedi Steps but, based on what the lead french horn player said, the actual Binary Sunset recording was the same in both versions (and Williams didn't re-record it when they recorded the new version of Jedi Steps).
 
I think we know there's no alternates for the very end of The Last Jedi, but originally there was a different version of Luke's death.
 
TROS was the perfect opportunity for a Rey's Theme finale, to signify that a new journey lies ahead for Rey, not just a literal regurgitation of the musical identity that began Luke's journey. Such predictable and unimaginative spotting; shame these filmmakers just couldn't break out of that mold with some of these musical choices.

For overall significance to the film series, ROTS. It's the perfect ending to what was the end of the SW saga. None of the other endings make as much sense or have as much meaning. 
 
For purely the music, I prefer the TFA version.
 
The TROS version is a pointless rehash in more ways than one. Should have ended on a grand orchestral swell on Rey's theme. But so little of TROS makes sense any ways.

That's so frustrating! Recycling the same transition from TFA was one of my biggest gripes with the score. Please, please, please let this surface on a Matessino set. 

The Patriot is my current holy grail.

And a 4K release is coming too, which means Cruise signed off on a batch of artwork.

I know this is probably a longshot but I'm hoping one of the summer titles is War of the Worlds which will be celebrating its 15th anniversary this June.
 
Karol

Nope - Schindler's List has been in LA since April 1st. I guess you could say it's a April Fool's joke gone too far.
 
I had a parcel ordered from Japan earlier than April, and it was rejected and returned to sender after spending two weeks in their post!
 
I don't know when Australia will allow flights, which means buying anything overseas is asking for a half year wait!

I like these energetic and bombastic performances , I wonder if you can have better quality versions than You Tube (go  You Tube and check out the playlist) .There's rare stuff like BFG , Patriot, Book Thief Concert Suite, extended Men of Yorktown march (better performance than Lockheart) and amazing The Lost world
 
Frankly, these are better than a lot of the compilations we got recently
 
 

When I first heard GE, I thought it was a top 20 JW piece.  I then cooled on it just a little bit, but after listening to way too much SW after IX came out, it is back up there.  It just oozes adventure but in a pure SW way.  The opening fanfare is second only to the main title in terms of openings of a JW piece (SW or otherwise).  Some of the repeating figures in the middle repeat one time too many, but the main melody, little fugue, big middle blast, ongoing counterpoint are top-notch.  
 
I hope he puts out a Signature edition, but that he has not done so already is worrying.  GE and AoH might be my favorite post ROTS SW music (most of which I do find excellent).  

Can't wait to find out who replaces Taika Waititi!

This video and performance made me shed a few tears. This was phenomenal. The sheer power that music has in uniting people. God bless Maestro John Williams, Keith Lockhart, and all the members of the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops who did this. A perfect way to thank all doctors, firefighters, police officers, first respondents and those who work to provide essential needs for many people.

Was half expecting JW to act surprised and say “Oh hello there, I didn’t see you come in”

I'm also happy they are performing this particular piece. I remember hearing it in 1996 without knowing who composed it. It's such a memorable melody. I remember playing it once and one of my mates, who cared little about JW or film scores, said "oh, this is the Atlanta olympic theme, isn't it?". And that must have been something like 7-8 years after the games. Shows you how good this tune is.
 
Karol

Let's not forget that he is 88 years old! His fingers are flying around like he's 28! That is what made me cry, more than the fact that it is a rare thing to see John Williams perform more than a couple of notes on the piano.

And we see him playing the chimes motif on piano for Daisy in the TROS featurette (presumably the piano solo from The Force is With You).
 
 
There was some exclusive TLJ featurette that someone recorded on their phone, which played before the movie started in some US cinema (and hilariously spoiled the final cue of the film). I wonder if that featurette had the footage?
 
Sadly it was never released officially (only some totally different VR 360 thing) so the phone recording that person captured is the only known copy we have... and I have no idea who uploaded it or which thread it was posted in.

This is awesome.
 
...and also quite an accomplishment, I'd say. They certainly could have picked an easier, less densely orchestrated piece for an online performance.

This is fantastic, rare and just plain heartbreaking. What a treat!
 
While it's fun to identify the objects in his immediate surroundings, Oma Tres-style, it's first and foremost a treat to see and hear Williams playing piano -- something we haven't seen for DECADES (was the last time the Jay Leno show when they played MEMOIRS?). Just a bar or two, but enough to be uber-cool.
 
And I love how they solved the piece itself, visually and musically. It's a fantastic one, and my 'goosebump meter' always rockets sky high whenever the piece reaches its break at 6:15.

Delightful

I can't be bothered to find it right now but there was definitely an interview where John Powell specified that he met with Lord and Miller first and that Williams was definitely in from that early on, and then he said he was as confused as anybody by the production upheaval and didn't know whether or not he'd still have the job. Then he met with Ron Howard and they were good to go.

He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more! He could have done more!
 
See how funny it is! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm! Shawm!

Apparently the musicians recorded their parts separately, and it was all edited together after the fact.  Check the opening fanfare: there are three trumpet players, but they recorded their parts twice each (you can see them wearing different clothes!)
 
From the Pops' website:
BSO Recording Engineer Nick Squire and Video Engineer Brandon Cardley, working from their homes, edited the audio and video from 86 individually submitted video files to create the musicians’ gift to all who are giving so much of themselves during this time.
 
https://www.bso.org/brands/pops/features/at-home/pops-at-home-heroic-performances-may-5.aspx
 
 

That was beautiful! It's comforting to see Williams and be able to "check in" with him this way. And I loved seeing all the musicians playing in their homes... you can appreciate the magnitude of so many artists from different walks of life coming together to contribute to one performance. I don't always have that in mind when I'm watching an orchestra on stage, dressed in black.

What an amazing treat to wake up to. Everything about this is top rate - the playing, the sentiment, the editing - and of course seeing two maestros - Keith Lockhart and the ultimate Maestro JW. 
 
And just hearing John Williams both play the piano and speak - looking fit and healthy - is a gift to all of us.
 
And then there are the Modal Nodes on the shelf as previously mentioned...
 
I mean, how lucky are we to get to have this music in our lives?

He could just do twitch streams sitting there playing all day!