Trumpeteer

Unlike Dan Rather and Peter Jennings, I'm not calling this race. It's still too close to call. Jeff -- who would be happy with either score winning at this point (though A.I. is still a better score).

Oh, Mr. Dole. It's not like this is 1980 and you're saying that you're giving up on the Star Wars saga because The Empire Strikes Back blows. Then I'd understand...sorta. Take my advice: give him one more chance. Three strikes and he's outta there! .... And even if he doesn't strike out, he's outta there! Besides, aren't you the least bit anxious about the musical possibilities??????

I don't think so. I'd say in the 70s, he used the end credits as concert arrangements (expanding them). Nowadays, he uses the concert arrangements as end credits. Marian - who thinks there's a big difference. You're right, Marian. There is a difference. Was listening to The Empire Strikes Back last night and I noticed how different the end title music sounded from the concert arrangements.

This is probably the one film in the past year that had the best sound mix. In some cases, I wanted the music to be louder (the Quiddich match, the chess game, end titles). [quote name="Saint Yodes Ghoest"The music should never make the dialog difficult to understand and hear. Period. The only exception is source music (ie' date=' A rock concert). -St. Yodes I love watching behind-the-scenes stuff where actors are supposed to be yelling over music at a party. The funny thing is, the music isn't playing -- it's to be tracked in the scene later.

Joe, I don't think anyone can disagree totally with you. My favorite end title lately has been "Where Dreams Are Born" from AI. Beautiful medley. And to think, I bet that song "For Always" was going to be put there.... Pretty much all of his end titles have been concert arrangements, Marian. They've just been well-edited to make them sound like they flow together. Harry Potter was well-edited use of all the themes, as was, of course, the Star Wars films and Indy films. I really wish the CD version of the end titles from AOTC had remained in the film. It's the second best Star Wars end title ever (behind - duh - Empire).

Uh oh. We've been found out by The Man Himself.

Does JW really have daily assistants? I mean, like someone who interacts with him regularly and watches him compose?

Thanks Ocelot. I think, with few exceptions, a composer can't get motivated to write an "Oh-my-God-this-is-awesome" score if he isn't moved by what he sees. Jerry Goldsmith is probably one of few who can do this.

We're here, Ren...the silent majority. And Ricard, you said JW's scores lately lack "brilliance and genius." I think you only need to notice that the movies themselves often are lacking in brilliance and genius: The Phantom Menace Attack of the Clones The Patriot The Lost World (oooh, Stefan's going to get me for that) Compare these to: Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Raiders of the Lost Ark The Witches of Eastwick Jeff -- who gave both CDs a listen yesterday and still marvels at the depth of AI, and enjoys the pure magic and fun of Harry Potter.

It depends on the amount of time I have. If it's just a meet-and-greet situation, I would just tell him how the Empire Strikes Back thrust me into my current love of film music, and how certain parts are my all-time favorite movie music moments. If I had a few more minutes...I'd ask him why he still composes with pencil and paper. Also, what is his feeling when he hears a score played by orchestra for the first time. And what his favorite non-Williams score is, and which movie he wishes he could have scored.

Look on the home page. Three of them (the second of which is mine) is still linked there.

Funny you should mention that. I don't owna cell phone, but if I were ever forced to own one, I would make my ring tone the Imperial March. It would be cool.

Tpigeon brought up a good point. I selected A.I. because of the way it is presented on film. Since that is the reason it was written, that is the way it should be judged. A.I. is indeed a labor to listen to on CD, based on track sequencing and whatnot. If that was our basis for judging a film score, then I would have picked Harry. But A.I.'s score says a lot more to me in fewer notes. I don't want anyone to think that I dislike Harry Potter. Not true. It deserved its Oscar nomination, its immense success, etc., and I love listening to it on CD and in the film. Just lacks that little bit of "umph" that A.I. delivered in every scene, musically.

The one and only.....except I live in Albuquerque now. :cry: Send me an e-mail.

A.I. on an emotional scale. It's very complex, very brilliant. Harry Potter is good-time fun. Genius writing, of course, but doesn't dig as deep.

Ummm....yeah. Like I said before, I'm no musicologist. I just know what sounds good. "Spyders" from Minority Report

I agree. And it's possibly the best CD listen ever. Not just in terms of reliving the film experience, but also as a separate listen. It's like a two-hour symphony. None of the other films truly have that feel.

I'm not a musicologist, but I always have a fondness for Williams' triplet writing. In fact, sometimes, he makes it very obvious. I think triplets are easier to orchestrate throughout various instruments. But like I said, I'm no musicologist. Jeff -- who loves Williams' best triplet....

I finally read this post from begining to end, and I'm glad I did. I've always been in love with the endings of all five films, regardless of what's happened in the previous two hours. That said, UCFKevin and Mark Olivarez made some very ineresting theories about Episode 3 endings. Kevin's made more sense, had more suspense and drama...and it gave me chills. Just think of the music that will play as Obi-wan watches Luke at the moisture farm through binoculars, as the Emperor and Vader plan the holocaust of the Jedi. OOOOOOhhhhhh. Another chill. JW has said he's excited to write the music for Episode 3, because Lucas leaked a little info to him. Anyway, after reading all of the posts I remembered a line from Episode 4 that makes absolutely no sense. It's when Luke and Ben are talking in Ben's home after the Sandpeople attack. Ben hands Luke the light saber: "Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough. But your uncle wouldn't allow it...." This would mean that Vader knew he had a son, Obi-wan made a promise to watch over Luke, and that Vader knew he was on Tatooine. Of course this doesn't mesh with the fact that for the entire film afterwards and even during the final run down the Death Star trench, Vader doesn't make the connection. Of course, we can wave it away and say Lucas hadn't planned on making Vader and Luke related in 1977. But now that the prequels are out, this line has to be explained. It'll be interesting to see how that is played out. Jeff -- who can't wait for Episode 3's final 30 minutes!!!

Oh my God. Who to pick from? Decisions, decisions.... Duh. John Williams. The rest are pretty good. Williams is great.

Wise move, Stafancos. Jeff -- who thinks the topic has gone off the deep end

This just raises the eternal question of the duties of an orchestrator. Naturally, it varies from composer to composer. But personally, I don't think any composer writes a score without having the full sound in his head. My belief is the orchestrators have the same duties as a book editor, or a newspaper editor. They don't change much; they just do some cleaning up.

Harry, that was a very well-written review. It's not easy conveying emotions in words sometimes. I think you did it very well. That said, it's hard for me to convey my undying love for this score. Just reading Harry's review made me well up a little bit, thinking of that moment just after ET and Elliot sail past the moon, when Elliot screams for joy and the music complements it. And then that moment just after ET says "I'll be right here" at the end. I think I cry not because ET is leaving, but because after 2 hours, we finally are rewarded with a bold rendition of the main theme that, excuse the highly overused cliche, soars. Jeff -- who's not embarrassed to admit that he cries twice during this movie

This picture is pasted from three different photo sessions: one in NY, the other in LA. The left side, I believe, is the LA shoot. I think it's one of those meetings where wanting to be a fly on the wall would be an understatement.

Stefan, it's nothing to be extremely concerned about. Minor surgery clears up the problem. I have known people in my field (journalism) who had this problem, and they had quick surgery and were back at work in a couple of weeks. Hope you weren't thinking thatthe only alternative is amputation!