Jair Crawford

That's interesting. I did not know that. I just assumed it was Williams who wrote the music to the tune cause of its jazzy nature. Also, you mentioned the album that the track "Hello" is on. Is that album available anywhere?

I don't have those rarities yet, but would love to. I've heard them on youtube. About Gidget, the opening titles weren't written by him at all?

It makes me really curious. To think of what his ideal revision of something like Star Wars would sound like... wow... I wonder if he'll ever be able to release or perform them? I'd hate for legal stuff to get in the way of his music being performed.

I can totally relate to that. I'm a composition student and believe me, you can always find ways to make something sound better, no matter how long you've been working on it. Of course I'm just a beginner, but still. It's like you write something new, and are satisfied with it for a while, but the more you work on it or look back, you start thinking... hmm, this part could sound better, and so could this... and yikes what was I thinking during that part right there? o_o It's a vicious cycle. lol

Definitely will do. What I like the most about the end battle music of ROTJ is not as much the action music (which is still great and some of his best action music), but the very dark and brooding moments, like the music that plays when Luke goes all mad on Vader and they're clashing lightsabers and Luke pins Vader to the ground, and then the scenes of the final confrontation, etc. It has that random basso-profundo guy singing in a really deep spooky voice throughout almost all those sections. Gives me goosebumps every time. And then there's the subtle yet sad music when the mask is taken off. I just LOVE those moments.

I wouldn't call any of the JW main themes overrated. They're brilliant. It's just that I hear them so often that when I'm listening to his music I'd rather listen to other tracks and cues. For example, like I stated in another thread, I'm a huge Star Wars fan, but that means I've heard that main theme a LOT of times. lol So I get a lot more out of listening to the three Battle Of Endor movements than I do listening to the main theme.

I can relate. Try ToD, it's got so many great themes, and tracks. I could pretty much recommend every track on the concord release. Splashy, dark, fun, scary, adventure...it's just awesome. I'll definitely give it a listen. I also like the theme from Sabrina, but does anyone know... the original theme is just a piano, right? The only theme I can find on Spotify is the one with the violin. Which one is the one from the movie? I like the one with just the piano better. Of course there are things on my list that I don't have on my playlist yet so it wouldn't be a first if I couldn't find it. I don't have Hello, I Passed For White, Gidget Goes To Rome, The Fury, Spacecamp, or Soundings on my Spotify playlist cause none of them are on Spotify yet. >.< Of course, the first three aren't really a big surprise. But why not The Fury, Spacecamp, or Soundings? Ah well. lol Also, now that I'm thinking about it, what would be the best HP score to listen to first out of the 3 that JW wrote?

I Passed For White (1960) - Main Theme - John Williams

I've got a ton of Star Wars tracks. I'm a huge SW fan so that's a given. I'll listen to more of the tracks in those scores though and see what all I like. For me though a lot of the main themes to those movies I've heard too many times. Even with Star Wars, I enjoy listening to all 3 movements of The Battle Of Endor more than the Star Wars Main Titles. I know, it's weird, but yeah. lol

Indy's First Adventure is resonating with me the most so far out of all of those. I'm definitely gonna listen to more of this score. Is it darker than the other 3?

Thanks russds I'll definitely check those out. I guess I never got around to it because, well, the Indy main theme is just not one of my favorite JWs moments. But I'll explore the scores for sure. There's gotta be great stuff in there. It'll probably end up like my Star Wars lists though. Not as many main themes as other tracks. lol

LOL Well maybe I should have explained that I'm trying to expand my 'best of' playlist. Now as for Indy and HP, I know the main themes, but would be more interested in exploring some of the other tracks in the score.

These are what I usually listen to from JW. But I'd like to expand my repertoire a bit. Does anyone have any suggestions about scores, suites, tracks, or cues that I am missing and absolutely need to give a listen to?

A friend of mine in college who is also majoring in composition tried to tell me the same thing. There simply isn't any proof of the whole orchestration conspiracy with JW. Unless I'm missing something big, of course. I always told my friend that I would believe it only when it was proven. He kept on insisting though. I find it really weird. lol

The Harp Concerto "On Willows and Birches" dates back from 2009 and was released by the Boston Symphony digitally only. It can be bought from iTunes. You're right. Dunno why I thought it was 2011. lol Dunno who all this is directed to but I just wanna make myself quite clear that I have absolutely NO intentions of trashing JW. He's currently my favorite living composer.

Any news on The Battle Of Endor? That's one of my favorite John Williams works of all time.

It's one of his best works, easily.

Right now I'm listening to Imaginaerum : The Score by Nightwish and Petri Alanko

Oh wow, well, ok. Hmm... this will be difficult... 1. Return Of The Jedi 2. Jane Eyre 3. The Witches Of Eastwick 4. The Phantom Menace 5. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind 6. Dracula 7. Revenge Of The Sith 8. Schindler's List 9. AI 10. The Rare Breed That's the best I can do. lol

I like them all equally. lol There's no way I could rank them. Those are all tied for 1st place, other scores not in that list come in 2nd, ect. lol

Ok, I'll try to condense that into 10 scores The Rare Breed Jane Eyre Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Dracula Star Wars Episode VI : Return Of The Jedi The Witches Of Eastwick Schindler's List Star Wars Episode I : The Phantom Menace AI : Artificial Intelligence Star Wars Episode III : Revenge Of The Sith

While I don't have top scores, I have top cues, tracks, and suites. It'll be more than ten, and chronological order of release. I'll also mention non-film scores in bold. Unknown Album (1956) - Hello (Piano Solo) I Passed For White - Intro, Main Theme, and Jazz Concert Gidget Goes To Rome - Main Theme The Rare Breed - Suite Jane Eyre - Main Theme The Towering Inferno - Main Theme Close Encounters Of The Third Kind - Close Encounters Of The Third Kind/When You Wish Upon A Star Medley The Fury - Death On The Carousel And End Titles Star Wars Episode V : The Empire Strikes Back - Carbon Freeze/Darth Vader's Trap/Departure Of Boba Fett Medley Dracula - Main Titles and Storm Star Wars Episode VI : Return Of The Jedi - Battle of Endor I Medley Battle of Endor II Medley Battle of Endor III Medley Luke And Leia Concerto For Tuba And Orchestra Spacecamp - Main Theme The Witches Of Eastwick - Seduction Of Suki And Ballroom Scene Destruction Of Daryl Born On The Fourth Of July - Suite Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra (Five Sacred Trees) Jurrassic Park - Main Theme Schindler's List - Main Theme Concerto For Cello And Orchestra Summon The Heroes Star Wars Episode I : The Phantom Menace - Anakin's Theme The Droid Invasion And Appearance Of Darth Maul Duel Of The Fates AI: Artificial Intelligence - Where Dreams Are Born Star Wars Episode II : Attack Of The Clones - Love Pledge And The Arena Concerto For Horn And Orchestra Soundings Star Wars Episode III : Revenge Of The Sith - Anakin's Betrayal Padme's Ruminations Anakin's Dark Deeds Enter Lord Vader The Immolation Scene A New Hope And End Credits

Well not so much on this forum at the moment (though it has been mentioned a lot at times), but at the Star Wars forums that I've been too. So many people wonder if he'll live to be able to score Ep. 7 in 2015. And I'm like... really? lol Plus, besides the concertos we havent heard yet, I actually thought War Horse was pretty darn good. Sure its sappy and sentimental but hey, it's beautiful. I can understand about Tintin and Lincoln though.

@ Hlao-roo: Too soon to say. His last few scores may not have been his best, but I'll wait until I hear his Harp Concerto and Oboe Concerto that he wrote last year before coming to that conclusion.

I mean, this is 2012 for crying out loud, and he's just turned 80. My grandfather is about to turn the same age and is in great health. His mother made it to 99, one month before her 100th actually. I had another great grandmother make it almost to 90 and she would have exceeded that if it weren't for Alzheimers. These days, if you're 80 and in generally good health, which JW certainly is or at least seems to be (he's still writing music every day for crying out loud, and that's great for brain stimulation, and all the conducting he's done has kept him in great shape), then you have a very good chance of living at least another decade. I wouldn't be surprised if he lived well into his 90s or more! I know plenty of people who have. Honestly I don't know why everyone is so worried? Worrying doesn't help anything. The guy is alive and healthy so why worry now? Just had to get that off my chest because I've read so many comments of people worrying about his death and there's really no reason for that right now. lol