CYPHER

Thanks for your post Marian - I knew you were a fan because I'd noticed you listening away to his music while you're posting . I'll keep my eye out for some of those concert albums you mentioned. Any idea what their proper titles are? Also I'm confused by your acronyms: EMI I recognise as a record label, but MGV and TGV? I've seen a couple of non-film composition albums of his lying about in shops here, but I still don't know enough about these to make wise purchasing choices. Yet . I did hear one review (over at soundtrack.net I believe) criticising one of his concertos (can't remember which off the top of my head) as being immensely disappointing ... :? While I appreciate that you're a bigger fan of his concert work, which of his film scores do you like? Are you a fan of his earlier, Peter Greenaway stuff or his more recent efforts? I've definitely heard a lot more of the latter, and whilst I haven't seen many of these films, the whole quasi-'Hollywood' connection personally makes them seem a lot more accessible. I'm particularly impressed with what I've heard of Wonderland and The Claim. As for your dodgy experience at the Nyman concert - that sounds pretty painful. It must've been so disappointing too! :cry: A few years back Michael Nyman came here and performed as part of the Sydney festival. I'm not sure, but he may have brought his band with him... I never went, as my attendance then just seemed beyond the world of possibility. Looking back I wished I had gone and I would certainly jump at the chance, if it should ever rise again (though unlikely here). The same thing happened a few years before with Philip Glass, who performed a live accompaniment of his music for Koyaanisqatsi during the screening of the film. Two of my favourite composers performing in my home town and I missed them both! Oh well, what're you gonna do? CYPHER

He also did not want music for the crop-duster sequence in North by Northwest despite Herrmann's alleged enthusiasm to write some. Here Hitchcock won out and the scene still works really well, but considering Neil's input above, could we have been deprived of the corn and dustbowl equivalent of the shower scene? CYPHER

LOL Too funny. But smashing Shore's conducting hand might've been a better bet . Jeff, I see why you left Tim Morrison out of your poll now. Other performers I'd like to seem Williams work with again include Gil Shaham, Barbara Bonney (from A.I. Artificial Intelligence) and bassoonist Judith LeClair (from The Five Sacred Trees). CYPHER

Now here’s a notable film composer who I don’t hear mentioned too often on these messageboards. I’ve always quietly admired and enjoyed Nyman’s film scores, but it has only been over the last few months that I’ve actually come to own some samples of his music on CD and hence been able to appreciate it all that much more. In particular, The very best of Michael Nyman: Film Music – 1980-2001 album has been a great eye-opener into the breadth and scope of his numerous compositions for film. It provides a chronological overview of many of his most important scores, covering his work for the films of Peter Greenaway in the 1980s (such as The Draughtsman’s Contract and Drowning By Numbers) and his recent engagement with more mainstream productions in the 1990s (such as Gattaca, The End of the Affair and The Claim). There is a distinctive Michael Nyman sound. What he might lack in diversity and versatility, he more than compensates for with the amazing flair, energy and vitality that characterises his compositions. Furthermore, there is that exquisite and almost torturous emotional undercurrent underpinning so many of his cues. Essentially this thread is an opportunity to discuss Michael Nyman’s work in general and a means for me to gauge what the rest of you think about his music. As people I’ve posted alongside for almost two years now I am genuinely interested in your opinions, especially regarding a subject I’m personally enthusiastic about. So I want to know if you love Nyman’s music or if you hate it, or even if you’ve never heard any or if you don’t have much of an opinion either way. If you are a fan, then what are some of his scores you enjoy, and considering I am hoping to expand my Nyman collection, which of his albums would you recommend (or conversely, not recommend)? Also, what is it you like (or dislike) about his music and his style? This is also a great opportunity to discuss Nyman’s non-film music as well, as I know he has composed at least several pieces unrelated to film. So please people, fire away! CYPHER

Okay this cast list has too many 'big names' in seemingly minor, pedestrian roles. Thus, I'm sceptical. It sounds like a fan boy's wish list (not that there's anything wrong with these, mind you ). Except for the fact that Katie Holmes is in it. No fan boy could wish that! She is grade A abysmal. I don't know who this Rachel person she's playing is, but here's hoping that within the first 10 minutes she meets one of the following fates: a) ends up in Arkham Asylum as Harley Quinn's personal pin-cushion B) is thrashed by Cat Woman and then turned into kitty litter c) is consigned to the cast of Smallville where her standard routine in indignant, retrograde feminist outrage might be more suited. Then in the space of a single episode she will be turned into a salivating, kryponite-irradiated slag monster and end up doing time in Lex Luthor's basement dungeon. CYPHER

I'd probably give my vote to Tim Morrison as well, with Yo-Yo Ma coming in a close second. Some more guitar stuff from Christopher Parkening would be nice too, I think . CYPHER

Well I haven't heard too many unused scores, but two that do stand out that I have listened to are Bernard Herrmann's Torn Curtain and of course Michael Nyman's fantastic Practical Magic . CYPHER

Oh well, I guess that makes that multi-million dollar movie worthwhile after all... CYPHER

Oh, I just remembered I haven't listened to A.I. in a while now . Certainly not since I discovered what an oboe sounds like in any case . I'll have to keep my ears pricked next time I play it. CYPHER

Whew - I finally finished reading this mammoth thread in one go and I figured I've got to make a small post, just to make it worth my while . This year's Oscars were the most predictable in ages! I guessed every single winner correctly except for Best Score! Go figure. And the ceremony itself bored me to tears. Practically every presenter stuffed up their lines - and not even in a good way! CYPHER

Reckon! Of course I don't hate the bloke. The score is fine. However I'm definitely one of those people who, as opposed to Melange and K.M., prefer the first two scores. Admitedly I have only really listened to the Return of the King score once all the way through, and I recognise that a good work generally takes a few listens at least to grow on you. I'm just a little miffed about the double standards of Shore even being nominated for Return of the King considering that recent Academy edict disqualifying all sequel scores :roll: . CYPHER

I remember watching Lost in Space on tellie when I was a kid! A new series could be fun but with other sci-fi / fantasy TV shows getting the axe left, right and centre nowadays it might have limited viability. Still it could be more enjoyable than any of the reality programs or the latest cop/lawyer/anti-terrorism/Cum Stain Inquiries clones that are colonising the airwaves these days :roll: . And am I the only one who got a real kick out of the Lost in Space movie from 1998? CYPHER - who, after all this time, just noticed the three Yankee flags adorning Wedge's helmet in Rogue Leader's avatar .

Yeah, it sounds interesting ... Anyway thanks nja and Ray for your thoughts re: 'what makes a good oboe player.' I was briefly considering having a fictional character I've created for a narrative I'm writing play the oboe, but I've now decided against it. She doesn't have anywhere near the time, dedication or dare I say it, sensitivity to do a good job LOL. Or maybe, she's a failed oboe player, a fact that testifies to her lack of the requisite personal and technical requirements... Hmmm CYPHER

LOL I've never even seen a single episode of The Actor's Studio but that was pretty brilliant Joe - well done! CYPHER

Okay, sorry to keep flogging this seemingly dead horse, but I seem to be suddenly struck by a bout of oboe obsession at the moment. This instrument just sounds lovely!!! Does anyone here play it? Or know of anyone who does? What kind of person is attracted to playing an oboe in anycase? Sensual, energetic, placid, poetic, dedicated etc? Anyway ... :oops: I listened to "across the Stars" the other day, with both ears out for the oboe: nice, nice, but not the best. It seems a bit too muted. Perhaps it's the recording though. I've heard much more crisp oboe passages. Such as the little snippet towards the end of "Anakin is Free" from The Phantom Menace UE. Now that is quality righ there . CYPHER

I reckon the Gondor theme would definitely be the most appropriate - it's 'triumphalism' perfectly suits those award winning moments, while the little edge of tragedy in there might be just enough to push the losers over the brink into tears LOL. CYPHER

Ditto. Ashton Kutcher is incredibly annoying too, but if it weren't for that stupid, yet intriguing Punk'd show of his, I'd never have appreciated just how truly inane Jessica Simpson is. She's basically Britney Spears' clone, but without the brain cell. CYPHER

Yeah, I figured Shore would be coming here eventually to conduct some of his Lord of the Rings stuff. It was mentioned as a possibility in December last year I think. I'd like to go, but it all depends on how much the tickets cost and whether I have a decent job by then (and can therefore afford it). So you live in Ballarat eh, Magical Me? I was kind of surprised to find out you lived in Australia, when you mentioned it in a post a month or so back, but I never would've guessed you lived there! CYPHER - whose sum experience of 'non-Melbourne' Victoria consisted of a day spent in Geelong .

Yeah Windtalkers pissed me off majorly - I really didn't like it, so there you go . Even the action scenes were off-putting, chaotic and messy. Sure, that's war, but I found it impossible to enjoy them. CYPHER - hoping that John Woo's latest, Paycheck is somewhere near decent ...

Where did you hear that Malick used Philip Glass music for his temp track for The Thin Red Line ymenard? I don't really see the connection myself, but I'm intrigued nonetheless since I love both Glass and this movie. In some ways the effect of Zimmer's score is similar to that produced by some of Glass' work e.g. his scores for Kundun and even The Hours, in that it's soothing and meditative tone touches upon the transcendental at times. But I don't think the sound is very similar at all - there is repetition and balance but little of the frenetic quality that characterises Glass' music. Okay maybe "Stone In My Heart" has more than a touch of Glass now that I think about it ... Anyway, this is by no means an attack - I'm genuinely curious about your thoughts (and everyone else's for that matter) . CYPHER

I was just thinking about the oboe the other day! I was listening to Stepmom, specifically "The Days Between" and I had a revelatory 'oboe moment' in which, for one of the first times, I consciously thought - "That oboe sounds awesome!" So I would nominate certain cues from Stepmom and Angela's Ashes as Williams' best use of the oboe (specific I know, but I can't recall details at present). Incidentally, both featured John Ellis performing the solo oboe duties. But I'll have to go back and listen to "Across the Stars" with my newfound oboe awareness and appreciation! CYPHER PS - does anyone else think John desperately needs to write an oboe concerto?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I'm by no means a Goldsmith connoisseur (though just looking at those scores up there I'm starting to wish I owned a few more of his albums). So my not particularly well-versed selection of his best scores are: Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Patton, Mulan, The Mummy and Outland (or maybe it's Capricorn One - I've heard both but can't remember which is which :oops: ). CYPHER

I honestly can't recall this one. It seems every time I've seen a New Line release recently, be it Return of the King or Freddy vs. Jason, the opening logo (incidently quite cool) is always overlaid with original music or sound effects for the individual film. CYPHER

And Angela's Ashes too, though this isn't very 'traditional' Irish music. Plus it's kind of depressing. CYPHER - wondering if he's ever seen (or even heard of) a St. Patrick's Day card ...

I agree about Minority Report. I practically didn't notice any of Tom Cruise's usual obnoxious and offensive mugging. CYPHER