CYPHER

What do you think we're all doing here? This messageboard would have to be the forum in which I talk about John Williams the most. Only a few of my friends know of my appreciation for Williams' work but I generally don't discuss it with them. I like to keep some of my interests private (in the non-cyber world that is) and my musical tastes is one such case in point. I guess if more people were similarly interested in such things circumstances might be different, but I'm certainly not complaining. CYPHER

While I certainly haven't heard all of these scores, I've just been revisiting Amistad over the past few days and it's a fine listen. So that's my pick. CYPHER

Man, it's been so damn long since I've seen any of these films... I picked Pulp Fiction because my recollections of it are the fondest. I guess The Shawshank Redemption would come second. But that aside, none of these movies really stand out as "favourite film" material for me. CYPHER

Well done Snowster! That's quite a collection you've amassed there over such a short period of time. It's almost three times the size of my John Williams collection and I got my first JW CD in 1998. Now you can start on the 1970s and early 1980s JW music. And don't forget to have a listen to some of his concert works as well. CYPHER

I would recommend: - Igor Stravinsky: "The Rite of Spring" - John Adams: "Harmonielehre" - Philip Glass: "Violin Concerto" (1987?) and "Low Symphony" CYPHER

My vote went to Mr. Herrmann on this one. That's largely because of all the composers mentioned I am most familiar with his work and I really enjoy a great deal of it. Though I am quite admiring of the few Korngold and North pieces I have heard especially The Adventures of Robin Hood and A Streetcar Named Desire respectively. As for the 'Other' option... Alfred Newman is classified as a 'Golden Age' composer is he not? He's written some great stuff too e.g. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Anastasia and How the West Was Won. CYPHER

I voted for The Phantom Menace, which despite its many flaws has a lovely richness and expansiveness to it. Though I do love The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Amistad, Stepmom and even once upon a time The Patriot (it has been a while between listens with that one). CYPHER

Well I went and for a free concert performed by semi-professionals it actually wasn't too bad. They didn't play all the music they advertised (there was no Superman or James Bond), but there was a lot more besides. Sometimes it felt like a high school band practice session with some of the material they played e.g. the theme to Mission: Impossible, the original Batman and Robin television series (how foolish of me to expect Danny Elfman :roll:) plus an orchestrated version of the Ghostbuster theme! The conductor was a bit of a tool as well. Buuuut they played some refreshing music by Michel Legrand, a suite of Henry Mancini themes (Hatari!, Pink Panther and Peter Gunn) plus of course "The Raider's March" and a great concluding triptych of music from the original trilogy Star Wars films by John Williams - referred to as the greatest composer working in Hollywood today (at which point someone in the audience screamed out in glee! And it wasn't me!). They played "The Imperial March," which was great fun; "Princess Leia's Theme," which was a lovely surprise only slightly ruined by the fact that half the crowd seemed to take this quieter piece as an opportunity to talk amongst themselves!) and finally "Main Titles/End Credits" set to a nice semi-coordinated fireworks display. I might have preferred a bit of "Lapti Nek" "yub yub" to go with these though... Oh and it was quite gusty so a fireworks spark actually fell down and landed on my best friend's skirt! LOL CYPHER

Yeah I know. It's almost absurd how long it takes to get from one end of Sydney to the other. Sorry about the late mention man. CYPHER

This thread probably won't reach anyone's notice in time, but I couldn't help but try anyway. For my fellow Sydney-siders, there's a free one hour concert of film music tonight in Darling Harbour commencing at 7pm. Dr. Steve Watson will be conducting the 48-piece Sydney Concert Orchestra, performing themes from Rocky, Batman; Superman, Mission: Impossible, "James Bond", Raiders of the Lost Ark, Zorba and Star Wars - so there's plenty of John Williams music there. The Orchestra will be performing inside the "Aquashell" a floating stage on Cockle Bay. And we're promised fireworks afterwards. Bring your woolens as it's bound to be cold. Check out the link for more details: http://www.darlingharbour.com/darlingharbour/index.cfm Sorry for the late notice - I only found out late last night myself. I'll be going. CYPHER

So I heard. Here's hoping people will still remember Fahrenheit 451 when all this is said and done. (Hey, that rhymes! ) Oh well, Bradbury will always have Dandelion Crater on the moon named in honour on his book Dandelion Wine. CYPHER

So the concerts are over. Who went? What was it like? C'mon guys, spill your guts!!! CYPHER

Yeah, I looked at the Michael Nyman messageboards back when I started this topic. There only seemed to be about 20 posts! Quite disgraceful when you compare it with this board, isn't it? I'll check it out again one of these days - I have a few ideas for possible threads... CYPHER

Yeah cat, I can dig it. Kudos Neil, kudos. CYPHER

Hey, I'm sorry to hear about your loss, Johnnyecks. That's a major bummer. However I don't own any of these CDs so I can't help you out. Although I did see a copy of Deep Rising in store a few weeks back for $A 10 ($US 7)... CYPHER

Good call, Movie Music. Those vocals in Troy were so wretched. Instead of feeling sad about the state of Mediterranean politics, one feels sad about the state of film scoring. Okay, I'm struggling to rememeber the 'vaguely ethnic wail' in AOTC. There's a female solo vocalist in "Meadow Picnic" and "Confrontation with Count Dooku" right? Any other instances? But these sounded nothing like Gladiator or Troy or The Passion of the Christ or Black Hawk Down as far as I'm concerned. It actually sounded good for the most part. CYPHER

But when I face north, the Pacific is on my RIGHT side. CYPHER

Drax is right, Magical Me. Big W or K-Mart should stock this CD at well below RRP. Around $A 21 - 24.95. CYPHER

When's this feck due out? Some time next year I gather? CYPHER

Hey, these concerts sound kind of fun! CYPHER - who will obviously not be going however, given certain geographical constraints.

Ah, that was a lovely read, Neil. Thanks for posting it and managing to slip in a few sly jokes here and there (much appreciated). I'm so glad you guys got to meet up and get along so well. Plus the card for John Williams was a lovely touch. How many MB members did you end up getting to sign it? Hopefully Williams got it in the end and wasn't left scratching his head and muttering "Wat ist 'jwfan.net?'" CYPHER - demanding more photos! And Ray, I hate to break it to you, but that's three photos of you I've seen and you look different in all three of them! LOL You're a changeling, I tell you!

To be honest, I haven't heard the relevant tracks from The Towering Inferno or Superman but I simply adore "The Mecha World," so it gets my vote. CYPHER

Can't wait for all the hot goss! CYPHER

I picked E.T., though I do really love "The Flying Car" from Chamber of Secrets. Great poll Flastaft! CYPHER

Ah, Hermione, so it is. She looks like she's chewing on a grapefruit or something. Poor grapefruit. CYPHER