Bayesian

That would be Brian Tyler, who's got a bachelor and a masters degree in music and yet his music is okay at best.

I remember reading somewhere that Hans Zimmer couldn't read music... But that probably was just his haters. I mean, one of his cues is named "Too Many Notes, Not Enough Rests", so he must know what a rest is and why there's too few of them, right? Right?

My package was delivered by FedEx, too, a first, since Quartet has been shipping with DHL for years, at least to Hungary. I hope they go back to them because I prefer their tracking system. 
 
Hope you get your package soon, @Bayesian.

That's my preferred interpretation too. Did you happen to receive a ship notice from DHL or a tracking number? It seems odd that for premium-priced shipping you wouldn't get a tracking number.

I interpreted that as having been shipped...next day it arrived.

Or look at the latest Mission Impossible, a very decent actioner whose score is a godawful abomination.

The only people who actually remember movies like Jane Eyre, The Fury, Dracula, Monsignor, Far & Away, Spacecamp and such are us Williams fans. Otherwise, had they had a mediocre score by some unknown composer, no one would talk about them in 2023 (unless those people obssessed with oddities from the past).
 
And I guess this is more true for the older movies in his filmography than the new ones. Despite stuff like The Patriot, Stepmom, The Terminal, etc., not being classics, some people still have fond memories about catching them on cable or DVD or whatever. It will take a little while before they fade out from public consciousness like 78 Dracula or The Eiger Sanction.

HOME ALONE? CLOSE ENCOUNTERS? In what universe are these considered "meh/average" movies? They're CLASSICS, and would have worked perfectly fine without John Williams too, even if his scores obviously lift them even further.
 
For better examples of poor or mediocre films that John Williams lifts considerably with his music, look to titles like FITZWILLY, JANE EYRE, NOT WITH MY WIFE YOU DON'T, HEIDI, BLACK SUNDAY, DRACULA, THE FURY, HEARTBEEPS, SPACE CAMP, FAR & AWAY, ANGELA'S ASHES and several more. None are lifted to blockbuster/classic status, probably (I don't think a musical score is able to do that), but enough to be decent viewing experiences.

Mine too. The postal services have not been reliable since Harry and Meghan moved there.
 

I would ask Czech Pierre, he has connections with John Williams.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2023/12/11/amanpour-mutter-williams.cnn
John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter: Music takes us to a spiritual place | CNN

I wonder why DG didn’t opt to release this concert. It would have been a lovely complement to JW’s two prior high-profile European visits. And I suppose the window to capitalize on the Milan concert has passed, so it’s unlikely now that we’ll ever get this concert on physical media. 😕

How old was the oldest composer to write 2 hours of music and go through the whole process to do so, from spotting to conducting the studio orchestra?
 
I firmly believe DoD will be the last "major" score in JW's film composing career. It's clear that TROS nearly wrecked him, and DoD was physically taxing on him too, right? In this age where picture lock doesn't occur until 10 minutes before the film's world premiere, composers who work like JW does are cogs that simply no longer fit inside the machine.
 
Like others have said, Spielberg is the only one who could coax JW into one more score. I'd personally love it if JW scored the rumored Napoleon miniseries Spielberg is supposedly producing (directing???) from Kubrick's abandoned script.

The late, great Bent Fabricius-Bjerre was 94 when he scored the Danish film KOLLISION in 2019 (he passed away in 2020). I don't think there were 2 hours of music in it, though, and there was a co-composer, so perhaps not comparable. The benchmark now should be the Portuguese director Manuel de Oliveira who directed his last film at age 105(!).

How old was the oldest composer to write 2 hours of music and go through the whole process to do so, from spotting to conducting the studio orchestra?
 
I firmly believe DoD will be the last "major" score in JW's film composing career. It's clear that TROS nearly wrecked him, and DoD was physically taxing on him too, right? In this age where picture lock doesn't occur until 10 minutes before the film's world premiere, composers who work like JW does are cogs that simply no longer fit inside the machine.
 
Like others have said, Spielberg is the only one who could coax JW into one more score. I'd personally love it if JW scored the rumored Napoleon miniseries Spielberg is supposedly producing (directing???) from Kubrick's abandoned script.

How old was the oldest composer to write 2 hours of music and go through the whole process to do so, from spotting to conducting the studio orchestra?
 
I firmly believe DoD will be the last "major" score in JW's film composing career. It's clear that TROS nearly wrecked him, and DoD was physically taxing on him too, right? In this age where picture lock doesn't occur until 10 minutes before the film's world premiere, composers who work like JW does are cogs that simply no longer fit inside the machine.
 
Like others have said, Spielberg is the only one who could coax JW into one more score. I'd personally love it if JW scored the rumored Napoleon miniseries Spielberg is supposedly producing (directing???) from Kubrick's abandoned script.

In addition, if they are really kicking off a new trilogy with this, it makes sense to put the whole thing into new competent hands (which seemingly don't exist).

He can do the main theme.

There will indeed be a podcast delving into this release. I don't want to spoil the details -- but in my humble opinion, this one is worth the upgrade! Neither score has ever sounded better, and the precious new minutes make the experience all the sweeter. Jim Titus's stunning art is the cherry on top. I can't imagine any fan of these essential scores will be displeased!

Same thoughts. It's also double the price having it shipped to Germany plus the risk of additional tax.
 
On the other hand, it's Christmas and quite an unexpected and rare release.
 
5 minutes later...
 
F*cking ordered!

https://quartetrecords.com/product/heidi-jane-eyre-2-cd/
 
Quartet Records, in collaboration with Capitol Records and Universal Music Entertainment, present a 2-CD set with a revised, remastered, slightly expanded edition of scores for two landmark made-for-television filmscomposed by John Williams (STAR WARS, E.T., JURASSIC PARK, HOOK) between 1968 and 1970.
 
Both of these adaptations of classic stories were presented by Omnibus Productions and directed by Delbert Mann, and both also earned Emmy® Awards for John Williams’ original music. Through these scores, the composer shaped the destinies of two classic literary characters as well as his own.
 
Every effort was made to locate surviving audio elements for both HEIDI and JANE EYRE. The discovery of the original ½″ four-track masters from HEIDI containing all of the cues selected for the 1968 narrated story album facilitated an attentive new mix of the music and a presentation in narrative order. The narration record was newly transferred by Universal Music Group and is presented after the musical score.
 
For JANE EYRE, a new high-resolution transfer of the 1971 ¼″ stereo album master was provided by Universal Music Group, with audio then fully restored. This is followed by four tracks of additional material, including a short segment of source music that is heard in the film but was not on the album. The other three tracks are alternate performances of three selections recorded for the album, “To Thornfield,” “Restoration” and the “Love Theme.” This material was sourced from two ½″ 3-track tapes that were discovered at Twentieth Century Fox in early 2019. While no additional score cues could be located, the recovery of any new material from this enduring and highly regarded John Williams work is most welcome.
 
The entire collection has been painstakingly remixed, restored, assembled and mastered by Mike Matessino, preserving all the freshness of the original recording. The package includes a 28-page full-color booklet with in-depth liner notes by film music writer John Takis and classy art direction by Jim Titus.
 
Disc 1. HEIDI
 
Original Motion Picture Score
1. Overture (Theme From ‘Heidi’) 2:21
2. Arrival In Dörfli 3:12
3. To The Alm 2:00
4. Goat’s Milk 1:36
5. At The Church :57
6. Meditation Rock 2:20
7. Dinner Table :47
8. Stealing Rolls 1:10
9. The Bedroom 1:55
10. Library Talk 1:24
11. Return To Dörfli 2:56
12. Montage 1:34
13. Waiting With Grandfather 1:35
14. Separation 3:28
15. The Farewell 3:52
16. Klara Walks 3:51
Total Score Presentation: 35:27
 
1968 Original Soundtrack With Dialogue and Narration
17. Main Title And Overture 2:21 (John Williams and Orchestra)
18. The Old Man And The Child 2:49 (Sir Michael Redgrave, Jennifer Edwards)
19. A Place Of My Own 3:35 (Sir Michael Redgrave, Jennifer Edwards)
20. The Alm 3:39 (Jennifer Edwards)
21. The Sleeping Child 2:22 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
22. Meditation 2:25 (Sir Michael Redgrave, Jennifer Edwards)
23. A Place Of My Own (Heidi’s Theme) 2:41 (Carri Chase, Vocal)
24. Shadows 3:51 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
25. Reflections 4:16 (Jennifer Edwards)
26. A New Dimension 1:56 (Sir Michael Redgrave, Jennifer Edwards)
27. The Nature Of Things 2:25 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
28. Love Theme From ‘Heidi’ 2:54 (John Williams and Orchestra)
29. The Miracle 2:55 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
30. Finale And End Title 1:05 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
Total Soundtrack Album: 39:20
 
 
Disc 2. JANE EYRE
 
Original Soundtrack Album
1. The Love Theme From ‘Jane Eyre’ 3:17
2. Overture (Main Title) 3:57
3. Lowood 2:28
4. To Thornfield 1:53
5. Festivity At Thornfield 2:11
6. Grace Poole And Mason’s Arrival 3:03
7. Meeting 3:09
8. Thwarted Wedding 2:40
9. Across The Moors 2:39
10. Restoration 3:58
11. Reunion (End Title) 4:25
Total Soundtrack Album: 34:06
 
Additional Music
12. More Festivity :44
13. To Thornfield (Alternate) 1:54
14. Restoration (Alternate) 3:56
15. The Love Theme From ‘Jane Eyre’ (Alternate) 3:19
Total Additional Music: 10:02

Quartet Announces:
 

 

 
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKS
 
HEIDI / JANE EYRE (2-CD)
 
Revised, Remastered and Slightly Expanded Scores
Music Composed and Conducted by John Williams
Produced, Restored and Mastered by Mike Matessino
Liner notes by John Takis
Limited edition of 2500 units
 
Release date: 12/12/2023
 
Quartet Records, in collaboration with Capitol Records and Universal Music Entertainment, present a 2-CD set with a revised, remastered, slightly expanded edition of scores for two landmark made-for-television films composed by John Williams (STAR WARS, E.T., JURASSIC PARK, HOOK) between 1968 and 1970.
 
Both of these adaptations of classic stories were presented by Omnibus Productions and directed by Delbert Mann, and both also earned Emmy® Awards for John Williams’ original music. Through these scores, the composer shaped the destinies of two classic literary characters as well as his own.
Every effort was made to locate surviving audio elements for both HEIDI and JANE EYRE. The discovery of the original ½″ four-track masters from HEIDI containing all of the cues selected for the 1968 narrated story album facilitated an attentive new mix of the music and a presentation in narrative order. The narration record was newly transferred by Universal Music Group and is presented after the musical score.
 
For JANE EYRE, a new high-resolution transfer of the 1971 ¼″ stereo album master was provided by Universal Music Group, with audio then fully restored. This is followed by four tracks of additional material, including a short segment of source music that is heard in the film but was not on the album. The other three tracks are alternate performances of three selections recorded for the album, “To Thornfield,” “Restoration” and the “Love Theme.” This material was sourced from two ½″ 3-track tapes that were discovered at Twentieth Century Fox in early 2019. While no additional score cues could be located, the recovery of any new material from this enduring and highly regarded John Williams work is most welcome.
 
The entire collection has been painstakingly remixed, restored, assembled and mastered by Mike Matessino, preserving all the freshness of the original recording. The package includes a 28-page full-color booklet with in-depth liner notes by film music writer John Takis and classy art direction by Jim Titus.
 
Tracklist Disc 1. HEIDI
Original Motion Picture Score
1. Overture (Theme From ‘Heidi’) 2:21
2. Arrival In Dörfli 3:12
3. To The Alm 2:00
4. Goat’s Milk 1:36
5. At The Church :57
6. Meditation Rock 2:20
7. Dinner Table :47
8. Stealing Rolls 1:10
9. The Bedroom 1:55
10. Library Talk 1:24
11. Return To Dörfli 2:56
12. Montage 1:34
13. Waiting With Grandfather 1:35
14. Separation 3:28
15. The Farewell 3:52
16. Klara Walks 3:51
 
Total Score Presentation: 35:27
 
1968 Original Soundtrack With Dialogue and Narration
 
17. Main Title And Overture 2:21 (John Williams and Orchestra)
18. The Old Man And The Child 2:49 (Sir Michael Redgrave, Jennifer Edwards)
19. A Place Of My Own 3:35 (Sir Michael Redgrave, Jennifer Edwards)
20. The Alm 3:39 (Jennifer Edwards)
21. The Sleeping Child 2:22 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
22. Meditation 2:25 (Sir Michael Redgrave, Jennifer Edwards)
23. A Place Of My Own (Heidi’s Theme) 2:41 (Carri Chase, Vocal)
24. Shadows 3:51 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
25. Reflections 4:16 (Jennifer Edwards)
26. A New Dimension 1:56 (Sir Michael Redgrave, Jennifer Edwards)
27. The Nature Of Things 2:25 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
28. Love Theme From ‘Heidi’ 2:54 (John Williams and Orchestra)
29. The Miracle 2:55 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
30. Finale And End Title 1:05 (Sir Michael Redgrave)
 
Total Soundtrack Album: 39:20
 
Disc 2. JANE EYRE
 
Original Soundtrack Album
1. The Love Theme From ‘Jane Eyre’ 3:17
2. Overture (Main Title) 3:57
3. Lowood 2:28
4. To Thornfield 1:53
5. Festivity At Thornfield 2:11
6. Grace Poole And Mason’s Arrival 3:03
7. Meeting 3:09
8. Thwarted Wedding 2:40
9. Across The Moors 2:39
10. Restoration 3:58
11. Reunion (End Title) 4:25
 
Total Soundtrack Album: 34:06
 
Additional Music
 
12. More Festivity :44
13. To Thornfield (Alternate) 1:54
14. Restoration (Alternate) 3:56
15. The Love Theme From ‘Jane Eyre’ (Alternate) 3:19
Total Additional Music: 10:02
https://quartetrecords.com/product/heidi-jane-eyre-2-cd/
 
 

The better question is how long until the Rey movie is cancelled?

If he still enjoys it and thinks it's worth doing, who cares about us? Why would he have any awareness of what we're saying? In general I think the Dial of Destiny score was perfectly well-received by fans and critics and there's a lot in there any film composer would kill to have written. I'd slap him right across his beautiful face if he's not proud of this score. 
 
I'm only skeptical that he would feel any further urgency to be involved in the ongoing revival of these franchises. The Star Wars sequel trilogy and Dial of Destiny were punctuation marks, Galaxy's Edge was a special event, and Obi-Wan and Han Solo were old friends who didn't have their own pieces.
 
If they butter him up enough and he can justify it creatively or sentimentally because it's his gal pal, he might write something for this. Otherwise I think that kid Steven is his only great love remaining in film. 

Looking at how much criticism Williams earned even here amoung hardcore fans here on the forum for his Dial of Destiny score, I would in his position say "Fuck Off!" being asked to contribute music to the new movie. Spending all the effort for just being told by fans, that his work is just not as good as it used to be, is not worth it.