[SW Prequels vs Hobbit trilogy (scores AND films)]

Unsurprisingly, I prefer all of JW's prequel scores to Shore's Hobbit scores. Shore's LOTR scores are a unique achievement in film scoring and are pound for pound better than the OG SW trilogy scores, imo.

 

But the Hobbit scores are kind of bland while the prequel scores are all kinds of exciting.

[Williams nominated for two 2024 Grammys - wins Best Instrumental Composition for "Helena's Theme"]

I could see JW winning best instrumental composition for Helena's Theme, but not for original score.

[Godzilla Minus One soundtrack (Naoki Satō, 2023)]

On 04/11/2023 at 1:37 AM, Giftheck said:

The soundtrack is now up on Spotify

 

 

NGL, I have listened to it, and there's some nice pieces, but I definitely remembered more of Shin Godzilla's soundtrack the first time round. Elegy gives me quite strong Adagio For Strings vibes. Divine is the music used in the trailers.

 

Thanks for the heads up! I'm listening to it now.

 

Edit: Finished listening to the score. It is good. Very heavy and dramatic. A bit more Inception style sounds than melody driven. Many tracks are very similar to each other. Not nearly as good as Shin Godzilla, but a fitting Godzilla score.

[Vocal versions/covers of themes (not lyrical)]

I literally never knew this was a thing. Weird. I'll give them all a listen though.

[Godzilla Minus One soundtrack (Naoki Satō, 2023)]

Shin Godzilla's OST was a real banger. My favorite Godzilla score in years. This sounds interesting so far but not sure it can match Sagisu's level of operatic epicness.

[AI Stored Memories and Monica's theme]

I love that drum beat. It adds a real resonance to the music. Hits me in the feels.

[Last Night I dreamed about John Williams...]

1 hour ago, Bespin said:

Sorry, but last night I dreamed about James Newton Howard.

 

For real.

 

I'm ready to face excommunication.

GET OUT!

[Favorite Star Wars finale and end credits music?]

I'm listening to the original Star Wars The Throne Room and End Credits and even with the sweeping heights of ESB's pre-credits finale music, I think ANH's is best. To get JW's Pomp and Circumstance is just so much fun!

[THE LOST WORLD (1997) - 2023 2-CD expanded reissue from La-La Land Records now available!]

This re-release prompted me to visit the 2016 set. The action music in TLW is top tier JW action music. Everything on the island and the entire San Diego finale. Just JW during on all cylinders and a great sound mix with plenty of reverb and great clarity. TLW has such a rich and deep sound.

[Favorite Star Wars finale and end credits music?]

Fun to see this topic bumped! Concerning the end credits to TROS, I think my opinion has hardened over time. Initially I really enjoyed it, but now it all feels a little jumbled and clunky in several places. I'm contrast, my love for the ROTS end credits has only grown. Such a sweeping rendition of Leia's theme with a seamless transition into BOTH and the Throne Room concert version as a surprise gift, all performed by the LSO. SW music lmost doesn't get better than that.

[Poll: How would you rate Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Film & Score)]

The film is pretty meh. Slower than I expected and quite clunky. The score is great, thematically rich, full of wonderful JW flourishes. The biggest letdown in the score is the action music. There is some fun action comedy music, but there's no kickass, blood pumping JW Indy action music aside from the reused greatest hits from the opening sequence.

[The Joe Hisaishi Thread]

The score features several short, repeated rhythmic figures played on strings that remind me of one of the motifs from The Post by JW. There's also this piercing sound repeated early in the score. Curious to see what that scores in the film.

[The Joe Hisaishi Thread]

I've been listening to this soundtrack more and it is an interesting experience. The music is not as lyrical as past Ghibli works. The main theme is fairly slow, restrained, and contemplative. The string and chorus work reminds me of John Adams. There are some passages that call to mind Steve Reich as well. This isn't a Ghibli soundtrack I can just put on and listen from start to finish like Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away or others. The music is much simpler, almost stark, and far less humable. I'm eager to see the film and make more sense of this score.

[The Joe Hisaishi Thread]

So far the score for How Do You Live? is not as lyrical as his past Studio Ghibli work, and instead is more contemplative and quiet. The lightness of the orchestration reminds me of score for Kikujiro.

[The Joe Hisaishi Thread]

Two tracks are on YouTube here:

 

 

 

 

 

[New Forbes interview with Mike Matessino about John Williams' career]

The article is very short and just seems to end abruptly. Feels like 1/3rd of a decent interview about JW. Thankfully Mike has shared a lot more in other interviews over the years, especially with the fabulous Legacy of John Williams podcast. This interview is like half an appetizer.

["John Williams in His Adventure on Earth" - Biography by Tim Greiving]

This could be good if JW really opened up in his conversations with the author. I have noticed that JW has been a little more expansive in his comments in recent interviews.

[Last Night I dreamed about John Williams...]

6 hours ago, ThePenitentMan1 said:

 

How much of the Main Title did you manage to record?  To the end of the crawl, to the Star Destroyer Flyover, or was it the full concert arrangement with the End Title at the end?

We didn't get very far, but if you're curious, it sounded a bit like this:

 

 

[Last Night I dreamed about John Williams...]

Last night I dreamed I was JW but retiring as a high school music teacher. My last class was making a recording of the Star Wars main title performed by a high school music class with recorders, kazoos, and other poorly performed instruments. James Mangold stopped by to give me a cassette tape recording of the DoD scoring sessions...

[John Williams & Gustavo Dudamel conduct the LA Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, July 7-9 2023]

4 minutes ago, Tom said:

Olympic Spirit or Call of the Champions?  If the latter, how was it live with choir?  

 

Did Williams say anything memorable?  

Sharing some post-concert impressions, including responding to your questions:

 

I feel like the program really hit its stride with Call of the Champions (edited my post above). The footage from the Olympics was synced really well to the music. Some great editing by someone. The live choir made quite an impact. There was a children's choir and an adult choir from a local university. The fullness of the choir was especially impressive during Dry Your Tears, Afrika. I thought the choir sounded better during Dry Your Tears, Afrika than during Duel of the Fates where their voices got drowned out a bit by the orchestra. I have really grown to love the former piece since JW re-recorded it for the latest Spielberg collaboration album. Hearing Scene D'amour from Vertigo was an unexpected treat. I love that score and the music played live really captured the cyclical, hypnotic nature of the piece.

 

The Superman March was performed to footage and stills of JW including childhood photos and footage from his recent European concerts. Again, well edited and very fun.

 

Throughout the night the strings were lush and beautiful, the horns had a fullness to them, and the woodwinds shined every opportunity they got. The principal oboe, clarinet, and flute came through with beautiful clarity and tenderness. The trumpets and trombones, unfortunately, sounded distant and thin. During the big moments of the Jurassic Park theme, Raider's March, and Asteroid Field, they lacked the punchiness and strength you'd expect.

 

The Golden Age quality of Helena's theme was wonderful, and the soloist for Schindler's List left me feeling emotional. Despite the brass section lacking in general, Throne Room and Finale was still a ton of fun. I was glad to hear the Force theme tonight. The ending fanfare of ET was probably the best the brass sounded all night. 

 

There were a couple obvious flubs. Once the woodwinds entered really harshly during I think the Jurassic Park theme and it was momentarily grating on the ears. The principal horn player flubbed near the start of Princess Leia's theme and I think in the middle of the Raider's March someone knocked something over near a mic. I heard a sharp metallic sound of something hitting the floor.

 

Minor quibbles aside, it was an incredible experience. There were so many moments, like the end of Dry Your Tears, Afrika, the big crescendo in Princess Leia's theme, and others where the sound of the orchestra filled my entire body and gave me chills. At the same time, the solo passages for violin, clarinet, oboe, and flute were achingly beautiful. The guy sitting next to us who sees JW annually at the Hollywood Bowl said he thought this was one of JW's best concerts at the Bowl. After the concert, I asked if he was a member here (because he was a total JE nerd!) but he said he was not on this forum.

 

The most memorable thing JW said was right before the 2nd encore, after he had already returned to the podium, picked up his baton, and the orchestra was about to start, he suddenly remembered to pick up the mic and quickly said, "ET!" to introduce the piece. It made me and many others laugh out loud.

[Which of Williams themes would deserve an own Theme Suite (but hasn't yet)]

As everyone has already said, the Force theme should have a concert arrangement by now. The closest thing we have is Throne Room and finale from ANH where we get Ben's theme first in a powerful march and then in a very concert-like performance. Those two parts could serve as building blocks of a proper concert arrangement or fan edit.

[John Williams & Gustavo Dudamel conduct the LA Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, July 7-9 2023]

I was there tonight! Tonight, entirely thanks to my girlfriend, we saw John Williams for the first time live in concert with the LA Philharmonic conducting some of his best music. The experience was incredible and better than I could have dreamed. What a show and what a set!

 

The first half was conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. He conducted:

 

1. Cowboy's theme by John Williams

2. Salute to Hollywood

3. Love Scene from Vertigo by Bernard Hermann

4. Call of the Champions by John Williams 

5. Dry Your Tears, Africa

6. Duel of the Fates

7. Love theme from Superman

8. Superman March

 

Then intermission 

 

John Williams conducted the 2nd half. He conducted:

1. Adventures of Mutt

2. Helena's Theme

3. Raider's March

4. Jurassic Park Theme

5. Schindler's List

6. Asteroid Field

7. Leia's Theme

8. Throne Room and Finale

 

Then he played 3 encores:

 

1. Yoda's Theme

2. ET

3. Imperial March

 

It was incredible! I did not expect 3 encores! I'll post impressions later.

 

One highlight: during the Imperial March, Gustavo Dudamel came back out with a red lightsaber and JW invited him onto the podium. Then JW stepped down, picked up a blue lightsaber and pretended to have a duel with Gustavo! They finished by co-conducting with red and blue lightsabers in hand. It was hilarious. JW had great energy all night.

[Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Score in the film) - SPOILERS ALLOWED!]

3 hours ago, lairdo said:

The end suite - I wish we had all the pieces. I know it’s basically the back half of NYC + Helena’s Theme + Prologue but I still felt something was else was in there. Could be wrong. I am ok with the way it ends sentimentally and softly. 

 

I really dislike how the end credits music is split up on the OST. Even reordering them back into place, I find the suite lacking compared to TLC or recent JW end credit highlights like TFA. And we don't hear any interesting permutations of Indy's theme like we got in KOTCS.

[Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney Records Original Soundtrack Album) - NO FILM SPOILERS!]

After having listened to the OST several times through but not yet having seen the film (watching tomorrow), I'd like to share overall impressions:

 

- Helena's theme is beautiful and works as a flowing golden age heroine theme and works well in more of an action mode.

 

- the bad guy themes are appropriately fun and brassy.

 

- Indy's theme is used way too sparingly. It's almost jarring when it gets a big presentation in New York, 1969.

 

- the OST lacks an emotional heart, something like the father and son theme in TLC or maybe even just more of Indy's theme played in that guise like it does in To Morocco. 

 

- And most unfortunately, the action music lacks the kick-ass tenacity that runs through the best Indy action music. There is no bad-ass, I want to listen to it on repeat action music on this OST. 

[Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney Records Original Soundtrack Album) - NO FILM SPOILERS!]

The end credits being chopped up and moved around does not help the album flow or have a sense of conclusion at all.