Remco

You’re really exagerrating my ‘defense’ though. I only think that this particular criticism on the re-use of concert versions - since that seems to be a serious reason people enjoy this score less, of consider it the worst SW score..?! - is too far-fetched, and I explained why.

Yeah, it is true that it is different from Williams’ typical approach. All I wanted to say is that he probably doesn’t have people like us, a very small percentage of fans, in his mind when writing a score and making these choices. Personally I think that’s good to keep in mind when criticizing a huge score like this. :-)

Also I have to say that, for instance, the wish for a different take on Leia’s theme for that scene could only come from spoiled soundtrack-fans (my apologies). I mean, it’s great music, works perfectly for the scene so I don’t see the director or composer thinking ‘oh, wait, 0,01% of the moviegoers are not going to be happy with this! Let me write a new version for them, even though I still have to write some 100+ minutes of original music more but that can wait!’

I have to disagree. Luke and Leia doesn’t resemble the concert version at all, Leia’s theme properly connects with the stuff before and the force theme statement afterwards, and why would anyone really have an issue with the piccolo solo at the beginning? And besides, all of the music was properly re-recorded, not tracked by an editor or something. I just don’t see how all of this is an issue when TLJ certainly isn’t the only SW film that re-uses a couple of minutes of music here and there.

I agree with you that this stretch of music is absolutely incredible, but to its disadvantage I find it stylistically disconnected to the music of the rest of the saga and I find the rest of the score not particulary inspired. And even that final act has some re-used or tracked music. Still, it’s heart-breaking music.

I find the re-use of a few fragments of concert suites (which most people watching the movie will never even hear!!) in such a big score less of a problem than for instance, re-using the Vader stuff from ESB, Duel of the Fates and the TPM funeral music after each other. Although it still works amazingly in the flow of the movie/soundtrack. By the way, I really wonder: does the way TLJ’s music itself is mixed have an impact on the way how it sounds in the actual movie? Maybe somebody who’s more knowledgable about this kind of stuff can tell? You know, TLJ sounds like there’s more ‘space’ in the recording and I wonder if that has a direct effect on how it’s perceived in the movie mix itself. I’m dreading JJ’s team’s mixing also, but I think they won’t go for TFA’s dry mix again for such an epic conclusion.

I think it is as interesting, or even more so than at least AotC, RotS and perhaps even RotJ. Which is more than fine for me. All I’m saying it makes me excited for December 20.

Read my post again, new themes are my wish for TROS. But TLJ did bring 2 hours and 20 minutes of great symphonic music to the table!

I’m sure she can :-)

Mutter is free, they’re playing pieces from their album, and she has a concert with the VPO earlier that month.... We’ll have to wait until official confirmation but I expect her to be there!

It did have, in my opinion. And I hope that with this one, the film will allow JW to write more original thematic material.

It looks like Anne-Sophie Mutter will be the soloist in the first half...?

Yeah it’s the thing that annoys me the most, these sampled trumpets going to a high E all the time while you can never write like that.

Yeah you're totally right @Dixon Hill. But it does spread to music world in generally the same way, where it then turns into snobbery. And it really sucks IMO.

No, no, this isn't said by people who actually examine the scores closely so they could form an opinion - it's just random rumors that stir up, I think, just to kind of undermine the great musicianship that he has. Because he's, well a commercial film guy, right?

This makes me really angry though. The sentiment that Williams doesn't really do anything anymore is something that is echoed even amongst members of professional orchestras and such. How these rumors start, I have no idea.

At least it means another gigantic JW score.

https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/22/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-running-time-how-long-length 3 mins longer than TLJ! I like the sound of that.

I felt there was nothing new there. And awful music, ugh.

Your stance on this is well-known to me by now, but I hope you do realize it comes off a bit weird on a forum where (I think) the majority of people find enjoyment in listening to the music outside of the movies. But I do wonder, when you listen to the Star Wars scores outside of the movies (if you do that at all!), do you find your enjoyment of the music to be hindered by the fact you find the stories unnecessary?

Where is this story from? Curious to hear. If there’s a big name doing it, it would be Nelsons or Dudamel, but my bet is on a filmmusic specialist like David Newman or Dirk Brossé.

I feel really bad for anyone who considers himself ‘traumatized’ by any Star Wars film, my god.

What’s the source of all the reshoot rumors? I heard about a few beginning of september, but are there reports of more? Btw, the fact they’re recording the end credits now makes me think they’re done with recording.

I think with ROTS it was also a matter of JW not having a lot of time and 2005 being very busy for him. Now he’s had all the time to write something truly new.

I wish the sketches for this would’ve leaked. That would make things clear forever.