Ray Barnsbury

Yuppers.

I think the main theme is a tad overused and without enough variation. But the score is definitely a magical, Christmasy one, with several wonderful themes. I especially like the mystical "Seeing is Believing," and "Spirit of the Season" is a terrific song. Even the Groban song is nice. Indeed. I only have the OST, but I love the score. The film is also fantastic. The film creeps me out a little with those weird kids. I never saw it in 3D though, so maybe that would enhance the experience.

Here are some more "vintage" (read: mid to late eighties) Christmas commercials I have fond memories of. I think they're less creepy than figure skating Ronald

I'm getting to it!!

I doubt that Williams consciously wrote the (B) theme to represent all that, but I do like it quite a bit.

I think the main theme is a tad overused and without enough variation. But the score is definitely a magical, Christmasy one, with several wonderful themes. I especially like the mystical "Seeing is Believing," and "Spirit of the Season" is a terrific song. Even the Groban song is nice.

Aww, I remember that McDonald's commercial from way back when. Very nostalgic...you whipper snappers just don't understand!

Ah, I forgot to add that to the Christmas list. Hope to hear your take on it...I assume you got the standard edition, rather than shelling out for the sweet-looking (but pricey) Collector's Edition?

Same with the band I'm playing in (you're not in Michigan, are you? )! "A Christmas Festival" is definitely a wonderful medley. I first heard it on Williams' Joy to the World album with the Pops, which includes a chorus. It's nice to have Fiedler's instrumental-only version too though - I love the organ that comes in right at the end.

RotS is a terrible film IMO. I can't decide which is worse though, between that and AotC...probably the latter.

It's neat how he weaves "modern" carols into the cues. Yes - I know he makes use of "Veni, Veni Emmanuel" and "Silent Night" obviously, along with "Carol of the Bells." Are there any more you know of?

Yikes....looks like FSM is where humor goes to die.

Like a lot of people apparently, I enjoy the piece on its own, but don't really like how it works in the film.

Reading back on this thread, I was freaking Ray "Linus" Barnsbury last year. Guess the season'll do that to you! Is it very Christmasy? I recently got Mychael Danna's The Nativity Story, which is quite nice and a good break from the bouncy Christmas pop songs I hear on the radio all day.

That'd be fun.

Yeah, I love watching him pants Luke on Dagobah.

But with more awesome.

But I've never seen him perform the Christmas songs....

Wow...we really need to start a holiday donation fund for your score collection.

I have tears in my eyes....that was so gorgeous!

It was the Austin Wind Symphony again, wasn't it? I swear, every concert of theirs I hear about makes me more and more sick about the fact that I live thousands of miles away and will probably never get the chance to see or play with them! But still, glad to hear you Texans are enjoying them

I like "Parade of the Ewoks," but "Short Rounds Theme" wins easily. It becomes absolutely epic throughout the course of the score, far outweighing the little pipsqueak it was written for.

It vaguely seems like we've done this before, but I couldn't find a thread or poll about it from the last several years, so here we go. Which of Williams' original songs from the Home Alone scores is your favorite? The warm, sentimental "Somewhere in My Memory," the reverent, mysterious "Star of Bethlehem," the melancholy "Christmas Star," or the jubilant "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas"? I think all are wonderful, both in song and orchestral form. My favorite used to be "Somewhere in My Memory," but over the past couple years I've begun to develop a greater appreciation for "Star of Bethlehem"; it has a very distinct sound, and is woven masterfully through both scores, while functioning just as well as a straightforward carol (this thread has a nice discussion of it). I also think "Christmas Star" is pretty unique, using interesting chords and harmonies that I don't seem to hear often. So, what are everyone's favorites?

It probably is. But it does feature the radiant Jane Seymour (aka "Solitaire" for Bond nerds), so it's not all bad.

If you know anyone with a camcorder or webcam you should be all set. I think this is a cool idea, and the piece sounds great. I don't know if I'll actually submit an audition video, as I'm sure plenty of professionals will be doing so, but being part of the "collaborative virtual performance" would definitely be fun.