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This is my first attempt at creating a "concert suite" of "Kylo Ren's Theme" which I pieced together from moments in the score. More work will need to be done, but here is is for now.31Kylo Ren's Theme.mp3

F.A.Q.: FYC? What's that stand for? For Your Consideration. Basically, Disney setup a website where eligible voters for the various awards that are given out around the end of the year could learn where they could attend a screening of their films; See which awards the films were pushing for, and listen to selections of the score for Best Score nominations. For some films, the music on FYC websites is the same as their OST programs; for others it was different! So the music here is different than the album? Yes! Some tracks are almost the same, but the structure of the FYC program is fundamentally different; It is a selection of music from the movie exactly as it appears in the final cut of the film, even if the music used in the film was edited from Williams' original intentions. This could mean that a track might contain an Insert Williams later wrote, where the OST presented his original version; or a track might contain less music than its OST counterpart of the scene was re-edited after the recording of the music, or even a track might contain some music artificially looped or stretched if a scene got lengethened after scoring. The FYC always reflects these non-intended conforms to final picture from start to finish. Also, the FYC presentation seems to favor cues featuring original music over ones featuring a lot of returning themes, at least until the end. So does the FYC contain the complete score? No; The film has about 101 minutes of music in it. The FYC is only 68 minutes long. Which tracks contain music that wasn't on the OST? Well that's a complicated question. Sometimes an ENTIRE track is made up of music not on the OST (Finn's Trek, The Resistance, The Bombing Run). Sometimes an FYC track contains the full, original cues that Williams chose to microedit on the OST (the Attack on the Jakku Village tracks, the End Credits). Sometimes the FYC tracks contain a cue that wasn't on the OST at all, joined up with a cue that was (On The Inside, The Ways of the Force). And sometimes comparing the FYC to OST version of a track is confusing and takes some time to unravel every last difference (I Can Fly Anything, Follow Me and The Falcon). Where can I find this FYC? http://www.waltdisneystudiosawards.com/#/star-wars/music I don't see a download link there; How do I download the files from Disney's site? UPDATE: Disney has removed the files from their server as of September 2016. Got a track list handy so I can re-name and properly tag my files? 01 The Attack on the Jakku Village Part 1 (5:27) 02 The Attack on the Jakku Village Part 2 (1:53) 03 The Scavenger (1:52) 04 Lunchtime (1:12) 05 I Can Fly Anything (4:09) 06 Finn’s Trek (1:35) 07 Follow Me and The Falcon (7:09) 08 The Rathtars (1:19) 09 Snoke (2:07) 10 You Got A Name? (1:32) 11 I’m No Hero (1:06) 12 The Starkiller (1:52) 13 Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle (2:15) 14 The Resistance (1:35) 15 The Abduction (1:35) 16 Finn and Poe, United (2:01) 17 The Bombing Run (2:07) 18 On the Inside (2:54) 19 Torn Apart (4:24) 20 The Ways of the Force (3:58) 21 The Journey Home (2:18) 22 Farewell and The Trip (3:49) 23 The Jedi Steps and Finale (9:58) TOTAL TIME - 1:08:07 That's a really low bitrate; Is there any chance its available uncompressed somewhere? Disney should be mailing out pressed physical CDs with the FYC program to Academy music department voters sometime soon. Usually not long after that, they begin turning up on ebay, and not long after that, lossless rips appear online. NOTE: It is against the board's rules to ask for a lossless rip in the public forum. Use the PM System or go to other websites for that discussion! Posts asking for illegal downloads will be deleted! OK, so apart from the different EDITS and LOW COMPRESSION of the FYC on the website, is the MIX of the music any different? Yes! The FYC seems to be the mix as made on the recording stage to be put into the film, and sounds GREAT! The OST has had some reverb and other tinkering done to it (nothing out of the ordinary), as well as having less dynamic range and overall being louder. Essentially, it is up to your own personal preference which mix you like better! So when I begin editing my own custom expanded edit, should I favor the OST or FYC? That's up to your personal preference. The FYC features the film mix, but isn't available in lossless. The OST is uncompressed, but has been mastered for home listening. The OST has edits Williams made for listening experience, while the FYC has edits made to conform to a changing cut of the film. In short: Everyone will follow a different paradigm and everyone's fan edit will be different. Do whatever makes you happiest! Anything else? Enjoy the music! Initial, simple breakdown (Does not cover every minor bit of different music, just the significant portions): FYC 01 The Attack on the Jakku Village Part 1 (5:27) [all] (5:27) = OST 01 [1:26-5:03] (3:37) Main Title and The Attack on the Jakku Village FYC 02 The Attack on the Jakku Village Part 2 (1:53) [all] (1:53) = OST 01 [5:03-end] (1:22) Main Title and The Attack on the Jakku Village FYC 03 The Scavenger (1:52) [all] (1:52) = OST 02 [0:36-2:21] The Scavenger FYC 04 Lunchtime (1:12) [all] (1:12) = OST02 [2:21-end] The Scavenger FYC 05 I Can Fly Anything (4:09) [0:00-1:00] (1:00) = Unreleased [1:00-end] (3:09) = OST 05 [0:30-end] (2:24) I Can Fly Anything FYC 06 Finn’s Trek (1:35) [all] (1:35) = Unreleased FYC 07 Follow Me and The Falcon (7:09) [0:00-3:09] (3:09) = OST 05 Follow Me (2:54) [3:09-end] (4:00) = OST 07 The Falcon (3:32) FYC 08 The Rathtars (1:19) [all] (1:19) = OST 09 [1:22-2:13] The Rathtars! FYC 09 Snoke (2:07) [0:00-1:02] = OST 17 Snoke [0:00-1:02] [1:02-end] (1:05) = Unreleased FYC 10 You Got A Name? (1:32) [0:00-0:45] (0:45) = Unreleased [0:45-end] (0:47) = OST 10 [1:17-end] (0:51) Finn's Confession FYC 11 I’m No Hero (1:06) [all] (1:06) = OST 10 [0:00-0:52] (0:52) Finn's Confession FYC 12 The Starkiller (1:52) [all] (1:52) = OST 12 The Starkiller (1:51) FYC 13 Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle (2:15) [all] (2:15) = OST 13 Kylo Ren Arrives At The Battle (2:01) FYC 14 The Resistance (1:35) [all] (1:35) = Unreleased FYC 15 The Abduction (1:35) [all] (1:35) = OST 14 [0:56-end] (1:29) The Abduction FYC 16 Finn and Poe, United (2:01) [all] (2:01) = OST 15 [1:13-2:52] (1:39) Han and Leia FYC 17 The Bombing Run (2:07) [all] (2:07) = Unreleased FYC 18 On the Inside (2:54) [0:00-0:48] (0:48) = Unreleased [0:48-end] (2:06) = OST 18 [0:03-end] (2:02) On The Inside FYC 19 Torn Apart (4:24) [all] (4:24) = OST 19 Torn Apart (4:19) FYC 20 The Ways of the Force (3:58) [0:00-1:20] (1:20) = Unreleased [1:20-end] (2:38) = OST 20 [0:45-end] (2:20) The Ways Of The Force FYC 21 The Journey Home (2:18) [all] (2:18) = OST 22 [0:00-2:05] (2:05) Farewell and The Trip FYC 22 Farewell and The Trip (3:49) [0:00-1:10] = OST 04 [0:00-1:10] (1:10) Rey Meets BB-8 [1:10-end] (2:39) = OST 22 [2:13-end] (2:42) Farewell and The Trip FYC 23 The Jedi Steps and Finale (9:58) [0:00-6:53] (6:54) = OST 23 [0:00-6:59] (6:59) The Jedi Steps and Finale [6:53-8:05] (1:12) = OST 16 [tbd-tbd] (tbd) March of the Resistance [8:05-end] (1:53) = OST 23 [6:59-end] (1:53) The Jedi Steps and Finale So roughly 15 1/2 minutes of unreleased music! Add that to the OST and roughly 92 1/2 minutes of the score has been released so far! Simple FYC/OST Combo Playlist, no Editing Required OST 06 Rey's Theme (3:11) OST 16 March of the Resistance (2:35) OST 21 Scherzo for X-Wings (2:32) FYC 01 The Attack on the Jakku Village Part 1 (5:27) FYC 02 The Attack on the Jakku Village Part 2 (1:53) OST 02 The Scavenger (3:39) OST 04 Rey Meets BB-8 (1:31) FYC 05 I Can Fly Anything (4:09) FYC 06 Finn’s Trek (1:35) FYC 07 Follow Me and The Falcon (7:09) OST 08 That Girl with the Staff (1:58) OST 09 The Rathtars! (4:05) FYC 09 Snoke (2:07) FYC 10 You Got A Name? (1:32) FYC 11 I'm No Hero (1:06) OST 11 Maz's Counsel (3:07) FYC 12 The Starkiller (1:52) FYC 13 Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle (2:15) FYC 14 The Resistance (1:35) OST 14 The Abduction (2:25) OST 15 Han and Leia (4:41) OST 17 Snoke (2:03) FYC 17 The Bombing Run (2:07) FYC 18 On The Inside (2:54) FYC 19 Torn Apart (4:24) OST 20 The Ways of the Force (3:15) OST 22 Farewell And The Trip (4:55) FYC 23 The Jedi Steps and Finale (9:58) TOTAL TIME - 1:30:00 Some notes: I like the concert arrangements first but you could certainly put them after instead Obviously the main title isn't here, but I don't mind. I've been listening to that piece for 20 years and don't need to hear it everytime I listen to this score. Obviously if you can't live without it, you can use OST track 1 instead of FYC tracks 1 and 2. For "The Way of the Force", I went with the OST version to get the great music for Rey getting the saber. The FYC version replaces that bit with the music for the X-Wings attack, which is great but since we have similar music in the Sherzo track it was easy to keep the OST version. For "The Starkiller", and "Torn Apart" you could swap in the OST version if you prefer. Torn Apart has a softer ending on album than the FYC version OST Track 10 Finn's Confession can replace FYC tracks 10 and 11 if you prefer that album arrangement with the Arrival at Takadona music. Longer Chronological Edit of OST + FYC, In-Track Editing Required: THE SCORE OST 01A [0:00-1:26] (1:26) Main Title / FYC 01 The Attack on the Jakku Village Part 1 (5:27) FYC 02 The Attack on the Jakku Village Part 2 (1:53) OST 02 The Scavenger (3:39) FYC 05 I Can Fly Anything (4:09) FYC 06 Finn’s Trek (1:35) OST 08B [0:35-1:11] (0:36) "Stolen Jacket" FYC 07 Follow Me and The Falcon (7:09) OST 08A [0:00-0:35] "Finn, I'm Rey" OST 08C [1:11-end] "The Droid Stole A Freigher?" OST 09 The Rathtars! (4:05) FYC 09 Snoke (2:07) OST 10B [0:52-1:17] (0:25) "Arrival At Takodana" FYC 10 You Got A Name? (1:32) OST 04B [1:10-end] (0:21) "Informants" OST 11A [0:00-1:21] (1:21) "Maz Examines Finn" FYC 11 I’m No Hero (1:06) OST 11B [1:21-end] (1:46) "Maz and Rey" FYC 12 The Starkiller (1:52) FYC 13 Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle (2:15) or OST 13 if you prefer its version of Kylo's Theme in the middle FYC 14 The Resistance (1:35) OST 14 The Abduction (2:25) note that FYC 15 has an alternate ending if you prefer it OST 15 Han and Leia (4:41) OST 17B [1:02-end] (1:01) "Bring Her To Me" FYC 17 The Bombing Run (2:07) FYC 18 On The Inside (2:54) FYC 19 Torn Apart (4:24) OST 20A [0:00-0:45] (0:45) "Rey Gets The Lightsaber" / FYC 20 The Ways of the Force (3:58) FYC 21 The Journey Home (2:18) FYC 22 Farewell and The Trip (3:49) FYC 23 The Jedi Steps and Finale (9:58) ALBUM ARRANGEMENTS OST 06 Rey's Theme (3:11) OST 16 March of the Resistance (2:35) OST 21 Scherzo for X-Wings (2:32) Custom Cover Art: These are not made by me; I found them online. Click to embiggen! FYC / OST Comparison spreadsheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rDuRXT-67ETwF2cy4lNkgp5AV_QcIDivxUwCLtLOGfg/pubhtml Simple Comparison available now; Detailed Comparison is a Work In Progress. ALL UPDATES / CORRECTIONS WELCOME!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Original Main Post ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOLY CRAP!!!! FYC SITE IS LIVE WITH MUSIC NOT ON THE OST!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.waltdisneystudiosawards.com/#/star-wars/music

Hello folks, The roster is now official and includes a lengthy article(s) from the American Federation of Musicians (the musicians union)... http://afm47.org/overture/2016/01_Jan/aveWeb42/WebReader.html ‘STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS’ ORCHESTRA* Sony Streisand Scoring Stage, April – Nov. 2015 John Williams, composer and conductor William Ross, additional conducting Gustavo Dudamel, guest conductor CONTRACTOR Sandy DeCrescent VIOLIN I and II Roger Wilkie Julie Gigante Tamara Hatwan Roberto Cani Phillip Levy Lisa Sutton Bruce Dukov Katia Popov Eun-Mee Ahn Alyssa Park Helen Nightengale Sarah Thornblade Lisa Liu Darius Campo Shalini Vijayan Irina Voloshina Amy Hershberger Lorand Lokuszta Nina Evtuhov Maia Jasper Grace Oh Jackie Brand Serena McKinney Kevin Kumar Jessica Guideri Radu Pieptea Erik Arvinder Joel Pargman Rafael Rishik Sara Parkins Katie Sloan Natalie Leggett Kevin Connolly Carol Pool VIOLA Brian Dembow Shawn Mann Vicky Miskolczy Rob Brophy David Walther Matt Funes Alma Fernandez Andrew Duckles Thomas Diener Marlow Fisher Carolyn Riley Lauren Chipman Darrin McCann Mike Nowak Erik Rynearson Rodney Wirtz CELLO Steve Erdody Tim Landauer Armen Ksajikian Cecilia Tsan Robert De Maine Dennis Karmazyn John Walz Jacob Braun Kim Scholes Dane Little Laszlo Mezo Erika Duke Trevor Handy DOUBLE BASS Nico Abondolo Mike Valerio Drew Dembowski Steve Dress Ed Meares Chris Kollgaard Geoff Osika Oscar Hidalgo FLUTE Heather Clark Jenni Olson Geri Rotella OBOE Jessica Pearlman Fields Lara Wickes Leslie Reed Lelie Resnick CLARINET Don Foster Stuart Clark Gary Bovyer Ralph Williams BASSOON Ken Munday Rose Corrigan Damian Montano Samantha Duckworth Judy Farmer HORN Andrew Bain Dave Everson Steve Becknell Daniel Kelley Mark Adams Jenny Kim Dylan Hart Ben Jaber Teag Reeves TRUMPET Jon Lewis David Washburn Barry Perkins Daniel Rosenboom TROMBONE Bill Booth Alex Iles Phil Keen Bill Reichenbach Jim Miller Steve Holtman John Lofton TUBA Doug Tornquist Jim Self TIMPANI Don Williams PERCUSSION Alan Estes Jerry Williams Greg Goodall Peter Limonick Judy Chilnick Steve Schaeffer PIANO | KEYBOARD Randy Kerber Gloria Cheng Mike Lang Alan Steinberger Bryan Pezzone HARP JoAnn Turovsky Allison Allport

The Force Awakens by John Williams Complete Score Breakdown & Other Info by Jason LeBlanc I have no clue what any of Williams' original cue names are, so I made up my own names for all of them, usually just using a description of the scene or some dialogue from it rather than trying to imitate Williams' naming style. I'm sure I missed some things here and there so I welcome any at all questions and updates and corrections. Without further ado here we go! May 2020 update: We now know all of Williams' original cue titles. I will continue to edit this post with corrected info as I have time, and will put old, outdated info in spoiler-blocks until I have time to replace it with updated info. CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF OST: 01 Main Title And The Attack On The Jakku Village (6:25) 02 The Scavenger (3:39) 03 I Can Fly Anything (3:11) 08B "That Lady With The Stick" (0:35-1:05) 05 Follow Me (2:54) 07 The Falcon (3:32) 08A "What's Your Name?" (0:00-0:35) 08C "Kylo and His Sword" (1:11-end) 09 The Rathtars (4:05) 10B "Green Planet" (0:52-1:17) 10C "You Got A Name?" (1:17-end) 11A "Maz on the Table" (0:00-1:21) 10A "I Ran Into You" (0:00-0:52) 04B "I've Found The Droid" (1:10-end) 11B "I Have To Go Back" (1:21-end) 12 The Starkiller (1:51) 13 Kylo Ren Arrives At The Battle (2:01) 14 The Abduction (2:25) 15 Han And Leia (4:41) 17 Snoke (2:03) 18 On The Inside (2:05) 19 Torn Apart (4:19) 20 The Ways Of The Force (3:14) 22A "Light In The Snow and Flying Home" (0:00-2:05) 04A "Finding The Map" (0:00-1:10) 22B "The Complete Map (2:05-end) 23 The Jedi Steps And Finale (8:51) Concert Arrangements 06 Rey's Theme (3:11) 16 March Of The Resistance (2:35) 21 Scherzo For X-Wings (2:32) DETAILED OST BREAKDOWN: 1 Main Title And The Attack On The Jakku Village (6:25) 0:00-1:26 = 1M1 Main Title 1:26-1:44 = 1M1Av3 Starry Night 1:44-2:16 = 1M2A Fix 2:16-2:29 = 1M1Av3 Starry Night {continued} 2:29-2:59 = 1M2B 2:59-3:07 = 1M1Av3 Starry Night {continued} 3:07-3:27 = 1M3C I've Seen Too Much 3:27-4:07 = 1M3D The Attack on the Village 4:07-4:52 = 1M3BR The Attack on the Village 4:52-6:03 = 1M4R The Arrival of Kylo Ren 6:03-end = 1M4B Landing 2 The Scavenger (3:39) 0:00-0:54 = 1M5 Alt 2R The Scavenger 0:54-1:02 = 1M5 Alt 2 The Scavenger 1:02-2:21 = 1M5 Alt 2R The Scavenger {continued} 2:21-2:40 = 1M6 Alt R One Quarter Portion 2:40-end = 1M7 Lunchtime With Rey (Flute Version) 3 I Can Fly Anything (3:11) 0.00-0.57 = 2M14R I Can Fly Anything 0.57-end = 2M15R The First Escape 4 Rey Meets BB-8 (1:31) 0:00-1:10 = 8M72 Finding The Map 1:10-end = 4M37 I've Found The Droid 5 Follow Me (2:54) 0.00-1:07 = 2M18B Who's Luke Skywalker? 1:07-2:24 = 2M18CR Follow Me 2:24-2:36 = 2M18C Insert II 2:36-end = 2M18CR Follow Me {Continued} 6 Rey's Theme (3:11) 8M79 Rey's Theme 7 The Falcon (3:32) 3M20R The Falcon Still Flies! 8 That Girl With The Staff (1:58) 0:00-0:35 = 3M21R What's Your Name? 0:35-1:05 = 2M18A That Lady with the Stick 1:05-end = 3M22R Kylo And His Sword 9 The Rathtars (4:05) 0:00-1:01 = 3M24R Hiding Under the Grate 1:01-1:22 = 3M27 Rathtars Appear 1:22-2:47 = 3M28 The Rathtar Attack 2:47-end = 3M28AR Old Falcon To The Rescue 10 Finn's Confession (2:08) 0:00-0:52 = 4M36R I Ran Into You 0:52-1:17 = 4M32R Green Planet 1:17-end = 4M33R You Got A Name? 11 Maz's Counsel (3:07) 0:00-1:21 = 4M35R Maz on the Table 1:21-end = 4M39R I Have To Get Back 12 The Starkiller (1:51) 8M81 Sunbeam Strings 13 Kylo Ren Arrives At The Battle (2:01) 0:00-0:15 = 5M43R (Fix) Find Rey! 0:15-0:43 = 5M43A (Fix) Maz’s Treasure Chest 0:43-end = 5M44 Kylo Arrives at Battle 14 The Abduction (2:25) 0:00-0:56 = 5M46R Kylo Stalks Rey 0:56-1:18 = 5M48 We’ve Got What We Need 1:20-end = 5M49R The Abduction of Rey 15 Han And Leia (4:41) 0:00-1:12 = 6M50R Han & Leia Reunion 1:12-2:52 = 6M51R Finn and Poe, United 2:51-3:23 = 6M52 R2 In Hibernation 3:23-end = 6M53R Parental Discussion 16 March Of The Resistance (2:35) 8M77 The Resistance Theme 17 Snoke (2:03) 0:00-1:02 = 8M78 Snoke 1:02-end = 6M54AR Bring Her To Me 18 On The Inside (2:05) 0:00-0:45 = 7M62A On The Inside 0:45-0:54 = 7M62A Insert 0:54-end = 7M62A On The Inside {Continued} 19 Torn Apart (4:19) 0:00-2:26 = 7M65B Father and Son 2:26-2:32 = 7M65C Leia Fix 2.32-3.40 = 7M65 Father And Son 3.40-end = 7M66 The Control Room And Ren In The Forest 20 The Ways Of The Force (3:14) 0:00-0:12 = 7M67R It Is You 0:12-0:47 = 7M67BF Rey Catches Sword 0:47-end = 7M67A Rey vs. Ren 21 Scherzo For X-Wings (2:32) 8M80 Scherzo For X-Wings 22 Farewell And The Trip (4:55) 0:00-1:16 = 7M68A Light In The Snow and Flying Home 1:16-2:05 = 7M68 Flying Home 2:05-end = 8M73 The Complete Map 23 The Jedi Steps And Finale (8:51) 0:00-2:12 = 8M74 Climbing the Mountain 2:12-end = 8M75 Finale (11/11/15) QUICK FYC BREAKDOWN: Simple FYC/OST Combo Playlist, no Editing Required Longer Chronological Edit of OST + FYC, In-Track Editing Required: THE RAW NUMBERS: All comments welcome!

Someone on Reddit pointed this out: Thoughts? J.J. is known to be a huge Beastie Boys fan and has included at least one or two other references to them in the film.

World premiere of the score "The Force Awakens". Star Wars: The Force Awakens premieres in Japan. Several music from a sound track are played, but a performance music isn't announced until the day by regulation from Disney. 30&31 December 2015 Nishinomiya, Hyogo (Japan)  Silvester Pops Concert Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart Hyogo Performing Arts Center Venue: HPAC Grand Hall Curtain rises at: 15:00 （Doors open at: 14:00） Ticket prices: A 4,000Yen／B 3,000Yen／C 2,000Yen D 1,000Yen http://moviesinconcert.nl/index.php?page=view&id=13026 Message from Keith Lockhart. It is a great pleasure and honor for me to introduce music from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, to be performed in Hyogo PAC's Silvester Concert. I owe this opportunity to the generosity and cooperation of my longtime friend John Williams. As you may know, he was my predecessor as Conductor of the Boston Pops, and his music remains very important in our repertoire. This will be the world-premiere concert performance of the new score -- I hope you enjoy John's latest work, performed with a full-sized orchestra, live in concert! Keith Lockhart .

By golly...I feel like I'm about to vote YES! It's already shot up to the top ten of my iTunes play counts.

Hello everybody It's been a while since I've posted. If anyone remembers me, I did the Symphony for a Saga release years ago. (and while the purpose of my post isn't related to that I am currently working on my TESB v2.0 suite finally!) I am spending a lot of time online trying to learn what the different exclusive releases are for the TFA soundtrack. Apologies if this is not discussed elsewhere, but water all the different versions being released today? I know target has an exclusive "outer" cover Which I assume means just a slipcover. It looks like Walmart has some "free gifts" available if you purchase the score. What else is out there?

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-star-wars-force-awakens-music-score-john-williams-20151217-story.html What a sweet, amazing man he is.

Here is what I would have written for the plot of the Force Awakens - I would have had everything mostly the same up until they leave Jakku, then I would have them head straight for the Ileanium system or wherever they said the resistance was based. (They don't run into Han and Chewie) When they get there, they are reunited with Poe, who Finn thought was dead, and meet 3PO and R2. They learn that Leia was once with the resistance but she left to find Luke many years ago. She is a Jedi herself who trained with Luke and the other children after ROTJ. They then put the map together and learn where Luke is. What they didn't know was that they were being pursued by the first order when Ren detected the Falcon was on the move (because Ren found the Falcon a few years ago and put a tracking beacon on the ship because he thought it could lead him to Luke if Solo found it. Also Ren isn't Han and Leia's son). Ren tracks them to the resistance where the first order discover them and launch an attack. The first order cripple the resistance, and Akbar, leader of the resistance, tells them to leave quickly with the map and find Luke and maybe even Leia too as a result, who could stop Ren and the first order. Poe is involved in the defence of the resistance base and tells them if they make it to Luke, to meet at a secret resistance rondezvous point. They find and remove the tracking device and escape in the falcon just in time as the resistance base is overrun by the first order. There is no Starkiller base, no snoke as well, just General Hux is the leader of the first order and Ren is the darkside presence with them. At the end of the second act, they make it to Luke, ( He has his own lightsaber with him) who they discover blames himself for Ren's fall to the darkside because he should have seen the darkness within when training Ren. Luke also senses a power within Rey but doesn't tell her. They leave the first jedi temple on the falcon (Rey, Finn, BB8, Luke, R2 and 3PO). R2 gets jealous of 3PO talking to BB8 and they have a sort of lovers tiff for a bit of lighthearted humour and R2 and BB8 have a little scrap with their many accessories and gadgets. 3PO puts a stop to it. They head to the secret rondezvous point that Poe told them about. They get there and Poe isn't there, but some resistance are, who tell them the resistance main base has been destroyed and that only the forces at the rondezvous are left and a few smaller factions elsewhere. The third act sees Rey becoming interested in the force and she even moves something with the force slightly, but gets scared by it and stops, telling no one. Luke watches her with interest. Finn wants to go and find Poe, who he believes he owes a debt to after helping him escape the first order. Rey agrees they must search for survivors, but the resistance at the secret point tell them they have lost all communications with the resistance main base and they have heard from no one. They still refuse to not help and just leave anyone who might be captured. 3PO and R2 stay put and Rey, Finn Luke and BB8 head for the resistance base to search for survivors and discover if anyone has been captured. They arrive in the falcon and find it totally decimated. No first order ships are around. They land and look around the wreckage. They find no survivors. They hear an alarm from the falcon, a ship approaches. They rush back and find a first order destroyer has emerged. They attempt to escape, but are shot down and crash on the planet surface. They are brought aboard as prisoners to the destroyer, as is the falcon itself (luke doesn't fight back against their capture as he wants to get to Ren). They discover Akbar, a couple of senior officers of the resistance and Poe and a couple of pilots are prisoners also. Rey and Finn are escorted to a separate cell, but Phasma intercepts the troopers and tells them she will deal with Finn herself. She takes him and Rey is distressed, angry and shouts for him. The walls slightly shake around her in the corridor from her force anger, and Ren appears, and tells her to come with him. He takes her to a room where Luke is being held, and Ren shouts at Luke to tell him who this Rey is and why Ren can sense a power within her. Luke doesn't tell. He just says "why?" to Ren. Meanwhile BB8 appears out of a small compartment in the falcon. He was hiding in the falcon as the others were captured. He sneaks out into the first order ship and heads to a control panel. He finds where they are being held. He shuts down power to the section where Poe, Akbar and the other resistance are being held. They try to fight their way out. As that is happening, Phasma is interogating Finn about what he has learned in his time with the resistance and Luke, but as power is shut down, Phasma dispatches troopers to the prisoner cells to contain them. As she is distracted, Finn attempts to escape but she knocks him down. They begin to fight. The action cuts back to Ren, Luke and Rey in a room together. Rey asks Ren "who are you?" and Ren replies "I was like you once. Young, naive. I thought I could stop the darkness. But it isn't a choice. It's destiny." Luke has known who Ren is all along and says "The force is strong in my family. My father had it. I have it. And my sister...." Cue some Williams Imperial March. Rey looks in utter disbelief at Ren (now revealed as Leia, but she never removes her helmet the entire film) Leia/Ren then turns her lightsaber on and points in at Rey. "You couldn't save me. Now you can't save her." It cuts to the resistance fighting their way out to a ship. Poe sees Finn getting his ass kicked by Phasma and goes to help, shooting Phasma in the side from afar. Finn then kicks Phasma to the ground and runs. Phasma is still alive but unconscious. Finn joins the few resistance who are escaping, and get to the hangar bay. BB8 is there waiting and directs them to the falcon. Finn asks Poe where Rey is and he says he doesn't know. Finn says he has to find her and runs off, Poe tells the few resistance to take off and says "take care of them BB8." Who looks sad to see his master leave. Poe follows Finn saying "I have a bad feeling about this." Luke looks worried for Rey but defeated and ashamed as Leia turn her lightsaber to him. He sits there in despair, not wanting to escape, but Rey closes her eyes and uses the force to snap her restraints. Leia throws her across the room into a wall using the force. And she is seemingly knocked out. Leia force rips Luke's restrains off and takes out his lightsaber from her cloak and throws it at Luke saying "take it. This ends now." Luke gets up and throws his saber to the ground, "I will not fight you sister." As he says that, he has a little flashback in his head, just Vader's voice saying "sister, you have a twin sister. If you will not turn to the darkside then perhaps she will." And Luke closes his eyes, ready for death (like Obi Wan in A New Hope) but as Leia pulls back her lightsaber to swing at Luke, you here Luke's saber turn on. Leia looks behind and sees Rey standing there holding it. She says "who are you?!!" And Rey replies "I'm no one" and swings her saber at Leia. They begin a lightsaber duel, but Rey is being dominated. After a short but brutal duel, just as Rey is about to be killed, you hear Finn shout "Rey!" And Leia turns to them, and Luke suddenly grabs Rey and pulls her away. Leia is shot at repeatedly by Finn and Poe but reflects the blasts easily. But it gives Luke and Rey time to escape. As Finn and Poe run off too, Ren pursues with storm troopers. They make it to the Falcon, but the troopers and Leia catch up and Luke tells them to go on without him as he uses the force to literally stop Leia and the troopers dead in their tracks. They can't move. Rey wont leave without him, as Leia slowly moves towards them, like she is walking in slow motion against Luke's force. He says to Rey "I wont be able to hold them for long. You have to go. I have seen great power in you. You must realise your potential. You must live. Go to where you found me. Learn the ways of the force. Go." They leave and jump to hyperspace. Leia reaches Luke as he stops using the force, and he says "When I lost you Leia, I saw no way back. But now there is hope." Leia replies "You cannot save me." And Luke says "I know. But there is one who can." We cut to Rey, who stares out the cockpit of the Falcon. She understands she must realise her destiny. CUE THE END TITLES.

I'm shocked by the criticism of the score. Not just here, but seemingly everywhere. Would we have preferred Hans Zimmer or MIchael Giacchino? A score that sounded like the RCP trailer music?? No, really, people are complaining that the score didn't sound like the trailer music or that the trailer music wasn't on the OST. This actually happened. Jesus H. Christ.

Before I got to listen to this track in full (I had already seen the movie) I saw that people were underwhelmed and disappointed by this which in turn disappointed me because I thought this would be one of the most stand out tracks. However, when I listened to it boy was I wrong. From the moment the main theme of it started playing I fell in love with it, to me this is an instant classic that belongs up with the best of the Star Wars themes. It just perfectly characterizes the Rebellion in a grand militaristic way and the concert rendition at the end was even better. Seems like a bit of an inversion of the Imperial March yet it also feels like an extension of the Rebel Fanfare just... so good. Can't wait for a track analysis of this. P.S. The sound of the instruments in the main theme sounds so perfectly OT for this as well.

It was Scherzo for X-Wings! https://www.facebook.com/jbrausam/videos/10205368522355737/

Tomorrow, American Public Media will be streaming all Star Wars soundtracks on their website. They might include The Force Awakens soundtrack as well. Here's the link: http://www.yourclassical.org/story/2015/12/16/star-wars-music-marathon

Ford vs Ford Nice try Lao Che.

What's your favorite cue /musical moment not on the OST?

I pre-ordered the album from Amazon and it was released tonight. I'm currently on track 17 (Snoke). For some reason, Amazon released it without track names but I've almost completed a full listen-through and it's legit. It's still not out on iTunes yet. There's a few great throwbacks so far and I'm even more anxious to see the film now that I've got some connection to the score! First new JW since 2013, so I'm beside myself!

OK, back from the film and some general comments on the music: First of all, I was a BIT disappointed by the score. The keyword here, I think, is "whimsical". There's a LOT of rhytmic and energetic stuff with all the usual Williams trademarks, but if you want thematic setpieces like a "The Asteroid Field" or "The Forest Battle" or whatever, you won't find it. In fact, the most striking theme was the "rebel" theme (also in the way it appeared in the film). In that case, it has a lot in common with INDY 4. Rey's theme had some nice renditions -- especially of the more pastoral kind (an extension of what you heard in the TV spot) when she is first introduced. Finn's theme and Kylo Ren's theme are more motivic than thematic, IMO. A big treat was the appearance of the original themes -- they're almost used more extensively than in the first six films. The "Force" theme appearances were undoubtedly those that made the biggest impression. There is dark choral music for one particular scene, but it's not in the big, overt "Duel of the Fates" kind. More like the choral music for Palpatine in REVENGE OF THE SITH. To be fair, I think the music will fare much better on album. At least I hope so. It's mixed fairly high in the film, but there's still a lot getting lost in the sound mix.

Let's collect the public reactions in this thread. Also from movie reviews later on when they come out. We will get something pretty soon from the people who are seeing it right now I think. Maybe not that much but it might be interesting anyway...

I say 65-70% The negative reviews will be VERY negative

As we've done in the past for other big movies, it's time for the SPOILERS ALLOWED DISCUSSION THREAD for The Force Awakens. The movie had its premiere tonight and its opening wide soon in some European countries. Soon twitter and Facebook and other places will be abuzz with people discussing the movie. I want people to still be able to come to JWFan before they get to see the movie and not be spoiled. If you see the movie and want to post thoughts in the main thread for the film or the Last Film You Watched thread feel free, but please do not put any spoilers in those places. Meanwhile, in this thread, feel free to openly discuss the entire movie without spoiler tags. OK, this is the last chance for people wanting to avoid spoilers to turn away! Have fun everyone!

New music on starwars.com? Scroll back and listen.

Wow, I just got back from the Star Wars premiere in Hollywood (no, I didn't see the film, just the red carpet) and saw Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, JJ Abrams, Max von Sydow, Andy Serkis, George Lucas, John Williams, Frank Oz, Daisy Ridley​!! JJ Abrams and Andy Serkis came up to our little area for selfies and autographs. It was very exciting to see so many stars. It was very cool and so exciting! Woohoo!

https://www.facebook.com/GDudamel/photos/a.10150274477143605.347258.17116083604/10153715589193605/?type=3&theater