Josh500 1,615 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I've thought long and hard, but for me it's Desert Chase from the ROTLA!!! I love the way this cue starts . . . it's like being thrust abruptly into the middle of a big big adventure, and it never lets up. Also, I love the way Raiders March is incorporated. For me, this is pure, unadulterated action music, brilliantly performed by the LSO.I also like Fast Streets of Shaghai and Belly of the Steel Beast, but Desert Chase will always top my list, I think . . . at least until Indy 4 comes along. Then, who knows?Which one's your favorite??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckM 1 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra is pretty much my favorite JW piece period, so that's definately also my favorite action cue. Next would be Escape from Venice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,625 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 The unreleased "Underground Heroics" from ToD.(ending with Indy swinging into the mine cart)K.M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melange 446 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Flight from Peru. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robthehand 3 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 "Desert Chase", probably, but "Slalom on Mt. Humol" is a very close second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adoy 1 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Desert Chase is my fav, but Belly of the Steel Beast is pretty good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 48 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 They are all great, but in the end I went with Mine Car Chase for sheer exhilleration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry B 50 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 "Desert Chase" or "Flight from Peru." Nothing from the sequels compares! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,037 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Another impossible choice. All of these are great.I feel like voting for Other so I can pick the rerecorded music for the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland--after all, it does contain parts of four of these cues, along with other brilliant selections. I dunno. Maybe I'll come back and vote later, after I've enjoyed a re-listening of all of these cues.EDIT: By the way, you forgot "Airplane Fight," which would probably beat "Desert Chase" for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I think you should discriminate between 'action music' and 'action scherzos', the former being the underscore to an action sequence (e.g. Belly of the Steal Beast, Desert Chase), the latter being the musically well defined cues that mostly underscore wordless action sequences much like in a ballet, and which can stand alone as concert cues and often feature a more classical-like structure (e.g. Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra, The Basket Chase, The Mine Car Chase). I think this would be suitable, especially because the action scherzo is really a JW trademark, and he mentions this apart category as such himself too.My favorite action music cue would be The Fast Streets of Shanghai, my favorite action scherzo The Basket Chase (1996 concert arrangement). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I don't agree. I think the broadest definition of action music (music underscoring an action scene) should be used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I don't agree. I think the broadest definition of action music (music underscoring an action scene) should be used.That means you are saying cues like The Basket Chase and Escape from Venice are stylistically comparable to cues like Belly of the Steal Beast and Desert Chase? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 I don't agree. I think the broadest definition of action music (music underscoring an action scene) should be used.That's means you are saying cues like The Basket Chase and Escape from Venice are stylistically comparable to cues like Belly of the Steal Beast and Desert Chase?I understand what you're saying, but I don't agree. Whether some pieces are scherzos or not, they are all "action music." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I don't agree. I think the broadest definition of action music (music underscoring an action scene) should be used.That's means you are saying cues like The Basket Chase and Escape from Venice are stylistically comparable to cues like Belly of the Steal Beast and Desert Chase?I understand what you're saying, but I don't agree. Whether some pieces are scherzos or not, they are all "action music."OK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 I don't agree. I think the broadest definition of action music (music underscoring an action scene) should be used.That's means you are saying cues like The Basket Chase and Escape from Venice are stylistically comparable to cues like Belly of the Steal Beast and Desert Chase?I understand what you're saying, but I don't agree. Whether some pieces are scherzos or not, they are all "action music."OK Fast Streets of Shanghai is also one of my top favorites, which part of it do you like best? My favorite section is at the beginning, when Indy and Willie fall down the building and into the car and meet Short Round for the first time. The music there makes me smile every time! Hahaha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,037 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Fast Streets of Shanghai is also one of my top favorites, which part of it do you like best? My favorite section is at the beginning, when Indy and Willie fall down the building and into the car and meet Short Round for the first time. The music there makes me smile every time! Hahaha.While that cue doesn't get my vote in this poll, I do enjoy it, especially that part you're talking about. The first statement of Short Round's theme is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 Fast Streets of Shanghai is also one of my top favorites, which part of it do you like best? My favorite section is at the beginning, when Indy and Willie fall down the building and into the car and meet Short Round for the first time. The music there makes me smile every time! Hahaha.While that cue doesn't get my vote in this poll, I do enjoy it, especially that part you're talking about. The first statement of Short Round's theme is great. Yeah, but have you noticed that in the movie that brief section is a bit longer? I think it's looped.So what DID you vote for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I don't agree. I think the broadest definition of action music (music underscoring an action scene) should be used.That's means you are saying cues like The Basket Chase and Escape from Venice are stylistically comparable to cues like Belly of the Steal Beast and Desert Chase?I understand what you're saying, but I don't agree. Whether some pieces are scherzos or not, they are all "action music."OK Fast Streets of Shanghai is also one of my top favorites, which part of it do you like best? My favorite section is at the beginning, when Indy and Willie fall down the building and into the car and meet Short Round for the first time. The music there makes me smile every time! Hahaha.That part is certainly fun , however my favorite part has to be from 2:48 where the music starts to work towards one of the most rousing Raiders March statements of the franchise! (Scoring the scene where Indy escapes in the enemy's plane.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,037 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Yeah, but have you noticed that in the movie that brief section is a bit longer? I think it's looped. So what DID you vote for?Mmmm, I haven't watched ToD in a while. I'll listen for that next time...And I accidentally voted for "Flight from Peru." I meant to click "Desert Chase," but it was too late. Oh well, I love that cue, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Yeah, but have you noticed that in the movie that brief section is a bit longer? I think it's looped. So what DID you vote for?Mmmm, I haven't watched ToD in a while. I'll listen for that next time...And I accidentally voted for "Flight from Peru." I meant to click "Desert Chase," but it was too late. Oh well, I love that cue, too. Haha good choice anyway. That cue is so versatile, it has almost the entire musical Indiana Jones spectrum in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,037 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Haha good choice anyway. That cue is so versatile, it has almost the entire musical Indiana Jones spectrum in it.I dunno if I'd say it contains most of Indy's musical spectrum, but it's certainly a diverse (if rather short) cue that manages to be perfect throughout. Its ratio of grin-inducing moments to boring passages is 100%. The first time I heard it outside of the film, I think I literally smiled the whole time. Fun and bizarre pizzicato passages give way to the Raiders' March, heard for the very first time, with both the A and B sections presented in unique and incredible ways. Man, I love that cue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I love Desert Chase, I can hear it in my head without even playing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I love Desert Chase, I can hear it in my head without even playing it.That's good, that's a composer's trait actually, you know that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,792 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Belly of the Steel beast + The Pen is Mightier than the Sword Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,037 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 That's good, that's a composer's trait actually, you know that?Well, hearing your own music without playing it is a composer's trait. Hearing a favorite song/cue/piece in your head is something just about everyone can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 That's good, that's a composer's trait actually, you know that?Well, hearing your own music without playing it is a composer's trait. Hearing a favorite song/cue/piece in your head is something just about everyone can do. The first thing is true, but not necessary per se. The second thing: I don't think that's entirely true. This would also mean that a lot of poeple can write down music from their memories as good as from hearing a cd. I don't believe that's the case. Most people (the non-composers) sing the melodic lines, but do they think about the instrumentation, about the different accompanying parts, the harmonisation? I don't think so. Musical memory varies greatly among people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 155 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 1. Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra2. Indy's Very First Adventure3. Other (Bug Tunnel and Death Trap)4. Escape from Venice5. Belly of the Steel Beast6. The Fast Streets of Shanghai7. Desert Chasethe rest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomeNewGuy 0 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra. I'm a big fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,037 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 The first thing is true, but not necessary per se. The second thing: I don't think that's entirely true. This would also mean that a lot of poeple can write down music from their memories as good as from hearing a cd. I don't believe that's the case. Most people (the non-composers) sing the melodic lines, but do they think about the instrumentation, about the different accompanying parts, the harmonisation? I don't think so.Mmmm, I see what you're saying. And yeah, I don't think most non-composers are as cognizant of the various elements that make their favorite pieces so enjoyable. Of course, Joey didn't specify exactly how much he could hear in his head... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Crichton 4 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Well I often put Indy's First Adventure in my top overall cue lists (for technical reasons as well as artistic that I won't Horner post here), so it's only fair it gets my vote here. Last Crusade overall is just one great action cue after another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 "Scherzo for Motorcycle"Then "Desert Chase" and "Belly of the Steel Beast". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I love Desert Chase, I can hear it in my head without even playing it.That's good, that's a composer's trait actually, you know that? no I didn't know, but I assure you I have no musical ability, I can play the radio and a stereo and thats it.but I've listened to Desert Chase hundreds if not thousands of times over the last 25 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bondo 33 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 "Underground Heroics" from TOD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivier 5 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 The action in TOD is great, especially with the "Slave Children" theme, but "Desert Chase" will always be my favorite one; next would be "Belly of the Steel Beast" & "Slave Children Crusade", probably tied."Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" is a very nice & original piece for an action scene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra, followed by Belly of the Steel Beast and the Pen is Mightier than the sword.Scherzo because it truly is a stand alone piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 48 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I think you should discriminate between 'action music' and 'action scherzos',I agree. Some people are picking their favourite based only on the fact that it is a stand-alone piece that could function as a concert work. For me the greatest John Williams action cues are Battle in the Snow, and Asteroid Field, however you won't hear either of those in the concert hall (unfortunately). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delorean90 42 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 The Asteroid Field actually has a concert arrangement. I don't know who played it (at least the Boston Pops, I'm sure) or where, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 The first thing is true, but not necessary per se. The second thing: I don't think that's entirely true. This would also mean that a lot of poeple can write down music from their memories as good as from hearing a cd. I don't believe that's the case. Most people (the non-composers) sing the melodic lines, but do they think about the instrumentation, about the different accompanying parts, the harmonisation? I don't think so.Mmmm, I see what you're saying. And yeah, I don't think most non-composers are as cognizant of the various elements that make their favorite pieces so enjoyable. Of course, Joey didn't specify exactly how much he could hear in his head...You got me there I love Desert Chase, I can hear it in my head without even playing it.That's good, that's a composer's trait actually, you know that? no I didn't know, but I assure you I have no musical ability, I can play the radio and a stereo and thats it.but I've listened to Desert Chase hundreds if not thousands of times over the last 25 yearsOk that helps, too The Asteroid Field actually has a concert arrangement. I don't know who played it (at least the Boston Pops, I'm sure) or where, though.There is indeed, on the Boston Pops sampler called Music from the Star Wars Saga. Very nice concert arrangement, I see it as the SW equivalent of the Basket Chase (also very Prokofiev-like). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 48 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I must check it out! It's one of my all time favourite JW cues! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I must check it out! It's one of my all time favourite JW cues!I totally agree.That album features more excellent re-recordings, including my fav recordings of the SW Main Title, Superman March and The Forest Battle and my second fav recording of the Imperial March. The sound quality is superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I like the pizzicato opening of the Asteroid Field's concert arrangment.Ray Barnsbury - who's going to listen to all the Indy action cues at work today and make his choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 The Desert Chase wins easily, it accompanies one of the best action set pieces in movie history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Crichton 4 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Ray Barnsbury - who's going to listen to all the Indy action cues at work today and make his choiceGod, I wish I could do that.And welcome back, Godzilla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted October 20, 2007 Author Share Posted October 20, 2007 God, I love Desert Chase. I can listen to just this piece all day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,037 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 I like the pizzicato opening of the Asteroid Field's concert arrangment.Agreed. I love it when Williams uses the orchestra in "pointilistic" sort of way like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 I like the pizzicato opening of the Asteroid Field's concert arrangment.Agreed. I love it when Williams uses the orchestra in "pointilistic" sort of way like that.Although I see what you mean, I don't think 'pointilistic' is a good way of expressing it. Pointilism generally refers to the pointed style of the impressionistic painters of the 19th century. Your statement would suggest a link to impressionism in Williams' music, although it displays little to nothing of that style: it's in fact expressionism in its purest form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,037 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Although I see what you mean, I don't think 'pointilistic' is a good way of expressing it. Pointilism generally refers to the pointed style of the impressionistic painters of the 19th century. Your statement would suggest a link to impressionism in Williams' music, although it displays little to nothing of that style: it's in fact expressionism in its purest form.Mmmm, perhaps. I was trying to express how the opening to the concert suite uses "dots" of different timbres in an interesting way. What would be a better way of describing it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 "Desert Chase," I suppose. Lots of good ones to pick from!Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 I must check it out! It's one of my all time favourite JW cues!And yet you don't know there's a concert version of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Although I see what you mean, I don't think 'pointilistic' is a good way of expressing it. Pointilism generally refers to the pointed style of the impressionistic painters of the 19th century. Your statement would suggest a link to impressionism in Williams' music, although it displays little to nothing of that style: it's in fact expressionism in its purest form.Mmmm, perhaps. I was trying to express how the opening to the concert suite uses "dots" of different timbres in an interesting way. What would be a better way of describing it?I'd suggest "dottism" No, I don't know, maybe 'punctated rhythmics' or so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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