Jarbas 1 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 These two music: Han Solo and the Princess by John Williams and Days of Wine and Roses by Henry Mancini are very similar in the melody.See the video below:Days of Wine and Roses A horn plays the introduction of Mancini's music. The first five notes are the main melody of Han Solo and the Princess. I think it was a coincidence, but maybe after Williams noticed the similarity, he decided never record or play his piece again... Enjoy the concert version (arranged by Williams in 80's) through Charles Gerhardt or Paul Bateman recordings, because for him the first and unique love theme from Star Wars saga is Across the Stars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 yeah,but it also sounds like Marion's theme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 You mean Marion's theme sounds like it.And here I thought Williams based Han Solo and the Princess off of Princess Leia's Theme from Star Wars. Instead it's a song from 1962 by Mancini. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 theres' still the matter as of why Williams has never re-recorded even a snippet of that theme ,or played it at any concert .And even ignoring it as the first SW love theme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 There is a TON of material that Williams could adapt for concert works that he hasn't.Maybe he feels it's not a worthy piece to perform, plus he seems to "forget" past works and concentrates on the present. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,795 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Maybe he feels it's not a worthy piece to perform, plus he seems to "forget" past works and concentrates on the present.Well it IS part of his 5 movement TESB suite... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 the point is it is a major SW theme .It is left off every SW re-recordings by Williams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FattyMcButterpants 1 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Doesn't that say something about the quality of his work when he can afford to leave such a fantastic theme at the wayside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 the point is it is a major SW theme .It is left off every SW re-recordings by Williams.Is it also not on the Skywalker Orchestra recording?These two music: Han Solo and the Princess by John Williams and Days of Wine and Roses by Henry Mancini are very similar in the melody.See the video below:Days of Wine and Roses A horn plays the introduction of Mancini's music. The first five notes are the main melody of Han Solo and the Princess. I think it was a coincidence, but maybe after Williams noticed the similarity, he decided never record or play his piece again... Enjoy the concert version (arranged by Williams in 80's) through Charles Gerhardt or Paul Bateman recordings, because for him the first and unique love theme from Star Wars saga is Across the Stars. It's striking, but thank you, I am very interested in JW's direct influences.Let's not forget the entire SW score has been written by Williams based on a full temporary soundtrack compilation of other composer's works. Elgar, Dvorak Holst, Miklos Rosza and Walton are some of the composers used. It is very well possible that this song was the temp track for the Han Solo/Leia scenses, or at least suggested to Williams as the feel intended.Which exact peices are on the temp soundtrack I am afraid will remain a mystery forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesker 0 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 That Mancini thing is old news. Could be a coincidence, but, Williams having worked with Mancini makes me think it probably wasn't. Those first five notes were a good launching pad though for the rest of the love theme, but ultimately Williams made it something into his own, so it's no big deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Oh I know. People go into panic mode when temp tracks and possible "borrowing" threads are started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Oh I know. People go into panic mode when temp tracks and possible "borrowing" threads are started.I don't care I think it's one of the most interesting subjects, Williams and his inspiration sources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Oh it doesn't bother me.It can be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelzter 0 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I hear it in the first two notes, but otherwise little more than a similarity of tone and mood. Han Solo and the Princess sounds like a Golden Age film theme to me, of which Mancini himself wrote several, most notably Moon River. And even the first two notes Williams has himself used countless of other times to start melodies with. --Pelzter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfoxden 0 Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I don't hear much similarity beyond the first few notes.Maybe he feels it's not a worthy piece to perform, plus he seems to "forget" past works and concentrates on the present.Well it IS part of his 5 movement TESB suite...What suite is this? I've never heard of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,193 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Is it also not on the Skywalker Orchestra recording?It isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Han Solo and the Princess Concert Version is one of my all time favourite Williams pieces.I totally didn't expect it when I bought the Gerhardt TESB recording and it was a revelation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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