Something JW hasn't done for a long time. A long time.

[Quintus 5,391]

You know how he used to do those little one-off incidental melodic intros to cues which eventually gave way to other, more prominent music and themes? It was as if he could not help but insert strong melodies, even when some suitably relevent "random" composition would've sufficed. It just came naturally to him, I guess. He created melodic intros so good and so intricate that in another film they could've easily passed as major themes, yet JW in all his greatness (and downright showy in your face-ness) utilised them as mere introductory fair for the upcoming barnstormer centrepiece.

Couple of examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsgC9QmlFhM

Sometimes he'd introduce the same kind of thing later into a cue, The Asteroid Field being an obvious example to name but one.

So anyway, why doesn't he do it anymore?

[Datameister 1,394]

He still does the same sort of thing, but the ideas are less simple and bold and memorable now.

[John Crichton 4]

I always thought most of the transitional fanfares in AotC were pretty cool, of course almost all of them are officially unreleased.

[Andy 1,492]

I like the military music Williams wrote for the Truck Convoy in Superman. Just a one-off motif that is just really resonant. (Similar in use and tone to the CE3K military motif).

I'd argue that the wonderful Entrance to the Great Hall music from Harry Potter (SS) is also such a motif. Not used again, and could've easily been scored with a more familiar or common theme.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

That's more like a Hogwarts procession theme. It's heard at the end of the boat scene, when they enter the dining hall and at the beginning of the hat scene. They progress to the castle, to the hall and to the houses. Of course, it's never used again.

[Andy 1,492]

The ultimate one-off is from the medal ceremony of Star Wars. The lovely heroes' anthem that appears just before the credits roll. Not an intro really in the way Quint is describing, but still absolutely mindblowing that JW would withhold such an amazing theme until the final frames of the film, never to be used again. (yeah, it's hinted at in the ROTJ fleet scene, and of course used in the end credits of ROTS), but I can't imagine a modern film today introducing such a toe-curlingly sublime theme in it's final 30 seconds.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

I always thought Belly of the Steel Beast sounds like Williams was planning to write a fugue, but then dropped the idea.

[John Crichton 4]

The one-off fanfare at the end of Sail Barge Assault from RotJ is one of Williams' best ever.

[Andy 1,492]

Oh, good one. Yeah.

[Quintus 5,391]

Fuckin right it is!

[Romão 1,931]

The one-off fanfare at the end of Sail Barge Assault from RotJ is one of Williams' best ever.

Yes indeed, an absolutely exultant musical moment. However, I must disagree with the initial post

[steb74 53]

The one-off fanfare at the end of Sail Barge Assault from RotJ is one of Williams' best ever.

It is indeed!

It's sounds as though Williams attempted something similar near the start of E.T. but really mastered it for this cue.

What I love is how it is used as a wonderful storytelling device. Although sounding so heroic and ending the chapter wonderfully, the way it uses the more major key sounding death star motif to foreshadow the coming challenge for our heroes is another Williams masterstroke.

I'm sure it's used in Jedi once more though, or at least hinted at to a degree but I just can't bloody find it now

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

The first 30 seconds of Arrival in New York.

The ending of White Sands.

When the jeeps pull up to the visitor center.

[King Mark 2,924]

The British Fanfare at the end of the bridge battle in Temple of Doom

A more recent example: The noble theme for the Centaur in HPSS (The Blue Forest) .Entry into the Great Hall can also be considered a one use idea

[Jacob 0]

(... and of course used in the end credits of ROTS)

Only on the album.

I'm sure it's used in Jedi once more though, or at least hinted at to a degree but I just can't bloody find it now

Through the Flames perhaps? I've thought they were pretty similar, sometimes blending one into the other when I try to recall or hum one of them.

[steb74 53]

Through the Flames perhaps? I've thought they were pretty similar, sometimes blending one into the other when I try to recall or hum one of them.

That's what I had in my mind originally man, so perhaps that is that one I'm thinking of.

I could've swore it was a small clip from another piece though, which made me do a double take.

In any case, 'Through the Flames' is another great example of Williams' escape velocity fanfares.

[John Crichton 4]

I don't think the Sail Barge Assault fanfare appears outside that cue. The Death Star motif does show up a couple of times though, at least to my ear.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

I think a good example is when young Indy is arguing with the grave robbers over the fate of the cross at the beginning of LC. Right after they pull him out of the lion car.

[John Crichton 4]

The one-off motif used throughout Indy's First Adventure is a great "young Indy" theme.

[SF1_freeze 104]

The Water motif in TOD or the AMAZING "Joe Senior's Passing" from Far and Away

[Naïve Old Fart 6,637]

The end section of "Through The Flames", where the Millennium Falcon emerges from the Death Star Mk.2, and we witness probably the longest jump cut in cinema.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

which is?

[Jay 27,216]

Yea I'm not sure what that means

[Naïve Old Fart 6,637]

The Falcon flies out of the Death Star, the Death Star expoldes behind it, and the film then cuts to Endor, still showing the explosion. I say jump cut, because I can't think of any other way to explain it. The music's brilliant, tho'.

[Jay 27,216]

It's a great little fanfare, yea

[STORM 1]

The one-off fanfare at the end of Sail Barge Assault from RotJ is one of Williams' best ever.

Oh yeah agree with that!great motif and great use of brass,which of course isn`t unusual for williams.

(... and of course used in the end credits of ROTS)

Only on the album.

I'm sure it's used in Jedi once more though, or at least hinted at to a degree but I just can't bloody find it now

Through the Flames perhaps? I've thought they were pretty similar, sometimes blending one into the other when I try to recall or hum one of them.

Thats the victory fanfare or motif i you like!.also agree with british motif at in temple,just love that bit,so glad bridge cue was on concord release.

sorry about my typing skills or lack of lol!

[JoeinAR 1,759]

Something JW hasn't done for a long time. A long time.

write a great score.

[Wojo 2,442]

I didn't want to be the one to say it, but it's true.

Nearly all of the examples people listed are from scores that, while great moments of music, are over 20 years old.

[mstrox 5,207]

Something JW hasn't done for a long time. A long time.

write a...score.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

that too.

[Sandor 459]

Something JW hasn't done for a long time. A long time.

write a great score.

2001 - Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

It's been awhile, but it doesn't feel like "a long time".

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

9 years already.

[Quintus 5,391]

I prefer PoA, although I don't think any of his Potter scores are particularly great. Very good, but not classic Williams.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

One word: Munich.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

One word: Munich.

you're the only one who thinks it's great. and even if it was, though it is nothing more than mediocre, it's still 6 years ago.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

I know, he's only done one other score in those 6 years. The very average Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. He really needs to do something for someone other than Spielberg.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

I know, he's only done one other score in those 6 years. The very average Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. He really needs to do something for someone other than Spielberg.

he'll have one in july with A. Desplat and Enya.

[SF1_freeze 104]

I know, he's only done one other score in those 6 years. The very average Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. He really needs to do something for someone other than Spielberg.

he'll have one in july with A. Desplat and Enya.

wishful thinking or maybe even sarcasm?