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Friends, JWFans, Countrymen...


Nick Parker
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I apologize for the dumb title, I just wanted to peak curiosity. Anyways...

For this summer I am planning a John Williams chamber concert, and I am having difficulties creating a nice, full programme with interesting contrast (you know, like a typical John Williams album). I was wondering if you guys, with your infinitely superior knowledge of John Williams, might be able to help.

The pieces I have tentatively scheduled:

Three Pieces from Schindler's List

Elegy

Theme from Checkmate (based on the Shelly Manne arrangement)

Escapades (arranged for piano/Fender Rhodes, alto saxophone, drums, and trumpet maybe)

I appreciate all suggestions in advance. Thank you!

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What instruments/instrumentation will you be using?

My current plan is to have a diverse selection of various small ensembles performing (like a cello/piano duet for one piece and a woodwind quintet for another), with all of the players coming together at the end for a rousing, bombastic finale (like the "March from 1941", or "Throne Room and End Title", as Stefan mentioned). I do not have any experience creating a concert, though...would that be too much for an audience?

My suggestions would be

Theme From Jurassic Park

Duel Of The Fates

Adventures On Earth

Hymn To The Fallen

Throne Room and End Title

Hm, I am not sure how well those would translate to a chamber setting, but I do like the idea of "Throne Room and End Title": I want to end with a piece that will have the audience leaving with a smile.

Try the love theme from CINDERELLA LIBERTY and DRACULA.

Ooh, great idea with "Nice to be Around"! "Dracula" might work too, maybe it could make for an interesting woodwind quintet....

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What instruments/instrumentation will you be using?

My current plan is to have a diverse selection of various small ensembles performing (like a cello/piano duet for one piece and a woodwind quintet for another), with all of the players coming together at the end for a rousing, bombastic finale (like the "March from 1941", or "Throne Room and End Title", as Stefan mentioned). I do not have any experience creating a concert, though...would that be too much for an audience?

My suggestions would be

Theme From Jurassic Park

Duel Of The Fates

Adventures On Earth

Hymn To The Fallen

Throne Room and End Title

Hm, I am not sure how well those would translate to a chamber setting, but I do like the idea of "Throne Room and End Title": I want to end with a piece that will have the audience leaving with a smile.

Try the love theme from CINDERELLA LIBERTY and DRACULA.

Ooh, great idea with "Nice to be Around"! "Dracula" might work too, maybe it could make for an interesting woodwind quintet....

Would you be interested in an arrangement of Theme from Schindler's List for violin and cello?

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My suggestions would be

Theme From Jurassic Park

Duel Of The Fates

Adventures On Earth

Hymn To The Fallen

Throne Room and End Title

BORING. I could have come up with that in my sleep.

Barnstorming

Main Titles from The Fury

Nedry Steals the Embryos

Ben Gardner's Boat

End Credits from Munich

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Ehm....I must admit that I don't really see the big action blockbuster films as fitting for the setting he looks for here, except maybe one piece just for fun.

How about something from JANE EYRE, David's theme from A.I., "Angela's Prayer" from ANGELA'S ASHES, "The Face of Pan" from HOOK, the fugue from JAWS. Listen to the wonderful KEISUKE WAKAO PLAYS JOHN WILLIAMS CD for some great, chamber music arrangements of his film scores, albeit with focus on oboe.

"Essay for Strings", "Prelude and Fugue", "Heartwood", "Duo Concertante" are also some concert works worth checking out.

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I'd love to hear the ballroom scene from The Witches of Eastwick, but that's just me. It's an awesome piece that, for some reason, isn't a classic. And it's the kind of cue that is very memorable and yet mostly unfamiliar to most people.

Karol

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BORING. I could have come up with that in my sleep.

Barnstorming

Main Titles from The Fury

Nedry Steals the Embryos

Ben Gardner's Boat

End Credits from Munich

Bums on seats lad! Give the audience what it wants....

Not what it wants, but what it NEEDs!

No, I just think these kind of concert performances usually end up with the most safe, undemanding and predictable Williams material.

Ehm....I must admit that I don't really see the big action blockbuster films as fitting for the setting he looks for here, except maybe one piece just for fun.

With a good transcription for chamber ensemble, anything by Williams could convincingly work.

Those concert works - "Essay for Strings", "Prelude and Fugue" etc... are downright prosaic.

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No, because thats what appeals to the people who pay the tickets.

Yeah, and keeps them in their little comfort zones.

Perhaps the best idea would be to throw one or two more 'out there' choices, in an ordinary line-up.

"Subvert the dominant paradigm", as it were.

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Those concert works - "Essay for Strings", "Prelude and Fugue" etc... are downright prosaic.

I think they're great, chockful of interesting details, harmonies etc. And perfect for the setting the topic starter talks about too!

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Those concert works - "Essay for Strings", "Prelude and Fugue" etc... are downright prosaic.

I think they're great, chockful of interesting details, harmonies etc. And perfect for the setting the topic starter talks about too!

Everything's great with you!

You bring the audience to the music, not the other way round.

Thor, the problem with Prometheus is that he's trying to be like Alexcremers, but he's failing miserably.

Alexcremers doesn't have a copyright on the bowdown smiley, ya know.

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