The Force Awakens The Force Awakens ALBUM Discussion (No Film Spoilers)

[Damien F 1,742]

Rey's Theme has an odd placement on the soundtrack because in the movie Fellow Me leads directly into The Falcon with almost no gap. Those two tracks should have been combined on the soundtrack.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

No. Palpatine's Teachings was a lot better.

Yeah, I really dug the amorphous blob of sound that was. /s

Get real pal, you can hear the vibrations in the vocal chords with Snoke! This feels religious. Palatines Teachings sounds more new age.

[KK 3,307]

Also, Scherzo for X-Wings starts out pretty rollicking, but the second half is noticeably slower than the first. If it's a concert arrangement, then the visuals aren't a constraint on the pacing—it's just dragging.

Its a film cue.

Hmm, saw the film again last night and don't remember hearing the second half of Scherzo for X-Wings (the slow stuff) anywhere. It's really a film cue? The ending sounds very concert-like to me.

I'm pretty sure its a concert suite that sums up film score material.

[Jay 37,352]

Rey's Theme has an odd placement on the soundtrack because in the movie Fellow Me leads directly into The Falcon with almost no gap. Those two tracks should have been combined on the soundtrack.

"Follow Me" and "The Falcon" are two halves of one continuous sequence of music. It's a shame Williams chose not to combine them together for the OST - and not even that, but break them up with a concert arrangement in between!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Seriously dude, are you going to keep doing that with every post that repeats something you said earlier?

Cause it's fucking annoying.

[Ricard 2,245]

I read some comments of people who are a little disappointed by the score.

I think it's because they maybe expected a more "heroic" score.

But hey, the score goes with the movie!

I didn't saw the movie yet, but by listening the album, I guess it's not a movie where the good guys win. It seems to be a movie where the good guys, who doesn't seems to know what is going on, are tracked by a bunch of bad guys. I think Every one in this movie have to find who they really are.

But all the things seems not to be totally black or white, like in the other Star Wars movies. The story seems to be "more subtile" (as far as a Star Wars story can be subtile).

So that's my two cents.

A score with more substance and subtility for a movie that goes this way.

I like it very much, it's all about Rey-sistance. ;-)

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

What do you think of it Ricard?

[Ricard 2,245]

BTW I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but the Jaws theme appears in 0:34 of "The Rathtars!"

What do you think of it Ricard?

Not yet...

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

No. Palpatine's Teachings was a lot better.

Yeah, I really dug the amorphous blob of sound that was. /s

Get real pal, you can hear the vibrations in the vocal chords with Snoke! This feels religious. Palatines Teachings sounds more new age.

So the fact that the basses in Snoke are singing with vibrato rather than a steady tone, and are sounding 4 pitches rather than one, the cue is automatically "better?" Yeah right. Give me the rubbed gongs of Palpatine's Teachings instead.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

No. Palpatine's Teachings was a lot better.

Yeah, I really dug the amorphous blob of sound that was. /s

Get real pal, you can hear the vibrations in the vocal chords with Snoke! This feels religious. Palatines Teachings sounds more new age.

So the fact that the basses in Snoke are singing with vibrato rather than a steady tone, and are sounding 4 pitches rather than one, the cue is automatically "better?" Yeah right. Give me the rubbed gongs of Palpatine's Teachings instead.

Yep. But you're welcome to listen to your New Age Sith Yoga Music all you like, Sharkypoo.

Give me the raw, unrefined Snoke, any day!

[KK 3,307]

Didn't see your post Blume.

At least with Palpatine's Teachings, you have colour and atmosphere to it. The rubbed gongs and varied throat singing does a lot more to send chills than the bland unison basso profondos for Snoke. They literally meander between 3 pitches, and this is supposed to be the "new Emperor"'s theme? Not to mention at least with RotS, it was a novel sound to add to the SW palette. And it definitely sounds a lot more "religious" and otherworldy than what we hear for Snoke. Here, its like Williams needed something "dark" and just put together a male chorus and had them yawn some chromatic pitches. It's uninspired at the least.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

How often do you do Sith Yoga to Palpatine's Teaching's? Twice a day, or three times a day?

[TownerFan 4,983]

so is there any unreleased music in the Finale?

or is it a combo of tracks 22-23

In the film it segues just like you hear on the OST.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Didn't see your post Blume.

At least with Palpatine's Teachings, you have colour and atmosphere to it. The rubbed gongs and varied throat singing does a lot more to send chills than the bland unison basso profondos for Snoke. They literally meander between 3 pitches, and this is supposed to be the "new Emperor"'s theme? Not to mention at least with RotS, it was a novel sound to add to the SW palette. And it definitely sounds a lot more "religious" and otherworldy than what we hear for Snoke. Here, its like Williams needed something "dark" and just put together a male chorus and had them yawn some chromatic pitches. It's uninspired at the least.

Arent you just assuming things?

Palatine's Teachings represents the final step in the direction of the Sith Material John created for the Prequels. Snoke it the first step in a new process. Hopefully JW will be able to develop those ideas.

[Brónach 1,302]

I like Palpatine's Teachings better too. It doesn't sound necesarily evil to me, just mysterious and old.

Snoke has this threaning thing with the string line later in the track.

It sounds like this Snoke scene is good for the score in that allows to make it a bit more colourful, but bad for the movie.

[KK 3,307]

Maybe, but the idea we begin with here certainly isn't that promising. And Palpatine's Teachings is a superior rendering of that kind of material.

I like Palpatine's Teachings better too.

I guess we're Sith Yoga buddies now Chaac.

[nightscape94 965]

It could have just been an atmospheric choice, and not so much a foundation for thematic material. After all, the empire theme in Star Wars was weak too, compared to everything else. Then in ESB he came back with something completely different.

When Snoke is developed more Williams might go with something entirely new.

[KK 3,307]

That's what I was thinking as well.

But even as atmosphere, its some of the blandest stuff Williams has concocted.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I rather like it. It's not hugely complex. But it has room to grow.

[Brónach 1,302]

It already had two minutes to grow though.

[Damien F 1,742]

I'm so glad they didn't waste time on the OST with that cantina song. It sounded awful.

[Jay 37,352]

It was fine for what it was, but its completely non-essential.

[mrbellamy 6,284]

Yeah, it was alright. No Cantina Band, but no Jedi Rocks either. Squarely disposable.

[nightscape94 965]

I noticed it when they first entered Maz's cantina, but then it slipped into the background for me.

[mrbellamy 6,284]

Yeah, I liked it fine in that first entrance. It got the right atmosphere as you get a look around the place.

[nightscape94 965]

Besides it transitioned into score pretty quickly from what I recall.

[Henry B 50]

I can't say I was terribly excited by Snoke's theme, but after seeing the film I understand why Williams didn't write a new Emperor's theme. Palpatine was a very religious figure: a demon, anti-Christ, etc. Grand choruses of doom suited him well. We don't really know anything about Snoke, but I get a different vibe. He seems more animalistic, and perhaps someone with a bone to pick, not a secret conspirator all his life.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

It was fine for what it was, but its completely non-essential.

Yep. It was simply background music. Harmless compared to Jedi Rocks

[nightscape94 965]

It's not as.......

IN-YOUR-FACE

[Quintus 5,399]

Can someone YT link the two pieces being compared above please. Thanks. The Snoke/Palpatine ones.

[KK 3,307]

[Quintus 5,399]

Thank you KK.

[nightscape94 965]

Ooooooh, play them at the same time!

[artguy360 1,843]

Maybe I will end up in the minority but I like Snoke's music better but definitely feel that Palpatine's Teachings sounds better in the film. For Snoke's music, it was barely audible which is because of the sound mix.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

Snoke > Palpatine's Teachings.

You millennial younglings fall for every gimmick in the book. "Oh my gash, rubbed gongs!"

Snoke sounds like the chorus is lighting candles in preparation for a sacrifice. But I grant you, Palpatine's Teaching sounds more EPIC!

[Limbonaut 2]

Whoa, the Rebel Fanfare at the end of Follow Me was completely unexpected, and not really in a good way. There was no real build up to it.

Having seen the movie, it was perfect.

[Joni Wiljami 1,206]

Didn't find this score in my music store. So I bought the digital copy from iTunes. I'm totally happy with it and will wait the expanded edition coming(soon).

[Ricard 2,245]

I'm totally happy with it and will wait the expanded edition coming(soon).

Yeah I too think that an expanded/complete edition will be released next year or in 2017 at the latest.

[Not Mr. Big 4,639]

The packaging on this is terrible. I damn near snapped the disc trying to get it out.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I'm totally happy with it and will wait the expanded edition coming(soon).

Yeah I too think that an expanded/complete edition will be released next year or in 2017 at the latest.

Why?

[Balahkay 627]

Just to be clear... Snoke isn't a Sith.

[King Mark 3,631]

what the fuck is he?

anyways I bought the physical crappy digipack today

[Balahkay 627]

I have no idea. I haven't seen the film, yet. But Abrams has specifically said he isn't a Sith and neither is Kylo. There are no Siths in TFA. I guess he is a dark side user.

Abrams:

[He] is not a Sith. [Kylo Ren] works under Supreme Leader Snoke, who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force.

[leeallen01 2,136]

No idea if anyone has already said this because there's so many threads. Does anyone hear Luke and Leia in the beginning of 'The Girl with the Staff?' Probably just hearing something similar and connecting it in my own head, considering it's a favourite of mine from ROTJ. But if it is a nod, it could give us an idea of who she is; a Skywalker.

[Ricard 2,245]

Yes, L&L seems to be there.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[King Mark 3,631]

...................................

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[King Mark 3,631]

Yes, L&L seems to be there.

I don;t hear it

[Damien F 1,742]

The flute passage from the ABC commercial that's also in the final track of the CD is one of my favorite things Williams has done in years. Its mesmerizing.

I agree. It is stunning, which makes at all the more bizarre that it isn't a fully fledged theme but rather a once off melody.

Having seen the movie and the significance of the scene that melody scores, I can understand why Williams put so much effort into it to make it extra special. One of my biggest anticipations for episode 8 is if that melody will return.