GALAXY'S EDGE - New John Williams composition (2018)

[mrbellamy 6,270]

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

Bill Pullman had a nice leather jacket.

[mrbellamy 6,270]

Daphne Zuniga was really hot in that.

 

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

What a pity. Whaattt a pity...

[Datameister 2,034]

7 hours ago, Dieter Stark said:

It will be so immersive and really feel real for the guests as though they're really in that universe on a planet we've never heard of created with such realism and attention to detail if we have absolutely no music playing like these parks traditionally do, aside from circus music for the pisser. Never mind that they're surrounded by fat sweaty hillbillies that wash themselves with a rag on a stick, no aliens or robots and some props parked next to rocks and stores selling overpriced junk to geeks and it really feels nothing like Star Wars.

 

What wrong turn did you take on the way to Anaheim? 😂

[igger6 894]

Just got back from a trip to Disneyland, and what can I say about Galaxy's Edge?  Darkness rises, and light to meet it.  It's a mixed bag.  The environment is a work of art, the vistas are breathtaking, the size and scale are overwhelming, and the detail and show elements are beyond anything Disney has attempted before.  (Diagon Alley at Universal maybe outdoes it in sheer number of show elements, but it loses many, many points on presentation for its awkward pseudo-outdoors setting, bisection by train, and burying of its central attraction's facade.)  That said, it falls far short of my hopes for a few reasons.  First, obviously, the centerpiece attraction, Rise of the Resistance, isn't open yet, so it felt more like an extended preview than a land that's really ready for prime time.  Second, there's a wildly inadequate number of walkaround characters, given  what was implicitly promised. I saw somebody every time I walked through, but never any droids or creatures besides Chewbacca, and that's an inexcusable oversight for a franchise teeming with crowded settings full of outlandish figures. 

 

Finally, the music.  As I feared, it's a heartbreaking missed opportunity.  Every land in the park is enlivened by a score for the story you're experiencing, except the one we JWFans should love the most.  There's no live music at all, which shows just plain lack of imagination.  (There ought to be a strolling piper toodling out familiar themes as though they're extemporaneous compositions, or a sidewalk drummer who just can't get away from Holst rhythms.)  And yes, the stunning Falcon plaza needs stunning music to go along with it, at least every few minutes.  Frankly, there ought to be music everywhere, and not just needle-drops.  Williams gave them an embarrassment of melodic riches to toy around with in that one new suite alone, and it sounds like Ross arranged a plethora of variations.  They're just not here. 

 

I didn't realize the tragedy of what's missing until my final moments in the land on my last night, when I finally walked through the third of the land's three entrances.  If you know your Disneyland geography, it's the one closest to Big Thunder Mountain, and the one between the other two.  Here, with the benefit of low late-night crowd levels, I heard a stirring pan-flutish misterioso version of the main, four-line Galaxy's Edge theme from the suite, and it filled me with the sort of awe I should have been feeling throughout my visit.  (The video below captures the last line-and-a-half of the melody.)  I also realized then that the melody didn't remind me of Galaxy's Edge, despite having spent hours in the land on my trip, and that's a darn shame.

 

This is an easy fix, and I hope somebody humbles up and implements it soon.  Creating themed environments means immersing us by providing music so perfect that we don't immediately notice it, not immersing us by withholding one cinematic tool among the many they're already using.  Give us stern militarism in the First Order section, wonder and awe near the Falcon (perhaps with a dash of the main theme and the Rebel fanfare), world music in the marketplace, and sprightly cousins of the Resistance march on their side of the land (maybe with some mischievous Ewok/Jawa/Gungan-type tunage for the parked starfighters that Chewie often tries to fix.  There's so much untapped potential.

[Arpy 4,145]

@igger6 nice write-up! 

 

It's odd, GE seems to be capitalising on all the imagery annd characters that are iconic to the franchise, yet as a point of immersion, it means no 'theme' music plays in the park. It's a theme park! You want to be immersive, Disney, how about making customers earn a living working as a slave on Tatooine, introducing galactic credits as currency! 

 

Immersion isn't simply about being tricked into believing you're in a different world, rather it tends to be what we make of it in our interpretation. It seems to be a strange dichotomy of accepting film music's role in a film, but playing it in a theme park would somehow break the illusion - which is nonsense. Disney should be blasting out all the themes, all the music that for many people was part of the immersive qualities of the films, as a point of familiarity too.

[rough cut 1,714]

They should at least have the “join the empire”-recruitment video, from Solo, running somewhere. Maybe in the bathroom stalls?

[crumbs 14,287]

1 hour ago, rough cut said:

They should at least have the “join the empire”-recruitment video, from Solo, running somewhere. Maybe in the bathroom stalls?

 

The urinals should be shaped like stormtrooper helmets! 

[igger6 894]

Since you mentioned it, the bathrooms were actually kind of a letdown.  Industrial-looking sinks and a deliberately dirty mirror.  Another missed opportunity.

[Faleel 5,326]

So the refreshers weren't refreshing then?

[Oozer 25]

There will be a presentation at Disney's D23 convention about the music and sounds of Galaxy's Edge. Friday August 23rd from 12:30 to 1:30 PST. D23 presentations have not been livestreamed in the past and I don't think that's going to change this year.

[igger6 894]

A Disney fan site reported on this recently and editorialized brilliantly to the effect of “if they take questions, press them on why they’re holding a panel on music when there is little to none in the land.”

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

Indeed. It's a huge missed opportunity. It's just baffling when the place is so humongous and I've never even heard them play the suite.

[crumbs 14,287]

Disney must have money to burn if they can solicit both Williams and the LSO to create, essentially, music for a theme park sizzle reel. 

[King Mark 3,624]

 they have plenty of time to tweak the park in the next few months based on feedback they get

[Datameister 2,034]

Yep. Rides, buildings, layout, landscaping, infrastructure...those take a lot of time and money to change, and the process is usually disruptive to the visitors' experience. Not so for changing a background music loop. These can and do change over the years. Even the most venerable, fundamentally unchanged area of Disneyland - Main Street - doesn't have the same loop it had just 10 years ago...and I don't believe the park opened with the loop before that, either. Who knows what Galaxy's Edge will sound like in a year, not to mention a decade or three.

[DominicCobb 194]

So who wrote this? Surely not Williams, right?

 

 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

That’d be hilarious since the original is essentially a temp copy.  It’d be a temp copy of a temp copy.

[mrbellamy 6,270]

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

27 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

That’d be hilarious since the original is essentially a temp copy.  It’d be a temp copy of a temp copy.

 

What do you think was the temp?

[DominicCobb 194]

43 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

What do you think was the temp?

 

I believe it was a Benny Goodman record. Not sure which.

 

As for that Galaxy's Edge piece, definitely not Williams, also not Ross:

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8528161/disneys-star-wars-galaxys-edge-cantina-music-album-playlist-one?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

 

So they're releasing potentially multiple in-universe music albums for the park - hopefully the orchestral music will find a release at some point as well.

[King Mark 3,624]

I haven't changed my opinion that this is an amazing piece of music that should be on every Best Of Williams compilation

 

The recording is also absolutely stellar

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

 

Here he is talking about his music they don't even play there.

[Datameister 2,034]

Unless I somehow missed it, I believe the snippet in the second video here is new to us.

[King Mark 3,624]

Came back from there, amazing setting but the lack of music is very disappointing. I only heard re-arranged snippets of the Galaxy's Edge theme at the entrance. and new pieces in the Cantina. The ride  Rise of Resistance was full but I did the  Falcon ride .  I had the role of an "engineer" and had to press buttons on the side panels and I thought that was actually distracting to watching the visuals of the ride. I also did Star Tours at Hollywood Studios twice and it was different each time. I was very impressed by that too because it had updated visuals (falcon chase from TFA and TLJ Battle of Crait) .It was also my first time at Disney World

 

Star Wars day at Sea on the Disney Fantasy Cruise ship had the Star Wars soundtracks blaring all day on the loudspeakers and it was AMAZING. 

 

I have a suit on because I had to wear it on the plane later but it was a cold day

 

 

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

You took a Star Wars Disney cruise?

 

You should have gone to Disneyland. I could have gotten you in for free.

 

Did you at least go to Universal and ride E.T.?

[King Mark 3,624]

it was in Orlando Florida

 

I was tagging along with my friend's family so I had no say in where we were going. Just 1 Disney day..No time for Magic Kingdom . Mostly Hollywood Studios (Toy Story World, the Cars thing, Muppets, Aerosmith ride, the Twilight Zone mansion elevator ride and 4 hours looking at the stuff in Galaxy's Edge.

 

I did get to meet Darth Vader on the ship

[thx99 1,740]

9 hours ago, King Mark said:

Came back from there, amazing setting but the lack of music is very disappointing. I only heard re-arranged snippets of the Galaxy's Edge theme at the entrance. and new pieces in the Cantina.

 

Arranged by Randy Kerber into a 5+ minute, ambient/world music-like piece.  Kerber also composed various original cues for the marketplace area.

[Datameister 2,034]

Two unrelated sources of musical samples from Galaxy's Edge:

 

 

...and...

 

https://harlanhodges.com/#attractions

 

The video was just posted today, and while there's some unfortunate weirdness with the music (it sounds like it's overdubbed on top of itself with a delay of a second or two), there's still interesting stuff to be found.

 

Then the link to Harlan Hodges' website has some samples of source music he wrote for the land.

[King Mark 3,624]

hmm, it would be great if the made available the re-arranged Williams material

 

That ambiant music is kind of meh

[Faleel 5,326]

48 minutes ago, Datameister said:

Two unrelated sources of musical samples from Galaxy's Edge:

 

 

...and...

 

https://harlanhodges.com/#attractions

 

The video was just posted today, and while there's some unfortunate weirdness with the music (it sounds like it's overdubbed on top of itself with a delay of a second or two), there's still interesting stuff to be found.

 

Then the link to Harlan Hodges' website has some samples of source music he wrote for the land.

I hear some TFA in that (Finn's Trek)

[Tom 4,632]

When I first heard GE, I thought it was a top 20 JW piece.  I then cooled on it just a little bit, but after listening to way too much SW after IX came out, it is back up there.  It just oozes adventure but in a pure SW way.  The opening fanfare is second only to the main title in terms of openings of a JW piece (SW or otherwise).  Some of the repeating figures in the middle repeat one time too many, but the main melody, little fugue, big middle blast, ongoing counterpoint are top-notch.  

 

I hope he puts out a Signature edition, but that he has not done so already is worrying.  GE and AoH might be my favorite post ROTS SW music (most of which I do find excellent).  

[King Mark 3,624]

I think Galaxy's Edge and The Rise of Skywalker are 2 of his best pieces of all time

[artguy360 1,842]

Galaxy's Edge is one of my favorite SW concert pieces, even though I don't think it has ever been performed in concert! The melody is a bit more Indiana Jones than SW but I love the scale of it and the space and clarity of the recording. To me the development throughout the piece is reminiscent of Adventures of Han, but a little more coherent and successful in maintaining the thread.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

5 hours ago, artguy360 said:

even though I don't think it has ever been performed in concert

I know of two times, both conducted by David Newman last August: at Tanglewood Film Night and at the Hollywood Bowl.

 

Here’s the Bowl performance

 

 

[Jay 37,268]

Yea I was at the Tanglewood show and it was great!

[Datameister 2,034]

I was at the Hollywood Bowl and it was too! 😁

[rpvee 805]

15 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

I know of two times, both conducted by David Newman last August: at Tanglewood Film Night and at the Hollywood Bowl.

 

Here’s the Bowl performance

 

 

Wasn’t there a third? I thought he did it another time at Tanglewood as well.

[artguy360 1,842]

19 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

I know of two times, both conducted by David Newman last August: at Tanglewood Film Night and at the Hollywood Bowl.

 

Here’s the Bowl performance

 

 

Cool! I didn't know this was a thing that happened.

[Miguel Andrade 1,260]

Galaxy's Edge has been performed twice at Tanglewood: at the Across the Stars concert and at Film Night 2019.

[Pieter Boelen 740]

On 5/6/2020 at 7:43 AM, artguy360 said:

The melody is a bit more Indiana Jones than SW

That might explain why I like it extra much!

[Omen II 1,235]

This article on the LSO website includes an interview with William Ross and a copy of a thank you note from John Williams.

 

Galaxy's Edge

[crumbs 14,287]

Lovely note from John. Interesting that it hints at future collaborations.

 

What's that symphonic suite CD? Just the main theme or all the stuff Ross recorded for the rest of the attractions?

[mstrox 6,637]

The track by Williams is already called "Galaxy's Edge - Symphonic Suite" - so my guess is, it's a single with what we have already.

 

https://www.disneymusicemporium.com/product/XVLP99/star-wars-galaxys-edge-symphonic-suite

This seems to confirm - kind of silly to have the same track on both sides.  They're doing the same with The Mandalorian vinyl they announced on 5/4 - picture disc with the end theme on both sides.

[King Mark 3,624]

Galaxy's Edge Complete 3. c.d. set

 

C.D. 1- Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite

C.D. 2- Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite

C.D. 3- Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite

[Fabulin 3,506]

.

 

 

 

[King Mark 3,624]

I didn't see this for sale at Galaxy's Edge

[Tom 4,632]

On 5/6/2020 at 5:46 AM, Disco Stu said:

I know of two times, both conducted by David Newman last August: at Tanglewood Film Night and at the Hollywood Bowl.

 

Here’s the Bowl performance

 

 

I think I already made this comment, but I really wish Williams hadn't shortened the final minute.  I don't mind the first edit after the big statement of the main theme, but the second edit makes the piece feel rushed.  

[crumbs 14,287]

18 minutes ago, King Mark said:

Galaxy's Edge Complete 3. c.d. set

 

C.D. 1- Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite

C.D. 2- Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite

C.D. 3- Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite

 

Don't give Disney Records any more bad ideas! They have enough as it is.