Jump to content

'Your own' Ideal John Williams Concert Programe !


Amer

Recommended Posts

With all the lash back on the John Williams in Vienna concert release, I thought it would be nice if such a concert were to be reprised again in Vienna or Europe. I thought it would be nice to see if we could come up with ‘our own’ idealized version of what a Williams Concert program be like. So, feel free to make your own and add to the post here. (But just ensure that the Concert Program should be well balanced. We can’t have all  the exciting adventures cues back to back. There should be a breather in between those with slower or lighter cues)

 

Here is mine:

 

1.    Liberty Fanfare

2.    Young Indy’s First Adventure from The Last Crusade

3.    Harry’s Wondrous World from Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone

4.    ‘March’ from Superman

5.    With Malice Toward None from Lincoln

6.    March from Raiders of the Lost Ark

7.    Dartmoor, 1912 from War Horse

8.    Theme from Jurassic Park

9.    Victor’s Tale  from The Terminal

10.  Barrel Chase from Jaws

11.  Han Solo and The Princess (Revised) from The Empire Strikes Back

12.  The Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back.

13.  Theme from Schindler’s List

14.  Throne Room and Finale from Star Wars

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He, he. Oh, I would definitely have to be careful in my promotion -- i.e. to stress that this is NOT a JW concert featuring his 'greatest hits'. No STAR WARS, HARRY POTTER or INDIANA JONES in sight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Thor, I'm disappointed you didn't include anything from Fitzwilly.

 

Something's gotta give. There are about a million other things I wanted to include, but we can't have the concert too long either. But "Make Me Rainbows" would have been a cool 'showstopper'.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I was not first and foremost thinking of Making Rainbows, but rather on one of the tracks with the upbeat tuba melody.

 

You're probably thinking of "More Theft". Yes, that and "The Gimbel's Robbery" are nice tracks, but are - as the old FSM JW Buyer's Guide correctly posited - an early precursor to his later adventure sound (especially "Gimbel" could have been put into an Indiana Jones film without much hassle), so a little too close to his 'famous' sound. I was trying to avoid that a little bit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, Jurassic Shark said:

Then it's the perfect "bridge" to an audience who's used to JW's more recent output.

 

Screw them! This is a concert exclusively for the hardcore fans! You're required to show a picture of your JW collection before ordering a ticket, and a committee will decide if you're qualified enough to be an audience member at this concert. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Thor said:

 

Screw them! This is a concert exclusively for the hardcore fans! You're required to show a picture of your JW collection before ordering a ticket, and a committee will decide if you're qualified enough to be an audience member at this concert. :D

 

I guess I won't be allowed if there's even a single expansion in my collection. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, artguy360 said:

I don't have a whole program in mind, but I would definitely open with the theme for The Lost World. Starting with timpani and such a bombastic piece would be so fun and it's so rarely performed. The concert would start with great energy and signal to the audience that this isn't gonna be your typical JW concert. 

 

Somewhere in there I would program Remembrances from Schindler's List and The Rise of Skywalker theme. 

 

You should make the list..!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll get back regarding my own dream program, but I did think that Dudamel's 2014 program with the LA Phil was really quite fantastic. It resembled multiple facets of his career, and featured longer stretches of music and offered various soloists to really shine: Olympic music, concert work (Soundings), full Schindler's List Suite, Jazz with Catch me if you Can etc. while still ending with a greatest hit in the form of Throne Room and Finale which I prefer to the regular Main Titles arrangement.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something like this, perhaps...

 

Jazzy Times

Prelude and Fugue

Theme from "The Eiger Sanction"

"Jazz Autographs" from "The Terminal"

 

Call of the Wild

Theme from "Jurassic Park"

"The Hunt" from "The Lost World"

Suite from "Close Encounters"


High Adventure

"Presenting the Hook" from "Hook"

"Fighting for Dough" from "Far and Away"

"The Sea Battle" & "The Duel" from " The Adventures of Tintin"

 

Age of Magic

Rey's Theme

Suite from "Harry Potter" * 

Soundings

 

Encores

"Main Theme" & "Out to Sea" from "Jaws"

"Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"

Superman Theme

Cantina Band

 

*The same suite that was played when the Potter theme park opened, I believe it includes a fair selection.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, artguy360 said:

I don't have a whole program in mind, but I would definitely open with the theme for The Lost World. Starting with timpani and such a bombastic piece would be so fun and it's so rarely performed. The concert would start with great energy and signal to the audience that this isn't gonna be your typical JW concert. 

 

 

 

I was just about to type something similar.

 

I saw Williams at the Hollywood Bowl just as Lost World was premiering.  He started with the Main Title and it just brought the house down.  I get chills just thinking about it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Amer said:

1.    Liberty Fanfare

 

7 hours ago, Docteur Qui said:

Epilogue from The Fury

End Title from Jaws 2

 

1 hour ago, Steve said:

The Cowboys Overture

Celebrate Discovery

 

320_imperial_smile_cropped.gif

 

Like many others above, I'd also add something from Lost World and Lincoln (especially if it's the VPO, to let their brass section shine again), just not sure what exactly.

 

And definitely Summon the Heroes. Would probably make a good final piece, either for the regular programme or as the last encore.

 

6 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Thor, I'm disappointed you didn't include anything from Fitzwilly.

 

320_one.gif

 

6 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I hope it's a redeeming factor that I've got significantly more OSTs than expansions. ;)

 

That just shows your age.

 

 

 

...oh, and a 20 minute suite from CE3K.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, Amer said:

 

You should make the list..!

Ok, here it is:

 

1. The Lost World theme

2. Stargazers from ET

3. Remembrances from Schindler's List

4. Rey's Theme

5. The Rebellion is Reborn

6. The Rise of Skywalker

 

intermission

 

7. Here They Come! from Star Wars

8. Princess Leia's theme from Star Wars

9. Galaxy's Edge theme from Disney Parks

10. Becoming a Geisha from Memoirs

11. Confluence from Memoirs

12. Hymn to the Fallen

13. Summon the Heroes

 

encores

14. Hedwig's Theme

15. The Imperial March from ESB

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, eitam said:

Great to see some love for the Epilogue from the Fury in this thread!


It’s one of my all-time favourites, and laid the groundwork for so many intense string elegies down the track (Immolation Scene, The Starkiller/Torn Apart etc)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would want to hear things that aren't necessarily concert versions... or maybe things that are assembled into new concert versions.  I would want a concert that surprises me, so no Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, or Adventure on Earth... but I would rather hear other gems.  I wouldn't exclude big franchise films, but I would swap out Adventure on Earth for E.T. and Me.  And if you gotta have Jurassic, for God sakes, include the Journey to the Island and the ride to the lab sections.

 

I don't have a full program, but...

 

Heartbeeps End Title, done with no synth.  Would open many eyes.

Towering Inferno (Either Main Title or Architect's Dream)  

Johnathan Begins to Draw from Amazing Stories.  Holds up as well as any film piece.

Maggie Shoots Pool from Cinderella Liberty.  Versatility

Nocturnal Pursuit arrangement from Close Encounters... it worked for a record single.

The Pony Ride (from the River)

End Titles from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom... perhaps his best ever.

Jaws 2 medley: Divers Ballet, Brody Misunderstood, End Title

Love Theme from Missouri Breaks

1960s Turbulent Years from Nixon

Helicopter Rescue from Superman

Fist Fight/Flying Wing from Raiders

White Sands from SpaceCamp

Some assembly from War Horse that emphasizes the friendship theme from the trailer.

1941 To Hollywood and Glory

Stanley & Iris

 

and

 

The Land Race from Far and Away - Can't believe this isn't on everyone's list.

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ooh, this is interesting. So, obviously, the LSO would play all of it, Dirk Brossé or Keith Lockhart would conduct it and someone would have the common sense to ensure a proper recording was made.

 

Catch Me If You Can: Joy Ride

ET: Flying Theme

Far and Away: Suite

Harry Potter 1: Diagon Alley

Harry Potter 2: Fawkes

Harry Potter 3: Bridge to the Past

Home Alone: Somewhere in my Memory

Home Alone 2: Star of Bethlehem

Hook: The Banquet

Jane Eyre: The Return

Jaws: Out to Sea/Shark Cage Fugue

Lincoln: The People’s House

Midway: Men of the Yorktown March

Schindler’s List: Remembrances

Star Wars: Duel of the Fates, Across the Stars, Han Solo and the Princess (new), Rey’s Theme, The Rebellion is Reborn, The Rise of Skywalker

Superman: Love Theme

The Terminal: Viktor’s Tale

War Horse: Dartmoor 1912

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In all honesty I’d really just love to watch him conduct entire films live to projection. It’s a shame that it wasn’t feasible (or in the public interest) back in the 80s/90s, otherwise I imagine he would have done it.
 

On the other hand I have a feeling he’s always enjoyed performing his own music on its own merit, separate from the image or (god forbid) sound effects. So it’s maybe not so surprising.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, Docteur Qui said:

In all honesty I’d really just love to watch him conduct entire films live to projection. It’s a shame that it wasn’t feasible (or in the public interest) back in the 80s/90s, otherwise I imagine he would have done it.

 

He's done it once, you know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cowboys Overture

Harry Potter – Hedwigs Theme

Harry Potter – Harry’s Magical World

Sabrina theme

Hook: Flight to Neverland

Hook: He is the Pan!

Schindler’s List Theme

Jurassic Park Theme

Raiders Theme

Dracula Night Scene

Escapades from Catch me if you can

The Fury Ending

First Intermission

Symphony No. 1

Violin Concerto

Cello Concerto

Second Intermission

Superman Theme

Superman Leaving Home and the Fortress of Solitude (with Chorus)

Cadillac of the Skies (with Chorus)

Close Encounters Suite (with chorus)

Saving Private Ryan Hymn to the Fallen (with chorus)

Jaws Theme

Jaws Cage Fugue

Star Wars Main Theme

Star Wars: Princess Leia Theme

E.T. Adventures on Earth

Encores:

World premiere overture commissioned for this concert

ESB: The Imperial March

ESB: Yoda’s Theme

ESB: Han Solo and the Princess

Star Wars: Throne Room and End Titles

 

It will be his final public concert and results in a 20 minute standing ovation which persuades The Maestro to rarely sit down at the piano and improvise an impromptu performance of a brand new piano etude.

 

Bonus: $1,000 VIP includes gala dinner with the orchestra and Meastro with Q&A

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/21/2020 at 4:41 PM, eitam said:

Great to see some love for the Epilogue from the Fury in this thread!

 

So let's see...

 

Summon the Heroes

The Map Room (Raiders of the Lost Ark)

Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra (Last Crusade)

Avner and Daphna (Munich)

Epilogue (The Fury)

Dance of the Witches (Witches of Eastwick)

The Tale of Viktor Navorski (The Terminal)

Star of Bethlehem + Setting the Trap (Home Alone)

Exsultate Justi (Empire of the Sun)

 

---------- Intermission ----------

 

To Thornfield (Jane Eyre)

Seven Years in Tibet

Man Against Beast (Jaws)

The Big Rescue (Superman)

Blood Moon (Images)

Becoming a Geisha (Memoirs of a Geisha)

Pulling the Cannon (War Horse)

Dueling the Basilisk (Harry Potter 2)

Farewell Neverland (Hook)

 

So that's already 90 minutes of music. If we add a few encores for the brave:

 

Rey's Theme (Star Wars 7)

The Throne Room (hard to beat as a conclusion)

Blood Moon.  What a fantastic piece.  A dash of Mozart, of course, but just pure Williams energy and payoff.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

awesome question, thanks @Amer!

 

First Part

The Flag Parade (TPM)

Rey's Theme (TFA)

Smee's Plan, Concert Version (Hook)

Dartmoor (War Horse)

Viktor's Tale (The Terminal)

High Wire Stuns (JP)

The Pursuit Of The Falcon (Tintin)

Adventures On Earth (E.T.) – not the concert version, but the complete film cue

 

Second Part

The Menu (Jaws 2)

Asteroid Field (TESB)

The Face Of Pan (Hook)

Escapades for Alto Sax and Orchestra (Catch Me If You Can)

Cadillac Of The Skies (Empire Of The Sun)

The Land Race (Far And Away)

Theme From Angela Ashes

T-Rex Rescue and Finale (JP)

 

Encores

Anakin's Theme (TPM)

Star Of Bethlehem (Home Alone 2 version) (depending on season :P, alt.: Scherzo for X-Wings (TFA)

Exsultate Justi (Empire Of The Sun)

The Rise Of Skywalker (TROS)

Scherzo For Motorcycle and Orchestra (IJATLC)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Guidelines.