Williams debuts "Helena's Theme" from Indiana Jones 5 at the Hollywood Bowl

[artguy360 1,843]

Has this video been shared yet? It's a very nice performance of Helena's theme with mostly clean audio.

 

https://youtu.be/liQuxbV6gYIhttps://youtu.be/liQuxbV6gYI

[crumbs 14,300]

I thought the performance of Helena's Theme in Milan was the best of the lot! But I might be biased, considering I was there!

[Alex 2,833]

Wish they’d release a clean version as a single.

[igger6 894]

It's funny: I'm so used to the wood-colored stage at Symphony Center in Chicago that the black stage really hides the musicians in this view.  It looks like they're performing in a black-box theater!

[Jay 37,285]

10 hours ago, artguy360 said:

Has this video been shared yet? It's a very nice performance of Helena's theme with mostly clean audio.

 

https://youtu.be/liQuxbV6gYIhttps://youtu.be/liQuxbV6gYI

 

I don't believe that's been posted here, no.  Thanks for sharing, that's the best audio and video yet!

[Marian Schedenig 8,172]

1 hour ago, Alex said:

Wish they’d release a clean version as a single.

 

Probably unlikely before the official soundtrack release.

[King Mark 3,625]

Best sounding video yet. Theme gets better and better the higher the quality we hear it in

[artguy360 1,843]

This newest video really shows the delicate nature of the theme. It brings out all the golden-age goodness.

[Garrett 153]

On 05/09/2022 at 1:00 AM, ConorPower said:

The  discussion here of "Love Themes" is rather interesting. Williams calling PWB's Helena a femme fatale struck me, as the theme didn't sound as noir-ish as Irina's theme. I'd be interesting in seeing how the theme relates to the depiction of her. Is it really representative of her character, or (as described in relation to Marion's theme on Art of the Score) a "thinking of Helena" theme? Not so much representative of her but how Indy (or maybe even Williams?) thinks about her. 

 

I addressed this issue a bit when discussing Irina and KotCS in article I had out last year. I'll do a shameless self-plug for anyone who might be interested in reading it. 

Article - Swashbucklers and Femme Fatales - Gender Coding in John Williams's Score to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).pdf 359.2 kB · 7 downloads

 

I read your paper. You seem to be evaluating John Williams based on how progressive he is. However, you have things backwards. One does not measure Williams with a measuring stick, because Williams IS the measuring stick by which all other things should be measured.

 

John Williams should not be judged by how well he conforms to the standards of progressivism. Instead, progressivism should be judged by whether it meets the high standards of John Wiliams. Insofar as progressivism is pro-Williams, progressivism is good. Insofar as progressivism is anti-Williams, progressivism is bad.

 

Before you adopt a political philosophy, ask yourself whether it passes the "John Williams test."

[Cerebral Cortex 3,357]

I'm starting to really appreciate the little reference to Marion in her theme. I love the idea that Helena in a way is meant to remind Indy of Marion when she was that age, and it's fun that Indy gets to both start and end the films with her character in a way. Perhaps in a way she reminds him of who he used to be.

[Brónach 1,301]

I hadn't heard this but it's very pretty.

[Jay 37,285]

The Milan performance is better than the Hollywood Bowl performance!

[crumbs 14,300]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

The Milan performance is better than the Hollywood Bowl performance!

 

Agreed, they really nailed the old Hollywood, sweeping romance of the piece.

[Jay 37,285]

Yes!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liQuxbV6gYI

[toothless 963]

Somehow, I feel like this piece has huge James Bond vibe. I don't know why. 

[TolkienSS 405]

The first third reminds me of My Friend The Brachiosaurus.

[Docteur Qui 1,544]

On 12/04/2023 at 2:33 AM, toothless said:

Somehow, I feel like this piece has huge James Bond vibe. I don't know why. 

 

I know why - it shares some of the musical language that John Barry used in his Bond scores; particularly chords and notes from jazz styles that were very popular in the middle of the 20th century. This piece is consciously evocative of the film noir genre, which Barry was also heavily influenced by.

[Amer 2,080]

Todays the opening melody suddenly appeared in my mind and its a winner!  Look forward to the real album presentation next month!

[artguy360 1,843]

Relatively few actors have had the experience of John Williams writing a theme for their character.

 

It must be incredible, like Daisy R. and Rey's Theme or Ford and Indy's theme.

The actress who plays Helena was asked about this in an interview:

 

Quote

"I still haven't really found the words for that. I managed to actually meet John at the Oscars," Waller-Bridge says. "To be able to say thank you to him for all the work that has inspired me over the years, but then also to specifically say, 'Thank you for writing me a theme,' was one of the purest and most precious moments in this side of my professional life. That was the best."

https://www.gamesradar.com/indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny-phoebe-waller-bridge-mysterious-helena/

[King Mark 3,625]

I think the actress who played Penny in Lost in space mentioned she was happy in c.d. the liner notes

[Docteur Qui 1,544]

When I was a young teenager and obsessed with the first Potter score I would sometimes daydream that I was cast in one of the films as a major character. In my little fantasy I insisted on attending the recording sessions and meeting with Williams, and he was always so pleased that I showed interest in his music. 

 

When I saw all the footage of Daisy at the recording sessions for TFA, seeing how chuffed she was about the whole thing, it gave my inner child such vindication! Glad to hear Phoebe Waller-Bridge is in the same boat, it would be such an honour!