The Fabelmans - OST Album

[Tallguy 3,359]

7 minutes ago, blondheim said:

I don’t understand the criticisms against its length. Every time I listen to it I like it more and more. What a little gem and Gem really feels like the right word too. Like a little jewel, to marvel at how perfectly constructed it is. Its not set in anything lavish, theres no real ornament to it, it’s just a pretty jewel. There’s a lot of beauty in simplicity.

 

True. Absolutely true. And more to the point: It is what it needed to be.

[Joni Wiljami 1,206]

On 21/12/2022 at 8:36 PM, Brando said:

Mine arrived yesterday but since I still believe in Santa Claus it technically hasn’t left the North Pole yet.

 

Ahem... hasn't left Finland, Korvatunturi yet. Pretty soon he will...

[Luke Skywalker 1,791]

Just for the record… it arrived early in time for christmas. The problem is i was already midway to my parents home in another city…

[Dr. Rick 1,155]

Just got my Amazon shipping notification it will be delivered on the 28th! 

[Jay 37,249]

Mine says "Expected by Dec 28"

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

On 23/12/2022 at 7:40 PM, blondheim said:

I don’t understand the criticisms against its length. Every time I listen to it I like it more and more.

 

Yeah, it's a concise presentation. I wouldn't want it to be longer. 

[Brando 1,848]

Santa was good to me this year.

[Jay 37,249]

My copy just arrived

[Amer 2,077]

I had to cancel my Amazon order only because they were charging an arms length on shipping-Decided to order directly from my usual boutiques since I can bundle with them and save shipping plus they have it in stock.

 

 

[Antonb 118]

On 26/12/2022 at 5:24 PM, Jurassic Shark said:

 

Yeah, it's a concise presentation. I wouldn't want it to be longer. 

I wouldn't want it to be any longer because its his worse score! I like his early tv scores better than this! Main theme aside its totally forgettable! Thank god for Indy 5

[blondheim 1,157]

8 minutes ago, Antonb said:

I wouldn't want it to be any longer because its his worse score! I like his early tv scores better than this! Main theme aside its totally forgettable! Thank god for Indy 5

 I think this is the reason your Amistad order is delayed 😉

[Tallguy 3,359]

1 hour ago, Antonb said:

Thank god for Indy 5

 

Maybe.

[Antonb 118]

2 hours ago, blondheim said:

 I think this is the reason your Amistad order is delayed 😉

Ha Ha , you could be right, bad karma! serves me right being mardy about The Fabelmans score.

[Tom 4,630]

2 hours ago, Antonb said:

Main theme aside its totally forgettable! 

Which theme is this?  

[Sandor 796]

3 hours ago, Antonb said:

I wouldn't want it to be any longer because its his worse score! I like his early tv scores better than this! Main theme aside its totally forgettable! Thank god for Indy 5

 

I think The Fabelmans is a wonderful score actually. The Main Theme is beautiful, in all its renditions (The Fabelmans, Mother And Son and the latter part of The Journey Begins), but the secondary theme -the one heard in Mitzi's Dance- is a great theme as well.

After having seen the film, the music underscoring that particular scene is a moment of brilliance and it has deeply heightened my appreciation for the secondary theme, actually the most prominent theme in the film itself. To label this theme -and the music underscoring an essential moment in the film- as 'forgettable', really doesn't sound right. 

 

The secondary theme is also featured as a memorable piano solo piece (Reverie) and later it appears in The Letter and as part of The Journey Begins.

 

Reflections and The House contain their own thematic material (The House worked wonderfully in the film as well) and all in all I feel there is really a lot of interesting things happening in about 25 minutes of original music.

[Richard Penna 3,662]

28 minutes ago, Sandor said:

 

I think The Fabelmans is a wonderful score actually. The Main Theme is beautiful, but so is the secondary theme, the one heard in Mitzi's Dance.

After having seen the film, the music underscoring that scene is a moment of brilliance and it has heightened my appreciation for the secondary theme, actually the most prominent theme in the film itself. To label this theme -and the music underscoring that essential moment in the film- as 'forgettable', really doesn't sound right.

 

I'm completely with you on a film with very little music using that music well. It makes audiences notice it far more than when the entire film is scored and it's just 'there'.

 

Now I'm not sure I'd describe this score as 'forgettable'..... but memorable? I struggle there. There's a space between those where the music is far more than just wallpaper but doesn't achieve a uniqueness or emotional longevity, and for me that's where this score sits. I think if JW wins the Oscar it's going to be more representing an astonishing career with SS, instead of this score.

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

Well, he already turned down an honorary Oscar.

[Sandor 796]

1 minute ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Well, he already turned down an honorary Oscar.

 

What happened? 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

3 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

 

I'm completely with you on a film with very little music using that music well. It makes audiences notice it far more than when the entire film is scored and it's just 'there'.

 

Now I'm not sure I'd describe this score as 'forgettable'..... but memorable? I struggle there. There's a space between those where the music is far more than just wallpaper but doesn't achieve a uniqueness or emotional longevity, and for me that's where this score sits. I think if JW wins the Oscar it's going to be more representing an astonishing career with SS, instead of this score.

 

I don't really see the point in debating something like "memorability" which is by definition completely an individual experience.  I loved the film and have spun the OST more than a dozen times, which has made it a very memorable experience for me.  It won't be for others.

[Antonb 118]

Don't get me wrong, I'm soo happy he is still with us and making music. I must have had too high hopes for this score. And I haven't seen the film yet. I just find it a disappointing listen.  I keep trying! 

[Corellian2019 383]

First instance of one theme from The Fabelmans!

 

 

Compared to 0:11, and especially 0:49, of this video...

 

 

[artguy360 1,842]

JW's piano solo Fabelmans theme sounds like JW writing Randy Newman-like piano music. It has a similar warmth. 

[Richard Penna 3,662]

One of the finer examples of Newman's delicate writing. The piano figure from 4:30 is the sort of thing I don't personally get from Williams' score.

 

Actually, I'd love to hear what Newman would have done for this film.

 

 

[Tom Guernsey 2,277]

16 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

One of the finer examples of Newman's delicate writing. The piano figure from 4:30 is the sort of thing I don't personally get from Williams' score.

 

Actually, I'd love to hear what Newman would have done for this film.

 

 

As ever, not available in my region, but Newman (R) writes absolutely exquisitely for piano. Had JW not been available to score the Fabelmans, RN would have been a perfect alternative. I doubt his work would have been any less accomplished. Scores such as Awakenings, Avalon, Marriage Story, Ragtime and Pleasantville are all superb. At the risk of going totally off topic, I hope one of the labels is able to release his delightful score to Michael which remains unreleased.

[Darth Mulder 153]

Did you notice this similarity with track Mother and Son?

 

 

[Tom 4,630]

37 minutes ago, Darth Mulder said:

Did you notice this similarity with track Mother and Son?

 

 

It is just the effect of the classical guitar.  Imagine the Yorktown march on guitar, and it would start to sound like The Fabelmans.

 

 

[Not Mr. Big 4,639]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

It is just the effect of the classical guitar.  Imagine the Yorktown march on guitar, and it would start to sound like The Fabelmans.

I think that kind of descending chord progression is popular to write for guitar music (see Stepmom)

[1977 1,743]

Sorry to ask if this has been answered elsewhere but one can't be too careful these days. 

 

As this is a Sony release, is the US pressing a CD-R or not? I want to order it but can't seem to find any information on this.

[Jay 37,249]

Regular CD

[Jay 37,249]

Here's the chronological order of the OST album:

1. 3    Sonatina in A Minor, Op. 88 No. 3: III. Allegro    1:51
2. 2    Mitzi’s Dance    2:05
3. 4A [0:00-0:47]    Midnight Call    0:47
4. 7    Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36 No. 3: Spiritoso    1:58
5. 9    Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974: II. Adagio    3:46
6. 5    Reverie    1:44
7. 4B [0:41-end]    "Rainy Night"    1:42
8. 10    New House    2:28
9. 6    Mother and Son    2:28
10. 11    The Letter    2:08
11. 12    The Journey Begins    6:08

Not in film

1. 1   The Fabelmans   2:13
2. 8    Reflections    2:02

 

OK, most of "The Fabelmans" actually IS in the film; It replaces the majority of "Mother and Son".  So maybe it's a revised "intro" to that cue?  Either that, or it could have been recorded solely for the album, but then Spielberg tracked it into the "Mother and Son" scene?

 

"Reflections" sounds like it could be an alternate of "The Letter".  Or maybe it's an album arrangement of it?

 

"Midnight Call" is the only track on the album that combines music from two different scenes together in one track. And the overlap is long, hence the disparate timings above.

 

All the other tracks on the album contain one single cue by itself, with nothing else -- except the final track, which combines the final cue of the film with the end credits

 

Almost every cue in the film uses different takes than the album.  Mitzi's Dance and the end credits are noticeably longer, for example.

 

And there's 2 score cues in the film that aren't on the album at all.

[Sandor 796]

37 minutes ago, Jay said:

Here's the chronological order of the OST album:

1. 3    Sonatina in A Minor, Op. 88 No. 3: III. Allegro    1:51
2. 2    Mitzi’s Dance    2:05
3. 4A [0:00-0:47]    Midnight Call    0:47
4. 7    Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36 No. 3: Spiritoso    1:58
5. 9    Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974: II. Adagio    3:46
6. 5    Reverie    1:44
7. 4B [0:41-end]    "Rainy Night"    1:42
8. 10    New House    2:28
9. 6    Mother and Son    2:28
10. 11    The Letter    2:08
11. 12    The Journey Begins    6:08

Not in film

1. 1   The Fabelmans   2:13
2. 8    Reflections    2:02

 

OK, half of "The Fabelmans" actually IS in the film; It replaces the first half of "Mother and Son", but I suspect this is tracking.

 

"Reflections" sounds like it could be an alternate of "The Letter"

 

"Midnight Call" is the only track on the album that combines music from two different scenes together in one track. And the overlap is long hence the disparate timings above.

 

All the other tracks contain one single cue by itself with nothing else (except the final track, which combines the final cue in the film with the end credits)

 

Almost every cue in the film uses different takes than the album.  Mitzi's Dance and the end credits are noticeably longer, for example.

 

And there's 2 score cues in the film that aren't on the album at all.

Thanks for this!

 

The first original score music heard in the film is actually the opening part of the last track The Journey Begins.

 

No idea if this is a seperate recording or just tracked from the final cue.

[Jay 37,249]

1 minute ago, Sandor said:

Thanks for this!

 

No problem

 

1 minute ago, Sandor said:

The first original score music heard in the film is actually the opening part of the last track The Journey Begins.

 

Nope!  It's a completely unreleased cue that has some similarities to The Journey Begins

 

1 minute ago, Sandor said:

No idea if this is a seperate recording or just tracked from the final cue.

 

Absolutely a separate recording, not one second of it is the same as The Journey Begins.

[Sandor 796]

4 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

No problem

 

 

Nope!  It's a completely unreleased cue that has some similarities to The Journey Begins

 

 

Absolutely a separate recording, not one second of it is the same as The Journey Begins.

Ah ok! Thanks for clarifying this for me! 

[Jay 37,249]

No problem

[Jay 37,249]

Having seen the film finally, I've listened to the OST album a few more times now (I only listened to it twice when it came out, and then I waited until I saw the film to return to it)

 

I definitely like the score much more now that I know the context for the music!  And the OST album really does capture the whole essence of the score and Mitzi's piano performances, though it's odd it isn't complete in either regard. 

 

There's an amazing western guitar / strings / horn solo cue in the film that isn't on the album that would really tie into the filmmaking aspects of the movie in the way that none of the other score cues do (the music is like the vision in Sam's head of the finished movie he is shooting as he's shooting it). 

 

And the one piano piece Mitzi plays in a scene where every character is watching and commenting on it is the one that isn't on the album, very strange decisions in both cases.

 

 

Also, it's kind of funny to realize now that the album's cover (from the movie poster of course) is the final shot in the whole movie.  How many soundtrack covers do that?

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I sort of get leaving off the war film music strictly in terms of "album crafting" or whatever, because it's so different from everything else, but it is a shame.

[Jay 37,249]

Yup, it's not surprising at all, as this is exactly the kind of stuff Williams thinks about when crafting his album experiences.

 

As a fan of all his music, and a big fan of this cue, it's disappointing, though, as it's unlikely we'll get an expansion for a very long time

 

The FYC would have been an obvious place to release it, but somehow they skirted the academy rules and just uploaded the OST album instead of the actual film cues.

[mouseman 4]

Purchased the movie from Apple in early December in Canada but was really pleased to see docs from Laurent Bouzereau, including one touching on John Williams and some of the other key below-the-line crew members, added to the package as Extras just in the last week or so. The end credits for the doc feature Williams performing a slightly different variant of the main theme at his piano and put a solid lump in my throat. 

[artguy360 1,842]

Listening to The Fabelmans theme for the first time I thought: this is perfectly pleasant piano music with a touch of Randy Newman and Americana. 

 

Listening to it now, and the theme could bring me to tears not because it is so sad but because it is so earnest and beautiful. I could almost say it is immaculate.

[Not Mr. Big 4,639]

15 minutes ago, artguy360 said:

Listening to The Fabelmans theme for the first time I thought: this is perfectly pleasant piano music with a touch of Randy Newman and Americana. 

 

Listening to it now, and the theme could bring me to tears not because it is so sad but because it is so earnest and beautiful. I could almost say it is immaculate.

It was like the opposite for me where it instantly made me emotional in a way that only the TROS theme has done for me for modern Williams (most of which are growers).  The melodic contour, the simple chord progression, the classic 2010s stripped back JW piano sound.

[BB-8 3,454]

6 hours ago, Not Mr. Big said:

It was like the opposite for me where it instantly made me emotional in a way that only the TROS theme has done for me for modern Williams (most of which are growers).  The melodic contour, the simple chord progression, the classic 2010s stripped back JW piano sound.

I haven't seen the film yet, but the OST in all it's simplicity has made an lasting impression on me. I think I will always be thinking of Milan when I hear it in years to come - like some specific fragrance or colour that triggers memories of certain situations or emotions.

[Richard Penna 3,662]

I still have trouble with the 'A' part of the theme, whereas going into the 'B' part and whatever you call the rest, is a bit more interesting.

 

My main issue is that for scores I love, they instantly evoke some sort of imagery, place, situation, etc very strongly. So strong in fact that I have scores/tracks I can't listen to because the association went 'wrong' and I don't want to remember some memory.

 

With this score, nothing appears in my mind for most of it. The main theme, and the melodty in Mitzi's Dance, sure - I can picture a pleasant cinematic image, but it doesn't go much further than that. Certainly, the idea of Mother and Son being composition of the year... umm, what?

[Not Mr. Big 4,639]

4 hours ago, Richard Penna said:

My main issue is that for scores I love, they instantly evoke some sort of imagery, place, situation, etc very strongly. So strong in fact that I have scores/tracks I can't listen to because the association went 'wrong' and I don't want to remember some memory.

I feel like the emotional response music gives me is the most important thing.  The Fabelmans theme for me evokes simple familial love and nostalgia for youth.  It's not the most complex theme but I think its simplicity works in its favor.

[artguy360 1,842]

I've been listening to this soundtrack more lately and I love how small and intimate it is. The score is largely compromised of piano solos and a small string ensemble sound with a few other featured instruments. The only time is goes into a larger orchestral sound is with the end credits and I actually like that music the least. The very quiet, intimate music is the best way to present the two themes and to match the picture. Even the themes have a simplicity and restraint to them. The descending mother's dance theme is so simple, yet so effective.

[crumbs 14,287]

On 27/01/2023 at 11:31 AM, mouseman said:

Purchased the movie from Apple in early December in Canada but was really pleased to see docs from Laurent Bouzereau, including one touching on John Williams and some of the other key below-the-line crew members, added to the package as Extras just in the last week or so. The end credits for the doc feature Williams performing a slightly different variant of the main theme at his piano and put a solid lump in my throat.

 

Some very kind soul uploaded this documentary to YouTube.

 

Here's the section on JW discussing the score:

 

 

And the slightly alternate arrangement of the theme, performed by JW on piano, starts here:

 

 

 

 

[MrJosh 892]

It's really cool to hear Williams play the theme at the end with a few little differences like the beautiful arpeggiation in the left-hand heard at 21:11 in the video. 

[Jay 37,249]

Kind of strange for Spielberg to say "this was a wonderful way for Johnny to finish up his career as a film composer" when he's producing Indy 5 that Johnny scored after this

 

 

That's so cool that the finale and end credits of the feature is scored by JW playing the theme on his piano in his house, and that the footage constantly cuts back to it, and wraps up with it.  Maybe Bouzereau ain't so bad

[Richard Penna 3,662]

I think you're taking the 'finish up his career' a bit too literally - I take it to mean that he's on the edge of retirement, and also he's bound to say stuff that just sounds good for PR purposes.

[Quppa 117]

I finally got around to watching the movie and must say I didn't expect so much source music from classic films. I understand why they did it like that, but selfishly I wish Williams had been able to compose some fanfares in the style of the period (yes, I'm thinking of 'Suite from “Angels with Filthy Souls II”' from Home Alone 2).

[BB-8 3,454]

It's "The Feeblemans"....at the Oscars.