The Fabelmans - OST Album

[Sandor 681]

I think the Sony Classical page has bits of new information and quotations from Williams and Spielberg:

 

https://www.sonyclassical.com/releases/releases-details/the-fabelmans-original-motion-picture-soundtrack

[Gurkensalat 320]

In this Spielbergs calls it their 31st collaboration. So he counts Amazing Stories and American Journey as well?

[Luke Skywalker 1,506]

I think he usually does, yes

[crumbs 12,961]

Nice "new" photo (from 2016) in that article:

 

[Tom 3,707]

"And then I said, I know..."

[ThePenitentMan1 271]

1 minute ago, Tom said:

"And then I said, I know..."

"And then the Han and Leia theme swelled on the strings just before I was lowered into the carbon freezing chamber with all the composers that are better than John."

[Once 551]

10 hours ago, Sandor said:

I think the Sony Classical page has bits of new information and quotations from Williams and Spielberg:

 

https://www.sonyclassical.com/releases/releases-details/the-fabelmans-original-motion-picture-soundtrack

Quote

“[...] when he first previewed it for me on his Steinway, I knew he had made this his most personal gift to me as well. What a beautiful culmination for our 50th anniversary, one that leaves me wanting more… more movies with Johnny, as I am joined by a billion people the world over who will never stop shouting to John Williams… encore, encore! Thank you, maestro.”

Lovely quote!

[SpaceCoyote 114]

Amazon just notified me that my new estimated delivery date is January 9th. The release date on the product page has also changed, but only to December 16th.

[lairdo 591]

3 minutes ago, SpaceCoyote said:

Amazon just notified me that my new estimated delivery date is January 9th. The release date on the product page has also changed, but only to December 16th.

 

Yep, me too on the date and also I see the updated Dec 16 date too.

 

Wal-mart still shows Dec 9 but that might be because they have not updated yet. I assume Sony informed retailers of the delay and maybe that they will all be getting less quantities than expected. It's possible the Amazon shipping dates will move up into December when they actually get stock.

[Sandor 681]

I was notified by Amazon as followed:

 

New estimated delivery date:
We will email you as soon as we have a delivery date.

 

[GerateWohl 2,840]

And interesting, that the price climbed from initially 12,61€ to 19,99€ now.

[Andy 2,555]

Yeah I’m in a mild panic after Amazon notified me.  I may order a backup copy. But from where?

[Dr. Know 255]

I also got the notice from Amazon about the January delivery date.  Bummer.

[Leitmotif 15]

For those who are worried that it is too short...

"The Son" from Hans Zimmer even shorter, it is  20 min 23 sec 

[Not Mr. Big 4,232]

2 minutes ago, Leitmotif said:

For those who are worried that it is too short...

"The Son" from Hans Zimmer even shorter, it is  20 min 23 sec 

Short scores are the trendy new thing this year, like crop tops

[Smeltington 1,093]

I guess we were all disappointed to learn we weren't getting more Williams music with this release, but after hearing it, I think it works great as a 24-minute Williams score. There's just enough time to spend with the ideas presented, without belaboring the point. And it's kinda nice to have a succinct recent Williams score that you can listen to all in one sitting.

[Tom 3,707]

I just love the moment in the Journey Begins when the piano stops playing and you realize that Williams has been creeping up Haydn for the past 30 seconds (and metaphorically the last 30 years).  Just a nice realization that Williams is at home in the "classical big leagues."   

 

Here is the moment, though again, Williams builds to it (and, oh man, that cello in the next two themes):

 

 

[Antonb 115]

I have listened to it a couple of times, it's nice, but I don't really have a desire to listen to it again. No doubt I will revisit it later. I'm really into listening to Temple of Doom At the moment. An amazing score! I know A very different score but in a different league to The Fablemans, in my opinion ofcourse!

[Henry Sítrónu 463]

this time there are *few* bars where I'm not 120% sure, but… enjoy.

 

[Jay 32,037]

I just got an email from Amazon letting me know to expect my copy of the physical CD on Wednesday, January 11, 2023

[Bespin 6,997]

At least you have a date, still nothing on Amazon.ca.

[JTGL 156]

On 7/11/2022 at 6:02 PM, King Mark said:

FUUUK After 3 years I finally caught covid

 

I hope it doesn't affect my hearing

I got covid for the first time this week :(! But glad that I got it now and not in the week op my trip to Milan. 

[Tom 3,707]

5 hours ago, Bespin said:

At least you have a date, still nothing on Amazon.ca.

There are better dating sites than Amazon.  

[p0llux 299]

3 hours ago, Tom said:

There are better dating sites than Amazon.  

Sites like jwfan.com?

[filmmusic 1,373]

Jonathan Broxton review

(If you havent' seen the film I'd suggest not to read it because there are lots of spoilers about what scenes the music cues accompany):

https://moviemusicuk.us/2022/11/22/the-fabelmans-john-williams/

[BB-8 1,929]

They played "Mother and Son" this morning on BR Klassik following a review of the album (in German):

 

https://www.br.de/radio/live/br-klassik/programm/2022-11-23/3302726/#t=07:14:54

Aufnahmeprüfung: "Die Fabelmans" - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Ben Alber

[Gurkensalat 320]

Yes, I heard it too by chance, was very surprised, since it is not a big blockbuster movie/soundtrack. And a positive review, too, without the usual snark of highbrow culture radio concerning film music. 

[Bespin 6,997]

The FYC has been digitally released, 9 tracks like Jay predicted, I don't think they even removed the Haydn part from the last track.

 

 

 

[Jay 32,037]

Actually I predicted that the FYC would split "The Journey Begins" into two separate tracks without any Haydn present.

 

I did not predict they'd just upload the OST album with the piano tracks removed!

[filmmusic 1,373]

Does this mean that all the music in the ost is film versions and not album arrangements?

[Jay 32,037]

There's two possibilties.

 

1 - all the music on the album was already exactly the same as what's in the film

 

2 - whoever is in charge of putting an FYC album on this website did not understand the academy's rules correctly and thought they could just upload the OST album (but knew enough to take out the classical pieces)

[Tom 3,707]

The Haydn part is very brief and quickly becomes a unique Williams's arrangement of the piece.  I don't know how hard and fast the rules are, but this is clearly not just a dropping in of Haydn surrounded by Williams compositions--it is organic to the Williams's composition.   sort of like what Zimmer does to the William Tell Overture in The Lone Ranger. 

[BB-8 1,929]

11 minutes ago, Jay said:

(but knew enough to take out the classical pieces)

What if they had left them all in?

 

"And the winner is... Friedrich Kuhlau!"

 

Fame at last!

 

[AC1 3,895]

I recognized something. Here it's played on a piano.  Is that the Haydn piece everyone is talking about?

[Jay 32,037]

The Haydn piece on the OST album is in track 12 from 0:47-1:58

[Bespin 6,997]

Did someone already find out the chronological order of the tracks, according to the movie?

 

If the FYC is in the same order, maybe it's already chronological?

[mrbellamy 5,701]

I gotta say, even though I felt prepared for this being a very limited JW score, there was even less music in the movie than I really anticipated. Definitely seems like a complete release with extra on the album.

 

My takeaway was that the score was contributing mainly to key moments in the relationship between Sammy and his parents, but especially Mitzi because it also reflects her personal state of mind (Mitzi's Dance, Midnight Call). That felt like the role JW wanted to take on this one. It felt perfectly spotted, though, along with the period songs and classical piano. 

 

Also I believe "The Fabelmans" is the only time that theme is heard in the narrative with that solo piano track actually placed toward the end in the last scene between Sammy and Mitzi. Chronologically between New House and The Letter, I think. Mother and Son's not in the score. It reminded me of the thread we had recently about memorable themes that are saved for the end. It does have a really calming effect on the movie, it's like "John Williams is here, everything's going to be ok" lol. 

 

Also someone needs to remind me which cue was used for Sammy and Mitzi's conversation en route to California when they get out of the car. I feel like it was Reverie, just the solo piano arrangement of that theme, but I can't 100% place that and Reflections. 

[TheUlyssesian 2,303]

I've seen the movie too and this is legitimately Williams' sparest score since probably the 60s. It's literally 4 or 5 times in the movie that he comes in over 150 mins. And that's it. He does get to expand over the end credits.

 

I'll say this - this is the logical end point of Spielberg' filmmaking style as it has evolved over the past decade or so. When doing straight dramas - Spielberg is increasingly very restrained, with several talky dialog heavy scenes and not much in the way of action. Think Lincoln, think Bridge of Spies. The way the film is made - it doesn't allow for much score to be honest.

 

I will even say... the score is so sparse I wonder if it meets even the 35% requirement of all the music in the film. It probably does. But just saying, it is really really sparse. 

 

I like it plenty still. It's beautifully crafted music. But Williams is winning exactly zero awards for this. So no one should get their hopes up. Even nominations will be touch and go - it's a really minor work in that regard.

[mrbellamy 5,701]

It really would be a "thanks for everything" nomination, more than usual.

[WilliamsStarShip2282 266]

Its funny how Williams said it would be a very piano heavy score but there is hardly any score, but its mostly piano/celeste still.

 

I haven't seen the film yet, but I walked around outside today while listening to the OST and it was very calming and peaceful.

[Taikomochi 904]

Saw the film. It sounded to me like the first half of “Mother and Son” was replaced with the piano arrangement from the first track for the final scene with Mitzi before segueing into the second half as it is on album. Guessing maybe the piano arrangement was a revision by Williams and the album track of “Mother and Son” is as originally written? (I could be wrong on this, it was mixed low so hard to tell)
 

The guitar opening of “Mother and Son” does play in the credits, inserted between the Mitzi material and reprise of the main theme.

 

The opening of “The Journey Begins” plays exactly as it does in film as on album. That cue is certainly meant to close the film. That it appears in that released clip, which is very early and I think the first time we hear any Williams, I am guessing was a tracking decision made by Spielberg or whoever. 

[Bespin 6,997]

Before seing The Fablemans, is it necessary to have seen his prequel, 'An American Tail'?

[Thor 5,961]

On 25/11/2022 at 7:28 AM, mrbellamy said:

 It felt perfectly spotted, though, along with the period songs and classical piano.

 

But you have to remember one thing, Mr. Bellamy: Unless there are 300 minutes of music (regardless if it fits the film or not), and it's in Williams' exubrant style with plenty of cymbal crashes, fanfares, boom-tsh'es and jagged scherzos, it's not worth anything in JW Film Score Fandom.

 

I'm jesting, of course, but also not. I really adore this little album, and can't wait to see the film when it finally premieres over here.

[Bespin 6,997]

All the more reason to buy this album according to highresaudio.com.

 

[JohnnyD 1,150]

On 25/11/2022 at 4:16 PM, Taikomochi said:

The opening of “The Journey Begins” plays exactly as it does in film as on album. That cue is certainly meant to close the film. That it appears in that released clip, which is very early and I think the first time we hear any Williams, I am guessing was a tracking decision made by Spielberg or whoever. 

Actually, this is an original short cue. The beginning of The Journey Begins is a reprisal of this short cue. The performance of the cue heard in the scene from the clip is softer and different.

[Taikomochi 904]

Good to know. Then I think that would be the only unreleased cue. I didn’t notice anything else. Though, like I said, it was mixed pretty low so hard to hear. 

[Not Mr. Big 4,232]

29 minutes ago, Taikomochi said:

Good to know. Then I think that would be the only unreleased cue. I didn’t notice anything else. Though, like I said, it was mixed pretty low so hard to hear. 

There was a 10 second french horn solo that played over the scene where Spielberg is giving instructions on how to act in the war movie (Williams' classic disillusioned Americana sound) and a bass drone that plays as the bully forces him to pick up the volleyball 

[JohnnyD 1,150]

3 hours ago, Not Mr. Big said:

There was a 10 second french horn solo that played over the scene where Spielberg is giving instructions on how to act in the war movie (Williams' classic disillusioned Americana sound) and a bass drone that plays as the bully forces him to pick up the volleyball 

When Sammy shoots the shot in his war movie after he gives instruction to his friend playing the American soldier, and his friend walks through the bodies up to the moment when Sammy yells, “Cut” that cue starts with sustained strings, segueing from the guitar source music, and goes into the French horn; the cue ends when Sammy yells, “Cut.” Also, the volleyball scene has no music in it at all.

[Disco Stu 15,475]

I'll just say I'm very glad I saw the film before I listened to the album.  I definitely can understand feeling underwhelmed without the context of why it sounds like this and why it's so short.  A lot of score would have given scenes a feeling of fantasy, of going to the "dream world" that films can conjure without parallel as Mitzi Fabelman might describe it.  It would have been so wrong for the film.  The scenes that do have score it is with such a feeling of purpose.  These are masters at work, Spielberg and Williams.

 

I also can't imagine just making a playlist and cutting the classical tracks out, I love this album program!  And of course the Bach adagio is maybe the key piece of music in the entire film.

[Jay 32,037]

Do any of these non-Williams piano tracks play more than once in the film?