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On March 5, 1977, history began ...


Trumpeteer

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According to Film Score Monthly, John Williams began recording the "Star Wars" score today. I can just imagine the thrill of the musicians playing "Chasm Crossfire" and the main theme on the first day!!!! Talk about memorable.

Jeff -- who will listen to the score tonight, playing the cues recorded on March 5, 1977

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Yes John began recording Star Wars. There was no though of anything else at that time.

Perfection caught in time.

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According to Film Score Monthly, John Williams began recording the "Star Wars" score today. I can just imagine the thrill of the musicians playing "Chasm Crossfire" and the main theme on the first day!!!! Talk about memorable.

Jeff -- who will listen to the score tonight, playing the cues recorded on March 5, 1977

Sometimes I like to listen to the 5 versions of the Main Title that are on the SEs. I like to imagine what it must have been like to be a member of the LSO or anyone else who was at the sessions and be among the first people to have ever heard this great score. Me, I would have crapped my pants.

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Oh, I think they had an inkling. Though, it's my understanding that the musicians often do not get to see the film, as it's playing behind them while recording, and they rarely get to watch with the composer as he's playing back a take.

Jeff -- who thinks the musicians knew "Jaws," "Schindler's List," "Lord of the Rings," "Gone With the Wind" and "The Empire Strikes Back" were going to be extra special.

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Jeff -- who thinks the musicians knew "Jaws," "Schindler's List," "Lord of the Rings," "Gone With the Wind" and "The Empire Strikes Back" were going to be extra special.

The list could go on... but I gotta throw in Raiders. I have always pictured this scenario, some LSO musicians chatting before the Raiders sessions begin discussing what Williams has come up with now... Star Wars, Superman, Empire... he has to be tapped out, right? Then they start to rehearse! :nono:

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Jeff -- who thinks the musicians knew "Jaws," "Schindler's List," "Lord of the Rings," "Gone With the Wind" and "The Empire Strikes Back" were going to be extra special.

well you know what they say, 4 out of 5 dentists.

Joe, who finds LOTR's music anything but special

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I have always pictured this scenario, some LSO musicians chatting before the Raiders sessions begin discussing what Williams has come up with now...  Star Wars, Superman, Empire... he has to be tapped out, right?  Then they start to rehearse!  :)

With all the amazing stuff Williams has done, it would have to be incredible to record any new score he had written. Especially realizing that it?s not outside the realm of possibility that the music you?re playing could become known as the greatest film score of all time.

Hearing the first few orchestral notes in the inital run-through, witnessing with your own ears the birth of a new JW theme and the unveiling of music history.

nja- currently experiencing goosebumps at the thought

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The musicions actually had to drink coffee through their instruments as they performed the LOTR scores. Even this continual dosage of caffeine was barely enough to keep them awake.

Ray Barnsbury

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It would be my dream to play on film score recordings. I don't think I'll ever be proficient enough to pursue that (I play horn), but I agree that it'd be one heck of an experience.

Ray Barnsbury

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The musicions actually had to drink coffee through their instruments as they performed the LOTR scores.  Even this continual dosage of caffeine was barely enough to keep them awake.

Ray Barnsbury

Drinking coffee through a trumpet- sounds messy. Nothing compared to the flute section though.

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Here's what was played and on what dates:

March 5, 1977:

Chasm Crossfire

The Death Star

Ben Kenobi's Death

Main Title

The Hologram

March 8, 1977:

Shootout in the Cell Bay

Princess Leia's Theme

Imperial Attack (Part 1)

The Tractor Beam

Binary Sunset (alternate) (unused)

March 9, 1977:

Learn About the Force (part 2)

Burning Homestead

Wookie Prisoner

Learn About the Force (part 1)

March 10, 1977:

Cantina Band

Cantina Band #2

March 11, 1977:

X-Wings Draw Fire

Landspeeder Search

Tales of a Jedi Knight (part 2) (unused

TIE Fighter Attack

The Trash Compactor

Tales of a Jedi Knight (part 2)

The Stormtroopers

Dianoga

Tales of a Jedi Knight (part 1)

The Moisture Farm (part 2)

March 12, 1977:

The Throne Room

End Title

Dune Sea of Tatooine

Detention Block Ambush

Launch form the Fourth Moon

Imperial Attack (part 2)

Destruction of Alderaan

The Millennium Falcon

March 15, 1977:

Use the Force

Mos Eisley Spaceport

Jawa Sandcrawler

The Moisture Farm (part 1)

Binary Sunset (revised)

March 16, 1977:

Imperial Cruiser Pursuit

Attack of the Sand People

End Title (crossover)

Neil

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Jake Lloyd's birthday is March 5.

Every legend has an end, I guess.

Geeeh! :)

What a terrible omen.

Sheeesh!

Well at least the legend of the original films is still intact.

Of couse Lucas is still trying to F$%^ that up now.

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A pity they did not record recording dates on the SE's for ROTJ and TESB.

The Empire LP listed the recording dates but not for individual cues.

Neil

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Hmmmmmm sometime next year JW will record SW music for the last time?

OR ...... will it be the last time? :)

Sequel Trilogy still looms on the horizon. :)

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March 5, 1977:  

 

Ben Kenobi's Death  

 

this alone were like nothing ever heard on film, I wonder if the musicians got excited by it.

I've heard it hundreds of time and I still get excited by it. Great piece

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I know many classical musicians and also students of conservatories thought the Star Wars score was utterly garbage. Probably they were taught to look down upon it. They always did their best to make me feel ashamed of the fact that I even dared to pronounce the name 'John Williams'.

Not sure how the LSO reacted at the time.

---------------

Alex cremers

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Jake Lloyd's birthday is March 5.

Every legend has an end, I guess.

Geeeh! :fouetaa:

What a terrible omen.

No, his parents just planned it like that.

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Jake Lloyd's birthday is March 5.

Every legend has an end, I guess.

Geeeh! :)

What a terrible omen.

No, his parents just planned it like that.

Hmmmmmm procreation to meet a date. Thats an interesting idea. ROTFLMAO

Like those wackos who get it on in the spring in hopes they will have a "New Years Baby". ROTFLMAO

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"Hooray! It's pay day!"

Probably more, why can't we have James Horner, his music we can play in our sleep. :P At least they probably thought that in 1999.

I know many classical musicians and also students of conservatories thought the Star Wars score was utterly garbage. Probably they were taught to look down upon it. They always did their best to make me feel ashamed of the fact that I even dared to pronounce the name 'John Williams'.
.

Yeah well to them it's just commercialism and hacking.....

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  • 12 years later...

I would be surprised if John wasn't tapped on the shoulder and made aware of this fact if there's a TLJ recording session in the next few days. He would absolutely make reference to such a thing with the orchestra.

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Johnny, you did it! You crazy sonofabitch, you did it!

 

Actually, Rose, it was Denham Studios, in Buckinghamshire, which was affiliated to Abbey Road. ROTJ was the first SW score recorded at AR.

I'm listening to CHASM CROSSFIRE, as I type this. I'd really forgotten how damn good this score is! No wonder it stamped all over the charts, and the Oscars, in 1977/78 (even if it did beat his other - better - score...)

All 'n' all, its a superlative achievement, which fully deserves the accolade "greatest score ever written".

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On 3/7/2004 at 1:29 AM, Rogue_Leader said:

Hmmmmmm sometime next year JW will record SW music for the last time?

OR ...... will it be the last time? :)

Sequel Trilogy still looms on the horizon. :)

 

Wow, 13 years ago this guy predicted the sequel trilogy going on now.  Does anyone know who he is so I can get some stock picks and lotto numbers from him?

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The fact that more Star Wars movies would someday be made is the safest bet you could ever make in Hollywood

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Not really. After Revenge of the Sith came out, I was certain no more live action films would be made.

 

"There is no Episode VII." -  George Lucas, 2005

 

Unfortunately, he sold his soul to the devil. No one could have predicted he would have just suddenly sold Lucasfilm.

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