OFFICIAL NEWS Wonderful interview with John Williams about TFA

Thanks for bringing it over!

"In this score, there are no drum machines or electronic tricks. It’s just the orchestra. Which makes it a kind of anomaly in today’s world."

It certainly didn’t hurt, nostalgica -wise. It was absolutely the right decision.

 

Well said JW.

 

When I observed this in an other post I was disliked: https://thecantina.starwarsnewsnet....s-quit-before-eps-8-9.8322/page-4#post-234618
I don't want Hans Zimmer in my Star Wars! I'm glad Williams didn't use all that electronic mumbo jumbo. Here's something to get you through any night:

 

Oh wow, I just read the other thread. It's true- all of it

First of all I really do love Hans Zimmer, especially the tdk+ tdkr soundtrack with it's bonustracks and remixes by crystal method - I like listening to this kind of music while running or at the gym


"The music released with the trailers and commercials gave the impression of a kind of 'Hans Zimmer' style score for the Force Awakens"

Exactly!

And

"I think the problem is that there are two ways to evaluate music:
a. subjective - does it stir emotions with you as a listener, do you like it etc. matters of personal taste.
b. musicological - you look at the technical aspects of writing music. What sort of motifs do you use? What sort of story do you try to tell by means of the music? How does it accompany the images on screen. What sort of emotions does the music try to stir with its listeners"

That's the point, I guess . And I can't help it but I always have to look at the technical aspects - When it comes to evaluating music. I guess it has to do with the fact that I know I bit about triads, candence, inversion and how to read and interpret music notes. And here is the thing: if you lack that knowledge and don't how to read and interpret music notes, you simply have to stick with "a". With that selective view that only looks at the matters of personal taste, you misses the richness of the music. That is just the way it is.

 

Han Solo: "It's the Resistance.."

It's so badass!!

 

Having seen the movie again the other night I can say the score was standing out to me more as I watched it. Initially I was a little underwhelmed by it but that has changed as I have seen the movie more times.

 

I think a whole lot of people are saying that, either after rewatching the movie a 2nd or 3rd time, (or 5 or 6th like me!), or listening to the soundtrack online or various excerpts from it. I hope that both the soundtrack and movie plot, both of which were accused of being shallow or unoriginal by a number of people upon first viewing or hearing, will show their true depth and genius as more people rewatch the movie and hear the music over time. There is so much depth to both that a lot of people don't realize or haven't been able to take the time to see yet. We've seen and heard the original movies and music so many times over the years (even the prequels, which are newer), so we shouldn't be surprised to think that as we see and hear the new movie and music a few more times, it really starts to grow on you in powerful ways. Loving it and am so excited for what comes next!

 

As a professional musician (classically trained), I will tell you that Williams spent some time seriously showing off in TFA. There are some things he does that are very impressive from a technical level. One of the big ones is during the ending credits - he uses elements of "fugue" to do really incredible things (fugue is an old composition form that involves taking a melodic idea and repeating it over and over again while it accompanies itself... very difficult to write because there are all kinds of music theory rules that you have to follow to make it work right). Actually, Williams music overall can be very challenging regardless of how easy and catchy it sounds to the ear!

I loved the TFA score. Favorite elements are the "Attack on Jakku Villiage" opening, "Rey Meets BB-8," Kylo's Theme, Snoke's Theme, "Jedi Steps," and the Resistance theme. Its clear that Williams spent a ton of time on Rey's theme (he said he did, and you can really hear it). "Torn Apart" is also a cue that he clearly put a ton of thought into. It takes a real genius to resist the urge to write very stereotypical hero death music music... instead he puts something together that is as tense and terrifying as the moment demands that it should be.

Its a little weird because I can tell while listening to it that it isn't the London Symphony playing. I do hope they get back to the LSO for VIII and IX. Officially, it was a scheduling conflict that prevented the use of the LSO for TFA... but Disney has a tendency to stay local to LA and use studio freelancers (who, make no mistake, are really good musicians), so I have a feeling that will become the norm from here on out.

Regardless, though, the score was fantastic. No one -- I mean absolutely no one -- can make movies sound like Williams can.

 

As a former professional musician (classically trained) I'm also finding the soundtrack to get better and better after each viewing/listening. High art cannot be fully enjoyed as a one-off experience.

I particularly enjoyed the article because it confirms the kind of analysis that people like David Collins provide for the soundtrack. Star Wars Oxygen, guys. Look it up. Amazing podcast.

Edit - spelling

 

I'm a music person myself (guitarist, keyboardist, composer/improviser), not classically trained, but I have always marveled at what Williams can do.

His usage of Wagnerian leitmotifs are legendary, instantly recognizable, inimitable even after all these years.

With respect with The Force Awakens soundtrack, what he did was like a virtual masterclass in using subtleties and existing themes with new themes to maximum effect, particularly in the areas of cadence and harmony: what he does with Rey's theme and others on the soundtrack is pretty incredible, musically alluding while innovating and creating new complexities, which might not sound much to ears anticipating the Zimmeresque droning of Interstellar or Inception.

There's a great little article on the musical scoring of Star Wars on Wookieepedia:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Musical_score

I hope it is soon confirmed Williams will score Episode VIII and IX. His music in and beyond Star Wars has been exceptional and inspirational!

JediMasterRobert

 

John Williams is a global treasure

 

We are truly blessed to be able to witness and to listen the genius of John Williams. I went to a tribute recently made to his music and it's amazing. I do believe that the generations ahead of us will talk of his music like we talk about classical composers from centuries ago.