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Happy birthday, John Williams, film composer, born February 8, 1932
Multiple links in body of thread | February 8, 2015

Posted on 02/08/2015 12:49:37 PM PST by EveningStar

Today marks the 83rd birthday of the great film composer John Williams, whose scores have garnered numerous wins and nominations for Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Grammy Awards.

Wikipedia

IMDb

John Williiams Fan Network

The John Williams Collection



TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: cinema; film; happybirthday; johnwilliams; movies
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To: Sioux-san
Does anybody else find his music boringly repetitive and overbearing and just not that good?

No, not in the least. I love good film scoring, and Williams is as good as it gets. He is fully the peer to Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith, and miles above the likes of Danny Elfman. The music is constructed to support specific scenes in a movie, and Williams employs leitmotif which, out of context, and arranged as a suite, could sound repetitive. But that is true of any film composer's music. A good film composer is basically a miniaturist, setting music for 2 or 3 minute scenes over and over.

The separate leitmotifs/themes for Darth Vader, Luke, and Lea are brilliant and nothing less than perfect.

21 posted on 02/08/2015 2:51:31 PM PST by Sirius Lee (All that is required for evil to advance is for government to do "something")
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To: EveningStar

I do like much of Mr Williams’ work, especially “Summon the Heroes’ (Olympic Fanfare) as well as they lyric portions of Superman I.

He is not the best but far, far from the worst of the film & TV composers of this time.

As for one of the best, consider Elmer Bernstein and his immortal score for the “Magnificent Seven”, I only have to mention it and it plays in your mind instantly!


22 posted on 02/08/2015 2:53:03 PM PST by SES1066 (Quality, Speed or Economical - Any 2 of 3 except in government - 1 at best but never #3!)
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To: left that other site

He was vastly superior to Keith Lockhart.


23 posted on 02/08/2015 2:53:23 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Sirius Lee

I agree. I really enjoy Danny Elfman, James Horner, Basil Poledouris, and Bear McCreary, but they’re not nearly as good as John Williams.


24 posted on 02/08/2015 2:57:47 PM PST by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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To: Carbonsteel

I’m not familiar with Bear McCreary, I will cruise on over to the IMDB to find out more...thanks for letting me know about him!!
And I do agree,James Horner has written some nice things!!


25 posted on 02/08/2015 3:06:06 PM PST by Radagast the Fool (At my signal, UNLEASH PALIN!!)
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To: EveningStar
Williams is a pro, no doubt about it. The only bone I have to pick regarding his work is that BOGUS Superman theme. For me Williams was hired to justify NOT using the existing Horns based theme used in the 50’s TV show. Back in the late 70’s the people making the new movie seemed to be horrified by any association with the TV show. In articles on the subject they talked the usual stuff about reinterpreting and updating and greater sophistication etc.

They could have turned the project over to any damn hack and told him: We want powerful, heralding horns but NOT the old theme. All Williams did is fool around with various sorts of bleats until he had the something vaguely acceptable.

If they really wanted to update things they would have gone with heavy guitars and or synths which had long since replaced horns in pop culture. They hated the old show but in aping the shows POWERFUL heralding horns they pretty much admitted they had no BETTER idea. And nobody COULD have a better idea than the old theme...NOT with horns they couldn't.

26 posted on 02/08/2015 3:09:39 PM PST by TalBlack (Evil doesn't have a day job..)
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To: trisham

I’ll drink to that.

I used to hire Keith’s “X” to play violin at my facility. I was stunned when she became first chair at the pops, and then married him. I had a gig on a harbor boat and he was there, flirting with someone.

He was divorced shortly thereafter.

He made a MESS of the magnificent July 4th esplanade concerts.

Grrrrrr.

I supp0ose we couldn’t have had Authur forever though. (sigh!)


27 posted on 02/08/2015 3:23:37 PM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: Sioux-san; left that other site
Y'all know the composer's recipe for fried chicken?

First, steal a chicken...

28 posted on 02/08/2015 3:25:43 PM PST by real saxophonist (Spam, Spam, Spam, Bacon, and Spam. Extra Bacon.)
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To: left that other site

I couldn’t agree more! Fiedler was the best!


29 posted on 02/08/2015 3:25:43 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: left that other site

“Arthur”

auto-correct.


30 posted on 02/08/2015 3:25:49 PM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: real saxophonist

Ha Ha Ha!

What’s really funny is when composers steal from THEMSELVES! hahaha


31 posted on 02/08/2015 3:26:55 PM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: trisham

He always played a nice mix of classical, light classical, and modern.

Perhaps because he wasn’t known as a composer himself, we were not treated to week after week of his own compositions taking up the third segment.


32 posted on 02/08/2015 3:28:58 PM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: left that other site

Lalo Schifrin FTW...


33 posted on 02/08/2015 3:36:00 PM PST by real saxophonist (Spam, Spam, Spam, Bacon, and Spam. Extra Bacon.)
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To: left that other site

We went to a performance of the Boston Pops the Christmas that Keith Lockhart became conductor. We expected traditional music, but instead most of what was performed was current pop. It was horrible. We left early.


34 posted on 02/08/2015 3:36:18 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: EveningStar

Happy Birthday. You are talented and prodigious but your scores put me right to sleep every time. I know, some are grand, and your melodies are strong. I can’t explain it. I heard them all at the Hollywood Bowl and I was still bored to death. Sorry. Enjoy your day.


35 posted on 02/08/2015 3:38:31 PM PST by Yaelle (No Cruz? Then "I'm Ready for Hillary; What Difference Does It Make?")
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To: Sioux-san

Omg, I didn’t see yours before writing mine just above this one. I thought I would be alone.


36 posted on 02/08/2015 3:40:11 PM PST by Yaelle (No Cruz? Then "I'm Ready for Hillary; What Difference Does It Make?")
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To: Sioux-san
Does anybody else find his music boringly repetitive and overbearing and just not that good?

I sure don't. In my mind, he is one of the few contemporary composers whose work might endure past the spring thaw. His themes from "Jurassic Park" and "Star Wars" are legend, and the "Exultate Justi" from "Empire of the Sun" is brilliant. He puts hacks like Bernstein to shame.

37 posted on 02/08/2015 3:41:33 PM PST by IronJack
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To: real saxophonist

One of the few pieces out there in 5/4.

Mission Impossible


38 posted on 02/08/2015 3:43:26 PM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: Sioux-san

Which film composer would you put forward as great?


39 posted on 02/08/2015 3:43:45 PM PST by Borges
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To: Future Snake Eater

Morricone has done great work, too. But he’s hit and miss. Still, he takes risks and is willing to go outside of his comfort zone.


40 posted on 02/08/2015 3:44:54 PM PST by Sirius Lee (All that is required for evil to advance is for government to do "something")
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