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Author	Topic: Question about Williams

Kyriacos S Oscar® Winner	Question: I was just watching the music video for Star Wars TMP and i was just wondering: Usually in music videos we only get to see John Williams merely "keeping the rhythm" while conducting the London Symphony. Is that all he does (just because the London Symphony is SO good and maybe they can play his music on an artistic level without him working extensively with them) or does he actually WORK with them in order to get his pieces the way he wants them to sound? Kyri np:Williams-TMP-Anakin's theme ***/***
posted 05-13-2002 10:02 PM PT (US)

Camillu Oscar® Winner	I'm as knowledgable about orchestras as Julia Roberts is, but I'd assume it's the latter - no matter how good the orchestra is.
posted 05-13-2002 11:14 PM PT (US)

jeffy Oscar® Winner	yeah, it's his music. I'm sure he's very involved.
posted 05-14-2002 08:21 AM PT (US)

dgoldwas Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Kyriacos S: I was just watching the music video for Star Wars TMP Cool! So when does Star Wars: Wrath of Khan come out? Seriously, though - Williams works very hard with the orchestra to make sure they are performing the score as he has envisioned it in his head. He does a LOT more than "keep tempo" - most conductors do more than just that. Dan
posted 05-14-2002 08:34 AM PT (US)

Ed Oscar® Winner	Williams goes into great detail about the feeling and expressiveness he coaxes from the players in the E.T. laserdisc documentary. Hopefully some of this material will make its way onto the forthcoming E.T. DVD. I get the feeling he has something very specific he wants the orchestra to give him and he gets it.
posted 05-14-2002 09:44 AM PT (US)

dgoldwas Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Ed: Hopefully some of this material will make its way onto the forthcoming E.T. DVD Doubtful - I have it on "good faith" that the DVD will contain "all new" documentary footage. Whether Williams will bother to repeat himself remains to be seen.... Dan
posted 05-14-2002 09:52 AM PT (US)

Bozman Oscar® Winner	Even with an ensemble as talented as the LSO, Williams still does a lot of work in getting the music played in the style he's after, among other things. With a group like LSO, they don't really need to rehearse (they could record the score while sight-reading it). However, Williams still does a lot to control and maniuplate balance, blend, texture and, of course, tempo. Cheers!
posted 05-14-2002 10:03 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Kyriacos S: Is that all he does (just because the London Symphony is SO good and maybe they can play his music on an artistic level without him working extensively with them) or does he actually WORK with them in order to get his pieces the way he wants them to sound? There's a short featurette about the music on the DVD. In it, you can see Williams conducting a rendition of Duel of the Fates (one that didn't make it in the final movie or on the CDs). He then tells the choir to sing less furious and more ethereal, and you can hear a big difference when they play it again. Pity it's so short.
posted 05-14-2002 10:27 AM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	I have witnessed Williams in several rehearsals now and he is very involved with the musicians. I have seen him repeating certain cues up to 6 or 7 times just to get it right. So, yeah, simply keeping the tempo he certainly is not. Scott
posted 05-14-2002 02:01 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Scott: I have witnessed Williams in several rehearsals now I hate you! NP: Anton Bruckner: Organ works (Erwin Horn)
posted 05-14-2002 03:38 PM PT (US)

SkyMakers Oscar® Nominee	Scott, I'd like to ask you, where and when did you experience this? Also, what piece was it? Plus, do you have any printed orchestral scores, by Williams or any other film composer? Thanks.
posted 05-14-2002 08:39 PM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	Marian, hahahaha...you don't really mean that. Hehehe. SkyMakers, I have gone to the rehearsals for the Hollywood Bowl concerts for the last, oh gosh, six years?...something like that. These concerts are usually in the summer time. As far as the pieces...wow, we're talking years here but let me run a few down: Star Wars, Darth Vader Theme, Superman, Raiders, ET, AI, TPM, American Journeys, all the Olympic themes and the NBC theme, Jaws, Cloes Enconters, The Reivers, The Cowboys, Seven Years, Amistad, Jurrassic Park,...and so many more... NO, I don't have any printed scores, I would not know what to do with them since musically I am pretty much a loser. I hope this helped a bit. If you have any other questions, feel free to let me know. Scott NP: The sound of my air conditioning
posted 05-14-2002 10:35 PM PT (US)

SkyMakers Oscar® Nominee	Thanks for the feedback, Scott.
posted 05-15-2002 09:32 AM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	You welcome, any time. Scott
posted 05-15-2002 02:26 PM PT (US)

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