It's a fantastic score by John Williams and the piano solo in Remembering Emilie and Finale always moves me so much, I tried really, reeeeeeeeaaaallly hard to make my performance reflect the emotion and delicateness. The bonding theme for Joey and Albert is really beautiful and noble and also reflects the tragedy of their journey. I'm not ecstatic about my violin performance but I didn't want to take forever re-doing it, I'd already re-recorded about ten times, *sigh*. I am happy though with how the violin adds to the English countryside sort of Celtic feel! What I like about doing my arrangements by ear is that it makes them completely unique, no one else has a recording like this, it's sort of a representation of what I was able to take away from the score, how I understood it.
The Music of Harry Potter!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
War Horse medley!
My own arrangement from John Williams' Academy Award nominated score for
War Horse (2011) all done by ear without sheet music. Performed on
Piano, Violin and Keyboard. Watch in HD!
It's a fantastic score by John Williams and the piano solo in Remembering Emilie and Finale always moves me so much, I tried really, reeeeeeeeaaaallly hard to make my performance reflect the emotion and delicateness. The bonding theme for Joey and Albert is really beautiful and noble and also reflects the tragedy of their journey. I'm not ecstatic about my violin performance but I didn't want to take forever re-doing it, I'd already re-recorded about ten times, *sigh*. I am happy though with how the violin adds to the English countryside sort of Celtic feel! What I like about doing my arrangements by ear is that it makes them completely unique, no one else has a recording like this, it's sort of a representation of what I was able to take away from the score, how I understood it.
It's a fantastic score by John Williams and the piano solo in Remembering Emilie and Finale always moves me so much, I tried really, reeeeeeeeaaaallly hard to make my performance reflect the emotion and delicateness. The bonding theme for Joey and Albert is really beautiful and noble and also reflects the tragedy of their journey. I'm not ecstatic about my violin performance but I didn't want to take forever re-doing it, I'd already re-recorded about ten times, *sigh*. I am happy though with how the violin adds to the English countryside sort of Celtic feel! What I like about doing my arrangements by ear is that it makes them completely unique, no one else has a recording like this, it's sort of a representation of what I was able to take away from the score, how I understood it.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Star Trek? The music, of course!
Star Wars takes first place, Williams' intricacy and diversity is what makes it stand taller each listen, whereas Shore's LotR scores, though epic and grand and noble and genuinely beautiful and enjoyable, they wear on you the more you listen and I totally agree that there are several times when its just bland filler chords that are drawn out over a scene. They are very well thought out and have great themes and they are developed though the trilogy but not nearly as well or as interestingly as Williams' themes are. I'm still crossing my fingers that Peter Jackson, after working with Williams on the Tintin movies, will decide to have Williams as his regular collaborator. Maybe he'll fire Shore and have Williams do the Hobbit movies! Oh please let this happen!
As for Star Trek, I only know Goldsmith's main theme for The Next Generation and Michael Giacchino's 2009 score. Giacchino did a great job but it's not fantastic to me anyway. His end credits rendition of Alexander Courage's theme for Star Trek is the only version that isn't intolerable. I am interested to see what he does with the sequels. =D
As for Star Trek, I only know Goldsmith's main theme for The Next Generation and Michael Giacchino's 2009 score. Giacchino did a great job but it's not fantastic to me anyway. His end credits rendition of Alexander Courage's theme for Star Trek is the only version that isn't intolerable. I am interested to see what he does with the sequels. =D
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Adventures of Tintin by John Williams
In my initial rant about Harry Potter I mentioned reading that John Williams was unable to score the last Harry Potter film, though he was interested in doing so, due to "scheduling conflicts", which implies he was busy working on other films or projects. At that time I said:
"All I have to say is The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, or War Horse, or Lincoln, or whatever project it was that Williams chose over Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 had better be the coolest thing we've ever heard to make up for denying us a final Harry Potter score!"
Well, good news everyone, my wish came true! First of all, Desplat's score for Deathly Hallows part 2 was phenomenal and gave Williams' themes fantastic treatment that exceeded the expectations of many and I was quite baffled that it wasn't nominated for an Academy Award. But, even better is that John Williams exceeded my expectations - War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn indeed are among the coolest things I've ever heard!
War Horse, nominated for Best Original Score, is a fantastic score with some of the most tender and heartwarming music I've heard. I get teared up whenever I listen to Remembering Emilie and Finale and Homecoming is a wonderful end credits medley of all the main themes form the film. I look forward to really delving into this score and learn each and every theme and idea, it's just gorgeous.
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, also nominated for an Best Original Score and Annie Award winner, is my new favorite score! Just as in the Star Wars series and even more than in Indiana Jones and Harry Potter, John Williams uses leitmotif to create themes and ideas for nearly every character in the film and even places and objects have themes! Main themes for Tintin, Captain Haddock, The Unicorn, and Snowy; secondary ones for Thomson and Thompson, treasure, Bagghar, Marlinspike Hall, Allan/Saccharin/villains in general. There's old European stealthy sleuth and mystery music, romp and adventure, as well as spirited swashbuckling pirate music!
The best part is that Williams chooses not to make the main themes super obvious in this film, a wise choice since there will be sequels in which the main themes will be able to solidify and mature in our minds. A person expecting the themes to be made obvious at the outset might not even notice them but if you just watch the film listening to the music you realize that, though they're not in your face, each character has a theme that is played in different variations each time they are on screen or referenced! Tintin's theme is mostly heard on harpsichord and woodwinds at first, as in The Adventures of Tintin, but matures during the film into the brassy heroic fanfare we all excepted to hear in that track in the track The Pursuit of the Falcon! Snowy's theme eases in and out of any cue so seamlessly that you don't even notice it, you just notice how effective it is in communicating the dog's fast-paced and energetic spirit. Captain Haddock is perfectly personified by his theme; the swaying theme in Captain Haddock Takes The Oars is almost synonymous with alcohol at first but it sobers up into bravery and heroism in The Captain's Counsel. The mystery around the sunken ship, the Unicorn, is heard eerily in The Secret of the Scrolls as well as momentous, swirling declarations in the adventurous and gargantuan Sir Francis and the Unicorn. We hear the clumsy and clueless nature of the detectives in Introducing the Tompsons, and Snowy's Chase.
Some claim there is no end credits suite or medley while others suppose that The Adventure Continues is the end credits piece. The film ends with The Return to Marlinspike Hall and Finale goes directly into a magnificent end credits medley of Sir Francis and the Unicorn (starting at 2:14), Snowy's Theme - heard in the film several times but never in this extended concert version, and The Adventure Continues - an extended concert version of the music from the sword fight between Sir Francis and Red Rackham heard first in Red Rackham's Curse and the Treasure. In short Williams used the end credits to compile a medley of highlights from the score and expand upon them into extended concert arrangements. Since Sir Francis and the Unicorn was already available on the album the other two inclusions were presented as stand-alone tracks; 2 and 18 respectively.
I originally wanted to include both War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn in my John Williams' 80th birthday medley but I ran out of time. I finally started working on some Tintin themes and was going to put it into a larger medley of other themes and over films but I was so excited about how just the first one I did worked out that I couldn't wait. Here is my own arrangement of the track called The Adventures of Tintin!
"All I have to say is The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, or War Horse, or Lincoln, or whatever project it was that Williams chose over Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 had better be the coolest thing we've ever heard to make up for denying us a final Harry Potter score!"
Well, good news everyone, my wish came true! First of all, Desplat's score for Deathly Hallows part 2 was phenomenal and gave Williams' themes fantastic treatment that exceeded the expectations of many and I was quite baffled that it wasn't nominated for an Academy Award. But, even better is that John Williams exceeded my expectations - War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn indeed are among the coolest things I've ever heard!
War Horse, nominated for Best Original Score, is a fantastic score with some of the most tender and heartwarming music I've heard. I get teared up whenever I listen to Remembering Emilie and Finale and Homecoming is a wonderful end credits medley of all the main themes form the film. I look forward to really delving into this score and learn each and every theme and idea, it's just gorgeous.
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, also nominated for an Best Original Score and Annie Award winner, is my new favorite score! Just as in the Star Wars series and even more than in Indiana Jones and Harry Potter, John Williams uses leitmotif to create themes and ideas for nearly every character in the film and even places and objects have themes! Main themes for Tintin, Captain Haddock, The Unicorn, and Snowy; secondary ones for Thomson and Thompson, treasure, Bagghar, Marlinspike Hall, Allan/Saccharin/villains in general. There's old European stealthy sleuth and mystery music, romp and adventure, as well as spirited swashbuckling pirate music!
The best part is that Williams chooses not to make the main themes super obvious in this film, a wise choice since there will be sequels in which the main themes will be able to solidify and mature in our minds. A person expecting the themes to be made obvious at the outset might not even notice them but if you just watch the film listening to the music you realize that, though they're not in your face, each character has a theme that is played in different variations each time they are on screen or referenced! Tintin's theme is mostly heard on harpsichord and woodwinds at first, as in The Adventures of Tintin, but matures during the film into the brassy heroic fanfare we all excepted to hear in that track in the track The Pursuit of the Falcon! Snowy's theme eases in and out of any cue so seamlessly that you don't even notice it, you just notice how effective it is in communicating the dog's fast-paced and energetic spirit. Captain Haddock is perfectly personified by his theme; the swaying theme in Captain Haddock Takes The Oars is almost synonymous with alcohol at first but it sobers up into bravery and heroism in The Captain's Counsel. The mystery around the sunken ship, the Unicorn, is heard eerily in The Secret of the Scrolls as well as momentous, swirling declarations in the adventurous and gargantuan Sir Francis and the Unicorn. We hear the clumsy and clueless nature of the detectives in Introducing the Tompsons, and Snowy's Chase.
Some claim there is no end credits suite or medley while others suppose that The Adventure Continues is the end credits piece. The film ends with The Return to Marlinspike Hall and Finale goes directly into a magnificent end credits medley of Sir Francis and the Unicorn (starting at 2:14), Snowy's Theme - heard in the film several times but never in this extended concert version, and The Adventure Continues - an extended concert version of the music from the sword fight between Sir Francis and Red Rackham heard first in Red Rackham's Curse and the Treasure. In short Williams used the end credits to compile a medley of highlights from the score and expand upon them into extended concert arrangements. Since Sir Francis and the Unicorn was already available on the album the other two inclusions were presented as stand-alone tracks; 2 and 18 respectively.
I originally wanted to include both War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn in my John Williams' 80th birthday medley but I ran out of time. I finally started working on some Tintin themes and was going to put it into a larger medley of other themes and over films but I was so excited about how just the first one I did worked out that I couldn't wait. Here is my own arrangement of the track called The Adventures of Tintin!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
John Williams G Major Collage by Andres Valverde
Also posted in John Williams Fan Network's page compiling the best articles, podcasts and videos honoring the Maestro and his career was this fantastic piano medley of John Williams themes, all in the key of G, by Andres Valverde. His medley goes at breakneck speed form one theme to another and many times you hear less than a measure before yet another is played, though some are heard longer. The genius of this method is that it causes the listener to realize just how classic and memorable Williams' themes are, that they are recognized even from just a few notes! Another great thing about this collage is that it features Williams' classics alongside his more recent film scores.
J.Williams (G Major Collage) by Andres Valverde
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - The Adventure Continues
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
The Empire Strikes Back - The Imperial March
Star Wars - Main Theme
Jaws - Main Theme
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - Flying Theme
Superman: The Movie - Superman March
Hook - Main Theme
War Horse - Bringing Joey Home, and Bonding
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - Tintin's theme
Star Wars - The Force theme
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
War Horse - Remembering Emilie, and Finale
Saving Private Ryan - Hymn to the Fallen
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - Tintin's theme
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
In 17 transitions we hear 13 different themes from 10 different films in just 3 minutes and 4 seconds! Bravo!
J.Williams (G Major Collage) by Andres Valverde
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - The Adventure Continues
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
The Empire Strikes Back - The Imperial March
Star Wars - Main Theme
Jaws - Main Theme
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - Flying Theme
Superman: The Movie - Superman March
Hook - Main Theme
War Horse - Bringing Joey Home, and Bonding
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - Tintin's theme
Star Wars - The Force theme
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
War Horse - Remembering Emilie, and Finale
Saving Private Ryan - Hymn to the Fallen
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - Tintin's theme
The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski
In 17 transitions we hear 13 different themes from 10 different films in just 3 minutes and 4 seconds! Bravo!
John Williams' 80th Birthday Medley on JWFAN!
On The John Williams Fan Network - 80th Birthday Tribute they postedthe following: "John Williams was born 80 years ago today! In celebration of Mr. Williams’ anniversary, JWFan will compile the best articles, podcasts and videos honoring the Maestro and his career. Happy Birthday, John Williams!" and listed FIRST in their list of BEST tributes is MY John Williams' 80th Birthday Medley video! It was imbedded on JWFan the 9th of February, 2012!
John Williams, born February 8th 1932, turns 80 today. He is the greatest composer of our time and I say of all time. He's received 5 Academy Awards and over 45 nominations. In just two weeks I put together this medley of themes from his film scores and other works, taking some of my favorite pieces of his and having the fun of leaning each one completely by ear. I wanted to provide a fun, fresh look at some of the works in his career, the famous ones like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter, and the less well know ones like Jane Eyre, The Cowboys, and his theme for NBC Football!
There were more, but I didn't have the time to include them. John Williams is the greatest and may he create wonderful music for years to come! Enjoy, comment, share this tribute with your friends!
Arranged and performed by ear by myself
on Piano, Keyboard, and Violin.
0:00 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Academy Award)
1:01 Jurassic Park
1:55 Close Encounters of the Third Kind
2:09 Jaws (Academy Award)
2:24 Star Wars (Academy Award)
3:33 Superman: The Movie
4:24 The Witches of Eastwick
4:54 Jane Eyre
5:53 Indiana Jones
7:11 The Cowboys
7:33 The Terminal
7:59 Fiddler on the Roof (Academy Award)
8:33 A.I. Artificial Intelligence
9:52 NBC Sunday Night Football
10:17 Schindler's List (Academy Award)
10:59 Harry Potter
0:00 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Academy Award)
1:01 Jurassic Park
1:55 Close Encounters of the Third Kind
2:09 Jaws (Academy Award)
2:24 Star Wars (Academy Award)
3:33 Superman: The Movie
4:24 The Witches of Eastwick
4:54 Jane Eyre
5:53 Indiana Jones
7:11 The Cowboys
7:33 The Terminal
7:59 Fiddler on the Roof (Academy Award)
8:33 A.I. Artificial Intelligence
9:52 NBC Sunday Night Football
10:17 Schindler's List (Academy Award)
10:59 Harry Potter
John Williams, born February 8th 1932, turns 80 today. He is the greatest composer of our time and I say of all time. He's received 5 Academy Awards and over 45 nominations. In just two weeks I put together this medley of themes from his film scores and other works, taking some of my favorite pieces of his and having the fun of leaning each one completely by ear. I wanted to provide a fun, fresh look at some of the works in his career, the famous ones like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter, and the less well know ones like Jane Eyre, The Cowboys, and his theme for NBC Football!
There were more, but I didn't have the time to include them. John Williams is the greatest and may he create wonderful music for years to come! Enjoy, comment, share this tribute with your friends!
Monday, March 5, 2012
The "Complete" Harry Potter Film Music Collection?
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra does a lot of compilations and, though their performances hardly rival those on the original soundtrack recordings, it is the scope of their selections as well as the occasional new arrangements that draws my interest and I usually really enjoy their work. From example their 4-CD John Williams: 40 years of film music collection is one of my favorites. In 2007 they released a 2-CD collection of music from Harry Potter films 1-5. For some reason they gave Goblet of Fire the most attention, giving it 9 tracks. They had a nice selection and their rendition of Fireworks by Hooper is, in a way, better that the original since they omit the obnoxious, wailing electric guitar! I listen to it on Spotify but I held of on buying it because I was hoping they would release a version that included music form the entire series now that the series has completed! When I saw that on March 13, 2012 they'd be releasing what they were calling The Complete Harry Potter Film Music Collection I was ecstatic! I was, that is, until the tracklist was revealed. Let's compare the two Harry Potter music collections from the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, first from 2007 and then the one from 2012.
The Essential Harry Potter Film Music Collection (Released 2007)
Disc 1
Tracks 1-16 composed by John Williams
1. Hedwig's Theme (04:52)
2. Christmas At Hogwarts (01:46)
3. Nimbus 2000 (02:25)
4. Leaving Hogwarts (02:19)
5. Harry's Wondrous World (05:01)
6. Dobby The House Elf (03:26)
7. Fawkes The Phoenix (03:36)
8. The Chamber Of Secrets (04:13)
9. Gilderoy Lockhart (02:00)
10. Reunion Of Friends (05:46)
11. Witches, Wands And Wizards (05:27)
12. A Window To The Past (03:50)
13. Aunt Marge's Waltz (02:22)
14. The Knight Bus (02:49)
15. Mischief Managed / A Window To The Past / Buckbeak's Flight (06:58)
16. Double Trouble (02:51)
Disc 2
Tracks 1-9 composed by Patrick Doyle
1. Quidditch World Cup / The Foreigners Arrive (02:31)
2. Neville's Waltz (01:45)
3. Harry In Winter (03:10)
4. The Golden Egg (07:24)
5. The Hogwarts March (02:55)
6. The Potter Waltz (02:27)
7. The Black Lake (05:26)
8. Another Year Ends (02:18)
9. The Hogwarts Hymn (02:53)
Tracks 10-14 composed by Nicholas Hooper
10. A Journey To Hogwarts / Fireworks (03:42)
11. Sirius Deception / Dumbledore's Army (05:27)
12. Professor Umbridge (02:45)
13. Flight Of The Order Of The Phoenix (01:31)
14. Loved Ones And Leaving (04:08)
15. Hedwig's Theme - Reprise (04:52) composed by John Williams
The Complete Harry Potter Film Music Collection (Released 2012)
from Tracklist for "Complete" Harry Potter collection CD
This is a disaster! The Essiential from 2007 and the Complete from 2012 are identical! The only new additions for the 2012 collection are Cakes for Crabbe and Goyle, Dumbledore's Farewell, Obliviate, and Lily's Theme (highlighted above). The addition of Cakes for Crabbe and Goyle was pretty unnecessary; we want more of the NEW music from the newer films since 2007 and just three new tracks, one from each new film since 2007, just does not satisfy. There are 5 tracks for Philosopher's Stone, 6 for Chamber of Secrets, 6 for Prisoner of Azkaban, 9 for Goblet of Fire (why so many?) and 5 for Order of the Phoenix, and then just 1 for Half-Blood Prince, 1 for Deathly Hallows part 1, and 1 for Deathly Hallows part 2.
What the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra should have done was release a Volume 2 sequel to their 2007 collection. 2007 would be for films 1-5 and the 2012 collection for films 6-8. Now that would have been something worth buying!
Or, instead of giving us the same package with just 3 new tracks for the newer films, they could switch it around and do a short recap of the films 1-5 and then give a fuller treatment for films 6-8. I imagine a 2-CD collection like that looking something like the following:
Disc 1
1. Hedwig's Theme (Philosopher's Stone by John Williams)
2. Harry's Wondrous World (Philosopher's Stone by John Williams)
3. The Chamber of Secrets (Chamber Of Secrets by John Williams)
4. Fawkes the Phoenix (Chamber Of Secrets by John Williams)
5. Prisoner of Azkaban Suite: Mischief Managed, A Window to the Past, Buckbeak's Flight (Prisoner of Azkaban by John Williams)
6. Double Trouble (Prisoner of Azkaban by John Williams)
7. Harry in Winter (Goblet of Fire by Patrick Doyle)
9. Hogwarts Hymn (Goblet of Fire by Patrick Doyle)
10. Professor Umbridge (Order of the Phoenix by Nicholas Hooper)
11. Dumbledore's Army (Order of the Phoenix by Nicholas Hooper)
from Half-Blood Prince by Nicholas Hooper (Tracks 12-23)
12. In Noctem
13. Wizard Wheezes
14. Living Death
15. Harry and Hermione
16. Ron's Victory
17. The Slug Party
18. Slughorn's Confession
19. Farewell Aragog
20. Journey to the Cave
21. Dumbledore's Farewell
22. The Friends
23. The Weasley Stomp
Disc 2
from Deathly Hallows Part 1 by Alexandre Desplat (Tracks 1-11)
1. The Obliviation
2. Snape to Malfoy Manor
3. Harry and Ginny
4. The Will
5. Ministry of Magic
6. Detonators
7. The Locket
8. Dobby
9. Ron's Speech
10. Farewell to Dobby
11. The Elder Wand
from Deathly Hallows Part 2 by Alexandre Desplat (Tracks 12-23)
12. Lily's Theme
13. Dragon Flight
14. Statues
15. In the Chamber of Secrets
16. Broomsticks and Fire
17. Courtyard Apocalypse
18. Severus and Lily
19. The Resurrection Stone
20. Showdown
21. Voldemort's End
22. A New Beginning
23. Leaving Hogwarts by John Williams
There is so much fantastic material missing from the 2012 collection. I'd recommend it only to those who never bought the 2007 one because it does have more material, even if it's only 4 tracks.
The Essential Harry Potter Film Music Collection (Released 2007)
Disc 1
Tracks 1-16 composed by John Williams
1. Hedwig's Theme (04:52)
2. Christmas At Hogwarts (01:46)
3. Nimbus 2000 (02:25)
4. Leaving Hogwarts (02:19)
5. Harry's Wondrous World (05:01)
6. Dobby The House Elf (03:26)
7. Fawkes The Phoenix (03:36)
8. The Chamber Of Secrets (04:13)
9. Gilderoy Lockhart (02:00)
10. Reunion Of Friends (05:46)
11. Witches, Wands And Wizards (05:27)
12. A Window To The Past (03:50)
13. Aunt Marge's Waltz (02:22)
14. The Knight Bus (02:49)
15. Mischief Managed / A Window To The Past / Buckbeak's Flight (06:58)
16. Double Trouble (02:51)
Disc 2
Tracks 1-9 composed by Patrick Doyle
1. Quidditch World Cup / The Foreigners Arrive (02:31)
2. Neville's Waltz (01:45)
3. Harry In Winter (03:10)
4. The Golden Egg (07:24)
5. The Hogwarts March (02:55)
6. The Potter Waltz (02:27)
7. The Black Lake (05:26)
8. Another Year Ends (02:18)
9. The Hogwarts Hymn (02:53)
Tracks 10-14 composed by Nicholas Hooper
10. A Journey To Hogwarts / Fireworks (03:42)
11. Sirius Deception / Dumbledore's Army (05:27)
12. Professor Umbridge (02:45)
13. Flight Of The Order Of The Phoenix (01:31)
14. Loved Ones And Leaving (04:08)
15. Hedwig's Theme - Reprise (04:52) composed by John Williams
The Complete Harry Potter Film Music Collection (Released 2012)
| Disc 1: by John Williams | ||
| 1. | Hedwig's Theme (Philosopher's Stone) | 4:51 |
| 2. | Harry's Wondrous World (Philosopher's Stone) | 5:03 |
| 3. | Nimbus 2000 (Philosopher's Stone) | 2:24 |
| 4. | Christmas at Hogwarts (Philosopher's Stone) | 1:47 |
| 5. | Leaving Hogwarts (Philosopher's Stone) | 2:19 |
| 6. | Fawkes The Phoenix (Chamber Of Secrets) | 3:42 |
| 7. | The Chamber Of Secrets (Chamber Of Secrets) | 4:13 |
| 8. | Gilderoy Lockhart (Chamber Of Secrets) | 2:00 |
| 9. | Dobby The House Elf (Chamber Of Secrets) | 3:27 |
| 10. | Cakes for Crabbe and Goyle (Chamber Of Secrets) | 4:01 |
| 11. | Reunion of Friends (Chamber Of Secrets) | 5:45 |
| 12. | Aunt Marge's Waltz (Prisoner of Azkaban) | 2:21 |
| 13. | The Knight Bus (Prisoner of Azkaban) | 2:50 |
| 14. | Double Trouble (Prisoner of Azkaban) | 2:50 |
| 15. | A Window to the Past (Prisoner of Azkaban) | 3:51 |
| 16. | Witches, Wands and Wizards (Prisoner of Azkaban) | 5:28 |
| 17. | Mischief Managed / A Window To The Past / Buckbeak's Flight (Prisoner of Azkaban) | 7:00 |
| Disc 2: | ||
| 1. | Quidditch World Cup / Foreign Visitors Arrive (Goblet Of Fire by Patrick Doyle) | 2:33 |
| 2. | The Golden Egg (Goblet Of Fire) | 7:23 |
| 3. | Neville's Waltz (Goblet Of Fire) | 1:45 |
| 4. | Harry In Winter (Goblet Of Fire) | 3:11 |
| 5. | Potter Waltz (Goblet Of Fire) | 2:29 |
| 6. | Black Lake (Goblet Of Fire) | 5:27 |
| 7. | Hogwarts March (Goblet Of Fire) | 2:58 |
| 8. | Another Year Ends (Goblet Of Fire) | 2:19 |
| 9. | Hogwarts Hymn (Goblet Of Fire) | 2:53 |
| 10. | A Journey To Hogwarts / Fireworks (Order Of The Phoenix by Nicholas Hooper) | 3:42 |
| 11. | Professor Umbridge (Order Of The Phoenix) | 2:45 |
| 12. | Sirius Deception / Dumbledore's Army (Order Of The Phoenix) | 5:27 |
| 13. | Flight of the Order of the Phoenix (Order Of The Phoenix) | 1:31 |
| 14. | Loved Ones and Leaving (Order Of The Phoenix) | 4:08 |
| 15. | Dumbledore's Farewell (Half Blood Prince by Nicholas Hooper) | 2:16 |
| 16. | Obliviate (Deathly Hallows Part 1 by Alexandre Desplat) | 2:57 |
| 17. | Lily's Theme (Deathly Hallows Part 2 by Alexandre Desplat) | 2:17 |
This is a disaster! The Essiential from 2007 and the Complete from 2012 are identical! The only new additions for the 2012 collection are Cakes for Crabbe and Goyle, Dumbledore's Farewell, Obliviate, and Lily's Theme (highlighted above). The addition of Cakes for Crabbe and Goyle was pretty unnecessary; we want more of the NEW music from the newer films since 2007 and just three new tracks, one from each new film since 2007, just does not satisfy. There are 5 tracks for Philosopher's Stone, 6 for Chamber of Secrets, 6 for Prisoner of Azkaban, 9 for Goblet of Fire (why so many?) and 5 for Order of the Phoenix, and then just 1 for Half-Blood Prince, 1 for Deathly Hallows part 1, and 1 for Deathly Hallows part 2.
What the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra should have done was release a Volume 2 sequel to their 2007 collection. 2007 would be for films 1-5 and the 2012 collection for films 6-8. Now that would have been something worth buying!
Or, instead of giving us the same package with just 3 new tracks for the newer films, they could switch it around and do a short recap of the films 1-5 and then give a fuller treatment for films 6-8. I imagine a 2-CD collection like that looking something like the following:
Disc 1
1. Hedwig's Theme (Philosopher's Stone by John Williams)
2. Harry's Wondrous World (Philosopher's Stone by John Williams)
3. The Chamber of Secrets (Chamber Of Secrets by John Williams)
4. Fawkes the Phoenix (Chamber Of Secrets by John Williams)
5. Prisoner of Azkaban Suite: Mischief Managed, A Window to the Past, Buckbeak's Flight (Prisoner of Azkaban by John Williams)
6. Double Trouble (Prisoner of Azkaban by John Williams)
7. Harry in Winter (Goblet of Fire by Patrick Doyle)
9. Hogwarts Hymn (Goblet of Fire by Patrick Doyle)
10. Professor Umbridge (Order of the Phoenix by Nicholas Hooper)
11. Dumbledore's Army (Order of the Phoenix by Nicholas Hooper)
from Half-Blood Prince by Nicholas Hooper (Tracks 12-23)
12. In Noctem
13. Wizard Wheezes
14. Living Death
15. Harry and Hermione
16. Ron's Victory
17. The Slug Party
18. Slughorn's Confession
19. Farewell Aragog
20. Journey to the Cave
21. Dumbledore's Farewell
22. The Friends
23. The Weasley Stomp
Disc 2
from Deathly Hallows Part 1 by Alexandre Desplat (Tracks 1-11)
1. The Obliviation
2. Snape to Malfoy Manor
3. Harry and Ginny
4. The Will
5. Ministry of Magic
6. Detonators
7. The Locket
8. Dobby
9. Ron's Speech
10. Farewell to Dobby
11. The Elder Wand
from Deathly Hallows Part 2 by Alexandre Desplat (Tracks 12-23)
12. Lily's Theme
13. Dragon Flight
14. Statues
15. In the Chamber of Secrets
16. Broomsticks and Fire
17. Courtyard Apocalypse
18. Severus and Lily
19. The Resurrection Stone
20. Showdown
21. Voldemort's End
22. A New Beginning
23. Leaving Hogwarts by John Williams
There is so much fantastic material missing from the 2012 collection. I'd recommend it only to those who never bought the 2007 one because it does have more material, even if it's only 4 tracks.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Anti-Oscars Rant!
Sometimes I feel like they give the Academy Awards and Nominations to the most popular or controversial films instead of the Best. They also seem to discriminate against fantasy and children's movies. The category isn't "Best Original Score for the popular, serious films last year" it's "Best Original Score" period. I feel like John Williams deserved the award, either for Adventures of Tintin or War Horse. I'm sure The Artist has great music but I don't think that's why it won Best Original Score; I think it won because 1) it's a silent film so naturally the music plays a huge part in the film's appeal to the audience and 2) because the film did better with audiences and critics who tend to classify films that pay tribute to past films as "Artistic" and the adventure/children's genre as "Childish".
Well I hope Ludovic Bource enjoys the recognition and doesn't become a "one hit wonder" but rather goes on to make notable contributions to film music in the years to come. Luckily Tintin will have sequels and hopefully John Williams gets recognized for those. He had better score all of them, by the way, because I know Peter Jackson is going to direct one of them and that would be absolutely terrible and a complete tragedy if Jackson brought in a different composer like Howard Shore. I just thought it'd be really neat if Williams were to receive an Oscar on his 80th birthday year, although I guess technically Tintin and War Horse are from 2011. He's started work on Spielberg's film Lincoln for later this year so I guess if he won for that one he'd get an Oscar from his 80th birthday year, he'd just be receiving it after that year was over.
Also, am I the only one who was never all about the movie Hugo? It was funny at parts, charming, kids might like it more. I feel like it got all that recognition because of the tribute it made to the history of film making and because Martin Scorsese directed it. And there is no reason it took the Visual Effects award instead of Deathly Hallows part 2! It makes no sense, there was like one scene with notable special effects in Hugo and DH had fantastic effects from start to finish! =( Also, why wasn't Alexandre Desplat's score for Deathly Hallows part 2 nominated for Best Original Score? Once again, discrimination against the fantasy/action/children genres. Hugo's music was charming but nothing special, I looked up some of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's music and is seemed nice but very uneventful. Desplat's score was monumental, weighty, broad, operatic, melodic, and epic! I just want to take this moment to say that as much as I enjoyed Doyle, Hooper, and Desplat's contributions to the Harry Potter series, it truly is a terrible, terrible thing that the world was deprived of having an 8-installment series of John Williams scores that would have rivaled the Star Wars saga in number of themes and their development and continuity. Maybe he'll get to do that in some future series, Tintin maybe? Indy? Jurassic Park? =D
Well I hope Ludovic Bource enjoys the recognition and doesn't become a "one hit wonder" but rather goes on to make notable contributions to film music in the years to come. Luckily Tintin will have sequels and hopefully John Williams gets recognized for those. He had better score all of them, by the way, because I know Peter Jackson is going to direct one of them and that would be absolutely terrible and a complete tragedy if Jackson brought in a different composer like Howard Shore. I just thought it'd be really neat if Williams were to receive an Oscar on his 80th birthday year, although I guess technically Tintin and War Horse are from 2011. He's started work on Spielberg's film Lincoln for later this year so I guess if he won for that one he'd get an Oscar from his 80th birthday year, he'd just be receiving it after that year was over.
Also, am I the only one who was never all about the movie Hugo? It was funny at parts, charming, kids might like it more. I feel like it got all that recognition because of the tribute it made to the history of film making and because Martin Scorsese directed it. And there is no reason it took the Visual Effects award instead of Deathly Hallows part 2! It makes no sense, there was like one scene with notable special effects in Hugo and DH had fantastic effects from start to finish! =( Also, why wasn't Alexandre Desplat's score for Deathly Hallows part 2 nominated for Best Original Score? Once again, discrimination against the fantasy/action/children genres. Hugo's music was charming but nothing special, I looked up some of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's music and is seemed nice but very uneventful. Desplat's score was monumental, weighty, broad, operatic, melodic, and epic! I just want to take this moment to say that as much as I enjoyed Doyle, Hooper, and Desplat's contributions to the Harry Potter series, it truly is a terrible, terrible thing that the world was deprived of having an 8-installment series of John Williams scores that would have rivaled the Star Wars saga in number of themes and their development and continuity. Maybe he'll get to do that in some future series, Tintin maybe? Indy? Jurassic Park? =D
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