ST John Williams scored TFA - incl. Soundtrack discussion

No news?

 

I hope they do because I really want the cantina song that Lin-Manuel Miranda helped write. I loved it and I was really upset it wasn't on the soundtrack.

 

Not much TFA score news to report on at this point. The score's already been released and discussed thoroughly and any expanded or collector's editions are probably a year or two away.

Also, nothing new about his score for this year's The BFG or whether or not he'll score VIII. Though I'm expecting something from the former in the coming months.

 

Likewise. A wonderful mix of Mongolian throat-singing and reggae.

 

Kind of a rookie question, but what's the piece that starts around the 3-minute mark? It's familiar, but I can't place it.

 

Leia's theme?

 

Howard Hand Yes, though I'm wondering more about where that arrangement's been used before, with the string backing.

 

Similar arrangements can be heard in the A New Hope and Revenge of the Sith end credits.

 

I thought the score was fantastic. Much like the film, the music seems to have a medieval edge to it. A prime example of this is the last thirty five seconds of Finn's Confession. Some tracks, like Rey's Theme and the Jedi Steps, have a mystical feel to them. I also noticed that while Plagueis' theme (Palpatine's Teachings), has an eeriness to it, Snoke's is more primal. It's practically demonic. Oddly, it's still sort of relaxing. JW is still the master!

 

The soundtrack is best listened to alone without the movie.

The track is great by the way

 

I notice the soundtrack more and more with each viewing. I was disappointed at first but it's really grown on me. Not as in your face as the rest of the saga but still amazing.

 

Same here. To me the most iconic of all the soundtracks is Empire followed very closely by A New Hope -- almost a 1A and 1B scenario. While the soundtrack as a whole is not as "epic" in scale (IMO) as the PT and the OT, pieces like The Scavenger/Rey's Theme, March of the Resistance, etc. are as good as anything Williams has ever done.

 

Yeah, the first time I didn't really notice it, except for The Jedi Steps, because there is no dialogue and the music is kinda driving everything and The Force theme a few times. But I paid more and more attention with subsequent viewings, and it grew on me more and more every time! (I never disliked it.) It's lovely to listen to on its own.

That being said, I still don't think it will win the Oscar. I thought it was fantastic, but The Hateful Eight score was inspired.

 

I think The Force Awakens is the better score but Morricone himself is more overdue an Oscar.

 

AWESOME!

 

Yeah I've seen an interview (can't remember which one, so can't post/link to it) where Daisy says that she was so overwhelmed by meeting John Williams, and THEN having the presentation of Rey's Theme for the first time ever by the LA Philharmonic that she had to leave the room. Looks like this was that session!

Also, I will say that Rey's Theme, or key motifs from Rey's Theme, are all over the score. I'd say it's the heart and soul of the TFA soundtrack. This is in no way exhaustive, but from my listening to the soundtrack over the past couple of months I can say that it's incorporated into the following tracks: (I've marked times on certain tracks where it's brief, or not too easy to catch on a single listen)

The Scavenger
That Girl with the Staff
Maz's Counsel
Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle (1.43 to about 1.50)
The Abduction
The Ways of the Force (0.52 - 0.58) and (2.52 - 3.00)
Farewell and the Trip
The Jedi Steps and Finale (i.e the "Finale" bit)

And of course there's Rey's Theme itself. If anyone can find more, by all means feel free to add to the list! Also, as The Scavenger is basically Rey's Theme, or a version of it, can anyone confirm that this is definitely the piece that is used with her introduction? I'm not entirely sure from memory.

 

Yes - that's what's used in her introduction (or a variation of).

 

Finn's Confession (1:00 and 1:18)
Torn Apart (3:55)

 

Cool - yeah just listening to it again today, The Scavenger (from 0.53 seconds on the soundtrack release) is definitely matched to the scene where Rey slides down the dunes in her sled. Rey's Theme has a different opening, with the flute/woodwind motif. And the previous 52 seconds is presumably used with Rey's initial introduction inside the Star Destroyer, up to the point where she jumps into the sled.

 

Not TFA, but this amused me. The Imperial March, in a major key.

 

I know 0:37 is the part when she pulls down the mask and takes a drink, and I think the sequence only has ambient sound before that point.

An episode of Rebels has a similar arrangement, and it's a really nice touch.

 

Sounds like there may be a concert suite version of Kylo Ren's theme. I'd love to get my hands on that!

 

Listening again to the ROTS soundtrack (love, love, love the choir) and cannot believe that Anakins Dark Deeds


is not meant to be referenced in this:



(Ben's Dark Deed?)

Loving this more..