Mail Bag Friday

Compiled by Lukas Kendall

Your article on the "lost" magic of Williams today was excellent and insightful. I fully agree with the points that you made.

My favorite score (and film) is Jaws, and probably always will be (followed by close second E.T.). I come from the very tail end of the Star Wars generation, and it does seem to me that the style of film music, and even Williams, has changed over the years. Nonetheless, there is still excellent music to be heard, from Hook to Saving Private Ryan to A.I., from Basic Instinct to Ronin to The Score. I am very excited about Harry Potter; Hedwig's theme is giving me that spine-tickling pleasure and childish delight that only Jaws and E.T. had previously been able to instill in me. I've postponed listening to the whole CD until I can see the film, but anticipation may get the better of me.

On the other hand, I have recently been snapping up old Williams CDs like candy, and I find almost as much joy in The Cowboys and Heartbeeps. I think I'm just a Williams junkie. :)

This brings up an interesting point, though. Williams' style has changed so much in the past 30 years. Are the critics correct? Has time worn down his magic baton? Yes and no. From the late sixties to the mid-late-seventies, to the eighties blockbusters, and on into the 90's and beyond, a careful examination of Williams' history will show that he has always been changing styles. Mostly the changes were to meet demand: The sixties called for a jazzy sound; The early seventies grounded him in his Americana style; 1975-1980 (Jaws-Superman-Empire) saw the birth and flourishment of his blockbuster style, and the early eighties put that style in demand. However, with 4 Oscars to his name (and a nomination practically every year), Williams' music had become cultural icons and he had more discretion in picking and choosing his projects. Is it any coincidence that his prolificity of scores began to decline after he joined the Boston Pops? Williams' newfound freedom allowed him more exploration with his creative style, which seems to have settled on a more reserved attitude in recent years. To me, the action cues in The Phantom Menace seem fairly tame compared to the original Star Wars or Empire Strikes Back. I remember watching Empire of the Sun in a high school social studies class and (not familiar with the film at that time) only picking up on Williams' signature sound when Jim was at the concentration camp ("Jim's New Life").

Is this bad? Does this show how he's lost his magic? I agree that there is a certain feeling from the old days that Williams' music now lacks. I would love to see another film for him with Superman-like potential. That's not how he writes music anymore, though. And for all the griping that goes about over James Horner, who would want to see Williams do the same thing? Personally, I welcome his exploration of new modes and motifs, which are as vibrant and original as they ever were. For a new Williams score, I willingly trade the magic of Jedi and Krypton for that of Hogwarts, Hagrid, and Harry.

Here's to a new generation of Williams junkies, with a Williams magic all their own.

You are mostly right.

I don't think that Williams lost his magic. Like Always. He has good works and bad works. That was so for years. Even though I think that Potter soundtrack is not so original, it is far from bad. It is one of his weaker soundtracks only because of that. But there is a clear proof that Williams didn´t lost his magic. It is soundtrack for A.I. If we forget two pop songs, or at least the duet, A.I. soundtrack is something very new, very original and very good. It is one more masterpiece of John Williams. But the problem with it is that it is attached to very unpopular film. Even though the movie is a masterpiece, it is also one of the most hated movies of the year even though it doesn´t deserve it. We don´t turn our heads to Williams´ soundtracks of movies we don´t like and expect too much of movies wich are popular.

And one more thing: In order to make a good score, composer has to be really inspired by the movie itself.

With the Potter case it never took place.

Were I to be placed on a desert island and had to choose which scores I would take with me to listen to, indeed many would be from the early 1960s, when I first started listening to soundtrack music. However, there were many older scores I heard at that same time that I would also want to take with me. Scores like Steiner's "King Kong" and "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre," Waxman's "The Bride of Frankenstein," and Korngold's "Adventures of Robin Hood" were all written years before I was born, yet because I heard them at that early age, they became some of my favorites. If the younger fans can't appreciate anything from the early 60s, let alone from the 30s or 40s, it's probably because they didn't hear them when they first started listening to soundtrack music. Video is still a relative new phenomenon. "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters" were films released just as the video market began and so the kids who grew up with those films, loving those scores, didn't have the older films so readily available on video. The only way to see films like "Adventures of Robin Hood" in 1977 was on TV or at a revival house. Today, with VHS and DVD everywhere, there seems to be no excuse for young people to have not seen at least some of this older stuff, yet the gap between youth and the older works seems to be getting larger. The problem I believe is choice. When I was young, I had to watch what was broadcast on TV. Kids today can pick what they want right off the shelf. What is going to compel them to pick something made 20 years before they were born? Mom and dad? Choice has left it up to the public and given that option, they'll watch what they want. And even when they do choose to see something older, "older" means something different to a 14-year-old than it does to a 40-year-old. 'Older' to a 14 year old would probably mean a film like "E.T." - not even something like "Jaws" or "The Towering Inferno," which aren't that much older than "E.T." However, if "Jaws" means 'old' by today's young standard, what would that make the original "King Kong"? When it comes to the arts these days, it seems that appreciating anything older than 25 years is a rare case for most young people.

I've just read your article on John Williams and his new score for 'Harry Potter'. As quite a fan of the composer, with a collection of a great many of his film scores, I found your comments interesting.

Williams seems in recent years to have almost moved away from the 'traditional' scores we associate with his Star Wars and Indiana Jones themes. Films scores like 'Stepmom', 'Sleepers' and 'Nixon' still sit in my CD rack, rarely getting a play. The music from 'The Lost World' contained a lot of drumming and jungle music, but apart from the Jurassic Park theme, it is another score that, while perfect to accompany the action, seems almost experimental in nature.

When you know the work of a composer so well, you do tend to find something good in any of their work. The hype over 'Harry Potter' makes it a little difficult to be objective about the movie as a film rather than as a cultural experience. At the time of writing, I have yet to see the movie, but I have bought the soundtrack album. Having not read the story, I had to rely on Williams music and themes to involve me in the characters. From a very simple theme, music is intertwined and revisited throughout the whole score. I'm sure that the music will contribute greatly to the success of the film and found the five minutes of the track 'Harry's Wonderous World' a simply stunning piece of music which I feel sure will soon make it into the concert hall.

'Harry Potter' reminds me a lot of the score for 'Hook', another personal favourite, but with elements of the 'Witches of Eastwick' thrown in. I still cannot imagine how a composer can score movies as John Williams does and yet continue to create such new tapestries of music, ever changing, never ever predictable, which is probably why I enjoy his music so much, separated from the images for which it was created.

Collecting film soundtracks was a most unusual hobby in the 70's, I can still remember rushing home with the double album for a movie called 'Star Wars', which I had yet to see. Collecting soundtracks has become very acceptable in the last few years, and it has been nice to see reissues of classic scores and discover 'old' composers whose work was unfamiliar.

Anything which genuinely gets youngsters interested in finding out more about the world of film scores can only be a good thing. Here's hoping that Williams 'Harry Potter' can start a new renaissance as he did back in 1977!

Wonderfully said... I have grown up listening to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, and etc... I love the changes that Williams brings... Yes, I have read all four books of Harry Potter... I do agree with you and the article that has a younger generation listening to Williams... Yes Williams is reaching 70... Plus we the older generation should be excited for more of his work... But, no we the older generation continue to tear his newer work up and dice it... We shouldn't because without a film composer there would be no movie... I am soo tired of the bad talk on message boards (Filmtracks)... I hope that you can send your article to Filmtracks by email and to post it on the Harry Potter SDTK board... Including others maybe the fire would go out... Have you noticed that the this Soundtrack is much different than the others???? That a lot of people haven't noticed... The tracks begins from the start of the movie and to the ending.

Gunnar Grah's article about how "we've lost Williams' magic" is one of the biggest piles of BS that I've ever read. Comparing music to homemade pies? I don't think so. An artist will always be compared to his previous works; that's the way it is and the way it should be. I'm not going to even argue about the Harry Potter score here, just how stupid Grah's point is. Sure, you can cook the same pie over and over again and it will taste great, but if you write the same score to every movie, people will hate you. Would you want to see an artist create the same painting over and over again and expect his viewers to treat it as if it was a brand new original work of art? No, of course not.

You know, the apparent "controversy" over the quality of the "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" score is very confusing. Correct me if I'm wrong... are the complaints about the CD based around the viewpoint that it isn't the best score Williams has ever written? That's the impression I get.

Well, if so, that's just silly. Expecting someone who has written several of the finest film scores in history to top himself every time out is a grossly unrealistic expectation. Okay, so "Harry Potter" by Williams isn't as good as, say, "Star Wars" by Williams. Who cares? The "Potter" CD is still a fine accomplishment, one that just about every other film composer would likely envy. If that merits bad reviews, then I must have hit my head on something today, because it's news to me.

Also, we should be keeping in mind that a film scorer's job is to augment the film, NOT to create great stand-alone CDs. (If you want that, buy Williams's "Treesong.") Williams has lost his touch, has he? Such recent films as "Saving Private Ryan," "A.I.," "The Patriot," and "The Phantom Menace" demonstrate just how much Williams adds to a motion picture. The final judgment of his "Harry Potter" music, then, should be based on how it serves the film, and on little else.

I would like to reply to the note that Gunnar has put forth.

First of all, John Williams needs no defense, although I thank Gunnar for the appropiate comments. the next few comments are directed towards the upcoming younger generation of musicians. To the musicians who, with no offense intended, are predominantly electronic. (And before you judge, I, myself am an avid Sibelius user)...I have no problem with technology - I have a microwave!

Here is my point...several weeks ago I was playing piano in a hotel when my good friend and I encountered an 18 year talent scout. I personally am not interested in becoming a teen pop star, but we did proceed to discuss music in general. As he learned that I was pursuing film scoring he, without hesitating, began to bash Williams. He began to use phrases like, "Yeah, I am tired of just melodies and then playing them in another key." and "Yeah, I want to hear a deep score." I thought to myself, "Do I even want to continue this conversation?"

Well, it became apparent to me that younger musicians sometimes know how to express themselves in their genre of music, but have no appreciation for other artists. John Williams has a carreer that few living musicians could even rival. John Williams was writing this "stuff " out on paper by hand before many "DJ - Hip Hop musicians" were even born. No matter what you like or dislike, believe or do not believe, we all reap what we sow. To the younger musicians - You have passion, you have music, you have energy. Now learn humility - and watch the doors you are beating on open.

In response to Gunnar's comments I couldn't agree more. It is interesting to note that John Williams himself commented in a UK radio interview last weekend that music, not just his, evokes that very special memory and that he felt very fortunate that his themes have that effect on his young fans, particularly whilst peforming his Kids Concerts.

I am fortunate to be a cinema manager, so ensured that I had the HP soundtrack playing in the main foyer during special previews last weekend. I can't tell you how much the kids (and adults) loved his new score, particularly when leaving the screens after seeing the film. All I could hear was "listen mum & dad there's the music!", some actually stood and listened! The amount of requests for the CD were countless.

I remember experiencing the same like many of us, with the likes of Star Wars & ET, not being able to wait to run down to the record store with my pocket money to live the adventure again and again!

Having experienced last weekend first hand so to speak, I think the same has happened all over again and John Williams has gained legions of new young fans!

The magic is most certainly not lost! Anyone who has seen the film coupled with Mr Williams interpretation of "Harry's Wonderous World" will know what I mean!

Thanks for you thoughtful article on our perceptions of the "Williams magic." I totally agree with your assertions -- it was an interesting and intelligent read.

MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com