Saturday 18 November 2017

'STAR WARS' AT 40: MUSICAL EXCELLENCE!


At the famous EMI recording studios of Anvil Studios, Denham, John Williams conducted score for the epic Death Star battle, brought to vivid, dizzying and exciting life by the renowned London Symphony Orchestra, is mixed and recorded, part of ninety minutes of music score recorded across fourteen intense and wonderful sessions in March 1977, that would surprise, thrill and delight George Lucas, now truly seeing his artistic entertainment vision come to life via Williams' superb themes and sweeping romanticism, watching and hearing alongside Gary Kurtz and Carrie Fisher (who attended at least one day of the recording and was notably played back the Princess Leia theme by a very happy Lucas).

Originally, Lucas was to have used Gustav Holst's 'Planets' suite themes with the film, in the same kind of way that Kubrick used classic music so successfully with 2001: A Space Odyssey. But once Lucas had been introduced to his new friend in John Williams via Steven Spielberg, the opportunity to do an all-new symphonic score for the film, with a wonderful accompanying swashbuckler feel/quality to it, was ultimately too good an idea to pass up. Certainly, when ILM were under strain in late March/April 1977 to complete the film's effects, their spirits were soon raised when Lucas played them parts of the previously recorded, highly impressive and emotive soundtrack.

Mark Hamill recalls the original score: http://variety.com/2018/film/news/mark-hamill-on-star-wars-music-composer-john-williams-1202659494/

John Williams winning his Academy Award in 1978. Image: OSCARS.ORG.

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