bayesian13 t1_j2me6kv wrote
Reply to comment by I_play_trombone_AMA in In 1930s, Music Defense League launched a campaign against recorded sound in movie and live theaters, claiming that numerous musicians would lose their jobs if "canned music" was preferred over live recordings. by Profanion
thank you. I had wondered about that... how many different movies have you done? are they all as challenging as star wars or are some of them easier? i attended one which was the Princess Bride. That was really fun.
I_play_trombone_AMA t1_j2mfciv wrote
I can’t remember every movie I’ve done, but I’ve done Star Wars IV, V, VI, Harry Potter 2, 3, 4, Home Alone, Amadeus, and some other random things like nature documentaries, etc. I might be forgetting a couple, but I’d say I’ve done 10-12 movies since they started getting popular as orchestra concerts.
As you can see, it skews heavily towards things like John Williams, probably because those are the most “involved” orchestra scores which will give the audience something to appreciate over just seeing a movie in a standard format.
You need the movie to have a largely orchestral score able to be reproduced by a standard orchestra. If a score relies a lot on electronic music, or rock music then it’s pointless to have the whole orchestra there if they barely play. So that already limits which movies will get done.
The Star Wars movies were definitely the hardest, both in terms of actually difficult notes, and also the endurance to make it through from start to finish.
Some are easier. Amadeus was easy because it’s all Mozart, which isn’t super heavy. The documentaries were mostly pretty easy, but not as fun or rewarding for the musicians because it’s more “background music” as opposed to something like John Williams where often the music feels like it’s an integral part of the story, or even a character in its own right.
If it’s by John Williams it’s probably pretty difficult.
PoizonMyst t1_j2mu1xe wrote
Baraka would be quite awesome performed by live orchestra and choir.
AthousandLittlePies t1_j2nu1zm wrote
I saw Powaqqatsi performed live once. It was pretty awesome.
Mr_Gaslight t1_j2osctf wrote
I finally got the chance to hear The Empire Strikes Back played live. I was there to watch the orchestra and not the film.
I was the only one applauding at the Battle in the Snow and Asteroid Field and other bits.
What a glorious score.
Unbelievably, near the end, people got up to leave before the end credits began playing.
Now, if only someone does Goldsmith’s Star Trek the Motion Picture.
I_play_trombone_AMA t1_j2ot15d wrote
I stay and watch the credits for any movie with a great score, even when I’m seeing it at the movie theater. It’s free. Why get up and leave if the music is good??? Glad you enjoyed Empire! That was one of my favorites to play, but also one of the most difficult.
bayesian13 t1_j2mg1rl wrote
thanks
yvrelna t1_j2mwpzf wrote
If the movie heavily relies on rock music, then they can just have a rock band play the live music instead of an orchestra. Or maybe it could be some members of the orchestra may also be rock players, if both types of music are in the movie.
I_play_trombone_AMA t1_j2n0iy9 wrote
> If the movie heavily relies on rock music, then they can just have a rock band play the live music instead of an orchestra.
Yes, they could do that, but then an orchestra wouldn’t put it on their own concert schedule and it wouldn’t be an orchestra event, which is fine. It would just change the type of event it is.
> Or maybe it could be some members of the orchestra may also be rock players, if both types of music are in the movie.
This is pretty rare in the orchestra world. Most members of professional orchestras have specialized degrees in orchestral performance, and have spent tens of thousands of hours practicing their instrument. The sheer amount of time required mostly precludes people from playing more than one instrument at a professional level (unless they’re very similar, like flute and piccolo, or clarinet and bass clarinet). There may be someone in the orchestra who plays guitar for fun, but the chances of that person actually being good enough at guitar to perform a movie score for paying audience members is vanishingly small. Everyone you see on stage at an orchestra concert has dedicated their life and career to mastering one instrument and learning as much as they possibly can about it.
KumquatRadical t1_j2nm60t wrote
You're living up to your username and I appreciate it.
Amaranth_devil t1_j2o5agk wrote
He's a mighty tromboner
[deleted] t1_j2nn4t7 wrote
[removed]
Worried_Astronaut_41 t1_j2qtok9 wrote
Sometimes there's 2 soundtracks the score with just orchestra and the soundtrack with say rock pop or main songs 🎵.
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