Amistad Complete Score Break Down

[Incanus 5,831]

I think Amistad is a very interesting and quite a unique entry in Williams' ouvre and a slightly overlooked collaboration with Steven Spielberg. After watching the film a few times I ended up compiling a complete track list of the music and since we do not have an official cue list from any source (sheet music or otherwise) I made up my own track titles for the music, sometimes refering to the OST for help. Here is the cue/track list for the complete score as heard in the film and below a track list with notes which also notes how the music corresponds to the OST. Any comments and observations and revision suggestions are welcome.

Track List:

1. Dream Works Logo (0:20)

2. Main Title (0:22)

3. July, 1839 (1:51)

a) The Africans Take Over (0:54)

b) Cinque Under the Stars (1:29)

4. The Capture of La Amistad and Cinque – The Africans Are Led to the Prison (4:09)

5. Africans in their Cell (0:22)

6. The Senate – Mr. Tappan and Mr. Joadson Meets John Quincy Adams (5:05)

7. Baldwin, the Professor and Joadson Visit the Prison (2:18)

8. Baldwin Meets Cinque (1:22)

9. Map Drawing/Afrika! – La Amistad Inspected – Chains (5:29)

10. Mr. Joadson Appeals to Adams (4:56)

11. Searching for an Interpreter (1:09)

12. Cinque’s Memories of Home / Cinque’s Story of the Lion / The Other Lion (5:15)

13. Sierra Leone and the Capture of Cinque / Lomboko Slave Fortress (4:32)

14. Crossing the Atlantic / Feeding / Drowning of the Slaves (2:49)

15. Havana, Cuba / Slaves Renamed (2:06)

16. Middle Passage – Court Room Scene – “Give Us Free!” (5:48)

17. Cinque and Africans Wait for the Verdict (0:30)

18. Judge’s Conscience, Yamba Explains the Bible (3:36)

19. Walking to Hear the Verdict (1:00)

20. The Africans Celebrate / Cinque’s Frustration (Source Music Drums) (3:21)

21. Baldwin Writes to Mr. Adams (1:56)

22. Cinque’s Questions (2:02)

23. Cinque Meets Adams – The African Violet – Ancestors (5:01)

24. Adams’ Summation Part 1 (6:58)

25. Adam’s Summation Part 2 / Ancestral Help (2:53)

26. The Supreme Court Verdict / Goodbyes (4:41)

27. Liberation of Lomboko (2:12)

28. Going Home (2:02)

29. End Credits Part 1: Dry Your Tears Afrika (4:18)

30. End Credits Part 2: The Long Road to Justice (3:16)

Approximate Total Running Time: 94 minutes

 

 

Notes on the Chronological Film Score

1. Dream Works Logo (0:20)

2. Main Title (0:22) (OST Track 1, 0:00-0:22)

The opening credits music might be the original composition for the scene or tracked from track 1, with Pamela Dillard humming the first phrase of Cinque’s Theme.

3. July, 1839 (4:01) (Track 8)

Williams’ original composition for these scenes went unused for the most part. In the film the sequence can be divided in:

a) The Africans Take Over (0:22) (Tracked)

Another case of tracking from track 1 opening. This music underscores the African slaves on the ship after taking over.

This is followed by a short section from OST track 8 (1:38-2:10) (0:32)

b) Cinque Under the Stars (1:29) (Tracked)

Here the choral music is taken from track 6 Middle Passage (0:58-2:27) as we see Cinque changing course of the ship and navigating by the stars.

It can be surmised that OST track 8 (July, 1839) is the original version Williams composed for these two scenes (of which 1:38-2:10 used in the film) and it lines up quite well with them but especially the ending with the chanting male choir might have been too strong for the Cinque navigating under the stars scene. Williams’ original approach was eerie, frightening and rather grimly determined but the later tracked music suggests that Spielberg wanted to emphasize the spiritual aspect of the character here.

4. The Capture of La Amistad and Cinque – The Africans Are Led to the Prison (4:09)

(OST Track 2, 0:14-2:22 + 2:01 unreleased)

Track 2 (3:39): Only approximately 2:08 of the piece was used, the rest is more or less dialed out.

The opening 14 seconds of chanting are dialed out, the music starting with the percussion as the Africans hurry back to the ship as American Navy vessel approaches. After Cinque is captured the music is cut short (at 2:22 on the OST). The mix of the OST track 2 sounds slightly different from the film counterpart.

An alternate was used in the film for the Africans arriving at the prison (2:01 in length) featuring a forlorn light choir and some atmospheric scoring reminiscent in places of the original version found on the OST. The final piece is longer than the OST version by about 30 seconds.

5. Africans in their Cell (0:22) (Track 1, 0:00-0:22)

Another case of tracking Pamela Dillard’s humming of Cinque’s Theme from OST track 1.

6. The Senate – Mr. Tappan and Mr. Joadson Meets John Quincy Adams (5:05)

(Track 9, 0:00-3:47 + 1:18 unreleased music).

The music opens as Baldwin says goodbye to Tappan and Joadson and we transition to the Senate.

On the OST the music under the dialogue in the Senate garden between Mr.Adams and the two abolitionists is shortened (0:00-3:47) and continues for a little over a minute in the film.

7. Baldwin, the Professor and Joadson Visit the Prison (2:18) (Unreleased)

Lightly percussive piece slightly similar in style to the Cinque’s Memories of Home but with a low male choir quietly humming and chanting. Underscores the linguistic difficulties between the Africans and the trio of Americans.

8. Baldwin Meets Cinque (1:22) (Unreleased)

Delicate oboe, harp and strings cue for the scene where Baldwin meets Cinque for the first time.

9. Map Drawing/Afrika! – La Amistad Inspected – Chains (5:29) (Track 10, 0:00-1:58, unreleased 15 seconds which goes to track 10, 1:58-end.)

15 seconds of sustained dark low strings is missing from the middle section when Joadson peers into the dark cargo hold for the first time.

10. Mr. Joadson Appeals to Adams (4:56) (Unreleased 1:29 + track 9, 3:47-end.)

The opening 1:29 is missing from the OST as Adams talks to Joadson in the plant room. The music continues on the OST as the pair steps inside and Adams questions Joadson and the defence counsel’s methods of presenting the Africans, reminding him to find out their story.

11. Searching for an Interpreter (1:09) (Unreleased)

12. Cinque’s Memories of Home / Cinque’s Story of the Lion / The Other Lion (5:15) (Unreleased)

The whole sequence where Baldwin talks to Cinque in the prison is unreleased.

Track 5 is most likely an alternate / early version of the opening section of the piece.

crossfades to

13. Sierra Leone and the Capture of Cinque / Lomboko Slave Fortress (4:32) (Partially unreleased)

The music for the capture of Cinque is unreleased (2:29) and is followed by what sounds like tracked music from track 3 (approximately 1:36-end) which is repeated in places to cover the length of the scene.

14. Crossing the Atlantic / Feeding / Drowning of the Slaves (2:49) (Track 3?/unreleased)

The film version is shorter than track 3 and differs in editing and has alternate passages.

15. Havana, Cuba / Slaves Renamed (2:06) (Unreleased)

Sounds like the opening 1:05 is partially tracked from track 2 (~0:20-1:20), the rest is unreleased.

16. Middle Passage – Court Room Scene – “Give Us Free!” (5:48) (OST track 6)

The piece is looped in places to cover the scene in its entirety and there are drum overlays to accentuate some cuts but the OST version reflects most likely Williams’ original intention.

17. Cinque and Africans Wait for the Verdict (0:30) (Unreleased)

A short light percussion piece to add suspence for this short scene.

18. Judge’s Conscience, Yamba Explains the Bible (3:36) (Unreleased)

This is basically a long development of Cinque’s theme. OST track 4 (Cinque’s Theme)

might be either an alternate although it runs more than 30 seconds longer than the film version or it could be just a pure concert reworking of the music in this scene. It shares a number of passages with the film version.

19. Walking to Hear the Verdict (1:00) (Unreleased)

20. The Africans Celebrate / Cinque’s Frustration (Source Music Drums) (3:21) (Unreleased)

21. Baldwin Writes to Mr. Adams (1:56)

(Track 11, 0:00-1:56)

Missing a clean ending on the OST.

22. Cinque’s Questions (2:02) (Unreleased)

23. Cinque Meets Adams – The African Violet – Ancestors (5:01) (Unreleased)

24. Adams’ Summation Part 1 (6:58) (Partially unreleased)

(Track 12 0:00-1:37 + 5:21 of unreleased material)

Most of Adams’ summation is unreleased.

25. Adam’s Summation Part 2 / Ancestral Help (2:53) (1:35 unreleased + 1:18 of Track 12 (1:38-end))

26. The Supreme Court Verdict / Goodbyes (4:41) (Unreleased)

27. Liberation of Lomboko (2:12)

(Track 11, 1:56-end). Missing a clean opening on the OST.

28. Going Home (2:02) (Track 13)

OST contains the complete composition.

29. End Credits Part 1: Dry Your Tears Afrika (4:18) (Track 1)

Again the OST has the complete piece.

30. End Credits Part 2: The Long Road to Justice (3:16) (Track 7)

A concert suite of John Quincy Adams Theme.

[Darth Crossfader 603]

I only listened to the OST once. I didn't really like it, but i said the same with Empire of the Sun, and now i love that score (expect a complete score breakdown of it soon!). So i think i'll listen to Amistad again.

[publicist 4,647]

It's a good score and the african elements were new to Williams oeuvre, but whenever the inspirational americana mode is activated, the whole thing drops dead (in the movie). There are only so much eloquent quotations from the american constitution one can take in tandem with LINCOLN PORTRAIT playing in the backgound.

Spielberg rises to the occasion in the slave scenes and it could have been brilliant without the usual white-massa-saviour crap. He touches this subject in a short scene with McConaughy when the slaves make fun of him. It would have been wonderful if the whole movie would have stayed with them, as it IS about losing home and identity.

There is one swell of kitschy chorus in the GIVE US FREE scene where people in the cinema started to laugh derisively....and they were right.

[Brónach 1,307]

I heard the OST once and I greatly enjoyed the most African parts while I found the rest quite boring, honestly.

but i said the same with Empire of the Sun, and now i love that score (expect a complete score breakdown of it soon!).

Yay!

[indy4 155]

The African part is certainly the strongest, but the Americana stuff is still nice. Still, I like how it interacts with the rest of the score. The first dose of Americana feels wildly out of place, but JW slowly merges it with the African material, thematically and instrumentally, which is an interesting approach I think.

Thanks for the analysis, Incanus!

Also, here's an interesting review by Doug Adams:

http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/articles/1997/23_Dec---Amistad_DA.asp

[Incanus 5,831]

Doug Adams puts it quite succintly. I mostly agree with him on these different aspects of the score and he has infact made some great observations and interpretations of the music and its message.

If there is something dramatically a bit unsound in the score it is the overuse of the Americana music in dialogue scenes. I was, even though a huge fan of this type of writing from Williams, forced to admit that it dilutes the power of the dialogue (or monologues) in the court room scenes somewhat and more careful and sparse spotting would have been welcome. And I think the only overt misstep in the score is indeed "Give Us Free!" scene since it is in itself dramatically maudling and the music doesn't really help to sell it, quite the opposite. It might work on the album but it doesn't resonate positively in the film. To Williams' credit I have to say the underscore of that scene before the outburst of Dry Your Tears Afrika is excellent and ratchets the tension appropriately.

Otherwise I think Amistad is a very interesting and beautiful score, the African choral, soloist and the percussion writing being indeed the highlight along with a few Americana passages with Tim Morrison and James Thatcher as soloists. And the Americana in Amistad is the beginning of a relatively long period during which Williams was called upon to write and answered to some of his film scoring assignments with such music, the subject matter of the movies in the late 90's and early 2000's demanding similar Americana approach. Closest equivalents in his scores before Amistad for this type of scoring are the three Oliver Stone films where both the noble brass solos and elegiac string writing appear prominently.

[Hlao-roo 389]

I've always been disappointed that Cinque didn't shoot lightning out of his fingertips.

[Incanus 5,831]

I've always been disappointed that Cinque didn't shoot lightning out of his fingertips.

Also he didn't have a red cape and a spandex suit with a big C, or should it be S, on the chest.

[Hlao-roo 389]

His not joining a municipal band was also a major letdown.

[BrotherSound 2,393]

On 12/15/2011 at 10:17 AM, Incanus said:

I think Amistad is a very interesting and quite a unique entry in Williams' ouvre and a slightly overlooked collaboration with Steven Spielberg. After watching the film a few times I ended up compiling a complete track list of the music and since we do not have an official cue list from any source (sheet music or otherwise) I made up my own track titles for the music, sometimes refering to the OST for help. Here is the cue/track list for the complete score as heard in the film and below a track list with notes which also notes how the music corresponds to the OST. Any comments and observations and revision suggestions are welcome.

Track List:

1. Dream Works Logo (0:20)

2. Main Title (0:22)

3. July, 1839 (1:51)

a) The Africans Take Over (0:54)

b) Cinque Under the Stars (1:29)

4. The Capture of La Amistad and Cinque – The Africans Are Led to the Prison (4:09)

5. Africans in their Cell (0:22)

6. The Senate – Mr. Tappan and Mr. Joadson Meets John Quincy Adams (5:05)

7. Baldwin, the Professor and Joadson Visit the Prison (2:18)

8. Baldwin Meets Cinque (1:22)

9. Map Drawing/Afrika! – La Amistad Inspected – Chains (5:29)

10. Mr. Joadson Appeals to Adams (4:56)

11. Searching for an Interpreter (1:09)

12. Cinque’s Memories of Home / Cinque’s Story of the Lion / The Other Lion (5:15)

13. Sierra Leone and the Capture of Cinque / Lomboko Slave Fortress (4:32)

14. Crossing the Atlantic / Feeding / Drowning of the Slaves (2:49)

15. Havana, Cuba / Slaves Renamed (2:06)

16. Middle Passage – Court Room Scene – “Give Us Free!” (5:48)

17. Cinque and Africans Wait for the Verdict (0:30)

18. Judge’s Conscience, Yamba Explains the Bible (3:36)

19. Walking to Hear the Verdict (1:00)

20. The Africans Celebrate / Cinque’s Frustration (Source Music Drums) (3:21)

21. Baldwin Writes to Mr. Adams (1:56)

22. Cinque’s Questions (2:02)

23. Cinque Meets Adams – The African Violet – Ancestors (5:01)

24. Adams’ Summation Part 1 (6:58)

25. Adam’s Summation Part 2 / Ancestral Help (2:53)

26. The Supreme Court Verdict / Goodbyes (4:41)

27. Liberation of Lomboko (2:12)

28. Going Home (2:02)

29. End Credits Part 1: Dry Your Tears Afrika (4:18)

30. End Credits Part 2: The Long Road to Justice (3:16)

Approximate Total Running Time: 94 minutes

 

So, especially since the time is ripe for an expansion of this score, I went digging and found the original cue titles in the GEMA database. They seem to generally be in film order, though with some of the album titles grouped at the end (maybe just the ones that are not also cue titles?). I've included the few slates that are known:

 

1M1 Retribution [unused?]
OX4925 [Main Title?]*
OX4927 Cinque's Theme

OX4928 1M2 July 4th, 1839

OX4929 [source, arr. Abraham & Allen]*

OX4930 Ya Weh [source, arr. Abraham & Allen]

OX4932 The Capture

OX4934 The Capture, Part II

OX4939 Introducing Mr. Adams

OX4940 Guitar Source #1 [comp. JW]

OX4941 Guitar Source #2 [comp. JW]

OX4942 Meeting of the Minds

OX4943 6M1 Counsel Meets Client

OX4944 The Ship Remembers

OX4946 Visiting Adams

OX4947 7M4A Learning to Count

OX4948 Today We Face The Wall [source, arr. Allen, Abraham, Sow]

OX5803 The Ladder Is Broken [source, arr. Abraham, Allen]

OX5805 Let's Stand Together* [source, arr. Allen, Kargbo]

OX5807 Tale of the Tiger’s Tooth

OX5809 The Capture of Cinque

OX5810 The Second Crossing

OX5811 10M1 Tales of Horror

OX5812 Discovering the Bible

OX5813 Prisoner’s Song

OX5814 Timuyandya* [source, comp. Allen, Kargbo, Okpala, Sow]

OX5816 Jail Drums [source, comp. JW]

OX5817 The Letter to Massachusetts

OX5818 13M2 Cinque’s Legal Mind

OX5819 African Violet

OX5821 Adams’ Address to the Court

OX5822 Adams' Summation

OX5824 The Verdict

OX5825 [Liberation of Lomboko?]*

OX5826 Dry Your Tears, Afrika [End Credits Part I]

OX5827 Going Home

OX5830 15M4 End Credits Part II [The Long Road To Justice]

 

*Title shows only as "Amistad" in database

 

OST-only titles?

 

OX5834 Sierra Leone 1839/The Capture of Cinque

OX5835 Crossing the Atlantic

OX5836 Cinque's Memories of Home

OX5837 Middle Passage

OX5838 The Long Road to Justice

OX5839 Mr. Adams Takes the Case

OX5840 La Amistad Remembered

OX5841 The Liberation of Lomboko

OX5842 Dry Your Tears, Afrika (Reprise)

[JohnnyD 1,376]

On 2/16/2021 at 2:09 PM, BrotherSound said:

 

So, especially since the time is ripe for an expansion of this score, I went digging and found the original cue titles in the GEMA database. They seem to generally be in film order, though with some of the album titles grouped at the end (maybe just the ones that are not also cue titles?). I've included the few slates that are known:

 

1M1 Retribution [unused?]
OX4925 [Main Title?]*
OX4927 Cinque's Theme

OX4928 1M2 July 4th, 1839

OX4929 [source, arr. Abraham & Allen]*

OX4930 Ya Weh [source, arr. Abraham & Allen]

OX4932 The Capture

OX4934 The Capture, Part II

OX4939 Introducing Mr. Adams

OX4940 Guitar Source #1 [comp. JW]

OX4941 Guitar Source #2 [comp. JW]

OX4942 Meeting of the Minds

OX4943 6M1 Counsel Meets Client

OX4944 The Ship Remembers

OX4946 Visiting Adams

OX4947 7M4A Learning to Count

OX4948 Today We Face The Wall [source, arr. Allen, Abraham, Sow]

OX5803 The Ladder Is Broken [source, arr. Abraham, Allen]

OX5805 Let's Stand Together* [source, arr. Allen, Kargbo]

OX5807 Tale of the Tiger’s Tooth

OX5809 The Capture of Cinque

OX5810 The Second Crossing

OX5811 10M1 Tales of Horror

OX5812 Discovering the Bible

OX5813 Prisoner’s Song

OX5814 Timuyandya* [source, comp. Allen, Kargbo, Okpala, Sow]

OX5816 Jail Drums [source, comp. JW]

OX5817 The Letter to Massachusetts

OX5818 13M2 Cinque’s Legal Mind

OX5819 African Violet

OX5821 Adams’ Address to the Court

OX5822 Adams' Summation

OX5824 The Verdict

OX5825 [Liberation of Lomboko?]*

OX5826 Dry Your Tears, Afrika [End Credits Part I]

OX5827 Going Home

OX5830 15M4 End Credits Part II [The Long Road To Justice]

 

*Title shows only as "Amistad" in database

 

OST-only titles?

 

OX5834 Sierra Leone 1839/The Capture of Cinque

OX5835 Crossing the Atlantic

OX5836 Cinque's Memories of Home

OX5837 Middle Passage

OX5838 The Long Road to Justice

OX5839 Mr. Adams Takes the Case

OX5840 La Amistad Remembered

OX5841 The Liberation of Lomboko

OX5842 Dry Your Tears, Afrika (Reprise)

I REALLY hope that Amistad gets the remastered and expanded treatment, if not before the end of this year, then definitely sometime in the beginning or middle of next year to commemorate the film’s 25th anniversary.

[crumbs 15,129]

On 17/02/2021 at 6:09 AM, BrotherSound said:

 

So, especially since the time is ripe for an expansion of this score, I went digging and found the original cue titles in the GEMA database. They seem to generally be in film order, though with some of the album titles grouped at the end (maybe just the ones that are not also cue titles?). I've included the few slates that are known:

 

1M1 Retribution [unused?]
OX4925 [Main Title?]*
OX4927 Cinque's Theme

OX4928 1M2 July 4th, 1839

OX4929 [source, arr. Abraham & Allen]*

OX4930 Ya Weh [source, arr. Abraham & Allen]

OX4932 The Capture

OX4934 The Capture, Part II

OX4939 Introducing Mr. Adams

OX4940 Guitar Source #1 [comp. JW]

OX4941 Guitar Source #2 [comp. JW]

OX4942 Meeting of the Minds

OX4943 6M1 Counsel Meets Client

OX4944 The Ship Remembers

OX4946 Visiting Adams

OX4947 7M4A Learning to Count

OX4948 Today We Face The Wall [source, arr. Allen, Abraham, Sow]

OX5803 The Ladder Is Broken [source, arr. Abraham, Allen]

OX5805 Let's Stand Together* [source, arr. Allen, Kargbo]

OX5807 Tale of the Tiger’s Tooth

OX5809 The Capture of Cinque

OX5810 The Second Crossing

OX5811 10M1 Tales of Horror

OX5812 Discovering the Bible

OX5813 Prisoner’s Song

OX5814 Timuyandya* [source, comp. Allen, Kargbo, Okpala, Sow]

OX5816 Jail Drums [source, comp. JW]

OX5817 The Letter to Massachusetts

OX5818 13M2 Cinque’s Legal Mind

OX5819 African Violet

OX5821 Adams’ Address to the Court

OX5822 Adams' Summation

OX5824 The Verdict

OX5825 [Liberation of Lomboko?]*

OX5826 Dry Your Tears, Afrika [End Credits Part I]

OX5827 Going Home

OX5830 15M4 End Credits Part II [The Long Road To Justice]

 

*Title shows only as "Amistad" in database

 

OST-only titles?

 

OX5834 Sierra Leone 1839/The Capture of Cinque

OX5835 Crossing the Atlantic

OX5836 Cinque's Memories of Home

OX5837 Middle Passage

OX5838 The Long Road to Justice

OX5839 Mr. Adams Takes the Case

OX5840 La Amistad Remembered

OX5841 The Liberation of Lomboko

OX5842 Dry Your Tears, Afrika (Reprise)

 

This is sensational! Love some of these cue titles, like The Ship Remembers, Tale of the Tiger's Tooth and African Violet.

 

Amistad is right up there with The Patriot as one of my most-coveted expansions, purely because of how much unreleased music we can look forward to!

 

If we assume this list only includes cues heard in the film, that means we still have no idea what unused alternates might exist!

 

And considering his other "recent" Americana score for Spielberg (Lincoln) was filled with unused alternates and theme suites, there might be some hidden gems in the vaults for this one too!

 

Fingers crossed there's something in the works for the 25th Anniversary.

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,530]

I just hope it won't be too long after all there is a whole year before its anniversary

[crumbs 15,129]

I'm sure there'll be plenty of exciting things in the interim!

 

Who knows, might even come early on Black Friday

[JohnnyD 1,376]

7 hours ago, crumbs said:

Fingers crossed there's something in the works for the 25th Anniversary.

 

Considering the fact that Amistad is being given a 4K restoration, and there is a certain pattern to these things, one can only hope. Consider the following: in 2017, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. had their 40th and 35th anniversary, respectively; both were restored in 4K AND had remastered and expanded soundtrack releases. In 2018, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List had their 20th and 25th anniversary, respectively; both were restored in 4K AND had remastered and expanded soundtrack releases. In 2020, War of the Worlds had its 15th anniversary; the film was restored in 4K AND had a remastered and expanded soundtrack release. So, considering that Amistad is getting a 4K restoration AND next year marks the film’s 25th anniversary… Again, one can only hope.

[crumbs 15,129]

And arguably the only reason Raiders (released in 4K this year) hasn't followed that pattern is they're waiting until Williams finishes the series with the fifth score. 

 

My hunch is the Indy scores will be the last pre-2005 Williams/Spielberg scores that Mike expands. 

[Jay 40,337]

Not mentioned is of course that Hook got a 4K restoration and yet no expansion, and Always got an expansion and yet no 4K restoration.

 

These things aren't really related

 

The ET and CE3K expansions did happen because Spielberg asked LLL to do them, sure.  All the other expansions are just the normal process of asking for a license and getting it, and then releasing it when its finished.  Any 4K happening at the same time is a coincidence

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,530]

Sadly the Star Wars are the only one that Mike could reissue after the Indiana Jones 😭

After all they're finished and they already have the 4K

[Jay 40,337]

We were discussing Spielberg films specifically, so Star Wars doesn't factor in

[crumbs 15,129]

On 29/10/2021 at 10:31 AM, Jay said:

All the other expansions are just the normal process of asking for a license and getting it, and then releasing it when its finished. 

 

Wasn't Jurassic slightly different, in that Williams' camp asked LLL if they wanted to do it (and the idea of doing TLW only came up when Mike suggested pairing the two scores)?

 

I got the impression it works both ways - it's not just Mike and the labels requesting licenses but often Williams' camp (aka presumably Williams himself) instigating a restoration (like Dracula). 

 

I do have a theory why Hook hasn't shown up for its anniversary but I can't be bothered writing it up 

[Disco Stu 15,504]

1 minute ago, crumbs said:

Wasn't Jurassic slightly different, in that Williams' camp asked LLL if they wanted to do it (and the idea of doing TLW only came up when Mike suggested pairing the two scores)?

 

And if I'm remembering correctly, it was specifically because they were working on the LTP concert

[crumbs 15,129]

3 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

 

And if I'm remembering correctly, it was specifically because they were working on the LTP concert

 

Yes! IIRC Mike was involved, trawling through the multi-tracks attempting to isolate the choir for the concerts (and the shakuhachi flute too).

[Jay 40,337]

Mike talks about how it came about somewhere in this audio podcast

 

 

Which is why it isn't covered in my text interview

 

https://www.jwfan.com/?p=9994

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,530]

3 hours ago, Jay said:

We were discussing Spielberg films specifically, so Star Wars doesn't factor in

Sorry I like too much lamenting abou this subject that I didn't read Williams/Spielberg in crumbs post

 

I think there's another great contender to the Indy score (this time in the Spielberg/Williams collaboration) and it's Sugarland Express. I have the strange feeling that Williams isn't interested to expanded nor simply release an album for it. After all the various performance of the main theme it appears that he probably only care about this passage

[Jay 40,337]

Roger Feigelson of Intrada has specifically said WIlliams vetoed them from doing a Sugarland Express album, but that the elements are safely archived.

[JohnnyD 1,376]

5 hours ago, Jay said:

Not mentioned is of course that Hook got a 4K restoration and yet no expansion, and Always got an expansion and yet no 4K restoration.

 

These things aren't really related

 

The ET and CE3K expansions did happen because Spielberg asked LLL to do them, sure.  All the other expansions are just the normal process of asking for a license and getting it, and then releasing it when its finished.  Any 4K happening at the same time is a coincidence

…Except Hook’s 4K restoration was in 2018; that year was not the film’s anniversary.

 

Also, if I remember correctly, didn’t Mike Matessino work on the audio restoration of the score for the 4K restoration of Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

 

Anyway, those instances of 4K restorations AND remastered and expanded soundtrack releases commemorating the anniversaries of those aforementioned films from Steven Spielberg (Close Encounters, E.T., Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, War of the Worlds) cannot be passed off as mere coincidences. I’m just saying.

 

Personally, the fact that Amistad is indeed getting a 4K restoration is an excellent way to commemorate the film’s 25th anniversary; it only makes sense for the Maestro’s score to be given the remastered and expanded treatment as commemoration as well. Either way, 2022 is just around the corner.

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,530]

12 hours ago, Jay said:

Roger Feigelson  of Intrada has specifically said WIlliams vetoed them from doing a Sugarland Express album, but that the elements are safely archived.

That's half reassuring. Still he's waiting for the 50th anniversary of the film... Two years from now....