In these new set of violin pieces, there are a lot of quasi-cadenza/improvisation-like passages, which sound a lot like his 'concert' pieces (3:00 is very similar to Markings). Rather ironic, given that a lot of people tend to dissociate the film music composer from the concert hall composer. Anyway, a pleasure to listen to this new take on one of his few mahlerian scores. Williams unfortunately rarely writes dark and desperate music.
And then from about 3:50 - 4:20 you could ask “which Star Wars movie?” This was the Frank Langella version of Dracula so it hit more of a darkly romantic tone. From the cuts I’ve heard here, I wish we had more of the playful, whimsical John Williams thrown in. Besides the piece called Donnybrook Fair, it seems heavily stacked towards high-drama violin playing rather than the merry fiddler.
Williams already wrote several "merry" violin pieces: fiddler on the roof, the arrgt of por una cabeza, the devil's dance. I am glad we have some dramatic pieces.
I guess I was hoping for more variety on this recording. Just fast forward and listen to the endings. How many have the music getting softer and softer, the violin goes up and up, and ends on a long sustained high note at pianissimo? Is it a third of them or just seems like it? I know it’s a violin recording and maybe I prefer his more brassy numbers where JW also excels. He certainly writes great French Horn and trumpet parts.
@@brucekuehn4031 I think it does lacks variety concerning the Star Wars pieces. All four are lyrical pieces and three have slow movements and are rather similar (Luke and Leia's Theme is derivated from the Leia's theme). Moreover the violin versions don't add much compared to the original. Princess Leia's Theme would have been sufficient. And they could have add some pieces from Jane Eyre instead (the scherzo could have been great on the violin).
Christopher Lee wasn't in the 1979 film of Dracula. However, you did give your comment some Star Wars flavor, since the late Christopher Lee was Count Dooku in Star Wars Episodes 2 and 3. Now, as for the actor that played Dracula. It was Frank Langella.
@@patrickjulian4442 I know that - I think he was a typical 1970s Dracula with that hairdo of his. The story was somewhat of a mess - they switched the two female characters with Mina being named Lucy and Lucy being named Mina, and Lucy being the daughter of Dr. Seward and Mina being the daughter of Dr. van Helsing (and being a bit sickly, without it ever being stated what she had). But I love the music for this movie - especially the slightly slavic flavor he gives to this tune, and I think it's just perfect as a solo piece for the violin.
@@bathtubbarracuda2581 Sorry...Well, but then the statements concerning where Dracula was actually from are somewhat murky from case to case, depending on the respective treatment of the Dracula story (in one fictionalized version he's even said to be Hungarian and involved with the Countess Bathory!), as were the geopolitical conditions at the time Dracula lives, and for centuries after. So let's say it sounds a bit like "gypsy music" and there were gypsies in Romania, weren't there?
This is one of the most interesting and when that orchestra enters full blown is electrifying
It is tragic, mysterious and beautiful at the same time. The perfect soundtrack for Dracula.
This doesn't even sound like a soundtrack anymore. Like this is great symphonic music period.
It is a melody perfectly suited for the violin.
In these new set of violin pieces, there are a lot of quasi-cadenza/improvisation-like passages, which sound a lot like his 'concert' pieces (3:00 is very similar to Markings). Rather ironic, given that a lot of people tend to dissociate the film music composer from the concert hall composer.
Anyway, a pleasure to listen to this new take on one of his few mahlerian scores. Williams unfortunately rarely writes dark and desperate music.
And then from about 3:50 - 4:20 you could ask “which Star Wars movie?” This was the Frank Langella version of Dracula so it hit more of a darkly romantic tone.
From the cuts I’ve heard here, I wish we had more of the playful, whimsical John Williams thrown in. Besides the piece called Donnybrook Fair, it seems heavily stacked towards high-drama violin playing rather than the merry fiddler.
Williams already wrote several "merry" violin pieces: fiddler on the roof, the arrgt of por una cabeza, the devil's dance. I am glad we have some dramatic pieces.
I guess I was hoping for more variety on this recording. Just fast forward and listen to the endings. How many have the music getting softer and softer, the violin goes up and up, and ends on a long sustained high note at pianissimo? Is it a third of them or just seems like it?
I know it’s a violin recording and maybe I prefer his more brassy numbers where JW also excels. He certainly writes great French Horn and trumpet parts.
@@brucekuehn4031 I think it does lacks variety concerning the Star Wars pieces. All four are lyrical pieces and three have slow movements and are rather similar (Luke and Leia's Theme is derivated from the Leia's theme). Moreover the violin versions don't add much compared to the original. Princess Leia's Theme would have been sufficient. And they could have add some pieces from Jane Eyre instead (the scherzo could have been great on the violin).
👏
This is an interesting choice. I wonder if JW suggested it himself?
the composer and conductor Andre Previn suggested this music to Williams
Rip Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee did not play Dracula in the film for which this music was composed.
Christopher Lee wasn't in the 1979 film of Dracula. However, you did give your comment some Star Wars flavor, since the late Christopher Lee was Count Dooku in Star Wars Episodes 2 and 3. Now, as for the actor that played Dracula. It was Frank Langella.
@@patrickjulian4442 I know that - I think he was a typical 1970s Dracula with that hairdo of his. The story was somewhat of a mess - they switched the two female characters with Mina being named Lucy and Lucy being named Mina, and Lucy being the daughter of Dr. Seward and Mina being the daughter of Dr. van Helsing (and being a bit sickly, without it ever being stated what she had).
But I love the music for this movie - especially the slightly slavic flavor he gives to this tune, and I think it's just perfect as a solo piece for the violin.
@@christianealshut1123 hah just piping in before that one comment calls Dracula and Romania slavic
@@bathtubbarracuda2581 Sorry...Well, but then the statements concerning where Dracula was actually from are somewhat murky from case to case, depending on the respective treatment of the Dracula story (in one fictionalized version he's even said to be Hungarian and involved with the Countess Bathory!), as were the geopolitical conditions at the time Dracula lives, and for centuries after.
So let's say it sounds a bit like "gypsy music" and there were gypsies in Romania, weren't there?