This Might Be The GREATEST Movie Theme Of ALL Time

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3 ай бұрын

Which John Williams score wins for you?
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@CharlesCornellStudios 3 ай бұрын

Caption the "I have arrived" alien at 3:02 GO-->

@JanStrojil 3 ай бұрын

Is that Mr. Burns?

@KingOfGamesss 3 ай бұрын

Nice chord

@sullivanjones694 3 ай бұрын

Me when I beat my older sibling in mariokart Wii (specifically coconut mall)

@faizm937 3 ай бұрын

One piece opening 26 full reaction, bro it's a crazy fun ride. Ngl

@KingOfGamesss 3 ай бұрын

@@JanStrojil Nice Call-Back...LOL 'Homer' making that Crop-Circle!

@jasonjansen9831 3 ай бұрын

John Williams losing the Oscar to himself is so John Williams

@whophd 3 ай бұрын

I love how John Williams got put into Hollywood’s hall of fame last year, and for his acceptance speech he totally throws the whole industry into miniature by reminding them the history of orchestral music is several times bigger, and more influential

@trumpetqueen963 2 ай бұрын

I'm looking everywhere for a video this and struggling

@whophd 2 ай бұрын

@@trumpetqueen963 My mistake, 2016. His acceptance speech for the 44th AFI Life Achievement Award.

@KerloTech 3 ай бұрын

I'm going to be a blubbering mess when John moves on to the next realm. I feel privileged to have been able to experience his music during my lifetime.

@Nightowl427272 3 ай бұрын

Same…

@janmcguire5268 2 ай бұрын

Ditto

@NaughtyAelf 2 ай бұрын

By Calliope and all the Muses, by Orpheus and all the goddesses and gods of music, John Williams will live through his music forever

@briasoloable 2 ай бұрын

It’s definitely going to be a mental health day

@christophergalat8932 2 ай бұрын

I think about that from time to time and I have to fight back tears.

@Joe_Murphy-REV_Realty 3 ай бұрын

My dear friend and mentor of 40+ years, Mr. Jim Self, was the tuba player on this soundtrack and voice of the mothership. The interplay between Jim and the oboe soloist when the spaceship lands, is brilliant. As a recording tuba player in Nashville for decades, I have listened to this soundtrack hundreds of times. I can send you a pdf of the tuba part during the reveal of the mothership, if you're interested. Thanks for featuring this! (He was also John Williams' first call tubaist on everything. Star Wars, Hook, both Home Alone movies, and literally thousands of other major motion pictures!

@jellewils3974 3 ай бұрын

Never seen the movie before, never heard the soundtrack before. However, I play saxophone myself, as a hobby and it's great fun to watch other people enjoy themselves/nerd over music. I absolutely Loved the relentless climax at the end that just kept building and then some. And it's pretty special to see someone leave a comment that actually knows someone that worked on this obviously excrutiacingly beautiful soundtrack. So, thanks

@douglasmagowan2709 3 ай бұрын

That is the best piece of music on the soundtrack.

@Joe_Murphy-REV_Realty 3 ай бұрын

@@douglasmagowan2709 Absolutely!

@Nightowl427272 3 ай бұрын

Awesome story!!! I love the conversation between the oboe and the tuba!

@Joe_Murphy-REV_Realty 3 ай бұрын

@@Nightowl427272 It's such wonderful writing by John Williams! And, Jim's tuba performance is spectacular!

@chrys9256 3 ай бұрын

I think the reason why John Williams won the Oscar for Star wars instead of this is that it's not a soundtrack you could listen to outside of the movie. Within the context of the movie it's absolutely brilliant and in some ways more effective than Star Wars, but it won't sell albums and you're not going to find yourself humming the melody. I don't mean that as a negative though, because that should be the primary goal of a soundtrack, to enhance the movie.

@jessemoog5310 3 ай бұрын

Oh you can definitely listen to it on its own. You just have to be more into dissonant Modern Music. Star Wars is more approachable. Both are equally Great Music pieces though.

@Marshall7302 3 ай бұрын

I agree but oddly .. i have close encounters, Indiana jones, ET and a couple others on ALBUM (vinyl) and digitally copied to MP3 to my phone. And i listened to the entire albums over and over when i was at a factory paint line. Almost studying them note by note many times. and i LOVE this one. ET and Temple of dooms sound track are above star wars to me personally. Probably because Star wars at this point had been played soo much and covered so much that i grew tired of it lol.

@stewartmoore5158 3 ай бұрын

You absolutely can listen to this outside of the movie, it's a much more emotional and complex experience than Star Wars, but I see what you're getting at.

@MrRezRising 3 ай бұрын

I used to clean my room as a little kid while listening to this movie. I became a musician, prob why I can still follow the music without the movie in m'mellon.

@jbreezy101 3 ай бұрын

Yeah, I wouldn’t hum/ know any song in CE3K except for the five key notes

@MyriamTT 3 ай бұрын

I was 23 years old in 1977. You made me melt down in tears. What a wonderful time to be alive and see all these great movies being released.

@EJL88 3 ай бұрын

When the mothership “conversation” happens, as a tuba guy, that is the most epic part of that film. Jim Self did a stellar job with that performance.

@litz13 3 ай бұрын

Yes!

@martoto77 3 ай бұрын

Yeah and when the conversation goes into double time, that tuba is tight. Love the woodwind too.

@johnthecloud 3 ай бұрын

Quite a bit of the score you're playing is from the 1980 special edition (from inside the mothership). I love that bit of the score, but I prefer the original cut of the movie because it preserves more of the mystery and wonder.

@MonkeyJedi99 3 ай бұрын

The five note Close Encounters sequence was the first thing I ever worked out on my own, without sheet music, on a keyboard (electric organ). (I am officially old.) LONG before I was taught Chopsticks or that thing where you knuckle-roll across the black keys.

@jennifermorris6848 3 ай бұрын

Love the mothership conversation. I was wondering if the conversation ever showed up anywhere or gets “translated” anywhere in the score.

@necrogon22 3 ай бұрын

Dare I say, the harmony is.. out of this world

@me0101001000 3 ай бұрын

It truly is stellar, isn't it

@jayrhodes3766 3 ай бұрын

It really goes to cosmic heights.

@gallium-gonzollium 3 ай бұрын

My brain might become a supernova after that

@adamgoad4131 3 ай бұрын

Dare, dare!

@dsaerno 3 ай бұрын

I've never seen Charles so excited and passionate about a score before! It's infectious.

@DoubleOProductions 3 ай бұрын

a little too passionate we think... he does slightly over-egg the manner in which he talks about basic musical chords & structure as though it's a master's degree thesis... it's really not... there are quite a few of us who also know music too... just be mindful of those of us who know music because your disections of simple stuff as over-elaborate and challenging can come across as patronizing.

@hoborock007 3 ай бұрын

Way too much... bordering on obnoxious

@vincentjohnflorio 3 ай бұрын

@@DoubleOProductions Maybe it's deliberate and he's trying to get people hyped so they learn and become like you, enjoying knowing the meat and potatoes

@MonkeyJedi99 3 ай бұрын

Around 19:00 or so, I wondered if Charles needed some "alone time" with the music.

@saltedpork461 3 ай бұрын

@@DoubleOProductions Lol imagine unironically espousing some shit like this. So fucking patronizing and elitist. "Stop getting excited about what I think is simple music reeeeeeeeee!!!" It's fine to get excited and passionate about this amazing and moving score.

@BThings 3 ай бұрын

The use of "When You Wish Upon A Star" is also thematically primed through dialogue earlier in the movie when Roy Neary's talking about wanting to take his kids to see a re-release of _Pinocchio_ (the movie where that song originated). It's little details like this that make me love _Close Encounters_ so much!

@Nightowl427272 3 ай бұрын

Oh wow! I’ve seen the movie many times and I totally missed that! lol Great observation!

@dunstonlion1342 3 ай бұрын

There can be a degree of elitism among some composer types that says John Williams is a good film composer but not a true great. And when I listen to stuff like this, I don't know WHAT those people are talking about. Not only a fantastic score, but some of the best modern composing of our generation! Thank you for bringing your passion and joy to this lovely breakdown!

@Menntok 3 ай бұрын

He makes too much money for them.

@dunstonlion1342 3 ай бұрын

I literally cannot figure out what you mean by this@@Menntok

@evieashton8099 3 ай бұрын

@@dunstonlion1342I think he means they don’t like John Williams because he ‘makes too much money’ for their liking - i.e. they’re jealous of his success so they put down his greatness. A lot of people put down those who commercialise their skills for some reason! I don’t personally understand it, but it surely must be jealousy. I mean just listen to this!

@Thats_Mr_Random_Person_to_you 3 ай бұрын

Agree there is elitism and nearly all stems from the jealousy of the success of film composers (ie they are earning good money for the film work they do) and when it come to 'Art' (I mean that in terms of Music being part of the Arts) there is usually a 'hatred' of comercialisation as 'true art is done for no other reason than art itself' even though all the 'greats' of composing were paid for it. To me that's all just a huge under-playing of film composers' skills. I will say however, comparing this score to say, Rach 2 or 3 (piano concerto) I personally would say that the Rach stuff is more complex, richer etc.. but equally they were written with extremely different aims so not really something you can compare... one with 0 deadline and took years to write, the other with seriously tough and virtually non-negotiable deadlines. A great rebuff to anyone how is snooty about film composers vs 'real' composers... Prokofiev... no elitist would ever say Prokofiev was not a 'real' composer. Then point out he wrote several film scores (Alexander Nevsky - 1938, Ivan the Terrible - 1944, Lieutenant Kije - 1934, and the unreleased Queen Of Spades in 1936). Shostakovich did a lot, Saint-saëns did one, Schoeberg did something called: accompanying music for a film scene op. 34. Point is, anyone being snobby/elitist is ignoring a lot of evidence to the contrary.

@Thats_Mr_Random_Person_to_you 3 ай бұрын

Also, composers who write for a lot of film do have to create a bit of a repertoire of building blocks to allow them to write a LOT of Music and I think the elitists see repeated use of similar themes and motifs across multiple films as a sign that they can only write music by repeating previous works (John Williams has his 'infamous' 5th jumps in melodies, Indiana Jones theme has crossover with Superman theme etc..) which just is such a simplistic way to look at everything.

@Zelmel 3 ай бұрын

I haven't seen this film in decades and those five sets of notes in a row still give me full body chills.

@SilentGloves 3 ай бұрын

I recall back in 2007, Daft Punk used the 5-note motif to signal the start of the show on their Alive tour. People went nuts.

@Zelmel 3 ай бұрын

@@SilentGlovesThat sounds like it would be rad as hell!

@jasonlivesay77 3 ай бұрын

Absolutely JW’s most brilliant work in my opinion. The sophistication and incorporating 20th century composition techniques (Ligeti’s “Atmospheres,” Debussy’s “Prelude…Faun,” etc.) is just exquisite. As a violinist, I was fortunate to play an entire orchestra concert of Williams’ music 11 years ago with John himself conducting. We played everything from ET to Hook to Schindler’s List, and of course “Excerpts from Close Encounters.” This piece got me more than any other, and I could not contain my tears as I was playing the grand climax while looking up and watching the maestro so magnificently leading us all…a visual and musical experience I had dreamed of as a kid ever since watching all those Evening at Pops concerts on PBS. Changed my life.

@tubesterini 3 ай бұрын

I'm glad you wrote about performing this spell-binding and enchanting masterpiece --- especially as the composer himself conducted the orchestra!!! It must have been a transcendent moment for you, and I appreciate having this opportunity to experience it --- even if only vicariously! (And I agree with you and Charles @CharlesCornellStudios that it is John Williams's most brilliant work, although his spectacular Olympic Fanfare and Theme is thrilling in its own right. MANY THANKS TO CHARLES for sharing his musical insights about these epic works, and doing so with all of the enthusiasm and passion they deserve! 👏😃

@maggiesue4825 3 ай бұрын

What a wonderful experience for you! Thanks for sharing with us!

@whatchrisdoinmusic 4 күн бұрын

Thank you for mentioning the techniques he incorporated from the other composers. I love how John does that and weaves everything together. Are there any other ones you hear in there that I can listen to? I’m pretty surface level with classical music still. Still digging.

@tristanfitch 3 ай бұрын

I have never seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but I got to see John Williams conduct this with the SF Symphony last year and it *blew me away*

@Khronogi 3 ай бұрын

Oh you should watch it. It's pretty subversive. Like it feels like it should be this horror thriller

@andrewdavidson665 3 ай бұрын

Whoa... if you at all like film you should watch it. I'd say it's a bit divisive. It's one of my favourite films of all time. On the other hand a brother of mine absolutely detests it. 😃

@yonaoisme 3 ай бұрын

the movie was terrible

@MaximilliansHammer 3 ай бұрын

It's the film I'm most likely to name as my favorite when someone asks. It's a film that defies your expectations at every turn, and is full of so many beautiful moments, sometimes filled with wonder, sometimes with eerie dread. It was a miracle movie with Spielberg, Williams, and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond all arguably doing career best work. Plus Francois Truffaut in his only English speaking acting role! Treat yourself and set aside an evening to watch this masterpiece.

@Nightowl427272 3 ай бұрын

It’s a slow burn but definitely a phenomenal movie. I’ve rewatched it many times and every time I notice something new and clever. But the music and light show in the last 30 min is worth the price of admission alone.

@rickyseabra 3 ай бұрын

I saw this film in 1977 in the Cine Karim in Brasilia. When the credits started rolling as the mothership rose into space the entire theater stood up and applauded. It was the only time I saw a movie get a standing ovation.

@camillepetit346 3 ай бұрын

I think the Wish Upon a Star citation is there because Richard Dreyfuss’s character realises his dream when he gets with the aliens and a the begining of the movie he wants to go to the movies with his family to see Pinnochio and is frustrated because noone cares. Wish upon a star melody represents his inner child

@JackCliffordWilliams 3 ай бұрын

Its operatic - Wagnerian almost. So emotional. Takes you on a complete journey. I loved listening to this soundtrack on cassette tape as a kid in the 80's and I loved listening to Charles's enthusiastic analysis. Simply gorgeous! ❤️👏

@esjel9804 3 ай бұрын

Reminds me of Mahler's finale to his second symphony. John was trying, just like Mahler was to depict something so magnificent and transcendent -- to be resurrected is to not only leave the clutches of the earth (grave) but also this world. So I know he (Williams) was probably drowning in Mahler's Resurrection Symphony.

@Brandon55638 Ай бұрын

@@esjel9804Same here. It has Mahler and Holst influences.

@MichaelClark-zc7ht 3 ай бұрын

Close encounters is more sophisticated, but I just gotta go with the E.T. flying theme. I dont know how you cant hear that and beam from ear to ear. The entire final sequence of that film, the 15 minute escape/chase/saying goodbye cue, it's just to die for. Tears, every time.

@rudetuesday 3 ай бұрын

I saw this movie in a small movie theater, before sound systems were much good, when it was first released. The best you could count on was "loud, but not too loud". Everyone had dropped jaws and shaking shoulders from crying. The score wrecked us. This is when I started looking for composer names on movies, and John Williams remains a favorite, because of Close Encounters.

@nicholasgonzalez5269 3 ай бұрын

I was really hoping he’d cover The Conversation from Close Encounters because I think there’s SOOOO many musical goodies in it. However, I’m incredibly happy he looked at my favorite Williams score!!! Absolutely in love with this movie’s underrated but no less important message, music and feel.

@juandesalgado 3 ай бұрын

Seconded (P.S: I think the title of the piece is "Wild signals")

@nicholasgonzalez5269 3 ай бұрын

@@juandesalgado I think per the soundtrack on the album it’s called that but I personally call it the conversation only because the film version of it has some differences to the album.

@philh8496 3 ай бұрын

Me too. I think the connection made through music would be really interesting

@eosborne6495 3 ай бұрын

Steven Spielberg: “The alien ship communicates through music, so go nuts with it.” John Williams: “Psychedelic tuba concerto, got it.”

@Nightowl427272 3 ай бұрын

@@nicholasgonzalez5269 - On my album, purchased in 1978 it’s 08 The Conversation. The End Title also sounds a bit different compared to what we hear in this video…especially at the very end. Record companies, always messing with things. lol

@LuisSandoval1138 3 ай бұрын

I think the "finale" sequence could be an amazing symphonic poem. That melody is so warm, breathtaking... I love Star Wars' music, but Close Encounters is in another level.

@Zeta9966 3 ай бұрын

It’s….. otherworldly…….

@kylejohn4543 3 ай бұрын

Man when that theme hits at 13:40 your joy is contagious. Love it!

@ikjoyce 3 ай бұрын

I still struggle to hold it together at that point, even with all the commentary in this video I was on the verge of crying. Every single time, after the huge build up that massive release of tension just punches the feelings so hard. Such an amazing score.

@UnfriendlyGhostK 3 ай бұрын

I always love Charles's passion and excitement for showing us his favourite movie scores, it makes me happy to see

@lloyddobler2227 3 ай бұрын

This is one of my favorite John Williams soundtracks to date. This last piece of this movie not only tugs at my heartstrings, it squeezes my heart ever so gently and then releases it. The way he conducts the London Symphony Orchestra so gingerly during this scene brings tears to my eyes. I love how he weaves in When You Wish Upon a Star into his score. It hearkens back to when Roy's wife called him Jiminy Cricket from Disney's Pinocchio. I can't imagine a better composer for this movie. It's like his music was inevitable.

@tubesterini 3 ай бұрын

Well said!

@OriginalLictre 3 ай бұрын

In the movie, Roy Neary had noticed that "Pinnochio" was playing in the theatre, and wanted to take his family to it, introducing them to something he loved as a child. They chose "Goofy Golf", apparently a mini-golf attraction as something to do, instead.

@TrollDragomir 3 ай бұрын

The genius of this score is how it so seamlessly combines straight up horror movie music with whimsical family movie fairy tale wonder. It makes you excited, enthralled, in awe, elevated, emotional, creeped out, anxious and thrilled all at the same time, which speaks in two ways to me. Firstly, this cacophony of emotions is probably exactly what you would feel encountering extraterrestials. Secondly, this movie never fails to make me feel like a child again, and the score is likely at the center of it.

@tubesterini 3 ай бұрын

A very Insightful and beautifully written comment. 😊

@jacksonhorn9935 3 ай бұрын

One that I absolutely love that I don’t see mentioned often is Hymn to the Fallen from Saving Private Ryan. It’s obvious from the outset that it’s not something that Williams wrote merely as a theme for the movie, but as a tribute to all who died in the Second World War. First time I ever heard it was live at the Hollywood Bowl, and I’ll never forget it.

@HectorRodriguez-music 3 ай бұрын

I’ve never seen Close Encounters and never heard its soundtrack. I was mind blown after watching this video… my God! What a composition!!! John Williams NEVER fails to deliver high caliber soundtracks to movies! That’s why he’s the GOAT!!!! 🔥🔥👏

@lornebelongia4780 3 ай бұрын

As a child who loved this movie, my parents bought the soundtrack on vinyl, including a disco version of the main theme as a single. Used to play this quite loudly sitting in a darkened room. Miss those days

@meadow-lark 3 ай бұрын

I had that 45 disco single when I was a kid. Played it over and over.

@julikun724 2 ай бұрын

Me too! Bought the sheet music as a 10 year old, but there were too many big chords going by too fast, unfortunately

@TheSpot501st 3 ай бұрын

I can hear Gustav Holst's "Ode to Death" in so many movie productions...

@redace01 3 ай бұрын

Holst's works (Primarily The Planets) are the key to so many of the sci-fi films of the 70s and beyond, simply because we didn't really have any other examples of music that were so directly tied to 'space' to begin with, so it's only natural that the modern composers would look back to previous ones that had ANY ties into the space genre. Just as these works now inspire current generations in turn.

@ariblack4424 3 ай бұрын

I love Ode to Death. A beautiful take on a Walt Whitman poem that was in commemoration to the death of Abraham Lincoln

@pendaco 3 ай бұрын

Yeah the choir is uncanny. He did use a lot of Holst for Star Wars as well so it makes sense. In this one I also hear Jupiter, mainly in all the buildup after the "main melody".

@brukernavn3409 3 ай бұрын

I hear "The Planets".

@JeremyRobson 3 ай бұрын

@@pendaco I don't recall there being a lot of Holst in Star Wars. There's the blockade runner cue and the death star exploding cue that sound like bits of Mars. Do the other planets make an appearance?

@Welkins 3 ай бұрын

13:30 Sends chills down my spine every single time I hear it

@thegreencat9947 2 ай бұрын

Chills...I have chills. It amazing. It's magic.

@PotatoesAreUs 3 ай бұрын

That choir around 3:30 is taken straight out of Gustav Holst's "Neptune" from The Planets suite. John Williams really wears his inspiration on his sleeves sometimes and I love it.

@Zelmel 3 ай бұрын

Close Encounters is so amazing. Music being a core part of the plot is also just stunning.

@nexuennex9151 3 ай бұрын

I'm learning music and you have really showed me how every chord is based on a scale. The little runs you do when presenting a chord is precious. Don't ever stop doing that.

@jloiben12 3 ай бұрын

John Williams losing to John Williams for an Oscar sounds like the only acceptable way for John Williams to not win an Oscar

@DarrylBrowne 3 ай бұрын

Some of my lesser known favourites are: Hook - Presenting The Hook - The Never-Feast Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (basically any piece with the grail theme) - The Penitent Man Will Pass Star Wars - Across The Stars Home Alone - The House Finally, it would be great if you could do similar treatments for other contemporary composers work. For example, Basil Poledouris, particularly Conan (The Search, The Orgy, Riders Of Taramis) and Robocop (Across The Board), and Jerry Goldsmith, particularly Star Trek (The Enterprise) and Supergirl (Overture).

@crezan1233 3 ай бұрын

flight to never land is another amazing one from Hook

@dwsel 3 ай бұрын

Across the stars is one of my fave ones. It's kind of looping up for 3 times (I think) and then bridge is used to return to the original key. It's like A A^ A^^ B A Sorry for being unable to explain it better with the set of words I have.

@NathanLorenzana 3 ай бұрын

The main theme for E.T. is also very moving and otherworldly, with a similarity to the beauty of the score for Close Encounters. Amazing breakdown, so freaking emotional, bravo!

@there4im839 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the reminder of how much this kicks ass. I knew how much Holst influenced Star Wars, but forgot all the other post-Romantic composers that inspired his other scores. It’s brilliant and deserves more attention. Thank you for that.

@lovesicksyntax 3 ай бұрын

Seeing a video where someone geeks out over the score to my lifelong favorite film that I geek out over all the time? That's the best Valentine I could hope for!

@tubesterini 3 ай бұрын

I feel the same way!

@stewartmoore5158 3 ай бұрын

This and AI are two of John Williams' most interesting, complex, and dare I say spiritual scores. This may be a spicy take to some, but I've always preferred this to Star Wars, as much as I love Star Wars.

@TedMcAuley 3 ай бұрын

This was the academy award winner in my book. Star Wars deserved it too, don’t get me wrong. But the score for Close Encounters is truly special in a way that resonates with the innermost part of our souls. For me, it’s so powerful that it’s nearly a religious experience. Truly incredible.

@dkimuk 3 ай бұрын

No one can write adventure, suspense, wonder or romance like John Williams. That said, the soundtrack that stopped me in my tracks was Schindler's List. I can't even hear that violin theme without filling up with tears. He captured the horror, loss and weight of the Holocaust in those notes, but also a sense of hope. We're so fortunate to have been on the planet when these incredible soundtracks were written. Also there's an amazing clip from Inside The Actors Studio where James Lipton points out that Steven Spielberg's father was a computer engineer, his mother was a pianist. They divorced when he was young. In Close Encounters the humans and aliens communicate using technology and music in the film. Spielberg is so moved by this observation, as if it's something that he'd never consciously thought of before.

@devenestes3234 3 ай бұрын

Wow, what an amazing piece. I‘ve never seen this movie and was not aware of this score but now this makes me want to go watch it right now!

@vicsheilahartley7404 3 ай бұрын

Man, you’ve made my day. Everything about this masterpiece intrigues me. This the best theme from the best movie ever - I saw it 3 or 4 times in a week just after it was released and loads of times since. My brother and I sometimes swap dialogue to impress each other - Roy Neary: “Who are you people!?”, Lacombe “Monsieur Neary, I envy you…” Lacombe “Zey belong here more zan we!”. Congratulations on being willing and able to transpose the resolution and end title music on your piano - I can understand your emotional response! Regards, Vic, Whitchurch, England

@christophersalas3823 3 ай бұрын

The C major chord over an F# major chord isn't too unheard of. It's called the Petrushka Chord, which was a polytonal theme used for Igor Stravinsky's ballet "Petrushka".

@Dragontrumpetare 3 ай бұрын

There is several scores where John Williams dont borrow from other classical works. Close Encounters, Schindlers List, J.F.K., A Geishas memoares, Sugarland Express, Jane Eyre, Saving private Ryan,

@stelthtalon 3 ай бұрын

Jane Eyre! You are the only other person I’ve ever seen who knows about it. The first time I heard the suite I immediately bought the score. You sir are a true Williams connoisseur!

@igmusicandflying 3 ай бұрын

The first album I EVER bought with my own money at the age of 9 was the CE3K soundtrack. I was so ga-ga for this movie, and their use of synths in it is what turned me onto electronic music which has been a big part of my life for nearly 50 years now. The "When You Wish Upon A Star" is also a callback to the beginning of the movie where Roy Neary wants to take his kids to see Pinocchio because he loved it as a kid. There is also a little Pinocchio music box on his table in that scene. It's brilliant to tie that all together with the wonder of his youth with the wonder he's experiencing now.

@Robert-vv6tz 2 ай бұрын

Charles, you may have been geeking out over this but it had me in tears. Something intangible just gets me when I hear this. It's been a while since my last experience of it which maybe account for the emotion. But this piece strikes me as sublimely beautiful and with a message I can't quite put my finger on. Loved your commentary. Thanks.

@DyenamicFilms 3 ай бұрын

Saw Close Encounters in the theater on Christmas Day when I was a kid in 1977. Got the soundtrack on 8 track back then as well. The first record album I owned was the soundtrack to Jaws which I saw in the theater Summer '75. I was never the same since. I remember wanting to see Close Encounters because it was made by "the guy who directed Jaws" and John Williams composed the score. I saw all the classic movies scored by John Willliams in the theater from the mid to late 70's. Earthquake, The Towering Inferno, Jaws, Star Wars, Close Encounters and Superman. Still have my Jaws and Superman album and Close Encounters on 8 track from back then. What a streak of films to see then as a kid. I feel lucky I was able to see all of them when they were originally released in theaters.

@paulytheking7365 3 ай бұрын

I love the melody that begins the credits music for ET. I love the way it is used throughout the film.

@Ilgenfixit80 3 ай бұрын

This is one of Williams' underrated scores and I love it. The James Bond film Moonraker used it for a door code and I was amazed years later when I learned where it came from.

@Jenairaslebol27merde 3 ай бұрын

i was about to comment exactly this, i instantly recognized that door code in the video thumbnail. and actually it was right now that i was amazed just like you when i learned where it came from. what a fantastic score ... how can it be that i still have not seen this movie yet oO

@Ilgenfixit80 3 ай бұрын

@@Jenairaslebol27merde I only recently watched it on Amazon a few months ago because I had digital credits. It's under $5 to rent.

@a.katherinesuetterlin3028 3 ай бұрын

You're kidding! A James Bond movie? Will wonders never cease! That's freaking awesome! 😁😁😁

@siegfriedkleinmartins7816 3 ай бұрын

As a music teacher I must say this end suite is one of the best - if not the best - of all times in cinema history. I had the privilege of seeing the very first exibition of this movie here in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) NO ONE left the theatre during the end music, and when it ended the audience applauded for 5 minutes. That's the power of John William's music. UNFFORGETABLE !!

@Darkpaint84 3 ай бұрын

The moment when the three smaller ships answers the five notes, and the «bwaaaa»-sound as there’s a close up of them with the one turning around while the five notes is playing is one of my favorite moments in the movie. Very specific, but there it is 😅

@michaelgarbett4088 3 ай бұрын

THIS MOVIE IS SO UNDERRATED. I honestly think its spielbergs best film. Everytime I watch it, I cant stop thinking about it for days. It brings tears to my eyes not out of sadness or joy, but out of sheer wonder. I cant think of any other movie that makes me feel such a profound sense of awe and beauty

@trevormoffat4054 3 ай бұрын

Close Encounters, Star Wars, and E.T. Are a bit like William’s alien trinity. Each one unique and great in its own way. Would love to hear you go through some of the tracks from E.T., there are so many expressive and anthemic pieces, I think it’s possibly his best overall soundtrack. If not, it’s definitely up there in contention.

@heatheryyy Ай бұрын

When I first watched this film I was a teenager, and I was sobbing at the end and I simply could not understand why - it's such an incredible film, and the music ties it together so beautifully.

@marcel_schweder-composer 3 ай бұрын

You sir, made an old man very happy today. Thank you for this!

@alexrichard2854 3 ай бұрын

I would love to hear you talk about “Wild Signals” from the same movie! One of the most complicated orchestral pieces I’ve ever heard in my life. It’s amazing

@sandeegrey5977 3 ай бұрын

Damn I got chills at 13:37

@simonbeer8528 3 ай бұрын

I have always thought this film to be very underrated, with the music being interrogated, it brings yet another dimension.

@javkiller 3 ай бұрын

I never noticed how much of a homage to this was on theme of the third Halo game. That's sweet.

@AuroraRoz 3 ай бұрын

I think when we get the alien reveal the cacophony, mixed with the awed faces is more of a wonder and confusion, witnessing a rare, never-seen-before occurrence. It's not scary music, but it makes you share the same first-time wonder with the people on screen- an unknown territory. Richard Dreyfuss is one of the best actors of that time, and I don't think we need more than what we get on screen to share that feeling with him, as he depicts it to perfection.

@Welkins 3 ай бұрын

Is anyone else getting a reply of a "James Cornell Telegram" account saying you have "won a prize"?

@AuroraRoz 3 ай бұрын

@@Welkins Yes, don’t pay attention to it, these are scammers.

@Welkins 3 ай бұрын

Thank you @@AuroraRoz

@trevorjensen2706 3 ай бұрын

John Williams tapped into the fantastic world of Bernard Herrmann's use of the Mediant Thirds relationship. Love it!

@jameswaugaman8052 3 ай бұрын

You seriously had me laughing, cheering and crying watching you describe this!!

@djdksf1 3 ай бұрын

I saw this movie AND Star Wars at age 11, bought the soundtrack albums for both, but the only sheet music I bought was for Close Encounters. I was in my fourth year as a piano student, and I asked my (awesome, awesome) teacher in Lehigh Valley, PA to help me develop an abbreviated arrangement (using all the themes) to play at a recital at school. I've rarely been more proud. This is hands-down my favorite Williams score and still gives me the major feels every time I hear it. The way it is not only integrated into the film, but literally integral to it... the deep shades of Debussy and other Romantic impressionist composers... the use of dissonance to create an air of constant mystery... it's just a complete masterpiece. Thank you for this lovely breakdown and tribute. Brought a little tear to my eyes!

@legacy8981 3 ай бұрын

Always love these videos, I play piano, but only learn the songs I want to play. I've never learned how to read sheet music or play chords. But the way you break things down, always amazes me. Great Video!

@ariblack4424 3 ай бұрын

I'd recommend the theme from Angela's Ashes, or the theme from The Book Thief. Both are absolutely beautiful and emotionally moving themes by John Williams

@tornadofire82 3 ай бұрын

When I was in band in highschool around 2000 the tuba player Jim Self that did the tuba part came and talked to us and played some music . Pretty neat.

@danielcummins5092 3 ай бұрын

I absolutely love watching you nerd out on music -- I often do the same thing (although my ability to hear chords is not nearly as developed as yours). I can relate to how you feel when you hear something so well developed and beautiful! Keep up the good work!

@JaderRubini 3 ай бұрын

John Williams’ genius can't be overstated, he’s absolutely legendary. I’m just happy to have grown on movies scored by him

@jessemoog5310 3 ай бұрын

can not?

@janmcguire5268 2 ай бұрын

Just watching you geek out over something I also geek out over makes me so happy! Adore John Williams…

@billraty14 3 ай бұрын

It was so joyful to see the look on your face as you blissed out on Close Encounters! My favorite John Williams score (this week): Prisoner of Azkaban, and two cues. "Buckbeak's Flight", and "A Window to the Past". The chord progressions in both simple in the sense like they sound like they've always been there, ready to be snatched out of the air, even though we never knew them before. Who knew a recorder could sound so beautiful, melancholic, and haunting as in "A Window to the Past"?!

@timbit2121 3 ай бұрын

The build up is good, but the finale is phenomenal!

@tubesterini 3 ай бұрын

For me...from 16:15 on is ethereal and divine.

@lohphat 3 ай бұрын

RIP Melinda Dillon 1939-2023

@MrAsBBB 3 ай бұрын

Just subscribed to Charles channel. I am now 55 and almost every time I hear a john Williams score I cry. It’s true Genius. I love the analysis. John Williams music is true Symphonic! This is the first thing I’ve seen on this channel. Will you look at Schindler’s List? Such a song book to go through. Well done and fabulous…. All the best from a wet UK

@Smokescale 3 ай бұрын

My favorite John Williams theme kind of vacillates about through like 5 or 6 different pieces depending on my mood, but right up there among them, I don't think you've discussed it on the channel (though I could be wrong)... the hero theme from Hook. John Williams absolutely crushed in that movie. I love that we get a little tiny, teasing hint of it at the end of the food fight scene, and it kind of mirrors what's going on in the scene. Peter just opened the door in his head to the time when he was "The Pan" and there's this eerie, uneasy sound from the music, then we get that little hint of the hero theme as he looks at the sword, then it vanishes back into the eerie tones and he drops the sword, terrified of what he's just realized about himself. Then it comes back later as he recovers his lost memories, realizes his happy thought... and flies... and it's just... triumphant and joyous and it makes me cry.

@Cavernsparten 3 ай бұрын

This movie was my childhood. I'm only 21, but this movie was one of the movies I would consistently rewatch.

@theunpretentiousvegan8593 3 ай бұрын

I'd love to see your reaction/breakdown of Casiopea. I've fallen in love with them recently.

@briggy4359 3 ай бұрын

Second this! The track Swallow from their live set at Lo-D Plaza

@NThurkettle 3 ай бұрын

I admit I have a soft spot for the trio of disaster movie scores he did in the 70's for "The Poseidon Adventure," "The Towering Inferno," and "Earthquake," I think they were a huge element of the genre's popularity at the time. The opening for "Inferno" is my favorite because it's just 3-1/2 minutes of a helicopter flying past gorgeous San Francisco scenery with this bombastic theme pounding away. Not as transcendent or innovative as later work but still tremendous, era-defining fun.

@AndrewWright1973 3 ай бұрын

I always wanted to hear you compare John Williams' military marches for Midway and for 1941 - they're a brilliant opportunity to contrast serious and silly in the same genre.

@Nitryl44 3 ай бұрын

Jurassic Park ost is fire ! Perfect, from the beginning, till the end. Perfect.

@allisonbergh4429 3 ай бұрын

Agreed. Team Jurassic Park for life! It was the first movie soundtrack I ever bought, and when I had chicken pox (yes, I’m old, we used to just have to get chicken pox) I would lie on the floor in front of the speakers and listen to it to forget how miserable I was 🥰

@DanTheisen 3 ай бұрын

Journey to the Island is my fav track on that.

@masonmount17 3 ай бұрын

The Caug chord reminds me of what Williams does in the main theme of 'Across the Stars' - my favorite theme of his btw. I had not heard this one before but it's incredible as well

@siddhanthsanjay8947 3 ай бұрын

I'd never heard close encounters until this and I've got to say this is one of his best works. You should definitely do a breakdown of The Book Thief. One of my favorite John Williams scores. It's so intimate and emotional. Brings tears everytime I listen to it.

@siryert 2 ай бұрын

Couldn't agree more! The wonder of discovery is what made this movie my favorite from a young age. John made me emote and fall in love with it. Thank you, John! And thank you, Charles, for letting your passion for this music move me to tears and remind me of the grandeur of this score.

@delfordchaffin5617 3 ай бұрын

I absolutely love your enthusiasm and passion in these videos. Such an emotional piece of music. 😊

@andysarno1 3 ай бұрын

His enthusiasm brings out another level

@trentmckenzie1697 3 ай бұрын

You are the first person that gets beside themselves on hearing music and breaking it down. I showed this video to my wife and she said Oh man there's 2 of them LOL

@MR-vj8dn 3 ай бұрын

😊👍

@DagobertX2 3 ай бұрын

That Em11 at 14:55 reminds me of the song Easy form The Commodores. The chord just feels like so smooth and calming like a nice cozy Sunday, it's weird. 😊 No wonder it was used as an ending as it "communicates" that everything is fine now, nothing to worry about.

@PixelatedH2O 3 ай бұрын

I wasn't yet alive when this movie was initially in theatres. I did get to see it there for its 4oth anniversary though, and it was a breathtaking experience, both visually and audibly. I've also seen multiple Star Wars movies in the theatre as well. While those were also great, they haven't been able to match the brilliance of Close Encounters.

@calebgoertz1197 3 ай бұрын

I think you would have an incredible time listening to and analyzing the album California by Mr Bungle. I randomly bought it at a music store without knowing what it was. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It’s fantastically wacky and you will never hear anything else quite like it. If you don’t want to do the whole album, check out the songs Retrovertigo, Gollem 2, and Goodbye Sober Day. You have the best music reaction and analysis channel on the internet.

@kino7037 3 ай бұрын

John Williams has got to be the greatest movie composer

@Da_TboneLife 3 ай бұрын

Of all time, but there are many greats still.

@sandeegrey5977 3 ай бұрын

Probably, so many materpieces can all be traced to one genius mind!

@isaacshaw1596 3 ай бұрын

@@sandeegrey5977genius is a bit strong. I mean he said it himself to call him a genius is a bit strong in an interview.

@worldmusictheory 3 ай бұрын

@@isaacshaw1596yeah i agree, he’s great, but he’s not mozart or rachmaninoff level, that’s genius.

@raychat2816 3 ай бұрын

I could agree with you on him being one of the absolute greatest in America, and not just in American cinema, however legendary film composers in Europe are just as appreciated (I’m neither North American nor European), as for all time, well that would cast too big a shadow on greats of Hollywood before him and after him, one can’t deny Bernard Hermann’s genius that literally shaped the sound of Hollywood for a time, or Elmer Bernstein to name but 2 I’m certainly not putting him down, I’m a huge fan myself, you certainly can see that he was going to be a hit ever since he scored Guide To The Married Man under the name Johnny Williams at the time in the late 60’s if I’m not mistaken …

@flyingbananapeel6495 3 ай бұрын

I had a professor in college that was the 2nd chair tube in the LA Philharmonic at this time. He played on this soundtrack and several others. He liked to repeatedly tell the story.

@johnchessant3012 3 ай бұрын

Observe that the melody at 4:17 has the same contour as the finale at 13:41, but slightly different intervals (the finale resolves the dissonance that gave the earlier melody a lot of tension. John Williams uses the same strategy with Kylo Ren's theme in Star Wars episode 9, four decades later.

@kenapplegate904 3 ай бұрын

@charlescornellstudios A track from Empire of the Sun called Toy Planes, Home and Hearth which would later be arranged into a concert version called Cadillac of the Skies (not to be confused the the original album track of the same name.) It’s not nearly as sophisticated as this takeoff sequence from Close Encounters, but it does give you at least one really big goosebump moment. The album “The Spielberg Williams Collaboration has a great recording of the concert version of the piece. It’s definitely worth a listen.

@brianhanna3128 3 ай бұрын

Could not agree more, the film and score are beautifully complementary.

@spacetime3 3 ай бұрын

I loved this movie growing up, one of many things that got me into science and science fiction.

@larseikind666 3 ай бұрын

I must agree that this is my favourite JW score. The "theme" (decCG) has been stuck in my head for almost 50 years. I remember the dialogue between the engineer on the synthesizer and the space ship like I'd just seen it this morning. Lovely.

@IvoryMadness. 3 ай бұрын

This theme is amazing! It's breathtaking!

@It.wasnt_me 3 ай бұрын

FOUR! ..... ONE FOUR! ... We're not done yet ... (BTW, anyone else hear chestnuts roasting on an open fire @ 16:50?)

@troylindley2216 2 ай бұрын

I was 12 in 1977. I remember getting the Close Encounters LP shortly after seeing the movie. I got a kick out of playing the 5 note "conversation" tones on my mom's organ. The whole movie score was magnificent. It was also great background music when I was out on the back porch stargazing with my telescope in the evenings. Wow, what great days those were!