UPDATE! John Williams to Score Star Wars: The Force Awakens Over 3 Months in Los Angeles.

john-williams1-300x1761While the legendary composer has been set to keep up the tradition of scoring each installment of the third Star Wars trilogy, it was recently announced that he would break the tradition of scoring with the London Symphony Orchestra. Instead, he will be utilizing the talent of the freelance orchestra in Los Angeles, which he has called upon to score many of his compositions with previous films.

 

 

From the official Star Wars website:

 

John Williams is currently hard at work composing the score for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which will be recorded in Los Angeles. For the recording of the score, Williams will work with members of the superb freelance orchestra with which he’s recorded numerous film scores over the years. The music will be recorded over several months while working in tandem with the film’s editorial and special effects teams on the West Coast.
 
“I’ve had the privilege of working with the very best musicians in both the U.K. and the U.S.,” says Williams. “The London Symphony Orchestra has consistently performed with great artistry on all six of the prior films in the Star Wars saga, and I will be forever grateful for their commitment and dedication. Equally, it has been my honor to have worked with my brilliant colleagues in Los Angeles, and always appreciate the invaluable contribution they’ve made to my scores and to those of other composers.”

 

 

Following the news of his recent (though thankfully minor) health complication, it would make sense that John Williams would want to play it safe by staying within his country’s borders. We at Star Wars 7 News wish the best for the composer, and hope that he is able to score many projects in the future without facing any more complications to his safety or well-being.

 

 

 

 

UPDATE!

 

 

The London Symphony Twitter page shared some more details (via JediNews):

 

 

+ posts

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

Grant Davis (Pomojema)

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

141 thoughts on “UPDATE! John Williams to Score Star Wars: The Force Awakens Over 3 Months in Los Angeles.

  • March 21, 2015 at 9:33 pm
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    I mean for an 82 year old man, to go to London is difficult, long flight.

    • March 21, 2015 at 9:53 pm
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      This is TERRIBLE news. It just about ruins it for me

      • March 21, 2015 at 10:05 pm
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        Oh, come on. Just give it a – oh. It’s you. -_-

        • March 21, 2015 at 10:47 pm
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          Hahaha!

      • March 22, 2015 at 3:48 am
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        If this isn’t the absolute pinnacle of fanboy overreacting, I’m not sure what is. Next thing you know we’ll have someone threatening seppuku because the catering on set was provided by the same people who supplied the food for Star Trek Into Darkness…and MY GOD, LOOK HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

      • March 22, 2015 at 12:29 pm
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        I doubt you were imagining him playing with the London Orchestra the first time you saw Star Wars. I doubt you had that with any movie orchestrated by an orchestra and right away knowing who were playing.

    • March 23, 2015 at 3:41 pm
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      I doubt Disney and JJ would make Mr. Williams fly commercial.

    • March 24, 2015 at 9:12 pm
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      And just HOW, exactly, is travel to London “a bit much”
      for an 82-year old, or ANY age, man?!?
      This isn’t 1915. “Travel to London” THEN
      would be hard on an 82-year old guy.
      But this is 2015. “Travel to London” for a person
      of John Williams’s stature entails being flown in
      his or Disney’s private Lear “Gulfstream V” jet,
      while sitting in a plush, hand-tooled leather recliner
      while being waited on hand & foot for his every whim
      for approximately six hours or so.
      Coming back: wash, rinse, repeat ….
      Hardly “difficult”, don’t you agree?

  • March 21, 2015 at 9:52 pm
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    Ok, I have had it. No LSO scoring star wars???? Nope, not doing it. I have heard plenty of John Williams CD’s of his star wars music with other musicians besides the LSO and it doesnt have the same effect. First they toss at Lucas’s treatments, then they start talking about using flashbacks in the story, no no LSO. I’m done. If you are 35 or older, then this aint “our” star wars, folks.At least the prequels had all the all these things, or lack of. Hold tight, I know whats coming next. John Williams will back out. Wait and see.

    • March 21, 2015 at 9:56 pm
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      Wow someone is overreacting. Nice try but no Oscar for you.

      • March 21, 2015 at 10:02 pm
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        Dude, for me, the quality of the music is a big thing. It has always been. It’s the same as people getting bent out of shape if ILM wasn’t going to do the effects for the films. You would’nt want that would you. This will make lots of money, but lots of people are going to be walking out very upset when it’s over. Like I said, the cries to bring back Lucas will start soon. Trust me.

        • March 21, 2015 at 10:49 pm
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          Are you a musician?

          • March 24, 2015 at 2:36 am
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            I am, and I agree with him. London symphony does a way better job than some of the others I’ve heard.

        • March 22, 2015 at 12:37 am
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          John williams’ score is always his even if played by something different than the london simphony orchestra. I think its worse to actually have someone else, as with Rogue one…

          • March 22, 2015 at 12:54 am
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            I’m sure no one at Lucasfilm will miss you.

          • March 22, 2015 at 1:20 am
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            JIMJAMBONKS: “hmmm, those acoustics don’t sound quite like London acoustics…. it must be… LA!!!”

            You sound like a prequel hater who claims that every special effect in the Phantom Menace was CGI.

          • March 23, 2015 at 6:20 am
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            The difference is that the average person watching can tell the difference between plasticy 90s CGI and properly done effects (whether practical or CG). They sure as hell can’t tell the difference between two different acclaimed orchestras.

        • March 22, 2015 at 1:54 am
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          I think it’s a bad move, but we’ll see. The worst move I can think of so far that they’ve clearly made was scrapping Lucas’s treatments.

          My hope one day is that these secret treatments will surface and we can all imagine what would’ve been.

          I’m not yet assuming TFA is going to be horrible, but I have many reservations. My hope is they knock it out the park. We have no definites on story. Have they captured the look and feel? Sure. The mythos of star wars though…not so easy to maintain. A good star wars story is not easily engineered, especially if you veer from Lucas’s original path.

          I have so much incredible and overwhelming hope, and just as much fear. I suppose we all just have to wait and see.

          • March 23, 2015 at 6:04 pm
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            So you’ve read both Lucas’ and JJ’s drafts, huh? Do enlighten us on how JJ ruined the George drafts…

        • March 22, 2015 at 1:53 pm
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          We have Williams on board, the most important element to a StarWars film (cause even if new composers are on the way, they will base their work on Williams’). Your complain is a lag of respect to mister Williams, a 82 year old man who has surely give as a condition to record the music in LA. What the heck are you talking about Disney? Wasn’t VII shot in the UK, along with upcoming films, as ot was done in the past?

        • March 25, 2015 at 9:31 am
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          Jimjam….As a professional musician, 20 years playing trumpet, trombone, French horn, as well as composing and directing …this is the epitome of an overreaction. Not to mention I’ve heard every recording and rendition of all Star Wars music (and multitudes of JW’s work and recordings). Number one there are a million reasons your head could concoct this notion. Or it could be the period and time the recording was made. The equipment used. The studio set up. But the most important factor remains, John Williams is composing and directing. A long recording endeavor with a huge budget, and the most brilliant composer of film scores to date. It will be fine.

          The stuff Williams has done with other symphonies (whether it’s recordings of other film scores, renditions of Star Wars, or what have you) that you say just doesn’t cut it, I guarantee you, they did not have the polish and time put into it that you’re used to hearing from Star Wars scores of the past. I suggest taking an extra Xanax when you get all hopped up on Star Wars news sites.

    • March 21, 2015 at 10:00 pm
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      As a professional symphonic conductor, I’m here to tell you that the LSO is fantastic but you will not be able to tell the difference between them and the freelance orchestra. Fine players exist everywhere and I’m certain that the score for TFA will be performed at the highest level.

      • March 21, 2015 at 10:05 pm
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        Ok, JD, pop in one of those John Williams scored compilation CD’S where he uses something other than the LSO and tell me you can”t tell the difference. It’s pretty easy.

        • March 22, 2015 at 12:55 am
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          The difference is the expenses put into mixing and mastering of the audio. Here they can put millions into mixing the orchestra until it sounds perfect (imagine how many mics they got set up). If you have a compilation cd that you sell roughly 10.000 of for example, you have 100 times less the expenses, and thus less time and effort to make it as perfect as it was with the London Orchestra. Fine artists are everywhere, money isn’t.

          • March 25, 2015 at 9:33 am
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            Jimjam….As a professional musician, 20 years playing trumpet, trombone, French horn, as well as composing and directing …this is the epitome of an overreaction. Not to mention I’ve heard every recording and rendition of all Star Wars music (and multitudes of JW’s work and recordings). Number one there are a million reasons your head could concoct this notion. Or it could be the period and time the recording was made. The equipment used. The studio set up. But the most important factor remains, John Williams is composing and directing. A long recording endeavor with a huge budget, and the most brilliant composer of film scores to date. It will be fine.

            The stuff Williams has done with other symphonies (whether it’s recordings of other film scores, renditions of Star Wars, or what have you) that you say just doesn’t cut it, I guarantee you, they did not have the polish and time put into it that you’re used to hearing from Star Wars scores of the past. I suggest taking an extra Xanax when you get all hopped up on Star Wars news sites.

        • March 22, 2015 at 9:57 am
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          Totally sure it could be the angry birds orchestra and it would have an enormous effect because… ITS EPISODE VII!!!

      • March 23, 2015 at 8:56 am
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        I’m star wars fan over thirty five. I am NOT a fan of most star wars FANS though. Why? Because they wine wine wine like little boys whining over toys. Like Mark Hammil said, it’s just a movie. He also said most of these fans are setting themselves up for disappointment. Get a life!!!!

        • March 23, 2015 at 9:09 pm
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          This needs more recs

    • March 21, 2015 at 10:50 pm
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      You should have a Snickers.

    • March 22, 2015 at 1:16 am
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      Just leave already.

    • March 22, 2015 at 6:10 pm
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      but the musicians for each film in the ot would have been different , some would be replaced , died , moved on , changed instument or style ….
      the LSO isnt like a rock band any number of individuals lumped together is what the LSO is

      and who is to say that the orchestra they use wont have ex LSO members in it .

    • March 23, 2015 at 1:11 am
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      This is the same sort of “nothing can ever change” thinking that nearly (photon) torpedoed the Star Trek franchise in the 90’s. These franchises don’t exist for their own sake. They exist so that artists can tell interesting stories. Making up arbitrary rules based on a perceived need to honor anything other than the continuity of the extended plot & character arcs is pointless and leads to an increasingly boring execution.

    • March 23, 2015 at 4:23 pm
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      I ‘d take a different orchestra over the Prequels’ overall garbage anyday.

    • March 23, 2015 at 11:37 pm
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      Your Mom called. She said to calm down.

  • March 21, 2015 at 9:52 pm
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    I understand why John would do this. I just hope the freelance orchestra will bring the same Star Wars-y sound that the London Symphony Orchestra brought to movies. 🙂

    • March 21, 2015 at 9:57 pm
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      IMPOSSIBLE Tigress. It won’t. Get online and listen to some of his re-scores of the music used without the LSO. It’s pretty weak. What I love most about the films is the music. This may have destroyed the final bit of hope I had for these stupid Disney “movies”.

      • March 21, 2015 at 10:08 pm
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        Really? You’re putting quotes around the word “movies”?

        • March 23, 2015 at 9:02 am
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          Wah! Wah! Wah! You get a little hostile when your hungry. Here have a snicker’s. Better? Run along now and be a good little boy. And look both ways before you cross the street!!!!

      • March 21, 2015 at 10:52 pm
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        OK and off ya go! Just don’t watch the movie and you’ll be fine.

      • March 22, 2015 at 7:31 am
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        Jimbonkwhatever, look up he definition of over reacting and you’ll find a picture of you.

    • March 21, 2015 at 10:11 pm
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      Make it Jets pizza and you got a deal. And so starts the sequel to fanboys!!

      • March 24, 2015 at 9:27 pm
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        Jets pizza? Why not Colts or 49ers pizza, or sumthin’?
        tss sss

  • March 21, 2015 at 9:58 pm
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    And the cries of “bring back George Lucas!!!” will begin soon.

    • March 21, 2015 at 10:11 pm
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      Jimjabonks, “some of his re-scores”?

      We are speaking of a LA freelance orchestra in particular. Please send me a link to a good sound quality recording by them. Without a legit comparison between LAO and LSO, your argument doesn’t stand and it’s pointless to resist. Or wait, you can’t yet. Did you just dismiss something you have no idea about?

      On another note, I suppose it won’t be a 100% a re-score but also the showcase of brand new compositions which you should be hellishly excited about.

      • March 21, 2015 at 10:19 pm
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        I’m excited about that, sure, but this isn’t my star wars, this isnt even the prequels! You folks have fun with these knockoff expanded universe movies. Thats what they are. The definition of EU is anything not written or produced by George Lucas. I would say this fits in there. Even my 10 year old is kinda bummed out. I was open minded about the prequels and tried not to hate on em too much. This time around however is different.

        • March 22, 2015 at 12:45 am
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          Another one of these characters. Geez. George Lucas SOLD his story. Which makes it not his story any more. Disney can do what they want with it. My opinion could change as the Disney films aren’t out yet but based on what I’m reading about their hirings/expectations I think the franchise is in good hands.

        • March 22, 2015 at 1:16 am
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          Don’t go to the movie. Fine by me. More room for me

        • March 22, 2015 at 1:17 am
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          If my dad complained about everything the way you do, I’d be bummed, too.

        • March 22, 2015 at 4:56 am
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          + JIMJAMBONKS

          So all it took for you to decide to not watch the sequel trilogy was that Williams will be using the LAO and not the LSO? That seems like a pretty shallow thing to decide the fate of your decision. I’m sure once you get to listen to the music and it is to your liking you will go watch them, or if your friends/family who aren’t as cynical go watch them and they say that it was amazing/really good you will instantly change your tune.
          It’s still Williams too!!! Sure maybe the LAO’s oboe player plays a tad bit differently than the LSO’s oboe player. I would laugh hysterically if Williams ends up bringing in some of the better LSO players virtually making the LAO music the exact same and I’m sure you will still cry out that it’s not good enough. Furthermore, with new original compositions the only thing you have to compare them to are his previous works and the new music will sound similar but obviously not exactly the same. I highly doubt you’d be able to spot the difference of the two if you heard them play each track simultaneously and who knows maybe the LAO will knock it out of the park. That’s why you don’t judge until you’ve actually experienced it.

          • March 23, 2015 at 9:06 am
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            I’m glad you put your name on your post’s so I know when to SCROLL PAST YOUR DUMB S___!

    • March 21, 2015 at 11:08 pm
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      JIMJAMBONKS You’re liking your own posts aren’t ya?

  • March 21, 2015 at 10:09 pm
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    Nope, Duke. What are you dude, and Disney buttkisser?? LOL. Sorry, trying to add some comedy to my rant, but really, quality of the music matters. Maybe I just notice the difference because I’m a lifelong musician. I don’t know. Hey, nobody is going to say “this is great news!!!!” right??

      • March 21, 2015 at 10:13 pm
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        I would but children read this stuff lol

        • March 21, 2015 at 10:59 pm
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          It was never “your” Star Wars to begin with. It belonged to Lucasfilms and now Lucasfilms belongs to Disney. I’m afraid you’ll have to live with it.

          • March 22, 2015 at 1:22 am
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            In other news…

            The Force Awakens is using practical effects!

          • March 22, 2015 at 5:03 am
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            I just think you guys are overreacting, yes I am a musician and I play piano/keyboard and I’m learning guitar. It’s not like it’s going to be the difference between Philharmonic Prague Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra. I listened to the PPO’s versions and they can’t even compare.

          • March 22, 2015 at 8:43 am
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            Go see a doctor

        • March 24, 2015 at 9:33 pm
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          Oh, then I shouldn’t say stuff like:
          “Disney Cock Guzzler”, or “Disney Ball Gargler”, right?
          OK, I won’t.

    • March 22, 2015 at 9:06 pm
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      Really… The music of the teaser (recorded in LA) is here to compare. Just listen to it and tell me if you can sense the difference.

  • March 21, 2015 at 10:14 pm
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    As much as I love the London Symphony Orchestra, I am sure the Los Angeles Feelance Orchestra will be just fine. It’s nice to have something done in America to be part of Star Wars The Force Awakens. I was worried the British weren’t going to share in the making process.

    • March 21, 2015 at 10:24 pm
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      Probably the biggest difference between recording in Abbey Road st. vs. LA is the space itself, not the performers.

      I really enjoyed the fidelity of the LA recording in the teaser trailer. I preferred it to the older recordings actually… and I’ve got an ideal system to test the difference (4x Klipsch Chorus II’s!). Although audio tech has come a long way… even since the PT there’s been very dramatic improvements in film audio.

      • March 21, 2015 at 10:32 pm
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        Except, the tempo to the star wars theme at the end was way too slow, maybe that just has to do with the fact williams is in his mid 80’s now. When it come to the music of Star Wars only John Willams himself could stump me. That is my area of expertise.

        • March 22, 2015 at 1:31 am
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          I highly doubt the crawl theme will be any different tempo wise. In fact, all the performances seem to be completely identical except for (I think ESB?) crawl, there is a brass swell that seems to use a different voicing from the other crawls.

          I think the slow tempo of the teaser end was for dramatic purposes to allow the bass some room to breathe… I liked it. I wouldn’t be too concerned… Williams did an awesome job with the potter films. If He’s on the right project the right notes will come out 🙂

          • March 22, 2015 at 11:30 am
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            i think Williams knows what tempo his own f**king music is supposed to go at.

      • March 22, 2015 at 4:54 pm
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        The fidelity? YT offers 320 kbs mp3 at 1080p and you’re talking about fiedlity?? Gimme a break haha

        • March 23, 2015 at 4:33 am
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          It takes more than sample rates to make a recording sound good. Even if it’s compressed I still hear a lot of depth in the sound that I don’t hear in the other versions. Of course the audio quality of the blurays is superior, but the sound on the teaser just hits me in the chest.

          I did see the teaser in the theater though… I take it that’s not at 320 kbs?

          I can only imagine how the audio will sound with Dolby Atmos or whatever format they go with.

    • March 21, 2015 at 10:29 pm
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      Ok, try to imagine the scores of Jaws, Close encounters, Raiders, ET, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan and ALL the Star Wars films being done by another orchestra. It’s hard. The London Symphony Orchestra is the best in the world. The best musicians in the world. Period. Replace the best with something less and see what you get. If you try to argue that you are all fools. It is going to make a difference, thats all there is to it.

      • March 22, 2015 at 12:39 am
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        uhmm… actually the Berlin Philarmonic orchestra is supposed to be the best orchestra in the world…

      • March 22, 2015 at 12:54 am
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        erm, you don’t have to imagine JAWS, Close Encounters, Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic Park and ET done by other orchestras….because they WERE done by other orchestras! lol. Of the ones you mentioned only Raiders and Star Wars were by the LSO!!!

        • March 22, 2015 at 1:39 am
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          Yeah I’ve heard that about the Berlin philarmonic as well. Bottom line… I mean it’s Star Wars… not Stravinsky. The difference between these world class orchestras is probably quite subtle as far as film orchestrations go. Actually I think the point could be made that perhaps the LA orchestra could be better suited since it is film work.

          I know this is a bit of a stretch but the best session players ever (the wrecking crew) were based in LA.

        • March 24, 2015 at 9:53 pm
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          uHow EMBARRASSING …..
          JimJam, I think it’s time to shut it down
          before you make an even BIGGER fool of yourself
          than you already have.
          A PROFESSIONAL CONDUCTOR is telling you
          it’s the talented musicians everywhere,
          not the LSO in and of itsellf, that counts,
          and still you’re giving him grief.
          Then you make the major cock-up of saying the LSO
          did all those movies you mentioned (excluding SW & “Raiders”, of course) which THEY DID NOT. lololol
          As Colonel Trautmann says: “It’s over, Johnny ….”

      • March 22, 2015 at 4:50 pm
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        No, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra is the best in the world, at least for strings. The Wiener Philharmoniker is the best for brass and winds. I have personally performed with Los Angeles orchestral musicians, and I can attest to their high musical standard. What I wanna know is how y’all are going to do without the 20th Century Fox fanfare to open the festivities?

        Long life, good health and limited travels to Maestro Williams!

        • March 22, 2015 at 9:40 pm
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          That is my top concern: the 20th century fox theme had an integral role in the beginning of each film…

      • March 22, 2015 at 9:02 pm
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        JIMJAMBONKS The music of the teaser was recorded by the freelance orchestra and I haven’t seen you around complaining about the teaser’s music, not you or anyone else.

        • March 23, 2015 at 3:14 am
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          Right, all I remember hearing in response to the teaser music was how awesome a job Williams did with it.

  • March 21, 2015 at 10:22 pm
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    Whatever, people. Keep lying to yourselves about these new movies. You will all wish they were as “good” as the prequels in the end. LMAO

    • March 22, 2015 at 8:49 am
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      Hey! No bitching about Buffy here please!
      Or I’ll turn to the dark side!

      • March 22, 2015 at 4:18 pm
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        Here comes the thought police.

        • March 23, 2015 at 2:28 am
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          Aren’t you doing almost the same thing by complaining and having some minor hope that you will dissuade from speaking my mind?

  • March 21, 2015 at 10:35 pm
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    This is troubling news indeed. I have a bad feeling about this…

  • March 21, 2015 at 10:56 pm
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    Which orchestra did he record the new trailer music? The main theme sounded a tad different in arrangement and pacing but sounded just as good as always. I actually thought slightly better. But, of course, short trailer music is completely different than the entire score.

    • March 22, 2015 at 2:59 pm
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      Freelance LA orchestra. And the rumour was that the trailer wasn’t the only reason for the session, that it also doubled as a rehearsal for more music. which kind of matches with what we are now hearing

      • March 22, 2015 at 7:04 pm
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        Oh ok. Well, if that’s accurate, then it should be fine—strictly judging from the trailer example that is.

        It’s disappointing not continuing the LSO tradition but wtf, soon the entire SW landscape will look and feel completely different. There’s new writers, directors, producers, movie studio, new music composers for the spinoffs, and on and on. That’s a tremendous amount of change.

        When Disney acquired SW, I thought (naively) the plan was to kind of continue Lucas’ vision but interpreted through a new generation of filmmakers. I thought that was the main reason Lucas chose K.Kennedy to run Lucasfilm since she’s worked with him since the early years. But obviously, this is not true.

        Kennedy, Abrams, and Disney are all moving forward to bring their own vision of SW which, as Lucas has already stated, is completely different from his intentions.

        When this became true, I was bummed at first. But, I figure the best way to deal with it is to just look at it as two separate entities that are related by some characters and themes. We have Lucas’ Star Wars and now we have Disney’s Star Wars. I think it’ll be best to judge Disney’s version on its own merits as opposed to making constant comparisons to Lucas’ films. And, if it sucks, then we always have the originals. If it’s great, then we’ll have a new era of SW films to enjoy.

        • March 23, 2015 at 4:23 am
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          Well said.

    • March 24, 2015 at 9:58 pm
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      I gave you a LIKE just for your name.

  • March 21, 2015 at 10:58 pm
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    Nothing bad here. Just glad he’s able to conduct at all. As a matter of fact I’d go as far as saying this is a non-story. Yet JIMJAM would have you believe the apocalypse is all but confirmed now 😛

    I have more faith in these movies now that it’s Lucas free than I would if he was back in complete control.

    Wait to be negative until after the release at least. If it turns out bad I’ll be right there with you wishing it had been different.

    • March 22, 2015 at 5:09 am
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      I agree, if they turn out bad, then that’s that. We will only have the OT and some moments in the PT to hold onto as far as Star Wars is concerned. If this new generation of Star Wars ends up sucking, well then I guess I always have other Licensed Material to enjoy.

  • March 21, 2015 at 11:14 pm
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    John Williams is the man! Can’t wait to hear the new themes!

  • March 21, 2015 at 11:36 pm
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    Wait what? He hasn’t done the score? they said he was going to a week after the filming was done.

    • March 23, 2015 at 3:25 am
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      That was the score for the trailer that he was doing right after filming. It is kinda hard to do much with it without a near final cut of the film. If you shorten or lengthen the fim any by adding or removing or reshooting scenes, the timing is off and you have to adjust the score accordingly. Going back to re-record after that could get costly.

  • March 21, 2015 at 11:42 pm
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    I really wish there was some kind of way to see this orchestra being performed live for films, or certain parts of it. Like a back stage pass or something. Maybe in a sound proof public viewing area where you could pay for tickets to sit and watch out from a big window, or stream it live into a cinema in another location. Even if it was premium price people would consider paying it. They could use the ticket money to tip the musicians extra or contribute it towards the film. It would not damage any secrecy. Streaming it live into specially selected cinemas would be fairer for people with less cash too. People of all different tastes would enjoy it.

  • March 22, 2015 at 12:08 am
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    I heard he’s only really scoring the last ten seconds of the movie that Mark Hamill is in.

  • March 22, 2015 at 12:24 am
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    g@brielGr@y has left us forever. 🙁

  • March 22, 2015 at 1:56 am
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    Seems like a smart decision. I dont want him under the stress of traveling across the world at his age.

  • March 22, 2015 at 3:57 am
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    It could always be worse, just imagine if Disney hired Beyonce and Jay-z to do the soundtrack.

  • March 22, 2015 at 8:01 am
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    Certainly a bummer to hear this news. But I doubt when I get caught up in the rush of the music swell I will be able to tell any difference. To me both this, and the idea that they are not using Lucas’ treatment make me sad as concepts, it makes it feel off… but being completely honest I doubt at the end of the day it will affect my enjoyment of the film. I probably won’t even notice anything wrong since there is nothing to compare it too. If the film is good than all is forgiven regardless of what changes they make, and if the film is bad then I will nitpick it to death but by then it won’t matter- so really it doesn’t change anything lol.

  • March 22, 2015 at 8:56 am
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    I’m pretty sure the LSA isn’t even the same anymore. The players change over the years.
    I just hope the new soundtrack will have some original new pieces that may turnout to be classics someday. I tend to get a bit annoyed by he derivative stuff…

  • March 22, 2015 at 9:34 am
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    I actually think this is good news. Not that anyone is really going to notice the difference between LSO and LAFO, but a new orchestra could mean a slightly different and fresher approach. And for the whiner: doing the exact same thing over and over again doesn’t, in any way, match the definition of “good”. Being scared shitless that the slightest change will ruin the franchise actually means that you have very little faith in the whole Star Wars concept to begin with.

  • March 22, 2015 at 10:08 am
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    If John Williams can’t travel to London, why not bring LSO to Los Angeles? hahaha
    200 milions of Budget and they can’t bring LSO to USA?
    Whatever…

    • March 22, 2015 at 10:52 am
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      Do you realize what does it mean, logistically, to move an entire orchestra or are you just talkin’ for the sake of bitchin’ about something you know nothing about?
      Because, in addition to pay them for the job, it means moving something more than 100 people, covering travelling expenses, housing costs and so on. It would be in the hundreds of thousands, if not in the milion, figures. And all for…what, exactly?

      • March 22, 2015 at 7:20 pm
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        from the offical site of LSO:

        Today the LSO tours frequently all over the world, and especially to its residencies in New York, Paris, Aix-en-Provence and Daytona Beach in Florida. In 2010 countries visited have included China, India, Abu Dhabi, Russia, Japan, Slovenia, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic.

        So NO it is not logistically going to cost a million dollars nor is really that unreasonable. Yes, it will be expensive but it is certainly doable if the will was there. Ultimately, I think the key element is to have John Williams at the helm and composing. I mean the Boston Pops sounded pretty good in its own right with him conducting. I do think the LSO is the better choice. What is crazy is that Disney will spend millions of dollars on advertising but would skimp on something as important as having the LSO do the soundtrack. That said, if John Williams thinks it is OK to use LASO then so be it.

        • March 29, 2015 at 5:31 am
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          The LSO has tons of touring and recording commitments. Uprooting and going to LA for the 3 months required to score this film in LA is just impossible for them. You can’t play a show in Denmark on a Saturday night and be back on Tuesday in LA ready to play at peak energy and detail. They hop from city to city on these tours. To uproot and leave their families in London and live in a hotel: not something either. An LA orchestra that JW has worked with many times that has a large budget for mixing and mastering is going to sound amazing. People need to calm the f%#£ down.

  • March 22, 2015 at 12:58 pm
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    I hope this scoring leads to an earlier release. I have a feeling the trailer that premiers in April will follow with a May release date ta the end.

    Regardless, it’s going to be great.

    • March 29, 2015 at 5:38 am
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      The release date isn’t changing. All the merchandising, fast food, and multimedia tie-ins are pointing to that date.

      They want to release it during the holidays for maximum effect. Summer is spoken for and you don’t release this movie during the fall. All the ships from China with all the toys and stuff need to come in, get unloaded, sent to the warehouses, then to Target sales floor. They want to have plenty in place before the movie premiers. Release date isn’t changing. That rumor was a red herring/wishful thinking. Relax. Enjoy Game of Thrones, then baseball season, then true detective, then football season. The movie will be here before you know it.

  • March 22, 2015 at 1:11 pm
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    ADMIRAL ACKBAR OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED FOR TFA ON starwars.com !!

    • March 22, 2015 at 2:59 pm
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      Damn, he’s looking old and saggy in the gills.

    • March 22, 2015 at 4:35 pm
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      My Star wars page may be different (i live in another planet) because i can’t see what you say man…

  • March 22, 2015 at 2:04 pm
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    The conducter is the one that leads the musicians. You could hear differences between solo players but orchestrations and how they are played don’t differ that much if it’s conducted by the same one. The difference will be the space of the recording and the mixage. Mic set ups and so on. Starwars has a more organc sound then most of the generic Hollywood blockbusters. The sound of the latter is more compressed and produced to give it an edge and kick. Like the scores from Hans Zimmer and such, (wich I do like by the way)

    If the new score sounds different it will be a choice by the producers, not the orchestra itself. I believe that they choose for the old school orchestration without additional sample libraries or overhyped Stab Horns like you hear everyday now. I wouldn’t worry too much 🙂

  • March 22, 2015 at 4:33 pm
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    STAR WARS IS OVER! THIS MOVIE SUCKS! THE WHOLE WORLD IS GOING TO COLLAPSE BECAUSE HE IS USING A US ORCHESTRA INSTEAD OF A UK ORCHESTRA! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

    Seriously, some fans here are going completely bonkers over an insignificant detail that must be done to compensate for Mr. William’s age.

  • March 22, 2015 at 9:09 pm
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    JimJamBonks. The only orchestra is the sound of bullshit frequently coming out of your ass.

  • March 23, 2015 at 3:06 am
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    A bunch of non musicians trying to discuss musicianship between orchestras.

    It really only matters what Hz the orchestra tunes to. A440 is the current standard, but I know historically European orchestras have tuned higher to match pipe organs. Can you tell a difference? Yes. The higher pitch makes music more intense emotionally. This is the difference between some classical recordings. A lot of European recording are superior to Western recording due to intensity due to tuning.

    Dropping knowledge:
    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concert_pitch

  • March 23, 2015 at 7:33 am
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    really to the knobheads, if you weren’t told who it was playing you wouldn’t even know.

    • March 23, 2015 at 3:57 pm
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      spot on my friend…i have Star wars recorded by so many different orchstras over the years, the only one you can tell is different is the LA Pops orchstra disco version……. and that my friends is shit. No arguing please.

  • March 23, 2015 at 5:50 pm
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    Correct me if I’m wrong, but orchestra performers have one job: BE CONSISTENT OR DIE.

    Also, I’d assume that the orchestra, no matter where it is, is going to feature world class performers [world class, as in, from around the earth], to me, the idea that the performance would be any different because of hemisphere is laughable, nay, ludicrous. If Williams is there, he is going to make damn sure they play it right, IT’S HIS JOB.

    Now enough b@$##ing about performance standards, there are only two things that could possibly make a difference,

    1: John Williams has a creative block due to his work dynamic with director,

    or 2: as Aras pointed out, the acoustics of the stage itself is different,

    but really the biggest thing, and this THE BIG thing, is sound recording and mixing beyond the performers themselves.

    So…. why is there even a discussion here? when I hear location shift, it makes me worried about his health, issues with UK government, or maybe tax loopholes. Sound quality is just about the last thing that would be affected, at least when it comes to the #1 LA vs #1 London comparison.

  • March 23, 2015 at 7:33 pm
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    are u guys retarded??? london orchestra has by the way other musicians these days than 1977 and the LA Orchester are also just as professional as LONDON

  • March 23, 2015 at 7:50 pm
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    I’ve seen Johnny live 4 or 5 times at the Hollywood Bowl now.

    He will deliver.

  • March 23, 2015 at 8:12 pm
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    You all are CGI.

  • March 23, 2015 at 8:15 pm
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    Slow, slow news day. #statusquohere

  • March 23, 2015 at 11:19 pm
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    Personally I think the score should be done on FL studio by some spotty 18 year old with posters of icarly on his or hers bedroom wall, in line with a more modern way to express today’s youth culture.

  • March 24, 2015 at 12:00 am
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    Don’t care where it’s being recorded as long as it’s John Williams. End of story!

  • March 24, 2015 at 5:03 pm
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    You know what is amazing? It’s the fact that it will take them 3 months to record the new soundtrack. Hopefully we could get the soundtrack in advance of the movie so we can fantasize with it.

    • March 24, 2015 at 5:38 pm
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      I’m just glad the score is going to be fit with the film and not cut and hacked like the Prequel scores were. The fact that the Battle of Geonosis score was all tracked from TPM pisses me off to no end.

      • March 24, 2015 at 7:08 pm
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        Yeah, I know. I really hated them reusing tracks from previous films. Just sounded like lazy editing.

    • March 24, 2015 at 5:52 pm
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      I’d rather see the soundtrack released after the film. The track titles often give away major plot points.

      • March 24, 2015 at 7:25 pm
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        Oh come on! Qui-Gon’s Noble End. Darth Vader’s Death

        …how are those revealing?!?!?!

  • March 24, 2015 at 6:29 pm
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    LSO recording the score would seem like the perfect scenario, sure! But as long as Williams is conducting I’m really not that worried. LA with J.W. conducting will be far better than LSO with a differnt conductor. LA is great at adapting their sound and as long as Williams is actually there in person we should all be fine!

  • March 24, 2015 at 6:38 pm
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    Could we have an opportunity to hear some bits of the OST in Anaheim? 🙁

  • March 24, 2015 at 7:35 pm
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    Although it’s sad that John Williams won’t be recording in Abbey Road with the LSO, I’m sure the score will be just as good.

    Perhaps, like the LSO tweets seem to suggest, it’s scheduling issues. Hopefully Alexandre Desplat will use them for Rogue One and who knows they may do the Episode VIII score too.

  • March 24, 2015 at 7:38 pm
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    Track1. Main Star Wars Theme

    Track2. Falling Lightsabre

    Track3. Scavenger Hunt

    Track4. Village on Fire !

    Track5. Lost Friend

    Track6. Empire Escape

    Track6. Chase of the Tie Fighter

    Track6. Lost in the Desert

    Track7. Roses Theme

    Track8. Flight of the Falcon

    Track9. Han’s Funeral March

    Track10.Where’s Luke

    • March 24, 2015 at 9:05 pm
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      lols

    • March 25, 2015 at 2:19 am
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      Han Solo’s noble end !

  • March 24, 2015 at 7:53 pm
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    I can’t wait to hear it. Despite the inconsistencies with the prequel, the score was absolutely solid and ranks up there with the OT themes. Audio is such an important part of the franchise.

  • March 24, 2015 at 9:06 pm
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    Non-story.

  • March 25, 2015 at 1:02 am
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    Yes but what does body look like in a bikini after pregnancy?

  • March 30, 2015 at 5:55 am
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    I would sell my SOUL to be at these recording sessions. Honestly I wish they would record them and release them on blu ray as unedited sessions I would watch the hell out of them!

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