Trombone Star Wars

Star Wars RPG

John Williams

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Young Dro - Fuck That Bitch 2013

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jOw0FVSrhjeTWp2Vc6XSA

The Droid Invasion

Battlefield 1943 main theme

It's been a while since I've done an overdub so I knew the next one had to be powerful...

In the Star Wars films I've always been fascinated by how Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. How does someone with such promise  have his sense of purpose so terribly twisted and misguided? How does he end up destroying everyone he loves and facing his beloved friend and mentor as an enemy?

I've always felt in many ways the music of John Williams tells these dramas better than the films. This trombone choir arrangement and overdub I did is a little suite I call "Lord Vader is Forged," It's a combination of "Anakin's Dark Deeds" (transcribed by ear by my good friend Shawn Standing) which goes attacca into "Battle of the Heroes." 

This is the music that accompanies the build up to, and ensuing light saber battle between Anakin and Obi Wan in "Revenge of the Sith" which ends with Anakin defeated and Lord Vader rising from the molten fires...

I especially find potent the transformation of the opening melody in the first minute, dark and round as it journeys towards rage and anger, unleashing fury.

I think I finally have an overdub to give "Duel of the Fates" a run for it's money...

Lord Vader is Forged

Pirates of the Carribean soundtrack

This is my overdub of my arrangement of "The Immolation Scene" from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

This is the aftermath of "Lord Vader is Forged"...the fiery defeat of Anakin at Obi-Wan's hands. Incredibly dark and searing music as hubris and ego meets it's downfall...

On a personal note, I dedicate this to Jon Whitaker and my friends at the University of Alabama for hosting me in an incredible weekend of great music making!! More to come!!!!

The Immolation Scene

Here's my overdub of my trombone ensemble arrangement of "Anakin's Theme" from Star Wars Episode 1, "The Phantom Menace." 

Much of this music is innocent and childlike as we see Anakin long before he's engulfed by the Dark Side of the Force. It moves through some rich lyrical material that sings of his love for his Mother but eventually arrives at a foreshadowing of the Imperial March most potently in the last few moments, as the low F minor harmony slowly blocks out the A major. The final double pedal A depicts the warning of the long fall Anakin will have from good into evil.

Another brilliant score by John Williams.

Anakin's Theme

He's a Pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean Theme) Violin - Taylor Davis

Here's my latest trombone choir arrangement and overdub: "Anakin's Dark Deeds" from Star Wars "Revenge of the Sith" composed by John Williams.

It begins with the music which sets the scene after Anakin has slaughtered all the Jedi younglings and the lamenting aftermath. This quickly gives way to the brutal violence that ensues as Anakin destroys all the figures standing politically in the way of the Emperor, clearing the path for the Empire to take complete control.

The brilliant interplay between the low incessant voices pushing harshly forward and the bright soaring dissonances in the extreme high register show Darth Vader at his most unhinged and barbaric. 

After the blazing G minor climax, the slow lamenting funeral march starts and gains momentum until finally the ringing D minor climax shows Vader, bathed in his own hubris waiting a top a mountain of fire, waiting to destroy the one person left in his way, his once friend, brother and mentor: Obi Wan Kenobi.

(Some of you may recognize the second half of this recording as the intro to my "Lord Vader is Forged" overdub. This recording is how the music is presented in the original soundtrack to "Revenge of the Sith". I thought it was more potent this way!)

Anakin's Dark Deeds

Here's my latest trombone choir arrangement and overdub: "Padmés Funeral" from Star Wars "Revenge of the Sith" composed by John Williams.

This is the music heard at the end of the film as Padmés funeral procession marches slowly in the streets of Theed on Naboo. She has died giving birth to the twins Luke and Leia. 

A powerful moment occurs as you look at Padmé in the casket and in her hands is the little trinket Anakin gave her…long before he was consumed with the evil and hate that turned him into Darth Vader…

I find this music so richly lamenting and languid as you realize it is the end of not just Padmé, but of freedom. John Williams again so beautifully captures this in music.

Padmés Funeral

A good friend of mine (who's a fabulous composer/conductor as well!) once said to me,"No one writes an action sequence as well as John Williams."

I heartily agree!!

Here's my latest trombone choir arrangement and overdub: "The Battle Over Coruscant" from Star Wars "Revenge of the Sith" composed by John Williams. This is the huge space battle sequence in the opening of the film. It's an incredible setting of "The Force" melody in the start which give way to an incredibly intense interplay.

Lately I've been catching some grief for doing so many arrangements from Star Wars Episodes 1-3. My response is,"The movies may not be that great, but the music is incredible and tells a way better story than the acting!"

To my sound cloud followers, please help me get these John Williams arrangements published and sign this petition:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/john-williams-trombone-ensemble-arrangements

Thanks and enjoy the latest overdub!!

Battle Over Coruscant

My latest overdub is of my trombone choir arrangement of "Anakin's Betrayal" by John Williams from the score to Star Wars Episode 3, "Revenge of the Sith."

This is the music heard when Anakin, continuing his downward spiral towards evil, commits the ultimate betrayal and turns on the Jedi order. 

He's allowed Emperor Palapatine to poison his mind and convince him the Jedis are a threat...all Jedis...even the younglings...and therefore must be destroyed...

With cold brutality, he follows through with his masters orders, no longer as Anakin, but as Lord Vader.

John Williams captures so fully the pain and turmoil of this pivotal moment with an unrelentingly languid setting of what is the beginning of the evil Empire.

Anakin's Betrayal

The Emperor's Theme

" I can feel your anger. I am defenseless. Take your weapon. Strike me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!" - The Emperor

My latest overdub is of my trombone choir arrangement of "The Emperor's Theme" by John Williams from the score to Star Wars. This music is heard in many forms and iterations throughout the trilogy.

The Emperor, Darth Sidious, Senator Palpatine…he has many names and faces. He is the master of evil. He's keenly able to manipulate and fool all those around him in his quest for power. He's all that is terrible and powerful of the Sith order. 

Most tragic is his ability to twist Anakin into Vader, which he does with incalculable precision. But ultimately it's Anakin who destroys him in the end.

I must thank my friend Shawn Standing again for his amazing skills for providing me a score (by ear!!) of this music. I then took it and set to arranging it with a variety of techniques.

In this version you hear a little Imperial March intro which gives way to the Emperor's theme in many versions, just as the many forms of the evil of Palpatine… In the end is the death struggle Luke faces with the Emperor as he is rescued by his father. And his evil seeps downward…disappearing… 

Feel…the dark side...

Emperor's Theme

Available from Relapse:  http://bit.ly/SerpentinePathEmanations
Available on Bandcamp: http://serpentinepath.bandcamp.com/

Serpentine Path - "House of Worship" from the album 'Emanations'  available now on CD/LP/DIGITAL from Relapse Records.

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http://serpentinepath.bandcamp.com/

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Serpentine Path - House Of Worship

"You Can't Stop Me", out on July 14th (UK), July 15th (NA)and July 11th, 2014 (EU) via Nuclear Blast Records.

Cease to Exist

SUICIDE SILENCE - Cease To Exist

My latest overdub is of my trombone choir arrangement of the "Throne Room and Closing Titles" by John Williams from the score to Star Wars Episode 4, "A New Hope."

This music truly captures the noble and victorious energy at the end of the film. I richly enjoyed doing this overdub as it readily connects me to my childhood.

This recording is rife with unabashed high Fs, G flats and Gs (listen for the last chord!!) but more importantly, I tried to capture the excited and hopeful spirit of the ending scene of the movie that started it all, "Star Wars Ep.4, A New Hope"

Enjoy!

Star Wars Throne Room/Closing Titles

Jay Rock ft Kendrick Lamar - Hood Gone Love It

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” - Yoda

As some of you know, I have plans for a 2 volume overdub album loosely following the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker as he becomes Darth Vader. 

To that end, I'm slowly re-recording some of my past overdubs with my recent big improvements to my recording gear/software as well as my new instruments (soprano and contrabass trombones). I've also vastly improved and expanded the arrangements and added timpani/percussion parts.

Duel of the Fates still remains one of my top listened to soundcloud tracks with 13,931 listens! So I knew if I was going to redo it, it's was gonna have to be awesome.

Enjoy this “reboot” and stay tuned for the album which will have all the timpani/percussion parts.

Duel of the Fates "Reboot"

This is the Main Theme Remixed, ReArranged &amp; ReOrchestrated by me for the Fans of SWTOR &amp; Star Wars...
"Rise Of The Old Republic" is fast paced and epic piece that was inspired by modern Blockbuster Soundtracks.

t starts with the familiar SWTOR Title Screen Melody followed by an altered "The Force" Motive leading into a Self Composed Bridge...
My Remixes do not reflect the original music and instead of being a mere rearangement of the original they are an actual piece that is able to stand on its own

Original Music written by By Mark Griskey, Gordy﻿ Haab,
Lennie Moore and Wilbert Roget &amp; John Williams.
Remixed, Arranged and Orchestrated by Pascal Michael Stiefel



Star Wars SWTOR Theme Remix - Rise Of The Old Republic

Knife Party - 'Bonfire'

Stay Trippy (Deluxe Version) Available on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/StayTrippyDeluxe

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Bandz A Make Her Dance Remix

Bandz A Make Her Dance Remix (feat. French Montana, LoLa Monroe, Wiz Khalifa & B.o.B)

Buy Here

"The Star Wars gauntlet has been thrown..."

I think we all agree that Star Wars Episodes 1-3 can't touch Episodes 4-6...but...the music sure can!!! Best part of the films for me were the amazing scores. Here is my first foray into the Star Wars epoch, my overdub of my essentially 10 part arrangement (Although I expand it numerous places to 16 voices) of "The Flag Parade" from Star Wars Episode 1.

I've received numerous comments since I started these overdub projects about "When are you gonna do a Star Wars tune? Or "You should do a Star Wars tune!" So here is my first effort. I also decided to take my multiple tongueing out for a spin and give the bass trombones some melodies! 

Enjoy! I know I did!!!!  ;-)

The Flag Parade from Star Wars Ep.1

Okay...time to kick this Star Wars thing into overdrive. BIG TIME

Here's my overdub of my arrangement of Duel of the Fates from Star Wars Ep.1.

There's nothing to say. Let the music and the playing do the talking.

Duel of the Fates

I though it was time to downshift the Star Wars journey for a moment. Here's my overdub of my arrangement of Yoda's theme which is from my all time favorite Star Wars film, Empire Strikes back.

This is dedicated to my old teacher, mentor, musical hero, but most importantly, friend, Norman Bolter. He is the Yoda of the trombone and of music!

Some 20 years I remember first hearing about him: Joined the Boston Symphony at 19, member of the Empire Brass, prolific and gifted composer, master teacher who battled back from playing injuries to command his rightful place as one of the great teachers.

I went up to Boston to have a lesson with him. I'd heard all these amazing recordings of him. I had this distinct image of him in my head. Then this 5'5" relatively small man peered at me at the Symphony Hall Stage entrance and said, "Jim?" I looked at him puzzled and he quickly said,"You thought I'd be bigger..."

As I compare him to Yoda as an allegory, it's startling if you adjust the language a bit it's significance to musicians:

Yoda: "Ohhh. Great warrior. Wars not make one great." 
Norman translation: "Oh he won how many auditions? Auditions not make a musician great."

Yoda: "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?  Hmm?  Hmm.  And well you should not."
Norman translation: A man who's 5'5" tall and buys shoes in the boys section of stores, can play louder and bigger and higher and faster and cleaner and more expressively than I can ever hope to dream...I need to listen to what he has to say closer.

Yoda's Theme

"If only you knew the power...of the Dark Side..." - Darth Vader

"When you look at the Dark Side, careful you must be. For the Dark SIde looks back." - Yoda

Okay enough nerding out... Finally put this one together. I guess the dark side was too much for my old mic setup...after the first 4 bars it was fried. This is my maiden voyage with my new gear. "If only you knew the power...of the direct digital USB connection!"

Had a ton of fun doing this one. Who knew mutliple tongueing pedal Gs and Eflats could be sooo fun?!? 

I think this is the best villain theme of all time and how better to make it more sinister than on all trombones?!? Imbued with Vaders relentless energy...power of the dark side indeed.

Imperial March

BILL CONTI - GONNA FLY NOW (ROCKY THEME)

James Nova joined the Grammy award-winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2009 as second/utility trombone. In 2012, Nova made his solo debut with the PSO, performing Henri Tomasi’s Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra. Prior to that, he was a member of the Utah Symphony Orchestra where he served eight seasons as assistant principal/second trombone. 
 
Since 2012, James Nova has found a new passion in multitrack recording, also known as "overdubbing." Overdubbing is a process by which a musician records all the parts of a piece of music one by one and layers the recordings on top of each other to create a full ensemble. Nova has released dozens of stunning and virtuosic tracks of his own challenging arrangements of exciting repertoire for trombone choir. The arrangements employ many different trombones: contra bass, bass, tenor, small tenor, alto, and even soprano trombones!
 
James Nova has had a lifelong love of John Williams’ film scores and in December of 2017, he released a new overdub album for trombone choir, A Fall from Light to Dark. Through the chosen moments of John Williams’ masterful scores, this album musically chronicles the rise and descent of Anakin Skywalker as he transforms into Darth Vader. Truly a one-man show, this album’s transcriptions, playing, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering were all done by Nova himself.

James Nova has always been passionate about music education. When not on stage at Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony, he can be found at the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University where he is adjunct trombone faculty, as well as the brass coach of the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras. Given their widespread popularity, Nova’s recordings are playing an impactful role in inspiring the next generation of musicians and budding recording artists and he is frequently invited to teach outside the region. Since 2012, he has completed more than 85 visits to prominent festivals (such as the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, and the Korea Trombone Festival, among others) and reputable educational institutions (such as the Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard School of Music, and New England Conservatory, among others) as the featured artist and educator in concerts, masterclasses, and clinics.

James Nova studied with Glenn Dodson at the Curtis Institute of Music followed by study with Norman Bolter at the New England Conservatory of Music. While in Boston, Nova played regularly with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra, including recordings and television broadcasts as both principal and second trombone. 

James Nova is an S.E. Shires Artist and performs on his signature line of Greg Black Mouthpieces.

For more info, visit jimnova.com or hear his recordings at soundcloud.com/jimnova
 

Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.nova.3
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSNMj7Fm--kyxxXRTYqH00Q