Does Star Wars soundtrack count as classical music?

[(poco) Sforzando]

As said, I am not even entertained all that well, to be honest I was fairly disappointed and wondered what all the fuzz was about when I first watched Return of the Jedi.
Am I not also entitled to my taste? Should I refrain from dis-recommending because I am not fond of the stuff? I do not think so.

I thought the very first movie (now called episode IV) was the freshest and most inventive, partially because it didn't seem to take itself too seriously. With each successive film, it was like the next pressing of the olives and the resulting oil was thinner and less flavorful. There were a few new characters of interest like Yoda and Jabba the Hutt; otherwise, the films became increasingly heavy-handed and dull, and the first three seem to me totally negligible.

As for the initial question about the soundtrack, I shake my head sadly and answer "no."

[The new erato]

I thought the very first movie (now called episode IV) was the freshest and most inventive, partially because it didn't seem to take itself too seriously. With each successive film, it was like the next pressing of the olives and the resulting oil was thinner and less flavorful. There were a few new characters of interest like Yoda and Jabba the Hutt; otherwise, the films became increasingly heavy-handed and dull, and the first three seem to me totally negligible.

As for the initial question about the soundtrack, I shake my head sadly and answer "no."

I can only add my agreement both on the flicks and about the soundtrack.

[Karl Henning]

I thought the very first movie (now called episode IV) was the freshest and most inventive, partially because it didn't seem to take itself too seriously. With each successive film, it was like the next pressing of the olives and the resulting oil was thinner and less flavorful.

I think there is a sorry ambivalence in the (successful) lightness of tread in the first movie, and the fact that even then Lucas was planning a nine-movie "Epic";  that is too strong a temptation, perhaps, to take the thing Too Gravely.  Maybe the Indiana Jones project with Spielberg served as the "let's just have fun with it" pulp outlet, and Lucas was then drawn into seeing Star Wars as a sort of religion . . . .

[Ken B]

As said, I am not even entertained all that well, to be honest I was fairly disappointed and wondered what all the fuzz was about when I first watched Return of the Jedi.
Am I not also entitled to my taste? Should I refrain from dis-recommending because I am not fond of the stuff? I do not think so.

Nor am I. The first one was good. The rest, not so much, ranging from fair to awful.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I can only add my agreement both on the flicks and about the soundtrack.

I'm pleased to see finally somebody is agreeing with me about something. (As in, how dare I say what seems to me as clear as the nose on my face about Donald Trump!)

I see I wrote here nearly five years ago (good God): "Regarding John Williams, you will not get me to admit any more than that he is a skillful purveyor of "effective" but highly commercialized background music for Hollywood blockbusters."

And there is plenty of film music that works well in the context of the film, but seems threadbare and undistinguished apart from it. A couple of years ago the NYPhil did a program of Italian film music including Nino Rota's theme for the ending circus parade from Fellini's 8 1/2. In context I love how that music works, but it seemed totally bankrupt played on its own.

In context I think Ennio Morricone's score for Elio Petri's Investigation of a Citizen above Suspicion is terrific too (John Simon called the score a masterpiece, and I think it a great film with Gian Maria Volonté giving the performance of a lifetime as a Scarpia-like villain). But heard on its own I wouldn't know.

But the Phil is now playing the scores to On the Waterfront and Godfather live, with the films projected in the concert hall, and I have to wonder if they genuinely consider this music "classical," or if they're just desperate for new audiences, or if the question matters very much anyway since I can avoid the whole thing and just slip in a DVD if so inclined . . . .

[TheGSMoeller]

Pokeman and Final Fantasy get concerts devoted to their scores. The National S.O. just did a concert at Wolf Trap of Pokeman music. Does that qualify?   

[Karl Henning]

I see I wrote here nearly five years ago (good God): "Regarding John Williams, you will not get me to admit any more than that he is a skillful purveyor of "effective" but highly commercialized background music for Hollywood blockbusters."

Agreed.

[Karl Henning]

Drat my over-swift snipping . . .

And there is plenty of film music that works well in the context of the film, but seems threadbare and undistinguished apart from it. A couple of years ago the NYPhil did a program of Italian film music including Nino Rota's theme for the ending circus parade from Fellini's 8 1/2. In context I love how that music works, but it seemed totally bankrupt played on its own.

Agreed, again.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Would Imperial March count as "a variation on theme by Frederic Chopin?" 

[jochanaan]

I am firmly in the camp that believes John Williams is a brilliant composer and the Star Wars series has a tremendous amount of consistently high quality in its music.  The movies range from fun to silly but I love their retelling of old serials and classic myth.

+1

And there is plenty of film music that works well in the context of the film, but seems threadbare and undistinguished apart from it. . . .

There is plenty of music from operas that can be described similarly.

[Jo498]

+1There is plenty of music from operas that can be described similarly.

This may be true, but I have doubts. I cannot really think of any opera still (or again) in the repertoire that stays there *in spite* of the music because the plot/libretto are so great. Sure, there might be some operas where there is some kind of magical synergy that all elements together become much more than the sum of the parts.
One can certainly have reservations about the general musical quality of some operas. But if one starts to think why some baroque or early/mid 19th century belcanto operas are still given with some frequence, the main reason can hardly be the conceited or trite plots, often about myths or stories hardly anyone remembers today, in a language very few of us understand fluently... so it must be the music after all.

[Mirror Image]

As said, I am not even entertained all that well, to be honest I was fairly disappointed and wondered what all the fuzz was about when I first watched Return of the Jedi.
Am I not also entitled to my taste? Should I refrain from dis-recommending because I am not fond of the stuff? I do not think so.

And as I said, no one is telling you have to like the films, all I'm saying is your approach, which seemed to be a "must seriously judge any work of art" type of attitude is a bit wrong-headed when I don't think anyone would take Star Wars seriously to begin with. You can tell people not to watch the films until your blue in the face and that's perfectly fine. Personally, the original trilogy is the way to go and they are fun films to watch despite what you say.

[Rinaldo]

I've always wondered what I'd think about the original trilogy if I didn't encounter it as a kid. But since I did, those movies are part of my DNA, including the music. I'm not much of a John Williams fan but some of his Star Wars moments move me tremendously.

[Purusha]

Pokeman and Final Fantasy get concerts devoted to their scores. The National S.O. just did a concert at Wolf Trap of Pokeman music. Does that qualify?   

I'd say it qualifies more than anything by John Cage.  0:)

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I don't think anyone would take Star Wars seriously to begin with.

Oh, how little you know...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePa6VuXBgHQ

I am pretty serious business about Star Wars as well

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

It counts as classical music ripoff.  Why Korngold's heirs, among others, didn't sue the skin off of John Williams and 20th Century Fox is one of the great questions of the universe in this galaxy far far away...

[Karl Henning]

It counts as classical music ripoff.  Why Korngold's heirs, among others, didn't sue the skin off of John Williams and 20th Century Fox is one of the great questions of the universe in this galaxy far far away...

There's that, too.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

It counts as classical music ripoff.  Why Korngold's heirs, among others, didn't sue the skin off of John Williams and 20th Century Fox is one of the great questions of the universe in this galaxy far far away...

Interestingly, Williams mentioned that he tried to compose Star Wars in a manner of Richard Strauss.

[Karl Henning]

Interestingly, Williams mentioned that he tried to compose Star Wars in a manner of Richard Strauss.

I shouldn't much call that a success, then 

j/k . . . as scoring for the movies, it is a notable success.

[relm1]

It counts as classical music ripoff.  Why Korngold's heirs, among others, didn't sue the skin off of John Williams and 20th Century Fox is one of the great questions of the universe in this galaxy far far away...

The Korngold similarities are superficial.  Star Wars is much more original than people are giving it credit for aside from superficial touches like woodwind swooshes and swashbuckling.