Freegal at the Movies: “Jurassic Park Theme” by John Williams

Jurassic Park sport utility vehicle  Image Credit

I’ve just been reading the book Frankenstein’s Cat by Emily Anthes, a book about how scientists are bioengineering animals. It can make a person disturbed and hopeful at the same time.

There’s creepy but noble: changing the genes in pig hearts so they can fill in for the shortage of human hearts available for transplant.

There’s creepy but cool: aquarium fish that glow bright colors because they have some jellyfish DNA.

Then there’s creepy and disturbing: a home kit that sells for $99.99 and allows any home enthusiast to take a living cockroach, thread silver wires down its antennae and make a do-it-yourself remote-control cockroach.

On a little more hopeful note, she points out that it’s still too difficult to clone dinosaur DNA because it degrades over time. So for now, at least, Jurassic Park is still science fiction.

This year is the 20^th anniversary, and Speilberg’s dinosaurs-gone-amok film is coming out in 3D IMAx, if you like your dinos that big and loud.

You can get the music from the soundtrack as a free download from Freegal. John Williams himself conducts the orchestra. There are also some nice piano renditions by Dan Redfeld.

And if you want to go the creepy-but-cool route, you can download the track of Weird Al Yankovic singing his song “Jurassic Park” to the tune of the uber-dramatic “MacArthur Park.”

“Ring Christmas Bells, Merrily Ring”: Carol of the Bells by Pink Martini

Photo:  David Blaikie

“Carol of the Bells” is based on a Ukrainian folk tune called “Shchedryk.” Aren’t you glad we have an English name for it as well?

I’ve always loved folk carols, especially the ones in minor key. The tune is a real workout for any vocalist (or handbell choir.)

Pink Martini has one of the freshest Christmas compilations out there, and the album Joy to the World is available on Freegal.

AllMusic says “this globally-minded collection is traditional and unpredictable at the same time.

Other classic renditions include those by George Winston (piano),  Mannheim Steamroller (tech), and The Robert Shaw Chorale (chorus). John Williams also included his rendition on the Home Alone album.

“Use the Force, Luke”—The Star Wars Theme by John Williams



"Star Wars" truffles by Ana Fuji



So, Disney has bought Lucasfilm, with their eyes especially on the Star Wars franchise. They promise episodes VII, VIII and IX in short order. Fortunately, they are going with respected screenplay writer Michael Arndt. Lucas made such a mess of I, II, and III, that I hope they’ll never let him near pen and paper again.

Freegal has lots of Star Wars music for free download, including music conducted by John Williams himself.

The most recent issue of Entertainment Weekly (Nov. 23) had a section for “5 Tips for Sequels That Won’t Suck.” Disney would do well to take note, especially tip # 3 (“Ban all Ewoks and Gungans”) and #4 (“Go easy on the phony-baloney bluescreen, please.”)

They also want Disney to kill off Han Solo. I don't know. Seems like he was the best character they had.

Halloween Tunes: “Mischief managed”—“Hedwig’s Theme” by John Williams



Photo: Floyd Davidson

 You can find several versions of "Hedwig's Theme" on Freegal.

Doing a bit of research in my library’s databases (I’m a librarian; I do that sort of thing), I came across one of the weirdest adaptations of Williams’ work:

"Chances are, John Williams' fans listen to his movie scores a lot more than he does, yet even the composer had to turn up the volume for a recent Volkswagen commercial with a dozen dogs barking Darth Vader's Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back.

As far as the strangest versions of his music, "I think that takes the record. I got a big kick out of that," Williams says with a chuckle."

Truitt, Brian. "Hail John Williams, a maestro of movies." USA Today 20 Feb. 2012: 03D. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 2 Oct. 2012.

Olympic Theme: Bugler's Dream and Olympic Fanfare



Photo: David Holt



You can download the Olympic theme music for free from Freegal.

And here I thought they were songs owned by NBC.

“Bugler’s Dream” by Leo Arnaud is that rousing song with the “bom-bom bom-bom” drums that you hear when Bob Costas first comes on. (Is anyone else beginning to think he’s the Dick Clark of sports? The guy never ages.)

You’ll recognize “Olympic Fanfare,” too, as it plays during quite a few of the transitions. That song was written for the 1984 Olympics by John Williams.

Just search the Freegal database for “John Williams—Greatest Hits” and you’ll find a sort of medley of the two pieces, directed by him.

Next time you exercise, you can play this music and picture yourself an Olympic champion.