Excerpts from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"

John Williams

General Info

Year: 1978 / 2009
Duration: c. 7:40
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $275.00 | Score Only (print) - $40.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III-IV (all doubling Piccolo; IV doubling Alto Flute)
Oboe I-II (II doubling English Horn)
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV (each 4 players)
E-flat Alto Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV (all doubling Flugelhorn)
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium I-II
Tuba (2 players)
String Bass I-II
Piano/Celesta/Organ
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bass Drum
Crash Cymbal
Crotales
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-tam
Triangle
Tubular Bells
Wind Chimes
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

In a story about friendly extraterrestrial visitors, John Williams' music captures the anticipation and excitement of this blockbuster movie, including the signature five-note motif used to communicate with the alien guests. The fact that this is one of Mr. Williams' favorite Spielberg films clearly comes across in this unique and masterful soundtrack.

- Program Note from publisher

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey, and François Truffaut. It tells the story of Roy Neary, an everyday blue-collar worker in Indiana, whose life changes after an encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO).

The score for the film was composed, conducted and produced by John Williams, who had previously worked on Spielberg's Jaws. Williams wrote over 300 examples of the iconic five-tone motif for Close Encounters -- the five tones are used by scientists to communicate with the visiting spaceship as a mathematical language -- before Spielberg chose the one incorporated into the film's signature theme. Spielberg called Williams' work "When You Wish upon a Star meets science fiction".

Williams was nominated for two Academy Awards in 1978, one for his score to Star Wars and one for his score to Close Encounters. He won for Star Wars, though he later won two Grammy Awards in 1979 for his Close Encounters score (one for Best Original Film Score and one for Best Instrumental Composition for "Theme from Close Encounters"). Much like his two-note Jaws theme, the "five-tone" motif for Close Encounters has since become ingrained in popular culture.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio: United States Marine Band (John Williams, conductor)
Audio CD: Dallas Winds (Jerry Junkin, conductor) - 2018

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Wind Ensemble (Shiree X. Williams, conductor) - 11 October 2022
Dallas (Tx.) Winds (Jerry Junkin, conductor) - 15 March 2022
Lone Star (Dallas, Tx.) Wind Orchestra (Andrew Trachsel, conductor) – 26 January 2020
Contra Costa Wind Symphony (Walnut Creek, Calif.) (Brad Hogarth, conductor) – 23 October 2019

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Great Movie Adventures (arr. Sweeney) (Flex instrumentation) (2006)
Highlights from "Jurassic Park" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (1993)
Raiders March (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Lavender) (1981/2017)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2016)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Murtha) (2017)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2019)

All Wind Works

The Adventures of Han (arr. Lavender) (2018)
The Adventures of Mutt (arr. Lavender) (2008)
Adventures on Earth (tr. Lavender) (1982/2007)
America ... The Dream Goes On (arr. Higgins and Lavender) (1982/1985/1989)
American Journey (arr. Lavender) (1999/2012)
The Asteroid Field (tr. Lavender and Nowlin) (1980/)
At the Movies with John Williams (arr. Justin Williams) (2016)
Call of the Champions (arr. Moss) (2002)
Cantina Band (arr. Kalver) (1977/2014)
Catch Me If You Can (arr. Bocook) (2011)
Chillers and Thrillers (arr. Moss) (2006)
The Complete Harry Potter (arr. Brubaker) (2013)
Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (arr. Lavender) (1988/2016)
Coronation March from "Star Wars" (arr. Burden) (1977/1978)
The Cowboys (arr. Curnow) (1972)
The Cowboys (Grade III) (arr. Bocook) (1972)
The Cowboys (Grade V) (arr. Bocook) (1972/2007)
Dance of the Witches (arr. Lavender) (1987)
Dartmoor, 1912 (arr. Bocook) (2011)
Duel of the Fates (arr. Story) (1999)
The Empire Strikes Back (tr. Bullock) (1980)
Escapades (arr. Bulla) (2002/2012)
Excerpts from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (arr. Bulla) (1978/2009)
Excerpts from "Far and Away" (arr. Lavender) (1992/1996)
Fanfare for Fenway (2012)
Fanfare from E.T. The Extraterrestrial (arr. Lavender) (1982)
Flight to Neverland (arr. Lavender) (1991/2016)
Flying Theme (tr. Lavender) (1982)
For New York (arr. Lavender) (1988/)
For the President's Own (2013)
Great Movie Adventures (arr. Sweeney) (Flex instrumentation) (2006)
Harry Potter Symphonic Suite (arr. Smith) (2001)
Harry's Wondrous World (arr. Brubaker) (2003)
Harry's Wondrous World (arr. Lavender) (2006)
Helena's Theme (tr. Lavender) (2022)
Highlights from "Harry Potter" (arr. Story) (2001)
Highlights from "Hook" (arr. Bernaerts) (1991/2005)
Highlights from "Hook" (arr. Heide) (1995)
Highlights from "Jurassic Park" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (1993)
Highlights from "Return of the Jedi" (arr. Jennings; orch. Lavender) (1983)
Hogwarts Forever (2001)
Home Alone 2, Lost in New York (arr. Lavender)
A Home Alone Christmas (arr. Lavender) (1990/2006)
Hooray for Hollywood (as arranger; tr. Bocook)
A Hymn to New England (arr. Lavender)
Hymn to the Fallen (arr. Lavender) (1998/1999)
Hymn to the Fallen (arr. Sweeney) (1998/2000)
The Imperial March (tr. Bulla) (1980/2008)
Indiana Jones Selection (arr. Heide) (1981/2007)
Jaws (arr. Steven Walker) (1975/2004)
Jedi Steps and Finale. See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
John Williams: Evening at Pops (arr. Higgins) (1987)
John Williams: A Fantasy of Flight (arr. Smith) (2002)
John Williams in Concert (arr. Lavender) (1992)
John Williams: The Symphonic Marches (arr. Higgins; orch. Lavender) (1984)
John Williams: Symphonic Soundtracks (arr. Moss) (2001)
John Williams Swings (arr. Bocook) (2011)
Jurassic Park Soundtrack Highlights (arr. Lavender) (1993)
Liberty Fanfare (arr. Curnow) (1986/2002)
Liberty Fanfare (arr. Bocook) (1986/2010)
Liberty Fanfare (arr. Lavender) (1986/)
Lincoln (arr. Bocook) (2013)
The March from "1941" (arr. Lavender)
March of the Resistance. See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Men of the Yorktown (arr. Lavender)
Midway March (arr. Lavender) (1976/2010)
Midway March (arr Curnow) (1976/1990)
Midway March (arr. Moss) (1976/1994)
The Mission Theme (arr. Lavender) (1987)
Music for Brass (2014)
Music from "Lincoln" (tr. Lavender) (2013)
Music from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Sweeney) (1977/2016)
Olympic Fanfare and Theme (arr. Curnow) (1984)
The Olympic Spirit (1988)
The Olympic Spirit (tr. Bocook) (1988/1996)
The Olympic Spirit (tr. Rose) (1988)
The Olympic Spirit (arr. Curnow) (1988)
Olympics: A Centennial Celebration (arr. Moss) (1996)
Out to Sea and the Shark Cage Fugue (arr. Bocook) (1975/2011)
Out of This World (arr. Bocook) (1999)
Parade of the Slave Children (arr. Walker) (1984/1997/2002)
The Patriot (arr. Lavender) (2000/2015)
The Patriot (arr. Moss) (2000/2001)
A Prayer for Peace (arr. Moss) (2006)
Princess Leia's Theme (tr. Lavender and Nowlin) (1977/)
Quidditch (2001)
Raiders March (tr. Lavender) (1981/2004)
Raiders March (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Lavender) (1981/2017)
Raiders of the Lost Ark Medley (arr. Bullock) (1981)
The Rebellion Is Reborn (arr. Bocook) (2017)
Revenge of the Sith. See: Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith
Rey's Theme (arr. Lavender). See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Rey's Theme (arr. Torskangerpoll) (2015)
Rey's Theme (arr. Vinson) (2015/2016)
The Rise of Skywalker. See: Soundtrack Highlights from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
Scherzo for Motorcycle and Band (arr. Lavender)
Scherzo for X-Wings. See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Selections from "E.T." (The Extra-Terrestrial) (arr. Cacavas) (1982/2002)
Selections from "Home Alone" (arr. Lavender) (1990/1992)
Selections from "Superman Returns" (arr. Lopez) (2006)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2016)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Murtha) (2017)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2019)
Selections from the "Star Wars" Saga (arr. Story) (1977/2006)
Sinfonietta
Soaring with John Williams (arr. Smith) (2007)
Somewhere in My Memory (arr. Moss) (1991/200-?)
Sound the Bells! (trans. Lavender) (1993/2003)
Soundtrack Highlights from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Brown) (2015/2018)
Soundtrack Highlights from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (arr. Brown) (2015/2019)
Star of Bethlehem (arr. Lavender) (1992)
The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/2004)
Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace (arr. Smith)
Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones (arr. Smith) (2002)
Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (arr. Smith) (2005)
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (2019)
Star Wars: Main Title (arr. Bulla) (1977/2006)
Star Wars Medley (arr. Burden) (1977)
Star Wars Medley (arr. Kalver) (1977/2013)
Star Wars Medley (arr. Tatgenhorst) (1977)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Closing Credits) (arr. Lavender) (2016)
Star Wars: The Marches (arr. Brubaker) (1977)
Star Wars Saga (arr. Bulla) (2017)
- The Imperial March (arr. Bulla) (1980/2008)
Star Wars Saga (arr. Meij) (1987)
Star Wars Trilogy (arr. Hunsberger) (1977/1997)
Suite from the Star Wars Epic, Part I (arr. Smith) (1977/2007)
Suite from the Star Wars Epic, Part II (arr. Smith) (1977/2007)
Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Lavender) (2015/2016)
- Scherzo for X-Wings (arr. Lavender) (2016)
- Rey's Theme (arr. Lavender) (2015)
- March of the Resistance (arr. Lavender) (2015)
- Jedi Steps and Finale (arr. Lavender) (2015)
Suite from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (with Nicholas Hooper; arr. Bullock) (2002/2007)
Summon the Heroes (arr. Lavender) (1996)
Superman (arr. Lowden)
Superman March (arr. Lavender) (1978/2008)
Symphonic Marches (arr. Hamers)
Symphonic Suite from "Far and Away" (arr. Lavender) (1992/2013)
Symphonic Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Bocook) (2016)
Symphonic Suite from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (arr. Bocook) (2019)
Theme from "JFK" (arr. Lavender) (1991)
Theme from "Lost in Space" (arr. O'Loughlin) (1965/1993)
Theme from "Schindler's List" (arr. Custer) (1994)
Theme from "Schindler's List" (arr. Moss) (1993/2008)
Theme from "Superman" (arr. Holcombe) (1979)
Theme from "Superman" (arr. Nowak) (1979)
Theme from "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (arr. Ployhar) (1982/1985)
Throne Room and Finale (tr. Lavender and Nowlin) (1977/)
Trumpet Concerto (arr. Lavender) (1996/2016)
Tribute to the Film Composer (arr. Lavender)
Viktor's Tale (arr. Lavender) (2004/2008)
Viktor's Tale (arr. Rasmussen) (2004)
Wide Receiver (arr. Lavender)
With Malice Toward None (arr. Lavender) (2012/2015)
Young Person's Guide to John Williams (arr. Bocook) (1991)

Resources

Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Wikipedia Accessed 26 January 2020
Perusal Score (in Attachments)