Concert Reviews, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Videos

John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl – Reviews, Photos & Videos

“JOHN WILLIAMS: MAESTRO OF THE MOVIES”
September 2, 3 & 4, 2016, Hollywood Bowl, CA
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by JOHN WILLIAMS and David Newman

CONCERT PROGRAM

David Newman conducting

“A Salute to Paramount Pictures”

  • Suite from Forrest Gump (Silvestri)
  • Suite from Sunset Boulevard (Waxman)
  • Theme From Sabrina
  • The Wild Ride from North by Northwest (Herrmann)
  • Selections from The Godfather (Rota)
  • Opening Sequence from Star Trek: Into Darkness (Giacchino)
  • Theme from Mission Impossible (Schifrin)

INTERMISSION

John Williams Conducting

  • Flight to Neverland from Hook
  • Suite from The BFG

“May The Force Be With You: The Music of Star Wars”

  • The Jedi Steps and Finale from The Force Awakens
  • The Asteroid Field from The Empire Strikes Back
  • Princess Leia’s Theme from Star Wars
  • The Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back
  • Rey’s Theme from The Force Awakens
  • The Throne Room & Finale from Star Wars

ENCORES

  • Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
  • Main Title March from Superman
  • The Flying Theme from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

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Miscellaneous

Jazz Harmonica Legend Toots Thielemans Dies at 94

Toots Thielemans, one of the only musicians to have a successful career as a jazz harmonica player, died on Monday in Brussels. Thielemans performed in the original soundtrack recordings of John Williams’ Cinderella Liberty (1973) and the first Williams/Spielberg collaboration, The Sugarland Express (1974). He was widely regarded as one of the world’s top harmonica players and was well known for appearing on the Sesame Street and Midnight Cowboy themes.

Obituary at the New York Times

Toots Thielemans performs ‘Nice to Be Around’ from John Williams’ Cincerella Liberty

Upcoming Performances

LSO to Perform ‘The Best of John Williams’ Concert Introduced by Williams Himself

This November, the London Symphony Orchestra will perform a “greatest film hits” concert featuring selections by John Williams, with each score introduced by Williams himself in an exclusive interview to be screened in the hall on the evening. The concert will take place on Saturday, November 26, at the Barbican Hall in London. Tickets are now on sale from £10 at the LSO website.

Program includes:

  • Theme from Superman
  • Devil’s Dance from The Witches of Eastwick
  • Theme from Jurassic Park
  • Prologue from JFK
  • Dartmoor, 1912 from War Horse
  • Hedwig‘s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
  • Main Theme from Jaws
  • The Flying Theme from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
  • Olympic Fanfare and Theme
  • March from Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • Theme from Schindler’s List
  • Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  • Hymn to the Fallen from Saving Private Ryan
  • Highlights from Star Wars

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Concert Reviews

Tanglewood ‘Film Night’ Concert Online

“JOHN WILLIAMS’ FILM NIGHT”
August 13, 2016, Tanglewood, MA
The Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by Richard Kaufman and JOHN WILLIAMS

LISTEN TO THE FULL CONCERT AT WGBH.ORG — Direct link to MP3 stream

CONCERT PROGRAM

Richard Kaufman conducting

“Up, Up and Away: The Movies Take Flight”

  • The Flying Theme from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
  • Flight to Neverland from Hook
  • March from Superman
  • Love Theme from Superman
  • Flight and Technology from The Unfinished Journey
  • Flying Over Africa” from Out of Africa (Barry)
  • Ireland from The Spirit of St. Louis (Waxman)
  • March from The Great Waldo Pepper (Mancini)

INTERMISSION

John Williams Conducting

  • Olympic Fanfare and Theme
  • Song for World Peace

“May The Force Be With You: The Music of Star Wars”

  • The Jedi Steps and Finale from The Force Awakens
  • The Asteroid Field from The Empire Strikes Back
  • Princess Leia’s Theme from Star Wars
  • The Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back
  • Rey’s Theme from The Force Awakens
  • The Throne Room & Finale from Star Wars

ENCORES

  • Luke and Leia from Return of the Jedi
  • Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

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Star Wars: Episode VIII, Videos

Williams Confirms He’s Scoring ‘Episode VIII’ (UPDATED)

According to reports from JWFan members as well as a review of last Saturday’s ‘Film Night’ concert at Tanglewood, Williams told the attending crowd that he will indeed compose the score to Star Wars: Episode VIII, and he plans to see a first cut of the film in a few weeks.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is set to be released in cinemas on December 15, 2017.

UPDATE: Williams’ speech (video and transcript):

So our producer Kathy Kennedy called me at Disney Studios a few weeks ago and said “Would you like to do the new Star Wars?” and I said “Well, yes, I think I would but the honest truth is I don’t want anybody else to write music for Daisy. So in a few weeks I will receive a first viewing of it and see who Rey’s father is, we don’t know, we’ll find out.

Awards, Events, Videos, Williams/Spielberg

John Williams’ AFI Award Tribute Videos Online

The American Film Institute’s YouTube channel has been updated with a series of highlights from their John Williams Life Achievement Award tribute gala, which took place on June 9 in Hollywood. Their current playlist includes Williams’ acceptance speech as well as salutes and speeches from Steven Spielberg, Drew Barrymore, J.J. Abrams, George Lucas, Harrison Ford and Kobe Bryant.







Miscellaneous, Star Wars, Videos

Williams Meets Two Musicians Playing the ‘Star Wars’ Theme Outside His House

This is what happened when two musicians made a spontaneous decision to play the Star Wars theme in front of John Williams’ house on July 11, 2016… With the high part played by 13-year-old trumpeter, Bryce Hayashi, and the lower flugelhorn part played by Michael Miller (“Mickle”), John Williams decided to come out and greet the young musicians (1:07 into the video).