Timo Martikainen

From the print edition of the 2024/2025 Berlin Philharmoniker season book
 

 
Found on: https://www.facebook.com/groups/904229429654872/posts/7527258017351947/
 
I'll add links to the official website here when it gets added there.

Feature Story | February 2, 2024
An Interview with John Williams
By Simon Woods
 
https://symphony.org/features/an-interview-with-john-williams/

Huh? Genuinely puzzled by this. The award isn’t for the composer who reaches/tops their previous work; it’s for the best score of a given year… It’s entirely possible for JW to write a score that “doesn’t reach the heights of his most classic works,” and for that score to still happen to be better than the other contenders...

I also don't get the negativity here. The Dial of Destiny score by Williams is just awesome. Nothing I heard in Göransson's score for Oppenheimer comes close musically. Williams is still at the top of the game. And I believe, that he has been nominated because in the academy - in opposition to large parts of this forum - there are people who see this and know what they are talking about.
 
He might not win, and it might not be his best score and the Oscars might be ridiculous, but I believe that Williams musically wrote the best and most mature score of the year and he deserves to win.
My view.
 
Sometimes hard to believe, that we are in a John Williams fan forum here. 

Most enjoyable if slightly curious programming choices (more below!). Playing by the orchestra and ASM were excellent and quite a few additional pieces from ASM, notably Across the Stars, The Long Goodbye, Helena’s Theme and Schindler’s List. ASM made a few remarks around the encores (one after the first half and the other three after the programmed pieces in the second) notably that she felt JW’s 2nd Violin Concerto was the most important of the last 100 years. Quite a claim! I must admit that I still find it hard going and I can’t imagine the average JW fan would be that interested if it were written by someone else. Still she’s clearly a passionate advocate of the work and seems to relish playing it as well as the score excerpt arrangements. She teased the arrangement of Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra but didn’t play it alas!
 
Curiously, ASM played the three programmed items then three encores at the start of the second half and then the orchestra played the suite from (L) Bernstein’s On the Waterfront which felt like an odd appendage to the rest of the programme. Quite a few people left before it and many left during the final applause which I doubt would have been the case had ASM played at the end of the second half. Otherwise a fine and well attended concert. Sadly any hopes that JW would put in a surprise appearance did not materialise!

Anne-Sophie Mutter will give the UK premiere of John Williams's Violin Concerto No. 2 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in January 2024.  Tickets go on general sale on Tuesday 2nd May 2023.
 
Mutter plays John Williams
 
As well as a suite from Superman, the concert will also feature a suite from Leonard Bernstein's On the Waterfront.  There is no sign that John Williams himself will be in attendance (Jonathon Heyward will conduct) but I guess you never know.  It would be great to hear another of Williams's concertos live, as I have only ever seen the Tuba Concerto performed by Patrick Harrild with the LSO many years ago.

Score!
 
I managed to snag myself one of the VIP merch packages from the concert. These were only given to people lucky enough to get a VIP ticket (i.e. not me!), meaning less than 50 or so packages were made. I got mine from an online auction.

The package includes:
The program (same as the one for sale to everyone else) limited edition tote bag (pretty simple to be honest) VIP ID card - the signature is a “print” (unfortunately!) Honestly, I don’t think the VIP ticket was worth the ¥50,000 since no one got to meet JW. The only benefit was the privilege of attending the pre-concert rehearsal and this VIP merch package.

Saw the film. Here are some quick thoughts.
 
End Credits were Helena’s Theme (same version as album) then the Prologue (from where the Nazi/brass material starts to
the end).
 
Most of the score highlights are presented on the album and there are no glaring omissions as far as I’m concerned.
 
Further passages of Belly of the Steel Beast and On the Tank were used in the 1944 opening. I also caught a few bars of the first Jungle Chase cue from KotSC in an action scene. On the whole, there are certainly some textures/phrases from the original scores inserted here and there, but the score is substantially original and I didn’t feel that there was excessive “temp love” or retreading old material.
 
What’s more, old themes are used and adapted very effectively in the score. It’s tastefully done and works very well. It doesn’t beat you over the head with nostalgia.
 
The New York chase scene has some great moments of scoring, intercut with some source music of a marching band (I suspect this is the Pulse of the City track by William Ross listed in the credits). The scoring for this scene is great, but it definitely stops and starts, and is very incidental - so it’s understandable that it was omitted from the album.
 
Honestly, having watched the film, I’m confident that the best moments of the score are included here on the album, and there wasn’t a Lando Arrives moment that was left out.
 
Once I find the time, I will make a list of all of the music in the film along with timings etc.
 
The film itself was very entertaining and I had a great time. It fits comfortably into the cannon of the previous four films, but thankfully doesn’t do anything to tarnish the original three. Again, everything is tastefully and respectfully done. Consider this film (and Crystal Skull) an optional epilogue to the series.
 
Lucasfilm made a mistake by premiering it at Cannes - Indiana Jones is an unpretentious film series, and the fifth film in a blockbuster franchise was never going to receive a warm welcome at a prestigious festival. I think the audience response to this film should be fairly positive.

As always with a JW score... however Mangold has expressed that he is open to an Isolated Score, so let's really push for this and we might make it happen!

Tracklist
Prologue To Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (6:00) Helena's Theme (3:30) Germany, 1944 (4:42) To Morroco (3:21) Voller Returns (3:06) Auction At Hotel L'Atlantique (2:58) Tuk Tuk In Tangiers (3:35) To Athens (2:17) Perils Of The Deep (2:31) Water Ballet (4:53) Polybius Cypher (2:39) The Grafikos (4:39) Archimedes' Tomb (3:01) The Airport (4:46) Battle Of Syracuse (2:50) Centuries Join Hands (3:02 New York, 1969 (4:17) Helena's Theme (For Violin And Orchestra) [feat. Anne-Sophie Mutter] (4:59) 1:07:06
 
Samples
https://music.apple.com/nz/album/indiana-jones-and-the-dial-of-destiny/1693678408
 

JWFan user @tharpdevenport put up a youtube video containing all of Williams' socore from the episode
 
 

I'm seeing this in an hour! I'll report back on the score!

I just came back from the the second concert and it was brilliant! Great selection of music in the programme and great solos and soloists.
 
And one of the most rousing versions of the Star Wars Main Title I have ever heard as an encore! Wow!
 
@Joni WiljamiPasi, thank you for your fantastic performances and if you could pass my warmest thanks to the entire orchestra that would be great! You were all excellent!  

I just came back from the 1st concert and it was as excellent as I expected it to be. The orchestra was in great form and performed with enthusiasm and energy. And indeed as with any Williams concert, the whole orchestra (and especially the brass section) get a proper workout and it is always a delight to see the intricacies of Williams' orchestrations when watching the orchestra live. What a terrific night!  

I'm in no way affiliated with this event or the organizations responsible for arranging it, but still wanted to share this information! The Vantaa Orchestra is having a three concert festival starting this weekend at the Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo). As of now tickets are still available (got mine today)..!!

The orchestra and the concert hall are really good, even by international standards and hey have performed multiple John Williams themed concerts in the past years. This is the first multi concert festival consisting of three consecutive concerts for the next three weeks. Highly recommended!

Here is the schedule and concert program(s) for the upcoming concerts:

World of Adventures, March 18th, at 7PM
 
Superman March
Goodbye Mr. Chips
Fiddler On The Roof
Jaws: The Shark Theme
Hook: Flight to Neverland
The Terminal: The Tale of Viktor Navorski
The Adventures of Tintin – The Duel
ET – Adventures on Earth

Intermission

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Adventures of Mutt
The Crystal Spell
Sabrina
Cowboys Overture
Marion’s Theme
End Titles Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
 
Wondrous Worlds, March 25th, at 7PM
 
Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Jurassic Park
Witches of Eastwick – The Devil’s Dance
7 Years in Tibet
Hedwig’s Theme
 
Intermission
 
Sorcerer’s Stone – Nimbus 2000- Fluffy and his harp
Escapades – Closing In (Catch Me if You Can)
Sugarland Express
Memoirs of a Geisha – The Chairman’s Waltz and Sayuri’s theme
BFG – A Child’s Tale
Harry’s Wondrous World

The Force, April 1st, at 7PM
 
Dartmoor 1912 / War Horse
March from 1941
Swing Swing Swing from 1941
Schindler’s List: Main theme, Immolation, Stolen Memories
Hymn to the Fallen
Dry Your Tears, Afrika – Amistad
Home Alone: Somewhere in my memory
Suite from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Intermission

Music from Star Wars Force awakens:
I. March of Resistance
II. Rey’s Theme
III. Scherzo for X-Wing
IV. The Jedi Steps and Finale

Selection of Music from the Star Wars Saga:
I. Across the Stars
II. The Asteroid Field
III. Parade of the Ewoks
IV. Cantina Band
V. Here They Come
VI. Luke and Leia
VII. The Forest Battle
VIII. Princess Leia
IX. Battle of the Heroes
X. Duel of the Fates

I just saw this shared on social media. Very cool! Williams and Jones already performed the GUNN theme live in a Mancini tribute concert some 4-5 years ago, but gotta dig the line-up of this recording session for an actual new Mancinin tribute album. Just wish the videos of the recording session itself lasted longer.
 
 
 
 

https://www.philorch.org/performances/our-season/events-and-tickets/2023-2024-season/verizon-hall/john-williams-and-yo-yo-ma/

The Fabelmans has made the Academy Award (Oscars) shortlist of 15 scores, one step closer to being one of the 5 nominees
 
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscars-shortlists-95th-academy-awards-unveiled-1235285262/
 
https://deadline.com/2022/12/oscar-shortlists-2023-categories-international-documentary-shorts-1235204412/

God I hate trailer music

ANOTHER WILLIAMS/SPIELBERG MASTERPIECE...
 
RELEASE #4
 
AMISTAD: 25th ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED LIMITED EDITION (2-CD SET)
LLLCD 1612
Music by John Williams
Limited Edition of 5000 Units
RETAIL PRICE: $29.98
 
ORDERS BEGIN TUESDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2022 AT 12 PM PST
 
In celebration of John Williams‘ 90th birthday and the 25th Anniversary of the acclaimed feature film AMISTAD, La-La Land Records, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and Geffen Records present AMISTAD, a special 2-CD remastered and expanded release of Academy Award-Winning composer John Williams’ (E.T., SCHINDLER’S LIST, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN) original motion picture score to the renowned 1997 big-screen historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and Djimon Hounsou. Maestro Williams’ masterwork encompasses the depths and heights of human experience, unleashing unforgettable moments of anguish and uplift as it supports the film’s true chronicling of the 1839 African slave ship revolt abord the La Amistad and its subsequent landmark U.S. court case. 

A breathtaking fusion of orchestral Americana with African percussion rhythms and vocal chanting, this important John Williams score finally gets a definitive release with this deluxe 2-CD presentation, meticulously produced, edited and mastered by Mike Matessino, in consultation with the composer and director. 

Remastered in high resolution from studio master elements, Disc One and Disc Two of this program features the film Score Presentation, which expands the original 1997 soundtrack album by almost double its length, including cues not used in the film. The score presentation is followed on Disc Two by 50 minutes of bonus tracks including source music, concert arrangements, and alternates - some of which offer completely different approaches than the film versions. The exclusive, in-depth liner notes are by writer Jeff Bond, with the packaging’s elegant design by Jim Titus. This is a limited edition release of 5000 units. 

TRACK LISTING:
SCORE PRESENTATION 1:45:04
1 Introduction And Retribution 4:40
2 July 4, 1839 4:04
3 Steering East 1:27
4 The Capture 5:00
5 Introducing John Quincy Adams 5:15
6 Meeting Of The Minds 3:58
7 Counsel Meets Client 1:36
8 The Ship Remembers 5:32
9 Visiting Adams 1:32
10 What Is Their Story? 3:44
11 Learning To Count 1:57
12 Tale Of The Lion’s Tooth 5:48
13 The Capture Of Cinqué 4:03
14 The Crossing 4:41
15 Tales Of Horror 7:40
16 Discovering The Bible 5:05
17 Prisoners’ Song 1:33
18 The Letter To Massachusetts 2:09
19 Cinqué’s Legal Mind 2:26
20 African Violet 5:33

Disc One Time: 78:10
 
DISC 2 
SCORE PRESENTATION CONT’D
1 Adams’ Address To The Court 7:21
2 Adams’ Summation (Film Version) 3:01
3 The Verdict 5:10
4 Liberation Of Lomboko: Dry Your Tears, Afrika 2:17
5 Going Home 2:05
6 Dry Your Tears, Afrika (Reprise) 3:37
7 The Long Road To Justice 3:19

ADDITIONAL MUSIC 49:53
8 Cinqué’s Theme 4:13
9 Introduction (Alternate) 1:12
10 The Capture (Alternate) 5:02
11 Harbor Tavern 3:05
12 Cinqué’s Theme (Solo Flute) 2:07
13 Meeting Of The Minds (Instrumental Version) 3:45
14 The Ship Remembers (Alternate) 5:26
15 What Is Their Story? (Alternate) 3:33
16 The Crossing (Alternate) 4:23
17 Tales Of Horror (Alternate Excerpt) 3:19
18 Discovering The Bible (Alternate) 5:11
19 Cinqué’s Memories Of Home 2:39
20 Going Home (Alternate) 2:06
21 Dry Your Tears, Afrika (Alternate) 3:35
 
Disc Two Time: 76:50
 
Total 2-Disc Time: 2:35:00
 
This is a CD format release.
 
https://www.facebook.com/lalalandrecords/posts/pfbid02C5KU3xb3nP4WCT7WxYTaESVxuT8ft2jsQpkeBUvMYQbwm9BhcWkYhFUiDFJKFUn4l

Why choose between fashion and protection when you can just wear a chainmail turtleneck!
 

Apparently, one of the final awards approved by the Queen

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11244771/Queens-final-knight-John-Williams-honoured-creating-music-blockbuster-films.html

Variety calls JW score “extraordinary”:
 
https://variety.com/2022/awards/awards/the-fabelmans-oscar-chances-steven-spielberg-michelle-williams-1235368098/

We played at Ozawa Hall.  Maestro Williams was there.  It was a great moment.  He stood and accepted the warm applause from everyone there. 

Album review: John Williams’s Violin Concerto No. 2 beautifully recorded by Anne-Sophie Mutter and the BSO under the composer

https://jarijuhanikallio.wordpress.com/2022/07/06/album-review-john-williamss-violin-concerto-no-2-beautifully-recorded-by-anne-sophie-mutter-and-the-bso-under-the-composer/