Popular Post Disco Stu 15,495 Posted January 20, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2017 https://www.richmondsymphony.com/event/the-genius-of-john-williams/ Tomorrow night I'm seeing my local orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, play a concert in tribute to Williams called "The Genius of John Williams" as part of their Symphony Pops series of concerts. Quote Whether it’s the powerful soundtrack from Star Wars, the magical score from Harry Potter or the adventure and whimsy of the sounds of Indiana Jones, there is nothing comparable to the genius in John Williams’s music. Experience everything you love about the world’s best loved movie composer in this concert filled with fantasy and fun. Obviously this is just a regional orchestra concert and nothing noteworthy for Williams fans who don't live in central Virginia, but it's very cool for me! I don't get many opportunities to actually see Williams music performed live so this will be very special. I'm sure the program will just be Jaws Main Title, Star Wars Main Title, Raiders March, Hedwig's Theme, Flying Theme, etc. etc. But it would be pretty cool to see at least one piece performed that I wouldn't have expected. Sunday morning I'll reply here with a few pictures and the program just for posterity Jay, Will and Pieter Boelen 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 1 hour ago, Disco Stu said: I'm sure the program will just be Jaws Main Title, Star Wars Main Title, Raiders March, Hedwig's Theme, Flying Theme, etc. etc. But it would be pretty cool to see at least one piece performed that I wouldn't have expected. Let me guess: something from Lincoln? Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thx99 1,740 Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Damn!! Wasn't aware of this concert, or if I was at one point, I'd forgotten about it. I'm officially in the "northern" region of VA, but it's more like the border of the "central" and "northern" regions. Enjoy the concert, @Disco Stu, and make sure to provide us with a detailed report. Disco Stu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted January 20, 2017 Author Share Posted January 20, 2017 12 minutes ago, BloodBoal said: Let me guess: something from Lincoln? That would be perfect and amazing. And actually very appropriate. The entirety of Lincoln was filmed here in central Virginia, with most of the filming being, like, one block from the concert venue in downtown Richmond. There was even a special feature on the bluray just about filming in Virginia. thx99 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Disco Stu 15,495 Posted January 22, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2017 The concert last night was spectacular! I was very pleased with both the program and the performance of the orchestra. Seeing these familiar pieces performed live is like hearing them for the first time, instruments like double-basses and tuba especially are so much richer sounding than they ever can be on a recording. This was the program: Olympic Fanfare and Theme Getting out the Vote from Lincoln Flight to Neverland from Hook Across the Stars from Attack of the Clones Jaws Theme Jurassic Park Theme From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Hedwig's Theme Nimbus 2000 Harry's Wondrous World --Intermission-- Adventures on Earth from E.T. () Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark Schindler's List Theme The Imperial March from Empire Strikes Back Princess Leia's Theme from Star Wars Main Title from Star Wars --Encore-- Superman March I somehow had not even known that Williams had composed a concert arrangement for "Getting Out the Vote" from Lincoln and I was so pleased to hear it. It's a lot more satisfying than the OST track of the same name. I kinda wish it was on the Spielberg/Williams Collaboration album now. It was also cool to hear Nimbus 2000, the woodwind only arrangement live; the flutists were amazing! I was most pleased that they played the full "Adventures on Earth" piece from E.T. I had fully expected them to just play the shorter "Flying Theme." It's my absolute favorite piece of film music ever written, so I was walking on air for that entire performance. There was a strict policy about no recording for the performance, but I managed to film "Flight To Neverland" for like 30 seconds before an usher walking through gave me a nasty look. Here's the video, with quick lowering of phone upon being caught included I may or may not have also surreptitiously recorded just the audio of "Adventures on Earth" for my own listening pleasure Here's a few pictures of the evening: Spoiler Darth Vader was outside for photo ops and later came on stage for the Imperial March It's a beautiful old theater. Originally it was one of those cool movie palaces built in the 1910s and 1920s The horn players wore Superman capes! Will, Incanus, Smeltington and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Yes, @Disco Stu, that Getting Out the Vote arrangement is awesome!!! A really under-appreciated gem. You were so lucky to get to see it performed live! (and it's particularly great for you given how highly you think of that score) Here's another performance, from the Boston Pops recording of the full three piece suite: Disco Stu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,502 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Darth Vadar Seriously, Stu, thanks for posting. Disco Stu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 20 minutes ago, Richard said: Darth Vadar Hadn't noticed that. Maybe Williams himself prepared the program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 5 hours ago, Will said: Yes, @Disco Stu, that Getting Out the Vote arrangement is awesome!!! A really under-appreciated gem. You were so lucky to get to see it performed live! (and it's particularly great for you given how highly you think of that score) Yes it was dawning me on just how lucky I was as I started to realize after 10 seconds or so that it was a concert arrangement I had never heard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,639 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 32 minutes ago, Disco Stu said: Yes it was dawning me on just how lucky I was as I started to realize after 10 seconds or so that it was a concert arrangement I had never heard! I would have thought the Chicago SO would have performed the suite by now, or even made it a standard, since to some degree the pieces were composed with them in mind. Maybe down the road, and maybe even a recording. Speaking of such things, I heard the Reivers suite for the first time with the CSO years back. It is something special to take in a piece for the first time by live performance. I would think at least half of those in attendance for these kinds of concerts are hearing many of the pieces for the first time (at least outside of the film itself). I wonder how it plays out for them. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,272 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 7 minutes ago, Tom said: I would have thought the Chicago SO would have performed the suite by now They did last time he was there, in 2013. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 1 hour ago, mrbellamy said: They did last time he was there, in 2013. But it seems that was the last time. Other than "The People's House" being performed at a summer film music concert in 2014. You're right, @Tom, that is strange. You'd think it would be played regularly but that simply hasn't happened. 1 hour ago, Tom said: I would think at least half of those in attendance for these kinds of concerts are hearing many of the pieces for the first time (at least outside of the film itself). I wonder how it plays out for them. You are probably right. And I think that might play a little into why JW feels the need to make most of his suites end with almost cliche (but awesome!) bombastic "booms," and such. Because even some of his more accessible works do take some getting used to. I suppose that partially doesn't matter though as not all attendees at these are necessarily looking to be musically satisfied; they just want to hear some memorable bits from their favorite films and have a good time. 1 hour ago, Disco Stu said: Yes it was dawning me on just how lucky I was as I started to realize after 10 seconds or so that it was a concert arrangement I had never heard! As (Not) Mr. Big has complained about, the new arrangement does lose a lot of the character of the film version, but I think I still like it much better. So optimistic and just plain awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,502 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 9 hours ago, mrbellamy said: They did last time he was there, in 2013. You're lucky, pal. The last time JW was in London, to conduct in public, was in nineteen ninety fucking eight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 London prices these days! Makes sense to stay home! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,502 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Also, he's almost 85 years of age (in case any JWfaner had forgotten ). I don't blame him for not wanting to fly, but he could sail... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 The entire LSO could go on a luxury ocean liner where they rerecord all of JW's music! Disco Stu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 2 hours ago, Stefancos said: The entire LSO could go on a luxury ocean liner where they rerecord all of JW's music! And while they're at it perform a live-to-projection concert for the entire Poseidon Adventure score! Omen II 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Yes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,290 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Sounds like a cool concert, Stu! Glad you got to hear the Getting Out The Vote concert arrangement Disco Stu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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