BSO360 ep 3: Boston Pops retrospective

[Miguel Andrade 1,260]

The BSO posted their third episode of BSO360, this time a retrospective on the Boston Pops and their last three music directors as well as a profile on Leonard Bernstein.

During the first half, dedicated to the Pops, you can see and excerpt of Williams conducting his own "Celebrate Discovery".

 

https://www.bso.org/Medias

 

http://bso.http.internapcdn.net/bso/podcasts/images/BSO360/BSO360Ep3.m4v

[Incanus 5,713]

Thanks for sharing this Miguel!

 

Shame that Williams himself wasn't interviewed for these documentaries. I would have loved to hear about his time and experiences with the Boston Pops.

[geom_00 36]

54 minutes ago, Incanus said:

Thanks for sharing this Miguel!

 

Shame that Williams himself wasn't interviewed for these documentaries. I would have loved to hear about his time and experiences with the Boston Pops.

It started out pretty rocky according to Wikipedia:

 

Williams almost ended his tenure with the Pops in 1984.^[67] Considered a customary practice of opinion, some players hissed while sight-reading a new Williams composition in rehearsal; Williams abruptly left the session and turned in his resignation. He initially cited mounting conflicts with his film composing schedule, but later admitted a perceived lack of discipline in, and respect from, the Pops' ranks, culminating in this latest instance. After entreaties by the management and personal apologies from the musicians, Williams withdrew his resignation and continued as principal conductor for nine more years.

[Incanus 5,713]

 

1 hour ago, geom_00 said:

It started out pretty rocky according to Wikipedia:

 

Williams almost ended his tenure with the Pops in 1984.^[67] Considered a customary practice of opinion, some players hissed while sight-reading a new Williams composition in rehearsal; Williams abruptly left the session and turned in his resignation. He initially cited mounting conflicts with his film composing schedule, but later admitted a perceived lack of discipline in, and respect from, the Pops' ranks, culminating in this latest instance. After entreaties by the management and personal apologies from the musicians, Williams withdrew his resignation and continued as principal conductor for nine more years.

I believe this is the America the Dream Goes On-incident, where the BPO was rehearsing the aforementioned piece and hissed and laughed which caused Williams to leave the sessions.

 

But this was almost four years into his tenure which then continued for almost ten more years and he continues to to be associated with the orchestra as the conductor laureate. So I don't think that this single (quite significant though it was) incident is not to say that on the whole Williams' tenure wasn't a happy experience for him.

[Miguel Andrade 1,260]

The incident was the culmination of problems that came already from the Fiedler era, with music and arrangements that the orchestra members perceived as inferior. 

One of the strengths of Williams tenure was to revitalize the arrangements library, including some by himself and bringing a lot on new arranging talent to the orchestra usual collaborators. He also added to the repertoire, both through film music, as well with commissions of lighter tone by serious composers, whose music would be more expected at a BSO concert instead of a Pops one.

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

19 hours ago, Miguel Andrade said:

One of the strengths of Williams tenure was to revitalize the arrangements library, including some by himself

 

Which arrangements are you referring to here?

[TownerFan 4,983]

The chapter devoted to JW's Pops years in Emilio Audissino's book has a very accurate reconstruction of the notorious incident that brought to JW's temporary resignment from the BPO.

[Miguel Andrade 1,260]

On 1/23/2019 at 1:17 PM, Jurassic Shark said:

 

Which arrangements are you referring to here?

 

He did many arrangements for the Pops, though few ended up on record. One that was recorded is "Horray for Hollywood". That particular one has grown outside of the Pops repertoire and Richard Kaufman as conducted it several times around the world.

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

23 hours ago, TownerFan said:

The chapter devoted to JW's Pops years in Emilio Audissino's book has a very accurate reconstruction of the notorious incident that brought to JW's temporary resignment from the BPO.

 

Was that chapter approved by the man himself?