161 replies to this topic

[TJH132]

JW on piano, Seiji Ozawa conducting. Very nice.



TJH

[Luke Skywalker]

damn, so maybe there is a new recording of a KOTCS concert version.

Why havent they included marion's and irina's themes...

[E.T. & Elliott]

Does Sony have anything to do with the Boston recordings?

[Luke Skywalker]

it owns the later recordings, i think.

[Miguel Andrade]

Williams has a recording contract with Sony, hence the December '89 onward recording made in Boston and other locations (L.A., Pittsburgh, Chicago, London) are released by them. Still, that isn't automatically owned by Sony -- consider for example the film score recordings, some released by Sony, some not. Also, in 2001, Williams recorded his TreeSong for DGG, and in Boston.
I still have the hope that during the year the BSO label will release something recorded by him, during his live appearances in Boston...

[Thor]

JW on piano, Seiji Ozawa conducting. Very nice.



TJH

Nice, I hadn't seen that before (I think). Great to see Keisuke Wakao on the oboe there too, as I love the album he did with Williams themes (also, incidentally, having the man himself perform piano on the SABRINA track). When was this from?

By the way, also funny to see your initials TJH, as those are the exact same initials as my own full name!!

[Miguel Andrade]

JW on piano, Seiji Ozawa conducting. Very nice.



TJH

Nice, I hadn't seen that before (I think). Great to see Keisuke Wakao on the oboe there too, as I love the album he did with Williams themes (also, incidentally, having the man himself perform piano on the SABRINA track). When was this from?

By the way, also funny to see your initials TJH, as those are the exact same initials as my own full name!!

Thor, Wakao is in there because he's a member of the BSO. And Williams did not play the piano on the Sabrina theme on the Wakao CD, if that was what you meant. He only played on the final track, also the only arranged by Williams himself on that album, that one being "The Days Between" from Stepmom.

[Thor]

JW on piano, Seiji Ozawa conducting. Very nice.



TJH

Nice, I hadn't seen that before (I think). Great to see Keisuke Wakao on the oboe there too, as I love the album he did with Williams themes (also, incidentally, having the man himself perform piano on the SABRINA track). When was this from?

By the way, also funny to see your initials TJH, as those are the exact same initials as my own full name!!

Thor, Wakao is in there because he's a member of the BSO. And Williams did not play the piano on the Sabrina theme on the Wakao CD, if that was what you meant. He only played on the final track, also the only arranged by Williams himself on that album, that one being "The Days Between" from Stepmom.

Yes, I know he's part of the BSO, of course. Still nice to get a glimpse of him (he's one of the few BSO members I know about). But you're right about STEPMOM instead of SABRINA on the Wakao album....sorry about that.

[Jason LeBlanc]

Slight change to the track list They added The Adventure Continues from Tintin and moved Happy Birthday Variations to the end

01. Sound the Bells! (2:50)
02. Out to Sea / The Shark Cage Fugue from Jaws (4:23)
03. Theme from Sabrina(4:58)
04. March from 1941 (4:14)
05. Adventures on Earth from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (9:47)
06. Dartmoor, 1912 from War Horse (3:35)
07. The Adventures of Mutt from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (3:12)
08. Harry's Wondrous World from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (5:21)
09. Elegy for Cello and Orchestra (6:22)
10. Going To School from Memoirs of a Geisha (2:42)
11. The Mission (Theme for NBC News) (3:30)
12. Theme from Schindler's List (3:33)
13. The Adventure Continues from The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2:58)
14. Throne Room and Finale from Star Wars (7:57)
15. Happy Birthday Variations* (5:10)

TOTAL: 1:10:32


*John Williams / Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles
Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, California, Dec, 1999

[Incanus]

I wonder, since this Happy Birthday Variations was recorded in 1999, how many of these pieces JW and Sony have tucked away waiting just the right moment to release them. Glad to see it is an orchestral version since the initial info on piano version sounded a bit strange.

[Maurizio]

I wonder, since this Happy Birthday Variations was recorded in 1999, how many of these pieces JW and Sony have tucked away waiting just the right moment to release them. Glad to see it is an orchestral version since the initial info on piano version sounded a bit strange.

For sure, there are two pieces from Angela's Ashes arranged for cello that Yo-Yo Ma and Williams recorded during the sessions of the Cello Concerto.

[Nemesis]

Hey, they mention now Williams not on Piano but Williams Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles!
That would mean it IS the orchestral Version of Happy Birthday Variations!

EDIT: Just saw that you mentioned this already Icanus.

[king mark]

Cool, another Williams piece to scratch off the list

[Nemesis]

Wow, did we ever had a time where so much new Williams stuff was revealed like nowadays?

[king mark]

it's a record the last 2 months, legit or not a lot of stuff is surfacing

[Nemesis]

Yeah, and I hope it doesn't end soon!

[Faleel]

...My wallet will.

[Miguel Andrade]

I wonder, since this Happy Birthday Variations was recorded in 1999, how many of these pieces JW and Sony have tucked away waiting just the right moment to release them. Glad to see it is an orchestral version since the initial info on piano version sounded a bit strange.

For sure, there are two pieces from Angela's Ashes arranged for cello that Yo-Yo Ma and Williams recorded during the sessions of the Cello Concerto.

I believe those are two excerpts from the complete suite. I wonder if they ever recorded the whole thing... Williams with Ma and the late author Frank MCourt did the suite in Boston in 2000, something really magical and wonderful and that should have found its way to a CD release. McCourt reading his own writings made them even more powerful. Actually, I stronlgy recommend everyone to read his three books.

[WilliamsStarShip2282]

Williams has a recording contract with Sony, hence the December '89 onward recording made in Boston and other locations (L.A., Pittsburgh, Chicago, London) are released by them. Still, that isn't automatically owned by Sony -- consider for example the film score recordings, some released by Sony, some not. Also, in 2001, Williams recorded his TreeSong for DGG, and in Boston.
I still have the hope that during the year the BSO label will release something recorded by him, during his live appearances in Boston...

if im not mistaken, the bso released the premiere of his harp concerto back in september.

ive been waiting for YEARS of some sort of recording of his happy birthday variations to come out. i was browsing through sheet music once when i saw the orchestra score, but there was no recording i could find. i think, if im not mistaken, that it was written for seiji osawa for his birthday concert at tangelwood

[Miguel Andrade]

"Happy Birthday Variations" was written to celebrate three birthdays: Ozawa, 60, Perlman, 50 and Ma, 40. It was premiered in Tanglewood, and no one else but Mstlav Rostropovich conducted the Japanese premiere that same year, at a Saito Kinen Orchestra concert celebrating Ozawa's birthday.

And yes, BSO Classics released in HD audio "On Willows and Birches," Concerto for Harp and Orchestra last year. But later on, around November, they took that one out, for some odd reason. One can still order it from iTunes though. But it should be pointed out that it isn't conducted by the composer, but rather by the then assistant conductor Shi-Yeon Sung. This was the third of three BSO performances of the piece, and the best of the three, if you ask me. The premiere was conducted by James Levine, replaced on short notice by Daniele Gatti for the second performance.

[WilliamsStarShip2282]

"Happy Birthday Variations" was written to celebrate three birthdays: Ozawa, 60, Perlman, 50 and Ma, 40. It was premiered in Tanglewood, and no one else but Mstlav Rostropovich conducted the Japanese premiere that same year, at a Saito Kinen Orchestra concert celebrating Ozawa's birthday.

And yes, BSO Classics released in HD audio "On Willows and Birches," Concerto for Harp and Orchestra last year. But later on, around November, they took that one out, for some odd reason. One can still order it from iTunes though. But it should be pointed out that it isn't conducted by the composer, but rather by the then assistant conductor Shi-Yeon Sung. This was the third of three BSO performances of the piece, and the best of the three, if you ask me. The premiere was conducted by James Levine, replaced on short notice by Daniele Gatti for the second performance.

i knew it was never conducted by Williams, but he was at the premiere and he worked with ann hobson pilot. im sure youve seen the promotional video of the piece. i always prefer to hear the original conducted by the composer, but in this case with alot of williams concert music, was glad to hear it at all as most of it has never been recorded. im sorry to say i wasnt able to make it to the concert but i did notice levine only conducted the premiere. apparently hes been ill for years and finally stepped down as conductor a few months ago. sad really, he was there for years and alot of people thought very highly of him

[Miguel Andrade]

Not all composers are the best performers of his own work. I myself will be pretty damn glad if we have this pieces performed by top musicians. Slatkin, for example, is a wonderful conductor and I'm greatly pleased he's been performing and recording Williams concertos.
I should also say that most of Williams concertos are now available on recording. With exception of the two last ones -- viola and oboe -- only the clarinet one is missing a proper recording. The one existing, that can be found on iTunes is lacking in recording quality, and many have questioned if it isn't some sort of bootleg.

[king mark]

I think Williams has proven he can conduct his own music the best.

There exist none of his film score tracks that are better re-recorded by someone else than the original ones by Williams. There's always something a bit "off"

[indy4]

Yeah, he's very particular about conducting his own work. I think he calls it "defensive conducting" or something, because he doesn't want to risk other musicians interpreting differently than he intended it to be interpreted.

[king mark]

That's said I'd rather have his concertos conducted by slatkin than none at all. Also he seems to do a better job than most keeping with Williams intentions

Hopefully we get clarinet, viola and oboe, the last 3 missing

[indy4]

Oh yeah, I definitely agree.

[WilliamsStarShip2282]

well thats very true about alot of conductors, they really are lost when they stand at the podium. Williams is totally different, and is a great conductor in is own right. He knows exactly what he wants when hes conducting. Whats so great about him is he gets what he wants without annoying the musicians, which alot of conductors are terrible at.

also, whats interesting about Williams music (atleast the published stuff) is that alot of it isnt incredibly detailed. the notes are usually correct ( i say that because i noticed the piano solo for Sabrina isnt exact) but tempo, volume, ect, which we hear in the recordings, are not always marked in the sheet music, which leaves alot up to the conductor. ive also noticed that in some of his music, there is a slight slight retardando on the fourth beat of a series of measures. i think its most noticable in the recordings of the raiders march during marions theme

[Kendal_Ozzel]

I think Williams has proven he can conduct his own music the best.

Except for Jurassic Park.

[WilliamsStarShip2282]

I think Williams has proven he can conduct his own music the best.

Except for Jurassic Park.

....?

[Miguel Andrade]

I think Williams has proven he can conduct his own music the best.

There exist none of his film score tracks that are better re-recorded by someone else than the original ones by Williams. There's always something a bit "off"

I can't say that I agree... Slatkin's recording with the Saint Louis Symphony of the Imperial March beats Williams with any other orchestra.
I could add others examples were I feel others presented better renditions, but I'm sure this would be a lost argument, so lets call it a taste thing and be happy.

I think Williams has proven he can conduct his own music the best.

Except for Jurassic Park.

....?

Williams had a back problem and Artie Kane had to conduct part of the music for that one.

[indy4]

And pretty much every Williams-conducted "Theme from Jurassic Park" since has been too fast.

[Faleel]

And pretty much every Williams-conducted "Theme from Jurassic Park" since has been more adventurous sounding than majestic.

Fixed!

[Luke Skywalker]

its his concert arrangement that uses no choir and includes the adventure theme and t-rex rescue finale.

Has he ever re-recorded/conducted the Jurassic park theme as it was (edited... opening-film cue-coda...) in the film OST?

[WilliamsStarShip2282]

its his concert arrangement that uses no choir and includes the adventure theme and t-rex rescue finale.

Has he ever re-recorded/conducted the Jurassic park theme as it was (edited... opening-film cue-coda...) in the film OST?

not to my knowledge, i wish he would. jurassic park is my favorite and i dont think it gets enough attention.

I think Williams has proven he can conduct his own music the best.

There exist none of his film score tracks that are better re-recorded by someone else than the original ones by Williams. There's always something a bit "off"

I can't say that I agree... Slatkin's recording with the Saint Louis Symphony of the Imperial March beats Williams with any other orchestra.
I could add others examples were I feel others presented better renditions, but I'm sure this would be a lost argument, so lets call it a taste thing and be happy.

I think Williams has proven he can conduct his own music the best.

Except for Jurassic Park.

....?

Williams had a back problem and Artie Kane had to conduct part of the music for that one.

how the hell do you guys know all of this stuff?

And pretty much every Williams-conducted "Theme from Jurassic Park" since has been too fast.

and i dont really think you can say they are "too fast". its faster then the original yes, but hes the composer, he can do with it what he wishes.

And pretty much every Williams-conducted "Theme from Jurassic Park" since has been more adventurous sounding than majestic.

Fixed!

my thoughts exactly! (although i still love the original too)

[Luke Skywalker]

how the hell do you guys know all of this stuff?

Age...

And Miguel's knowledge..

[E.T. & Elliott]

Another recent Williams compilation by the Cottbus Philharmonic:

http://www.amazon.co...WY8/ref=mb_oe_o

[MissPadmé]

Another recent Williams compilation by the Cottbus Philharmonic:

http://www.amazon.co...WY8/ref=mb_oe_o

Nice (little odd though) to see a lot of HP.CoS Tracks on there.Are those HalLeonard Signature Editions? Could the be any different than the OST Tracks? Also nice to have an alternate recording of the Liberty Fanfare.

[Incanus]

how the hell do you guys know all of this stuff?

Age...

And Miguel's knowledge..

Hey it's a community effort Manuel! Other people know stuff too!
Though not as much as Miguel. He is a walking encyclopedia of all things Williams.

Another recent Williams compilation by the Cottbus Philharmonic:

http://www.amazon.co...WY8/ref=mb_oe_o

Nice (little odd though) to see a lot of HP.CoS Tracks on there.Are those HalLeonard Signature Editions? Could the be any different than the OST Tracks? Also nice to have an alternate recording of the Liberty Fanfare.

Some orchestra should finally re-record the entire HPPS Children's Suite. Quidditch, Voldemort and Diagon Alley movements have never been re-recorded and Family Portrait movement only once. If I remember correctly this is the first re-recording of Fluffy and his Harp.

Of course alternatively Williams could release his original tracks he recorded during the recording sessions.

[Miguel Andrade]

Another recent Williams compilation by the Cottbus Philharmonic:

http://www.amazon.co...WY8/ref=mb_oe_o

Nice (little odd though) to see a lot of HP.CoS Tracks on there.Are those HalLeonard Signature Editions? Could the be any different than the OST Tracks? Also nice to have an alternate recording of the Liberty Fanfare.

I believe that this are from the concert suite Williams arranged for Chamber of Secrets -- I'm saying without having listened to any samples...
As for Liberty Fanfare, there are numerous recordings available, the best ones by Kunzel with the Cincinnati Pops and Lockhart with the Boston Pops. Both of them I find superior performances to Williams on the "By Request" album. And if you go into band arrangements, there are more recorded performances of that one that I can count.

how the hell do you guys know all of this stuff?

Age...

And Miguel's knowledge..

Hey it's a community effort Manuel! Other people know stuff too!
Though not as much as Miguel. He is a walking encyclopedia of all things Williams.

Thank you both, that is kind of you.
But others do contribute and their knowledge on this stuff is something to behold.
As for Incanus, I would highly recommend his score analysis, some of the best stuff I've read.

Another recent Williams compilation by the Cottbus Philharmonic:

http://www.amazon.co...WY8/ref=mb_oe_o

Nice (little odd though) to see a lot of HP.CoS Tracks on there.Are those HalLeonard Signature Editions? Could the be any different than the OST Tracks? Also nice to have an alternate recording of the Liberty Fanfare.

Some orchestra should finally re-record the entire HPPS Children's Suite. Quidditch, Voldemort and Diagon Alley movements have never been re-recorded and Family Portrait movement only once. If I remember correctly this is the first re-recording of Fluffy and his Harp.

Of course alternatively Williams could release his original tracks he recorded during the recording sessions.

Sadly but true. I know that most of this have been performed a bit all around the world. I guess a budget couldn't be created to have them recorded. But since Williams did record them during the first film sessions, maybe in time Warner or Sony, or whoever detains the recording rights, see fit to release them.

[Luke Skywalker]

Hey it's a community effort Manuel! Other people know stuff too!

See that emoticon? That's the AGE i was talking about .