John Williams: On Willows and Birches, Concerto for Harp and Orchestra

A previously unreleased live recording of On Willows and Birches, Concerto for Harp and Orchestra written by Boston Pops Laureate Conductor John Williams for former BSO Principal Harpist Ann Hobson Pilot, is now available for purchase. The orchestral work was recorded live at Symphony Hall on October 3, 2009 and features the Boston Symphony Orchestra led by former BSO Assistant Conductor Shi-Yeon Sung. The recording is available in three digital formats: 320kbps MP3, AIFF High Definition Stereo, and WMA High Definition Stereo.

Full details a the BSO website

Not With My Wife, You Don’t! Vol. 2—Original Soundtrack (1966)

FSM reissued the LP re-recording of Not With My Wife, You Don’t! in March 2006. The album program offered a unique and delightful listening experience in its own right, but this CD offers the premiere release of the nearly-complete original film tracks, derived from the original ½? three-track scoring masters.

Numerous film stills decorate the 16-page booklet, surrounding an essay on film and score by FSM’s “resident Williams authority,” Jeff Eldridge. Not With My Wife, You Don’t! overflows with wit and the contemporary sensibility of film-scoring’s most celebrated maestro. Even fans with Vol. 1 already in their collection will need to buy this sequel because, like Virna Lisi’s character in the film, they will want “two of everything.” One can never have too much John Williams.

Full details, including audio samples, at Film Score Monthly

‘John Williams Lets His Muses Carry Him Along’
“I never experienced anything like a block. For me if I’m ever blocked or I feel like I don’t quite know where to go at the next turn, the best thing for me is to keep writing, to write something. It could be absolute nonsense, but it will project me into the next phase of thinking. And I think if we ourselves as writers get out of the way and let the flow happen and not get uptight about it, so to speak, the muses will carry us along.” – Full article

‘Musical Titan Honors His Heroes’
The idea of placing a bust of Copland on the grounds was proposed to Mr. Williams 20 years ago by an executive of the Boston Symphony. Though the plan never came to fruition, Mr. Williams could not let the idea go, and each summer when he visited the campus it became stronger. “I began to think that not only Copland should be represented, but Koussevitzky,” he said. “And certainly Bernstein.” – Full article