Sandor

I wrote this years ago: I think history will remember John Williams as -by far- the greatest film music composer of all time. Even if he wasn't, his most famous themes will endure and I think the best known composers are -for a larger public- so well known because of the familiarity with certain pieces. Like Mozart with Eine Kleine Nachtmuzik or Beethoven with Für Elise and his Fifth Symphony. Of course Beethoven was much more than those works. But it is thát music that makes the first connection with new generations, even before they know his name or learn to speak for that matter. It's like an aural torch that passes from one generation to the next. The six years olds in my school know Für Elise. They know the opening of the first movement from his Fifth Symphony. But when I ask them who composed those pieces they don't know. Then I tell them it's Beethoven and they all go: "I know that name! So that's Beethoven!". Perhaps some of them will discover his Missa Solemnis or his 3rd Symphony, but they heard his Fifth first, because it's so deeply imbedded in our culture. There is no way growing up and avoid hearing 'Happy Birthday' or 'Silent Night' at one point. Everyone gets exposed to it and those melodies stick, at times much longer than the memory of the composers behind them. The children at my school know nothing however about Shostakovich or Clara Schumann. Those composers will be discovered by a much smaller percentage of the next generations and I'm afraid that without that musical torch in a couple of hundred years they will be mostly forgotten, no matter how good and profound their work is. I fear for Goldsmith as well. One of the greatest film score composers of all time will be remembered mostly in name, because Goldsmith doesn't have significant aural torches that will find recognition with the "common man" of the future. Our generation knows Rudy is a very good score, but the next generation will only read about it. They won't hear it; only if they go looking for it. Goldsmith doesn't have melodies and compositions (not yet anyway) that have become part of our cultural heritage, not even his Star Trek Theme which is universally known by our generation, but is not being transmitted to the next I'm afraid. Nothing that I could play in class will make the children go: "Oh, so that's Goldsmith!". I think for future generations composers like Jerry Goldsmith, Frans Waxman or Bernard Herrman -no matter how insanely good they were during their careers (don't get me wrong!)- will be discovered by film music enthusiasts and modern music analysists only. They will be read about a lot, more than they will be listened to. And now John Williams… This man has enough torches to ensure that people will remember him for generations to come! The six year olds in my school know the themes of Indiana Jones, Star Wars, The Imperial March, Harry Potter, Jaws, Superman, Jurassic Park, etc. Those themes have been integrated in our culture and are frequently used in theme parks, TV commercials, etc. People will hear his music, whether they like it or not. Williams is also very lucky that his music is attached to culturally iconic and important films and characters. Darth Vader, Superman, Indiana Jones and Harry Potter will be around much longer than Jack o' the Green or Rick O'Connell. When Williams dies, people will become more and more aware of the amazing career he has had. That one man could be responsible for so many 'famous film tunes'. That one man could so successfully create the musical equivalent of iconic imagery like the characters of Darth Vader or Superman. He will become the hallmark for all film music and the ‘Michael Jackson’, ‘Beatles’ or ‘Elvis Presley’ of the genre, perhaps the only one. People will grow up and one way or another get in touch with the Star Wars Theme or The Raiders' March. People will continue to whistle the Superman March on the streets and the Jaws Theme will be hummed at every beach. And perhaps it's the interest in the originator of those melodies that will instill in some people a desire to discover Williams' Angela’s Ashes or JFK scores. At least I hope so.

This is -hands down- the post of the year. After reading the first sentence I was like: 'No way this is going to make any sense.' Then I read the whole thing: mind blown. Love it.

Wonderful!

To everyone attending: have a wonderful time! Enjoy! 😊

Yes, this is one of the most beautiful arrangements I've ever heard. Do you know if Williams did it himself?

But…. that sounds extremely cool..! 😀

I've told this story before, but back in the Summer of 2010 my wife and I spent several weeks in the US. We started of in San Francisco, went to LA, Vegas, the Grand Canyon and we drove as much as we could of the historic Route 66 to Chicago. From there we flew to Florida and after a week or so took a plane to New York. Just before heading out to Washington DC, we -on August 3- drove to Tanglewood for my first -and only- John Williams concert. Now I knew it is quite rare to get an autograph at Tanglewood, let alone have the chance to share a few words with John Williams, so therefore I was very content with the prospect of 'just' seeing the maestro conduct. Upon arrival, I got my first chance to see the program of the evening. To my slight disappointment, I saw that Williams would only conduct the second half of the concert and that Keith Lockhart would conduct until intermission. Just before the concert started, my wife whispered: 'Isn't that John Williams?' I wanted to respond with something like: 'No, that is Keith Lockhart...', but I noticed she was pointing at someone in the audience. And there he was, sitting about 20 meters away from where we were seated: John Williams (can you spot him?) He wasn't backstage waiting for his moment to shine, no: he was sitting enjoying the concert like anyone else attending that day. At the start of intermission, I expected Williams to make his way to the dressing room or whatever, but I noticed he stood up and amicably talked to some people around him. With my heart pounding I slowly approached John Williams and from there things start to get blurry. I know I got to shake his hand and he signed the program booklet I got at the entry point. I know John Williams was the one who suggested signing it on the upper left corner since there is would be most visible. And I know I said I came all the way from The Netherlands and he said: 'Oh, that's wonderful! Enjoy the rest of the concert my friend!' 'My friend.' Wow. Williams conducted the rest of the program, but I was in a completely different world at that time. In a way, I still am. It was a true highlight in my life and a memory I will cherish forever.

Ordered!

1993 Schindler’s List 2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Of course, Williams has scored many truly great and excellent scores in between and afterwards, but I think Williams has written 10 scores that can be regarded as genuine ‘masterpieces’ and of those, Schindler’s List and the first Harry Potter scores are the last two.

Yeah, that would be great! 😊

You’re responding to a post from 2005 (!), and you claim to come from the future (!!), but hell yeah: *I’m* the knob. 😆

Ordered! 😇

Well, the two songs are very similar melodically speaking. Part of the reason I’ve always prefered How Can I Remember, one of the best songs Williams ever wrote.

Arlington, Garrison Family Theme and the Prologue. Also, the suite conducted by Keith Lockhart at Tanglewood 2010 was great! I know; I was there! 😇 More or less this wonderful arrangement:

Thanks for the info Thor! Appreciated and insightful!