Conversations - New Chamber (piano solo) by John Williams {premieres on Montage album by Gloria Chen}

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,622]

Why?

[David Story 58]

15 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

He might not know the history of this website community being instrumental in funding the project!

 

Fantastic report, David.  I'm so jealous!

Thank you Disco Stu! You're right, I did not realize that, I am new here
JWFan is probably the most knowledgeable and generous music site on the web, thanks to all who made the music possible!
 

Gloria is touring the US and Canada with the program. http://www.gloriachengpiano.com/gloria_cheng_performances.html

[Thor 9,368]

Although one can RENT the film on Vimeo, can you buy it anywhere? I'd really like to own it.

[Will 2,410]

On 10/18/2016 at 5:36 PM, Stefancos said:

 

"Gentleman, Don Williams has called all the heads of the film score families together to decide what to do about Mikey muscling in on Alexandre's job. Our friends from Europe are not pleased about these developments. Don Ennio from the old country has even threatened to pull out Herr Zimmer and all of the German family. The heirs of Jarre and Delerue demand retribution!" Don Bruce Broughton.

 

"Look, we all love Mikey. He's like a son to me. But I promised the gig to Alexandre myself. How could this have happened?" - Don Williams

 

"With all due respect Don Williams, but i say fuck em'! We don't need those Europeans. If Don Ennio pulls back Zimmer and his goons we can reclaim the scoring stages in Hollywood and Canada! I've spoken to Don Shore, he will support us of a war breaks out." - Don Bruce

 

"What good is the support of a man who starts one chapter of a trilogy on his own, and then has to bring in an orchestrator?" - Don Williams

 

"But Don Williams, even you...with The Force Awa..." - Don Bruce

 

"That was different. At the time I could not divulge the truth, so I told Stevie to cook up some story about me getting a pacemaker. But they nearly got me, my friend." - Don Williams

 

"Who would dare this?" - Don Bruce

 

"Mikey...it was Mikey Giacchino. I asked him to swallow his pride and accept that I would score this one JJ  Abrams film. He hugged me and kissed my head. But in his eyes I could see the hatred. Thats why he tried to kill me. Thats why he muscled out Alexandre." - Don Williams

 

"My apologies Don Williams. But then we must deal with Mikey...tonight! The whole Newman family has pledged itself to you!" - Don Randy

 

"Thank you, my friend. But I fear for the moment Mikey is beyond our reach. Disney needs him to finish some projects. We can't upset them and risk losing them to Herr Zimmer. I'm using all my influence to keep him away from the new Lion King." - Don Williams

 

"Damn that fucking kraut stealing some of the best jobs. His Superman was a travesty. And a personal insult to you!" - John Ottman

 

"Business is business. But our agent has been planted in the Zimmer family long ago. When the time comes our friend Mr. Holkenborg will deal with the German." - Don Williams

 

"I swear it Don Williams! I hate those krauts! They stole my grandfathers bicycle in the war. And in 1974 they took the World Championship Football throphy from us, and never let us forget it!" - Don Holkenborg

 

"Your loyalty means a lot to me, my friend. Go back to the Germans. But first visit Don Ennio and give him my regards, and apologies for what happened with Alexandre. Once we take care if Mikey, you will be the future of film music!" - Don Williams.

 

 

 

 

[Thor 9,368]

Geezes, the search engine of this place is so dreadful. How come no relevant hits when searching for 'montage' or even 'gloria cheng'? I know there was a previous thread on this, so feel free to "merge", Jay.

 

In any case, the Montage discussion panel is now finally online for all to see! Check it out:

 

https://vimeo.com/190646677/524fb0af33

[Incanus 5,895]

Oh great find Thor!

 

Looking forward to watching this after I get back home from work.

[Arpy 4,260]

Randy is so sassy!

[Oskar 80]

“Mr. Williams, you referred in the film to how arduous and painstaking writing can be and how much it takes out of you. At this stage in your career what gets you fired up in the morning — what get’s you excited about what you do?”

 

“Coffee.”

[Jay 46,746]

 

 

[Disco Stu 15,517]

4 hours ago, Thor said:

Geezes, the search engine of this place is so dreadful. How come no relevant hits when searching for 'montage' or even 'gloria cheng'? I know there was a previous thread on this, so feel free to "merge", Jay.

 

In any case, the Montage discussion panel is now finally online for all to see! Check it out:

 

https://vimeo.com/190646677/524fb0af33

 

Oh fuck, I'm watching this on my lunch break for sure.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

Loving it so far.  It's not surprising Newman is so funny, he's written some of the most abrasively funny songs of all time ("Rednecks" being the prime example).

 

Randy Newman:

Quote

"I went to see Lincoln...which John did, and I thought 'Well shit, I can write this kinda stuff.'  Straight vanilla Americana and I said I could do this as well as anyone there is...and then at the end of the picture, it's got this end title that's really goddamn fancy and I couldn't have done that. It's like a guy holding a full house when you've got a flush."

 

[artguy360 2,279]

Cool video. I'm glad it was made available. Everyone had insightful things to say.

[Incanus 5,895]

That was a really terrific talk. All the composers were in a good mood and gave great commentary. Randy Newman of course was on fire with his wit but Williams got some nice little jokes (oh the "Coffee" quip was funny) in as well as some interesting rather poetic insights on the music making and Gloria Cheng's art.

[Thor 9,368]

Perhaps this video should be put on the main page as a 'news item'?

[Disco Stu 15,517]

5 hours ago, Thor said:

Perhaps this video should be put on the main page as a 'news item'?

 

I agree. It's pretty rare for Williams to do a panel like this. Newsworthy indeed.

[The Psycho Pianist 221]

Just seen that the original documentary can now be viewed on Vimeo at this link, with the password "breakwater"

 

 

[hornist 1,269]

Hah, they misspelled my royal name in the thanks section

[Thor 9,368]

2 hours ago, The Psycho Pianist said:

Just seen that the original documentary can now be viewed on Vimeo at this link, with the password "breakwater"

 

 

 

Thank you for that! I've been waiting to see that for quite a while now. Wish there were more footage of Williams working with Gloria rather than interview voiceovers, but there you go.

[WilliamsStarShip2282 327]

Is Conversations published yet?

 

I would have left this in an older thread, but I couldn't find it. Does anyone know anything about that? I know the Broughton and Davis pieces were released briefly if you emailed them, but all the other pieces in the collection never seemed to have been published, and Williams music is really kind of hit and miss, with the majority of the concert music never having been published at all.

[lairdo 945]

Update from Gloria Cheng's Kickstarter communications - she has been filmed playing the full Conversations piece and it is on YouTube! The description lists this as the occasion of the recording:

"Hear Now Celebrates The 10Th Annual Festival Festival Of New Music 

By Contemporary Los Angeles Composers"

 

 

From Gloria:

Quote   To all my Kickstarter backers from so long ago: Finally, a full performance of John Williams's CONVERSATIONS is online, along with an excerpt from his portion of our film.  Immense and ongoing thanks to you all for your support! https://www.youtube.com/watch… And don't forget to tell your friends that the movie, in which all of your names appear in the credits, is now on Amazon Prime.  Gloria    https://www.facebook.com/MontageFilmComposers

[artguy360 2,279]

On 08/12/2016 at 3:28 AM, Thor said:

Geezes, the search engine of this place is so dreadful. How come no relevant hits when searching for 'montage' or even 'gloria cheng'? I know there was a previous thread on this, so feel free to "merge", Jay.

 

In any case, the Montage discussion panel is now finally online for all to see! Check it out:

 

https://vimeo.com/190646677/524fb0af33

Sorry for this very old bump, but is this video of the panel discussion available anywhere else online? I can't find it and this Vimeo video is gone.

[Maurizio 6,915]

Curious this has been brought up now as it looks that Gloria Cheng's MONTAGE is being reissued digitally on August 8 by SuperTrain Records for its 10th anniversary with new bonus tracks including a live recording of Williams' Conversations:

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHWSCZXZ

[Miguel Andrade 1,735]

I assume the live recording is the premiere at Piano Spheres.

 

Gloria also perform Conversations on the Hear Now festival in 2022 and that one was recorded too:

 

[Jay 46,746]

5 hours ago, Maurizio said:

Curious this has been brought up now as it looks that Gloria Cheng's MONTAGE is being reissued digitally on August 8 by SuperTrain Records for its 10th anniversary with new bonus tracks including a live recording of Williams' Conversations:

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHWSCZXZ

 

Amazing discovery, how did you find this?

[Maurizio 6,915]

2 hours ago, Jay said:

 

Amazing discovery, how did you find this?

 

I spoke to Gloria recently and she told me about it. Then today I found the Amazon link active upon some research I was doing.

[Jay 46,746]

Great work!

 

I can't even believe that release is a decade old already.  Time really flies the older you get, eh?

[Maurizio 6,915]

4 minutes ago, Jay said:

Great work!

 

I can't even believe that release is a decade old already.  Time really flies the older you get, eh?

 

It does! 

[Ricard 2,714]

I just got the press release for this:

MONTAGE: Great Film Composers and the Piano
2025 Tenth Anniversary Edition
to go live in re-release on August, 8, 2025
Emmy-winning documentary film to be offered free going forward

Supertrain Records is proud to announce the release of MONTAGE: Great Film Composers and the Piano: Tenth Anniversary Edition, featuring pianist Gloria Cheng in music by John Williams, Randy Newman, Michael Giacchino, Don Davis, Bruce Broughton, and Alexandre Desplat.

 

The recording will go live on all digital platforms on Friday, August 8, 2025.

Joining the tenth anniversary celebration of the album release, Breakwater Studios will simultaneously offer its associated 2016 Emmy-winning documentary of the same title for free going forward.

 

About MONTAGE Cheng stated “All of these composers are so well known for writing film music, but I knew there was an inner-composer inside all of them that was just dying to write music for the sake of writing music. That’s what I was curious about: what’s inside of them.”

 

The original 2015 album (Harmonia Mundi USA) featured almost entirely world premieres, including, notably, the only major solo piano work by John Williams, Conversations. This anniversary release includes a bonus recent Live recording by Cheng. Williams commented, “I think Gloria in a way has broken the mold by inviting film composers to be exactly not that. I don’t think any colleagues of mine past or present has been invited into a project like this.”

 

The album transitions to Composition 430 by Michael Giacchino, a tender reflection on his own childhood, before turning to a live recording of Giacchino’s impassioned, 12- minute Sonata in Darkness, written for Cheng to perform on the end credits of the soundtrack to the 2022 film, The Batman. Cheng performed the concert premiere of the piece on Los Angeles’s Piano Spheres series in 2023. That live performance is newly featured on this tenth anniversary release.

 

Don Davis, composer of the original Matrix Trilogy, has a broad connection to the field of new concert music, having written an opera, numerous tone poems, orchestral pieces, and a large catalogue chamber music. Surface Tension, composed for the MONTAGE project, shows a mastery of the sonic possibilities of the piano. Included in this anniversary edition is a bonus live recording of Davis’s 1998 Pain for two pianos, performed by Cheng and Vicki Ray.

 

Reflecting on the particular challenge of stepping away from film and composing “pure music” (for lack of a better term), variously challenged all six composers on the album. The only piece not specifically composed for Cheng but offered to her for this project was “L’Etreinte” (“The Embrace,” from Trois Etudes), originally written for pianist Lang Lang. Desplat stated, “I’m not ready to write again for piano! It took me a lot of time to figure it out!”

 

Broughton expounded on that feeling. “If you’re writing a piece of piano music, you better have something to say because when you are writing for piano you don’t have a safety net.” Giacchino echoed, “You do worry about every single note.”

 

Randy Newman used the opportunity as a chance to reflect on the broad musical legacy of his fabled extended family in Family Album: Homage to Alfred, Emil, and Lionel Newman. But he also leaned into what a great pianist has to offer, saying at the time, “There’s a select group of pianists, who do something to a piano, that enables them to have careers as concert pianists. There aren’t many. She’ll understand where the music is.”

 

The ten-year anniversary of the original release of MONTAGE offers an opportunity to reflect on the contributions of these great composers to the realm of concert music. Williams concluded, “It’s an exciting project for us, for film composers, that a great artist would do this. It’s unique in that way and it makes me and the other gentlemen on this collection especially grateful to her.”

 

MONTAGE: Tenth Anniversary Edition and MONTAGE: Great Film Composers, the documentary film from Breakwater Studios, will be available on Friday, 8-8-2025, on digital platforms.

 

Contact: SupertrainRecords@gmail.com / press@breakwaterstudios.com

 

 

Track list from Apple Music:

 

01. Five Pieces for Piano I: Fast And Flowing – Composed by Bruce Broughton
02. Five Pieces for Piano I: Flowing – Composed by Bruce Broughton
03. Five Pieces for Piano I: E-Flat Five Ways – Composed by Bruce Broughton
04. Five Pieces for Piano I: Slow – Composed by Bruce Broughton
05. Five Pieces for Piano I: Restless; Tempestuous – Composed by Bruce Broughton
06. Composition 430 – Composed by Michael Giacchino
07. Surface Tension – Composed by Don Davis
08. L’Étreinte (The Embrace) From Trois Études – Composed by Alexandre Desplat
09. Conversations: I. Phineas And Mumbett – Composed by John Williams
10. Conversations: II. Claude And Monk – Composed by John Williams
11. Conversations: III. Chet And Miles – Composed by John Williams
12. Conversations: IV. Strays, Duke… And Blind Tom – Composed by John Williams
13. Family Album: Homage To Alfred, Emil And Lionel Newman: I. The Follies: Young And Beautiful – Composed by Randy Newman
14. Family Album: Homage To Alfred, Emil And Lionel Newman: II. Emil Teaches Sonja Henie How To Skate – Composed by Randy Newman
15. Family Album: Homage To Alfred, Emil And Lionel Newman: III. Carmen Miranda: “How Many Times Do I Have To Tell You I’M Not Mexican!” – Composed by Randy Newman
16. Family Album: Homage To Alfred, Emil And Lionel Newman: IV. Lionel Teaches Marilyn Monroe How To Sing – Composed by Randy Newman
17. Family Album: Homage To Alfred, Emil And Lionel Newman: V. Outdoors But Not The Red River Valley – Composed by Randy Newman
18. Pain: I. Inflamed (Live) – Composed by Don Davis (Gloria Cheng, Vicki Ray)
19. Pain: II. Chronic (Live) – Composed by Don Davis (Gloria Cheng, Vicki Ray)
20. Pain: III. Throbbing (Live) – Composed by Don Davis
21. Sonata in Darkness (Live) – Composed by Michael Giacchino
22. Conversations: I. Phineas And Mumbett (Live) – Composed by John Williams
23. Conversations: II. Claude And Monk (Live) – Composed by John Williams
24. Conversations: III. Chet And Miles (Live)- Composed by John Williams
25. Conversations: IV. Strays, Duke… And Blind Tom (Live) – Composed by John Williams

[mrbellamy 8,268]

11 hours ago, artguy360 said:

Sorry for this very old bump, but is this video of the panel discussion available anywhere else online? I can't find it and this Vimeo video is gone.

 

 

Not sure if it's against the rules to put in here, delete if not 

[Jay 46,746]

The problem isn't a copyright issue, its that you uploaded a video that's almost a gigabyte big onto our server.  We can't afford that (and I'm surprised the software let you).  So I'd upload it to vimeo or youtube or something similar, and then embed it into the post from there, so they host it!

[mrbellamy 8,268]

Alright hold on

[Muad'Dib 2,095]

I love that Newman moment when he talks about Lincoln, thank your for bringing it back!

[mrbellamy 8,268]

Anybody who hasn't heard that, do yourself a favor and watch from 19:00-20:12 

[Jesse 323]

5 hours ago, mrbellamy said:

 

 

Not sure if it's against the rules to put in here, delete if not 

Williams seems like he has something stuck in his teeth the whole time that just won't budge.

[Tom 6,979]

I have not given sufficient attention to this collection.  Hearing Williams say that this is the sort of thing he plays for himself basically to unwind really spoke to me.  Its like I am in his living room at 9:00pm listening. The pieces are quite profound, even if not my usual cup of tea.  Williams's music is the like a never-ending gift.  

[artguy360 2,279]

5 hours ago, mrbellamy said:

 

 

Not sure if it's against the rules to put in here, delete if not 

Thank you so much!!

[mrbellamy 8,268]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

I have not given sufficient attention to this collection.  Hearing Williams say that this is the sort of thing he plays for himself basically to unwind really spoke to me.  Its like I am in his living room at 9:00pm listening. The pieces are quite profound, even if not my usual cup of tea.  Williams's music is the like a never-ending gift.  

 

It's not an album I put on casually but ten years later still really sticks out as one of the coolest and most original concepts I've heard of lately as a film music fan. I just love the challenge and the sincere case for another side of their musicianship. Like getting a bunch of electric guitar gods to do an album of solo acoustic instrumentals, or frontmen to go a cappella. 

 

The fact that it came out February 2015 makes me wonder if she asked James Horner to participate. 

[pete 1,336]

Ten years? I've had this on my iPhone for ten years? No way! Well, I guess I should finally listen to it.

[ChipChune92 63]

I'm surprised the score was never released, especially with the JoannKane Library now. I know that some artists want exclusive rights, I'm sure ASM will hold onto all her works for as long as she can, but Gloria mentioned in the panel that should be like to hear others perform the pieces. Though Davis mentions in the panel that he got a royalty statement for four copies. I presume the four people are all from here, including me. 

[Marian Schedenig 11,848]

For some reason I never picked this up. I don't suppose a physical CD is likely for the re-release?

[JazzyNips 204]

I had no idea Giacchino wrote a Batman sonata for the credits. I guess I was ready to leave after three butt-numbing hours. 

[Jay 46,746]

Here it is:

 

 

[Ricard 2,714]

A 2021 performance of the piece is available at Gloria Cheng's newly launched YouTube channel:

 

 

Quote

 

John Williams, Conversations (2013) Gloria Cheng, piano

Hear Now Festival, Los Angeles, September 24, 2021

Introduction (excerpt from "MONTAGE: Great Film Composers and the Piano, courtesy of Breakwater Studios) 0:00

I. Phineas and Mumbette 4:25

II. Claude and Monk 9:27

III. Chet and Miles 15:06

IV. Strays, Duke… and Blind Tom 19:26

 

PROGRAM NOTE BY JOHN WILLIAMS:

I’d always wanted to write something for pianist Gloria Cheng. One year while at Tanglewood… and for no reason that I can explain… I began to think of what a conversation might be like between the great jazz pianist Phineas Newborn, Jr. and Elizabeth Freeman, known as Mumbett, a resident of western Massachusetts and a former slave who sued the state of Massachusetts in 1781 for her freedom and won. Two strong personalities, one pianistic and the other most surely vocal and hymnal… meet for a chat.

 

Next came Claude and Monk. Not the Claude you might think I mean, but Claude Thornhill… a seminal figure in jazz history principally remembered for his mentoring of Gil Evans. Thornhill understood the sea change in piano sonorities discovered by Debussy, and those equally radical ones invented by Thelonious Monk. It’s delicious to imagine an exchange between these two giants.

 

Chet Baker and Miles Davis possessed markedly opposing personalities, however they did have much in common. They both eschewed bravura and needless display, and always revealed their art with the barest minimum of fuss. They could be brief and often quiet, but their message was invariably brought forth with great force and power.

 

Finally, “Strays” (Billy Strayhorn), Duke (that one, of course…) and Blind Tom, another former slave and somewhat forgotten 19th Century figure in American pianistic history, here gather to unravel the secrets surrounding the birth of “stride”.

 

Don’t listen too intently to identify the voices named within. Theirs will remain inimitable and incomparable. However, that we might be permitted to overhear these luminaries chatting in some undiscovered time zone… unrestrained by such things as clefs and bar lines, is a notion that is indeed enticing.

 

 

[Miguel Andrade 1,735]

The HearNow Festival performance has been available online since back then. It was just on a longer video, I even posted a few days ago:

 

On 25/07/2025 at 11:04 AM, Miguel Andrade said:

I assume the live recording is the premiere at Piano Spheres.

 

Gloria also perform Conversations on the Hear Now festival in 2022 and that one was recorded too:

 

 

[artguy360 2,279]

5 hours ago, Ricard said:

A 2021 performance of the piece is available at Gloria Cheng's newly launched YouTube channel:

 

 

 

Wow, great to have this performance freely available. I've always been a fan of Conversations and the inspiration behind each piece.

[Quppa 733]

Up now (depending on one's time zone, I guess) on YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon, Qobuz, etc. I can't see it on Spotify for some reason.

 

Is it the 2021 HEAR NOW live performance of Conversations that's on the new album? EDIT: It is.

[Jay 46,746]

Yea I don't see it on Spotify either.  Weird.

[Ricard 2,714]

Gloria Cheng will perform the 4th movement from Conversations in a free concert in LA on August 24:

https://www.salastina.org/concerts/2025/6/19/happy-hour-no-131-gloria-cheng

[BB-8 6,415]

I keep reading "Free Gloria Cheng!".

[Bespin Copilot 10,896]