Thor 7,503 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I know he played piano on IMAGES, but I think that's the only one I know. I'm talking about original soundtracks here, not later re-recordings on compilations etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Didnt he do the piano parts on Schindlers List? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,313 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I've definitely heard that in the past. Not sure if true though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TownerFan 4,983 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Yes, he played piano in a few of his film scores, even though he never credited himself as soloist. He did the solos on the Schindler's List end credits, JFK, Sabrina and The Long Goodbye. He also recorded a piano reduction of the main theme on None But the Brave, even though the piece wasn't part of the film soundtrack (it's included on the FSM release, though). I seem to remember a Richard Dyer interview about Angela's Ashes where he said he played some parts in that one as well, but I need to check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,503 Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Thanks, Townerfan, this is all news to me (except IMAGES). I know he's done plenty of piano recordings of his own themes, but I was always unsure if he also did this during film recordings. There is a fantastic piano flourish in the "montage" cue from the ALCOA PREMIERE episode "Moment of Decision". I've always wondered if that is Williams himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,313 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 The common thread seems to be piano solos; the most notable omission is ET's End Credits, but that was likely recorded as one take with the entire orchestra. With general piano use in cues, he likely prefers being on the podium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TownerFan 4,983 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 2 hours ago, Thor said: Thanks, Townerfan, this is all news to me (except IMAGES). I know he's done plenty of piano recordings of his own themes, but I was always unsure if he also did this during film recordings. I found the quote of the Boston Globe article about Angela's Ashes: Quote The film opens with a solo piano line. On the album, Randy Kerber is credited for the playing, which is sensitive throughout, but some of the sensitivity comes from Williams. "I did some of the playing myself - that was my little effort for this thing. I started off the picture with the piano by itself, playing a single line - I thought the simplicity, the directness of the voice, would be useful and good." And here's the Schindler's List quote, again from a Richard Dyer interview from Boston Globe: Quote [The theme] is heard at infrequent intervals throughout the film, until near the end; the last time we hear it, it comes on the piano, which is played with great sensitivity by Williams himself, though the credits don't say so. About the solos in JFK and Sabrina, I seem to remember again quotes on some Boston Globe interviews, but I can't find them at the moment. It does make sense though, as I think Williams definitely has a recognizable playing style, imho (and this might me lead to believe he played also the solo at the end of Lincoln OST). Cerebral Cortex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Yes, I know the (CSO?) pianist is credited on Lincoln, but I've always thought the solo With Malice Towards None is him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post artguy360 1,843 Posted January 30, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted January 30, 2016 Wouldn't it be great if JW made and performed new piano arrangements of some of his classic themes on a "John Williams Plays John Williams" type album? I'd love to hear JW play Hedwig's Theme, Rey's Theme, The piano solo from Lincoln, some ET, Princess Leia's theme and more on solo piano. crumbs, DangerMotif and Once 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,355 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 That'd be wicked awesome, but he's too humble to ever do that Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Yeah, sadly he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hlao-roo 389 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 No, according to Filmtracks, John Williams's "ego has become too inflated --perhaps due to his enormous worldwide success." So it's a fact that he's not humble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Quote In a 1997 interview regarding the Academy Awards he claimed that he wasn't so much concerned with the many Oscars he's won as much as all those he's lost over the years to other composers. Show me this interview! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Didn't he perform on his album with Jessye Norman, in the song cycle written by him? On Sabrina I thought Mike Lang played. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,503 Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 2 hours ago, MSM said: Didn't he perform on his album with Jessye Norman, in the song cycle written by him? On Sabrina I thought Mike Lang played. Yes, he did play on the Jessye Norman album, but that's not where his song cycle "Seven for Luck" is (performed by Kathleen Battle, not Jessye Norman). That has never been recorded, unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 He also plays the piano on the To Kill a Mockingbird score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,355 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Thread title: "on his own scores" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 I understand that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,193 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Which is also why we haven't mentioned The Magnificent Seven... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,503 Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 1 hour ago, Marian Schedenig said: Which is also why we haven't mentioned The Magnificent Seven... Or, like, a couple of dozen others between the late 50s and mid 60s. So far from the thread, these seem to have Williams at the piano of his own score recordings: IMAGES SCHINDLER'S LIST JFK SABRINA THE LONG GOODBYE ANGELA'S ASHES I realize this information is terribly hard to come by in most cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,355 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 I like how you even arranged that list into non-chronological order Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Im almost sure he didn;t play on Sabrina, but i forgot the source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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