New book on John Williams coming in April 2018

[TownerFan 4,983]

A new book curated by Emilio Audissino (author of John Williams's Film Music) will be published by Brepols in 2018. The book is in English language. Here's the cover and the press release:

 

 

http://www.luigiboccherini.org/cc.html

 

Quote

 

CONTEMPORARY COMPOSERS

Brepols Publishers

 

GENERAL EDITORS 
Massimiliano Sala and Massimiliano Locanto 

 

The Contemporary Composers Series focuses both on living composers and those who left their mark on the 20th century, leaving a significant legacy to the history of contemporary music. By studying their lives, their writings, and their musical output as well as its reception, the series aims to extend the scope of research with the express purpose of investigating not only the so-called contemporary “classical" composers, but also those who worked in the emerging musical genres of the 20th and 21th century: Jazz, Film Music, Popular Music, etc. The series will encompass monographs and miscellaneous volumes on select individuals, with a particular focus on their relationships to the environment in which they lived and worked.

 

Vol. 1 - John Williams. Music for Films, Television, and the Concert Stage, edited by Emilio Audissino, Turnhout, Brepols, 2018 (Contemporary Composers, 1), forthcoming.

 

Once mostly considered a commercial composer and a mere rewriter of previous composers’ styles, only recently – and quite belatedly – Williams’ music has begun to be taken seriously, and scholars from the music and the film departments have begun to produce research in the form of books, journal articles, conference papers, and Ph.D. theses. Once dismissed as a 'plagiarist', Williams is now seen and lauded as an acute 'paraphraser', to cite a recent paper by James Orosz. Even if some foundations have indeed been laid, much work is still to be done. This is the moment to consolidate what can be called the 'John Williams Studies'. The present volume seeks to build upon, complement and review what has been written so far on Williams. The volume is edited by Emilio Audissino, author of John Williams’s Film Music. Jaws, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the Return of the Classical Hollywood Music Style (University of Wisconsin Press, 2014, http://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/5229.htm), the first book in English on John Williams. This previous monograph – mainly as a work of film historiography – aimed at tracing the film career of John Williams in connection with the legacy of the 1930s and 1940s composers of the Hollywood Golden Age. This edited collection is designed as a larger exploration of the many sides of Williams's output, aimed at showing the range of his production (not merely focussing on film music) and at analysing the depth of his dramaturgic and compositional skills with selected case studies. To accomplish this exploration – which has not the pretence of exhaustiveness but certainly that of being an accurate survey possessing both latitude and depth – a large team of international scholars has been assembled from all around the world. The contributors come from film, media and music departments – to provide a variety of disciplinary perspectives on Williams's work. There are chapters that zoom in on single streaks of his production – the musicals, the music for television, jazz, the concert music... – and other that focus on case studies that not only include the most celebrated films – Star Wars, E.T. The Extraterrestrial, Harry Potter... – but also understudied film scores like Munich, A.I. Artifical Intelligence, Angela's Ashes, War of the Worlds. Some of these chapters stems from a musico-formalist approach (the detailed analysis of the Violin Concerto, that of the leitmotiv network in the Star Wars films...), others adopts wider and less text-centred views, based on the dramaturgic coupling of images and music (the chapter on A.I.),on the narrative functions of the music (the villain themes in Williams's scores), on the psychology of musical perception (the Munich chapter), or on media/seriality studies (film music as a brand). A chapter also explores the presence of Williams's film music in the concert programmes. To complement this selection of twenty-one essays from academics and scholars/composers, an appendix closes the book with two original interviews. Here the focus is on the performer's viewpoint: how is it to play John Williams's music? The first interview is with the music director and principal conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra Keith Lockhart, who succeeded to John Williams as the leader of this famed musical institution. The second interview is with the concert pianist Simone Pedroni – a recipient of the prestigious Van Cliburn Gold Medal – who has always played Williams's music in his concert programmes alongside that of the canonical composers, and has recently released a CD of piano transcriptions of Williams's film music.

 

 

[Thor 7,462]

Nice to see another book; and relieved that it's not the biography/overview-type book (for a broader audience) that I -- still -- have planned.

 

(incidentally, I still haven't bought any of these John Williams books).

[crumbs 14,296]

Looks fantastic, will keep my eye on the release as it gets closer.

 

On books, I wonder if Doug Adams would consider writing a book on the entire Star Wars series, once John (hopefully) finishes Episode IX in 2019?

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Oh cool!  Luckily I work for a university so I'll be able to snag it through interlibrary loan or convince the library to buy a copy.

 

I like this in the description

Quote

only recently – and quite belatedly – Williams’ music has begun to be taken seriously, and scholars from the music and the film departments have begun to produce research in the form of books

 

I think this is natural as people who were younger/not even born yet when Williams greatest music was coming out rise to leadership positions in academia.  The snobs of yore who dismissed him are retired or dead.

[Bespin 8,475]

If this Emilio wants a discography in his book... he just have to ask me 

 

But by judging by the title, the author will probably obscure the debuts of John Williams as a pianist recording artist.

 

That's a choice.

 

A proficilic composer like John Williams don't start or come from scratch lis this, poufff, magic. The debuts are importants, they explain a lot. Anyway, that's my mission here, one day I will suceed to show that the carreer of John Williams don't resume to his filmography. 

[Incanus 5,713]

Great news! Looking forward to this as I am of all the John Williams "studies"! Hopefully one of many to come in the future!

[Thor 7,462]

34 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

I think this is natural as people who were younger/not even born yet when Williams greatest music was coming out rise to leadership positions in academia.  The snobs of yore who dismissed him are retired or dead.

 

Well, to be fair, Williams has made frequent appearances in academic film music literature over the years (at least since the 70s), but it's also true that these analyses are more prolific now than they used to be. Most, if not ALL of the books that have been released on Williams (including this) thus far have been book versions of theses in some form or fashion.

[Ludwig 1,120]

This is a collection of essays by nearly 20 authors, myself included. It covers a wide range of topics on Williams and I think for that reason will have a pretty broad appeal. I worked for nearly a year researching for my chapter because I studied the structure of his main themes and their associations, which of course required me to actually watch all of his movies that have an original main theme. Many thanks to Emilio for putting this all together and spearheading a much needed body of writings that focuses squarely on Williams' music.

[Bespin 8,475]

Why study the music, when you just have to listen to it?  You want to teach someone how to write like John Williams?

 

Can we leave a little "magic" in the making of music?

 

Why always the need to analyze. 

[TownerFan 4,983]

Nobody is forcing you to read it, of course. And the aim of the book doesn't seem to be "let's teach you to write like John Williams", but instead to contribute to the serious critical study of Williams' music.

 

Music, like any forms of human art, can be studied, analysed, dissected and interpreted in many ways. And this doesn't mean to reveal the tricks of any "magic". It's simply the very human desire to deepen our own knowledge and perhaps helping ourselves to find new and stimulating ways to how we see and hear an object of art.

[Incanus 5,713]

1 hour ago, Bespin said:

Why study the music, when you just have to listen to it?  You want to teach someone how to write like John Williams?

 

Can we leave a little "magic" in the making of music?

 

Why always the need to analyze. 

You are in a contrarian mood today Bespin my friend.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

"Today"?

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I don't think of him as a contrarian so much as a... "special snowflake"

[Joni Wiljami 1,206]

35 minutes ago, BloodBoal said:

"Today"?

 

Indeed

[Incanus 5,713]

Well I think I have a special Bespin filter installed as I usually don't pay attention to those posts. I guess I should get this filter fixed!  

[Bespin 8,475]

The truth is that I would never buy such a book, because I would understand nothing. That's plain truth. I read music, but that's it. I once play clarinet... a long time ago.. in a ....  

 

Well the important thing is to be passionate!

[Thor 7,462]

If it's a purely musicological book, I would be pretty lost too. But I really appreciate the effort. Kinda offended that I wasn't asked to contribute, as I'm both an academic and a John Williams "expert" -- and have already written a long analysis of E.T.'s music in my thesis. But again, it's more from the angle of film analysis than music analysis.

 

I would certainly like to read it at some point. I think it might be the most promising book on Williams yet.

[Incanus 5,713]

From what I can gather from the publicity material the book contains a variety of approaches, not all of them musical theory studies so I think there will be something for everyone.

 

Btw Audissino's book is also highly readable and doesn't go into musical theory in a way that would make it unreadable to us who are not musically literate. 

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

Inky's right, Emilio's previous book is a good read. 

The book says "edited by", so...who are the contributors?

 

 

3 hours ago, Bespin said:

Why study the music, when you just have to listen to it?  You want to teach someone how to write like John Williams?

 

Can we leave a little "magic" in the making of music?

 

Why always the need to analyze. 

 

I take your point, Bes, but what we perceive as "magic", is, actually, borne out of very, very hard work. We sometimes forget that composing music is JW's job.

The "magic" lies in the connection between us, and what we listen to.

For example; just because I know how the sfx in ROTJ are accomplished (paintings on glass/miniatures/motion control, etc.) doesn't make me appreciate the finished product any less.

Like most JWfaners, I'm not a musician, nor a musicologist. I'm just a fan who wants to understand how JW achieves what he achieves. If this book (and others like it) can help me do that, then I think that that's no bad thing.

[Bespin 8,475]

Incanus understood me today in an earlier post. There's no more to say, I'm exposed!

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

Don't be so hard on yourself, Bes (there are plenty of people out there who'd be happy to do that!).

The distance between unenlightened, and educated, is shorter than you think...

[Bespin 8,475]

I'm wondering "Have we reached peak of Bespin"?, Maybe we should start a thread about this, what do you think @Richard?  

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Bespin 8,475]

Where's that Han Solo gif... I know :-)

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I have to admit I'm a little put off by all the warts, but I do still like you.

[Bespin 8,475]

I figured that "warts" have more than one meaning in english, because I don't have warts!

 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Bespin, we can see the warts.  They're disgusting.

[Bespin 8,475]

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Sigh.

 

http://lmgtfy.com/?q="warts+and+all"

[Bespin 8,475]

To comeback on the subject, can someowne maybe someone here, can write a dull book about the dull life of John Williams.  A true biography, starting from the beginnings (his parents bla bla bla), is first job, his first loves, just things like this? The BPO, the success, the family, his relations with film directors.

 

I mean A real book for real people? And a real discography at the end (mine of course in text format)  

[BloodBoal 7,538]

2 minutes ago, Bespin said:

To comeback on the subject, can someowne maybe someone here, can write a dull book about the dull life of John Williams.  A true biography, starting from the beginnings (his parents bla bla bla), is first job, his first loves, just things like this? The BPO, the success, the family.

 

23 hours ago, Thor said:

Nice to see another book; and relieved that it's not the biography/overview-type book (for a broader audience) that I -- still -- have planned.

[Bespin 8,475]

4 minutes ago, BloodBoal said:

 

 

Let's make things clear, I will never read a book wrote by Thor. He's a frustrated football player, we need a true author for that book! 

[Thor 7,462]

LOL! Never underestimate "frustrated football players"!

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

46 minutes ago, Bespin said:

I'm wondering "Have we reached peak of Bespin"?, Maybe we should start a thread about this, what do you think @Richard?  

Check out "other topics" 

 

 

 

14 minutes ago, Bespin said:

 A true biography, starting from the beginnings (his parents bla bla bla)

His father was a man, and his mother was a woman. More than that, I cannot say.

 

 

 

18 minutes ago, Bespin said:

I figured that "warts" have more than one meaning in english, because I don't have warts!

 

To like someone, warts 'n' all means to accept their bad, as well as their good, points.

[TownerFan 4,983]

FYI, the publisher updated the press release with a release date aimed at April 2018.

[eaudissino 13]

Hello everyone,

 

for those interested, attached are the Table of Contents and Abstracts.

TOC.pdf

Abstracts and Contributors.pdf

[Ludwig 1,120]

1 hour ago, eaudissino said:

Hello everyone,

 

for those interested, attached are the Table of Contents and Abstracts.

TOC.pdf

Abstracts and Contributors.pdf

 

Thanks, Emilio. Really looking forward to reading everyone's contribution to this very important book.

 

Here's what Conrad Pope has to say about it on Facebook:

Quote

Wonderful, Emilio! God bless you and all the authors for forming the vanguard in establishing a beachhead for confirming John Williams' position in the pantheon of composers who have influenced not only individual lives but who have shaped the course and helped define the course of our cultural history. Tutti Bravi! Academics take notice! Fans rejoice!

 

[pete 903]

Will there be a Kindle/ebook edition? 

[eaudissino 13]

50 minutes ago, pete said:

Will there be a Kindle/ebook edition? 

I'm afraid not, for the time being. The publisher has only released the hardcopy. Sorry.

[bollemanneke 3,337]

Can't wait to read this.

[pete 903]

19 minutes ago, eaudissino said:

I'm afraid not, for the time being. The publisher has only released the hardcopy. Sorry.

 

Thanks for your reply. I enjoyed your last book.. MMmm Might have to buy a real book for the first time since that The Music of The Lord of the Rings!