crumbs 14,319 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Agreed, I've sometimes found his concert works a little too meandering for my tastes but this is concise and conjures terrific imagery (for me at least). Bravo, Mr. Williams! His writing really has never been as good as it is now. How lucky we are to enjoy it! Molly Weasley and SteveMc 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,378 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Am I the only one who was reminded of Bernard Herrmann at times? Bespin and Joni Wiljami 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aescalle 122 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Let's hope that Bespin made a recording with success! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TownerFan 4,984 Posted August 20, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2018 The language is very chromatic, there are shades of the Viennese School (Berg, Schoenberg) here and there, but something also made me think of Bernstein's Serenade for Violin. It's a fantastic piece that evokes lots of different atmospheres. Miguel Andrade, crumbs, Will and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holko 9,532 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 I like it. aescalle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lao Che 86 Posted August 20, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2018 Here's the audio only file of this really interesting piece. Enjoy! John_Williams_Highwoods_Ghost_An_Encounter_for_Cello_Harp_and_Orchestra_-_Premiere_Broadcast.mp3 Will, Ricard, SteveMc and 3 others 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 gather ye files while ye may Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,484 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 PM me for the Ghost. The full Broadcast file will follow shortly. Wa... this ghost, I never want to meet him in person! SteveMc and aescalle 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Falstaft 2,132 Posted August 20, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2018 It's an amazing stew of influences, for sure, yet 100% vintage Williams throughout. I get hints of Holst's "Venus, Bringer of Peace" from those slow pandiatonic wedges towards the end of the piece. 8 hours ago, TownerFan said: The language is very chromatic, there are shades of the Viennese School (Berg, Schoenberg) here and there, but something also made me think of Bernstein's Serenade for Violin. It's a fantastic piece that evokes lots of different atmospheres. _deleted_, The Five Tones, ChrisAfonso and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aescalle 122 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 42 minutes ago, Bespin said: PM me for the Ghost. The full Broadcast file will follow shortly. Wa... this ghost, I never want to meet him in person! Thank you Bespin "the Ghostbuster" !😜 Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,484 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 This morning I just to have to listen to the last part of the concert (the Bartok Concerto) to check if it's 100 % correct, because yesterday, I've slept on it... Listening classical pieces for the first time, it needs a lot of concentration... and yesterday I was very tired! EDIT: Okay the full broadcast is now ready. aescalle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post The Five Tones 302 Posted August 20, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2018 11 hours ago, Jay said: Am I the only one who was reminded of Bernard Herrmann at times? I hear BH in so much of what JW has done throughout most of his film writing to present, but in this case the influence seems more subtle to me. Maybe some gestures, if not the tonal language which is more in line with JW's own concert voice from the violin concerto onwards, and nicely varied at that here. But moods, the man has moods. Definitely communing with the netherworld (or one who has returned from it, etc...) My favourite Williams type of sound is his "chord of unrest" - a tonic major chord with added dissonances or polychordal in nature (e.g. endings of Miracle of the Ark, Qui-Gon's Funeral, The Mecha World, The Call motif from E.T., TreeSong, etc.) I wish filmmakers would produce fictional films with JW's existing concert works as the score, a la 2001 - watch this happen after he passes. His writing is so different when he doesn't have to match beats or fit a specific, detailed narrative. And when he lets loose there is an intensity (not necessarily orchestral volume) you don't hear in his film work. SteveMc, _deleted_ and Will 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Five Tones 302 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 3 hours ago, Falstaft said: I get hints of Holst's "Venus, Bringer of Love" from those slow pandiatonic wedges towards the end of the piece. I hear that too. I like the contrast of the parallel fifths (and the modal power chord motif earlier on) with the chromatic material. There is perhaps something Herrmannesque in the persistence of that slowly converging, contrary-motion figure - like BH's sequences that don't quit. _deleted_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyD 1,223 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 18 hours ago, Jay said: Am I the only one who was reminded of Bernard Herrmann at times? Is it possible that Bernard Hermann is the ghost referred to in the piece? Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Hmmm, I'm not aware of any connection between Tanglewood and Herrmann. Someone more knowledgeable than myself should weigh in though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 27 minutes ago, JohnnyD said: Is it possible that Bernard Hermann is the ghost referred to in the piece? Hmmm.... (This is gonna become like SW fan theories hehe) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyD 1,223 Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 It was just a guess, honestly. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,484 Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 It’s Serge or Aaron. _deleted_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,529 Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Thanks for the upload, Lao Che. It's an intriguing piece. Few of JW's almost aleatoric concert pieces in recent years have done much for me, but this is at the very least more exploratory with a consonant tone buried deep down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lao Che 86 Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 4 hours ago, Thor said: Thanks for the upload, Lao Che. It's an intriguing piece. Few of JW's almost aleatoric concert pieces in recent years have done much for me, but this is at the very least more exploratory with a consonant tone buried deep down. You're welcome. Yes, this piece is really an achievement starting with the solo instrumentation choice, which should not at all come as a surprise since JW has been so drawn to the harp in recent years - his "La Jolla" Quartet, Markings for Violin and Harp (very beautiful IMHO as a violinist) and of course his Harp Concerto "On Willows and Birches". SteveMc and Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 6 hours ago, Lao Che said: You're welcome. Yes, this piece is really an achievement starting with the solo instrumentation choice, which should not at all come as a surprise since JW has been so drawn to the harp in recent years - his "La Jolla" Quartet, Markings for Violin and Harp (very beautiful IMHO as a violinist) and of course his Harp Concerto "On Willows and Birches". Huh, didn't even know that existed! Just pulled up a YouTube video - time to check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I know he's got cool uses of harps all over his scores over the decades, but for some reason my mind always goes first to the opening of Jaws 2 when I think of examples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toothless 964 Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I listened to it, but I won't listen to it that often. Sometimes, I wish I was more into classical music, but I'm not. After all this year being a film music fan and specifically a john williams fan, I still struggle to listen to more classical if not contemporary music. Oh well, to each his own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post aescalle 122 Posted August 21, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 21, 2018 Hello everyone, I wanted to show you and share the covers I made: For "A Premiere with Yo-Yo Ma" complete concert: For "Highwood's Ghost" only: Hope you will enjoy it Best From France Falstaft, Lao Che, Will and 9 others 9 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post karelm 2,915 Posted August 21, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 21, 2018 5 hours ago, toothless said: I listened to it, but I won't listen to it that often. Sometimes, I wish I was more into classical music, but I'm not. After all this year being a film music fan and specifically a john williams fan, I still struggle to listen to more classical if not contemporary music. Oh well, to each his own I came to film music from classical so the opposite of you. What is your take on the Japanese composer, Takemitsu or Philip Glass? These are composers whose film and concert music are indistinguishable but this does mean their film music tends to be more abstract. For example, Takemitsu's soundtrack to RAN is so beautiful and mystical. It does take place in Imperial Japan so expect lots of traditional Japanese elements but this fully stands on its own as wonderful music and I have heard it several times in concert halls where the audience was mesmerized. Similarly, Philip Glass's Mishima is one of my favorite String Quartets and is music from a film produced by George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola. This Kronos CD of Philip Glass' quartets is one of my favorite CD's because of the perfect listening experience (structure)...listening to the five quartets in this order feels like one massive work that develops as it moves on each note to the next over the course of the entire album. I LOVE this CD. I am curious what are your thoughts on these "film scores" that are concert works. There might not be a tune...it is more like a meditation on a philosophical concept or time, place, or character for example. You might simply dislike abstract music. In a composer like JW, there is a large range between his famous film music and his concert music. In composers like Takemitsu or Glass, not so much. I also believe part of this comes to learning why something is great. I hope that isn't condescending because I don't mean it to be but it is sort of like tasting a very expensive wine, not everyone intuitively understands the qualities that define greatness in wine. I tend to prefer subtext to text. It is less "on the nose" but closer to the true meaning of a thought, idea, or feeling. Perfect example, Saving Private Ryan does not score battles. It doesn't score what is happening. It scores moods, thoughts. I love that score. I've mentioned this scene as one of the most sublime and beautiful examples of subtext in film scoring: This scene is just one of the best Spielberg has ever shot (shout out to the exceptional cinematography from Allen Daviau who also did E.T.). The context is of course a boy in a prisoner camp who is separated from his family. He has a life long obsession with flight. The film never states this but shows it throughout. Here in the midst of the labor camp he approaches the Japanese zeros as the pilots prepare for a likely doomed mission (which the film never states but we know through the lens of history). The sound design fades out and we hear no sound of troops, construction, etc., we just hear what the boy thinks. Beauty, majesty, and joy of flight. The soldier takes aim at him and rather than scoring the scene (danger music), since the boy is oblivious to the soldier yelling and pointing a gun, we don't hear any of this. At 0:58, the soldier sees the pilots which he too regards as on a different level of heroics. They stand with the rising sun (symbol of Japan military) behind them as the pilots and boy salute each other because they share the divine aviators spirit. The soldiers salute the prisoner. JW is brilliant at subtext. I read Michael Collins (Apollo 11 first trip to the moon) book where he mentions his experience meeting the Soviet cosmonauts in 1968. They were supposed to hate each other but they bonded on a unique aviator/explorer level at a subtextual level and shared their distaste of the situation that put them at odds. When listening to JW's concert music think of subtext. Though Empire of the Sun has bold and beautiful melodies, unlike Glass and Takemitsu, there is a wide range between JW's film music which is mostly hyper realism and his concert music which is more subtext and abstract. When listening to classical music, focus on the subtext not the text. Sort of like when tasting a great meal, don't focus on the primary tastes (sweetness, garlic, butter, etc.) but focus on the complexity and balance which makes it great (that the sweetness blends so perfectly with the tartness,etc., that each flavor is in balance rather than over done). Hearing concert music is based on hearing subtext. Will, Locrius, Bryant Burnette and 6 others 6 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Wow I've seen that EOTS scene several times before but chills washed over me watching it just now. 😍 Locrius and karelm 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karelm 2,915 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 3 minutes ago, Will said: Wow I've seen that EOTS scene several times before but chills washed over me watching it just now. 😍 I tear up in this film. It is just so beautiful and subtle. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Yep, probably my favorite Spielberg (probably just edging out A.I.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,631 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 I like it ,somewhat Doesn't do the same thing for me as a new film music concert version like Rebellion of Reborn or Adventures of Han though, or the new Han Solo and the Princess Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 The thing that always bugs me about JW's concert works is that they don't really climax near the end (with a few terrific exceptions, like Tributes, Soundings, Just Down West Street, etc.). The most celebratory parts usually seem to be in the middle (and sometimes, as here, they're pretty short). I still love many of his concert works, including this newest one. But I'm not really accustomed to the style of "proper" classical music so it's a bit of a shock to the system not to get a rousing finale. So I can understand why some film music fans find it hard to truly enjoy his concert pieces (and, indeed, much "classical" music in general). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ricard 2,245 Posted August 22, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 22, 2018 Just a reminder that the piece will be conducted this Saturday by JW himself at the Bernstein Centennial Celebration concert. On Friday at 10AM, the BSO and Andris Nelsons will present a Facebook Live performance from Tanglewood, wishing Leonard Bernstein a happy 100th birthday with his daughter, Jamie Bernstein, and performing the overture to Candide in celebration of the occasion. The live stream will promote the August 25 Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood performance featuring John Williams. Bespin, Will, _deleted_ and 1 other 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Will the Saturday concert be broadcast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ricard 2,245 Posted August 22, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 22, 2018 3 hours ago, Disco Stu said: Will the Saturday concert be broadcast? The concert will be recorded for an exclusive U.S. broadcast premiere December 28 at 9 p.m. on PBS. It will also be distributed to major broadcasters throughout Europe and Asia. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/PBS-Will-Broadcast-Tanglewoods-Bernstein-Centennial-Audra-McDonald-Jessica-Vosk-and-More-to-Perform-20180724 Jurassic Shark, SteveMc, Disco Stu and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 December?! That's ages away! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Woah! Video! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,484 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 A Facebook live, so the image will be vertically flipped... and the video will be often cut. aescalle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Regarding the program for Saturday's concert. I love that they are including a Copland selection but I think it would be much more appropriate to have that selection be the final movement from his 3rd symphony, not the finale from Appalachian Spring. Bernstein rather famously had a major influence on that symphony and especially that movement (getting Copland to make cuts and adjust the orchestration). SteveMc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_deleted_ 203 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Yeah it would be interesting to hear that movement from his Third Symphony👍 👻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,094 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 It's a great symphony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 14 hours ago, Will said: The thing that always bugs me about JW's concert works is that they don't really climax near the end (with a few terrific exceptions, like Tributes, Soundings, Just Down West Street, etc.). The most celebratory parts usually seem to be in the middle (and sometimes, as here, they're pretty short). I still love many of his concert works, including this newest one. But I'm not really accustomed to the style of "proper" classical music so it's a bit of a shock to the system not to get a rousing finale. So I can understand why some film music fans find it hard to truly enjoy his concert pieces (and, indeed, much "classical" music in general). Well, many if not most traditional classical pieces do have a distinct rousing "finale" portion that occurs near the end or a movement or piece. Film music takes its cue from this. In his concert works, Williams takes a more unusual approach, preferring to emphasize the reflective, introspective, component of the musical material. 3 hours ago, Ricard said: The concert will be recorded for an exclusive U.S. broadcast premiere December 28 at 9 p.m. on PBS. It will also be distributed to major broadcasters throughout Europe and Asia. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/PBS-Will-Broadcast-Tanglewoods-Bernstein-Centennial-Audra-McDonald-Jessica-Vosk-and-More-to-Perform-20180724 Adding this to my calendar! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyD 1,223 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 4 hours ago, Ricard said: The concert will be recorded for an exclusive U.S. broadcast premiere December 28 at 9 p.m. on PBS. It will also be distributed to major broadcasters throughout Europe and Asia. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/PBS-Will-Broadcast-Tanglewoods-Bernstein-Centennial-Audra-McDonald-Jessica-Vosk-and-More-to-Perform-20180724 I will definitely mark the date and time for the concert broadcast. A must-see event for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 This piece any good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 1 minute ago, TGP said: This piece any good? I think so. Give it a listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Got too film scorey and episodic in the middle for me but I like the whispy Takemitsu vibe elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Yes, great middle section. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 1 hour ago, TGP said: too film scorey An interesting adjective from you, but I trust you have a good reason for it. What do you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Just that it seems to move more into the realm of painting some external dramatic picture than maintaining an independent musical architecture. Obviously that's some people's cup of tea but it loses my interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,484 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 That's a complicated ghost, that's not like a "Casper" one, for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 It does certainly lose direction in the middle but that's still my favorite part. I've always cared more about individual moments than overall structure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 The middle section’s great. And I love the last few minutes. It feels too meandering otherwise on repeated listens. I like it less now than on first listen, I’m sad to say. Maybe I’ll come back around Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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