Andre Previn Interviews John Williams (1988)

[SteveMc 2,675]

I'm sure some of y'all have seen this before, but here's John being interviewed by the late Andre Previn in 1988.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj4sRhY-feY

 

 

[MikeH 769]

Excellent! Thank you! It’s wonderful the way he pushes him into some really insightful answers. 

 

Oh, and 6:45’s gonna make a great gif. 

[Naïve Old Fart 10,316]

These are the kind of intelligent, and insightful interviews that I like, and not  the fawning, ignorant "morning TV" gobshite, that tries to pass for journalism.

It's always great to see Andrew Preview.

[Tydirium 1,254]

1 hour ago, MikeH said:

Oh, and 6:45’s gonna make a great gif. 

 

Can someone more skilled than me please make this?

[Jurassic Shark 12,902]

Can someone please detail the education of JW?

[Dixon Hill 4,236]

They are fun together, Previn clearly loves John in his gruff way and it's amusing to see him frustrated by Williams' extreme humility about his gifts.

[Sunshine Reger 3,583]

5 hours ago, SteveMc said:

I'm sure some of y'all have seen this before, but here's John being interviewed by the late Andre Previn in 1988.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj4sRhY-feY

 

 

Great, @SteveMc! Now get us the one with Previn, Williams, and Rózsa  

 

Btw. what Williams says about the structure of a Boston Pops concert:

That it's divided into:

Overture

Suite

Concerto

Intermission

Overture

further pieces ("business")

second intermission

further pieces

 

Sounds like the structure of the Vienna concert!

[Thor 8,203]

This is a classic interview. It was transferred to a digital format already in the 90s, as I have it on a CD-R from that time that also includes many other old Williams interviews and appearances. Of course, these days, most of this material is to be found on Youtube, including his "Personal Notes" interview, so really no need for those old discs anymore. It was fun back then because of the exclusivity ("I've got something that you don't"), but now this exclusivity is shrinking more and more.

[WilliamsStarShip2282 318]

This is the best

[MikeH 769]

1 hour ago, Thor said:

This is a classic interview. It was transferred to a digital format already in the 90s, as I have it on a CD-R from that time that also includes many other old Williams interviews and appearances. Of course, these days, most of this material is to be found on Youtube, including his "Personal Notes" interview, so really no need for those old discs anymore. It was fun back then because of the exclusivity ("I've got something that you don't"), but now this exclusivity is shrinking more and more.

Eh, still keep ‘em Thor! I’ve seen these sorts of things on YouTube for years and then one day they up and disappear. 

[Disco Stu 15,501]

Important reference materials like that should not be hoarded and traded for favors anyway, but shared with the world as far and wide as possible.  To delight in hoarding knowledge as "exclusive"  and "fun" is contemptible.

[Biodome 714]

Thanks for showing this interview! I also love the fact that it's not some surface-level Hollywoodian/Red carpet/Gala type of interview with template answers, but one with questions that are actually challenging and require honest introspection. One learns much more that way!

[bollemanneke 3,570]

JW sounds so different here!

[Disco Stu 15,501]

Just finished the interview, it's really great.  Because of their personal history, Previn feels freer to really push Williams, to try and break through the shield of modesty, so he gets more novel reactions/answers than most interviewers.

[Henry Sítrónu 525]

14 hours ago, MikeH said:

Oh, and 6:45’s gonna make a great gif. 

 

I'd say 35:21 – 35:23 

[MikeH 769]

12 minutes ago, lemoncurd said:

 

I'd say 35:21 – 35:23 

A classic!

 

Flashdance should always be his encore!

[Thor 8,203]

3 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

Important reference materials like that should not be hoarded and traded for favors anyway, but shared with the world as far and wide as possible.  To delight in hoarding knowledge as "exclusive"  and "fun" is contemptible.

 

That's rather over-dramatic, I think. Everyone loves to own rare and exclusive 'collector's items' that others don't, so it's a perfectly normal feeling. That being said, I do agree with you that it's nice to have this stuff out there for others to see.

[MikeH 769]

16 minutes ago, Thor said:

 

That's rather over-dramatic, I think. Everyone loves to own rare and exclusive 'collector's items' that others don't, so it's a perfectly normal feeling. That being said, I do agree with you that it's nice to have this stuff out there for others to see.

There’s a Masterclass episode that I’d love to get my hands on that aired in 1998 (on ITV) featuring John Barry coaching a young film scoring student. I’m still surprised it hasn’t ended up on YouTube. The rights holder said it can never be aired again or uploaded online because the license was locked to one broadcast only. Apparently there’s one Barry fan who has it but they’re a bit of a recluse and have no interest in uploading it. Shame, really.  This stuff really does deserve to be out there. 
 

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/17283431.the-day-i-met-bond-composer-john-barry/

[Nick Parker 3,045]

9 minutes ago, Thor said:

 

That's rather over-dramatic, I think. Everyone loves to own rare and exclusive 'collector's items' that others don't, so it's a perfectly normal feeling. That being said, I do agree with you that it's nice to have this stuff out there for others to see.

 

At what point does that "normal feeling" just cross a line into selfish, dickish gloating, though? That's where people take issue with it. Like is that feeling just so satisfactory that you just _can't_ let something as precious as a videotaped interview from the 80's between two musicians possibly trickle into the unworthy masses of fellow fans? Is that feeling the justification for hoarding that?

 

I'm using that example to make a general point.

[Thor 8,203]

6 minutes ago, Nick Parker said:

At what point does that "normal feeling" just cross a line into selfish, dickish gloating, though? That's where people take issue with it. Like is that feeling just so satisfactory that you just _can't_ let something as precious as a videotaped interview from the 80's between two musicians possibly trickle into the unworthy masses of fellow fans? Is that feeling the justification for hoarding that?

 

This interview in question isn't that important. I don't mind it being out there. But I'm talking more generally. People buy rare films and artwork and music and footage for their exclusivity, and that's perfectly fine -- even if it can be frustrating for others who then don't gain access (for example, it's very frustrating to me that Williams doesn't want his STORY OF A WOMAN score out there). Of course there are some things that "belong in a museum", to quote Indy, where it can be enjoyed by the public rather than some rich guy's house, but the feeling of having something that others don't, whether it's a piece of knowledge or a physical item, is a perfectly normal and undramatic sensation.

 

Back in the 90s and early 2000s, before the advent of Youtube, I loved having these tidbits that only I and a few others shared. That they're now out there, is fine. Then I can gloat about having had them for decades instead.

[Henry Sítrónu 525]

[Sunshine Reger 3,583]

.

 

[Henry Sítrónu 525]

6 minutes ago, First TROS March Accolyte said:

As far as symphonic pop / rock adaptations go, you've got admit this one is quite good!

 

I used to play in a brass orchestra and besides Prussian and German marches we did arrangements of ABBA songs. Compared to that, the Flashdance piece is neat, indeed.  

[Nick Parker 3,045]

3 hours ago, Thor said:

 

This interview in question isn't that important. I don't mind it being out there. But I'm talking more generally. People buy rare films and artwork and music and footage for their exclusivity, and that's perfectly fine -- even if it can be frustrating for others who then don't gain access (for example, it's very frustrating to me that Williams doesn't want his STORY OF A WOMAN score out there). Of course there are some things that "belong in a museum", to quote Indy, where it can be enjoyed by the public rather than some rich guy's house, but the feeling of having something that others don't, whether it's a piece of knowledge or a physical item, is a perfectly normal and undramatic sensation.

 

Back in the 90s and early 2000s, before the advent of Youtube, I loved having these tidbits that only I and a few others shared. That they're now out there, is fine. Then I can gloat about having had them for decades instead.

 

I've heard Williams gloats about having Story of a Woman to himself all the time at galas!

[SteveMc 2,675]

3 minutes ago, Nick Parker said:

 

I've heard Williams gloats about having Story of a Woman to himself all the time at galas!

 

[Omen II 1,251]

6 hours ago, Nick Parker said:

 

I've heard Williams gloats about having Story of a Woman to himself all the time at galas!

 

“Now there’s a Woman I can say no to!”

 

[artguy360 1,889]

Sweet interview. I like how Previn pushed Williams out of his humble zone.

[Thor 8,203]

9 hours ago, Nick Parker said:

 

I've heard Williams gloats about having Story of a Woman to himself all the time at galas!

 

He, he. Someone should make a picture of Williams' head on Gollum's body, with the STORY manuscript in his hands, saying "My Precious!".