Williams composing for the Vienna Philharmonic

[Miguel Andrade 708]

In his conversation with Dudamel at KUSC, Williams just mentioned that he was asked to write a processional for the Vienna Philharmonic annual ball.

He also confirmed that the idea is to premiere the new Violin Concerto at Tanglewood, Summer 21, covid allowing.

[Fabulin 2119]

He also said that he has just finished working on the Violin Concerto!

[Tom 1347]

Cool.  I was hoping for such a confirmation.  And the processional--well that could be a dream come true.  He will dig down deep for that one.  

[Fabulin 2119]

What he is writing is supposed to succeed this 1924 piece by Richard Strauss.

 

[Tom 1347]

Well, that is quite an honor.  The traditionalist in me does not like to see such pieces with their own rich histories replaced (even if by Williams), but such is life. 

[Matthias 144]

8 hours ago, Tom said:

Well, that is quite an honor.  The traditionalist in me does not like to see such pieces with their own rich histories replaced (even if by Williams), but such is life. 

I doubt that the piece will permanently be replaced. The VPO is way too proud of its tradition for that to happen. But I think we may very well get to see JW conduct at the annual Vienna Philharmonic ball sometime. 😃 (don't know whether there will even be a ball in February of next year) 

[Montre 79]

I am so looking forward to new JW concert pieces. I’m especially excited about the new violin concerto.

[Edmilson 1165]

Great to see that he is still healthy, active and working!

[Tom 1347]

Crazy to think the Strauss piece was written less than 10 years before Williams was born.

[Marian Schedenig 2632]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

Crazy to think the Strauss piece was written less than 10 years before Williams was born.

 

Well, Strauss's Vier letzte Lieder were written just 11 years before Williams wrote Daddy-O.

[Tom 1347]

Williams life really does stretch back to a whole different era in music and history.  I just looked up who was president when he was born--Herbert Hoover, who in turn was born less than 10 years after Lincoln was assassinated.  Not sure why I find that noteworthy, but there you go.  

[tmarps 174]

We are often so much closer to our musical ancestors than we think..

[TownerFan 2690]

It's a wonderful closure of the circle, it makes such perfect sense.

[Fabulin 2119]

14 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

Well, Strauss's Vier letzte Lieder were written just 11 years before Williams wrote Daddy-O.

I've never thought I would see these two works in one sentence haha 

[Tom 1347]

Given that Williams loves writing for particular strengths of a given orchestra and acoustics of the hall, can you imagine the writing for the Vienna horns?  And the nature of the piece calls for it to begin with.  I am looking forward to the violin concerto, but this little piece excites me a bit more.  

[crumbs 7510]

On 7/3/2020 at 11:14 AM, Tom said:

Williams life really does stretch back to a whole different era in music and history.  I just looked up who was president when he was born--Herbert Hoover, who in turn was born less than 10 years after Lincoln was assassinated.  Not sure why I find that noteworthy, but there you go.  

 

And Williams was born less than 6 years after Lincoln's son Robert died, who was 22 when Lincoln was assassinated and was at his deathbed in the Petersen House.

 

Incidentally, Robert was an eyewitness to President Garfield's assassination in 1881, and just outside the building where President McKinley was assassinated in 1901.

[Holko 4446]

After that I assume he was banned from being near presidents.

[blondheim 53]

On 6/30/2020 at 9:17 PM, Fabulin said:

He also said that he has just finished working on the Violin Concerto!

 

This is amazing news! More concert works by Williams! More recordings of concert works by Williams!