Alberto Iglesias on John Williams (and Ennio Morricone)

[Lewya 360]

Alberto Iglesias penned an article writing about John Williams and Ennio Morricone (that Spanish award): https://www.abc.es/cultura/musica/abci-alberto-iglesias-genios-no-parecen-nada-202006060134_noticia.html

 

Iglesias favourite JW score is The Long Goodbye, and from Morricone Cinema Paradiso. He also writes that he feels closer to Morricone.

 

He also believes both Morricone and Williams would have liked to receive the award alone.

 

I used Google translate:

 

Two geniuses who are not alike at all

 

by Alberto Iglesias

The Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts to Ennio Morricone and John Williams recognizes two creators who have made film music an art, each expressing their talent, their style

I imagine that by awarding this award to two such important musicians, to two geniuses, they wanted to reward the genre, film music. And that is very valuable. But I think each of them deserves it for themselves, any one of them could be the sole recipient of the award. Both Morricone and Williams seem extraordinary to me. They have made film music into an art, each one expressing his talent, his style and his way of conceiving music.

 

They do not look alike. That is also the greatness of music in the cinema, which can house completely different styles. Williams inherits the Hollywood tradition, but also develops it and takes it to a very new place in many moments. He is the king of the great American audiovisual show.

 

Morricone, which I feel closer to, probably, is in the measure of European cinema and has a very artisanal style, very own. I think he is the one who has thought the most about music in Europe. Film music is highly regarded and part of popular culture. Maybe these awards want to open to that popular music as the Parnassus of great art.

 

In the same way that Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, although in that case there was a greater leap. To think that the music of popular tradition, so implanted, can also be the music of the high intellectual spheres. It is a splendid recognition, which I imagine will have made both of them very excited. Although I also think they would have liked to receive it alone. I don't know if they know the importance that these awards have in Spanish culture. If I had to choose a soundtrack for each of them, I would cite two, released by Quartet Records. From John Williams, "The Long Goodbye," a Robert Altman movie. It's less of Williams's big, imposing style. It has a more jazzy root, a connection to jazz. He was a jazz pianist early in his career. From Morricone, he would quote "Cinema Paradiso" or "Tie Me", which he made for Almodóvar. They are all great scores.

 

[Miguel Andrade 1,260]

I relate quite a lot to his Williams choice.

[Lewya 360]

Max Richter has also named The Long Goodbye one of his favourite film scores in the past.

[Bespin 8,475]

Is he a relative of Julio?

[Jurassic Shark 12,023]

I want to know what Enrique thinks.

 

5 hours ago, Lewya said:

They do not look alike.

 

Really?

 

5 hours ago, Miguel Andrade said:

I relate quite a lot to his Williams choice.

 

3 hours ago, Lewya said:

Max Richter has also named The Long Goodbye one of his favourite film scores in the past.

 

That's the textbook highbrow choice, isn't it?

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

Yeah. That, and IMAGES.

Right @Bespin? 

[Thor 7,462]

IMAGES would have been a much cooler choice. THE LONG GOODBYE is also cool, but more playful. IMAGES is the proper abrasive, avantgarde score that heady filmmakers should choose.

 

And no, Alberto Iglesias has no relation to Julio and Enrique, AFAIK. It's a fairly common Spanish name.

[1977 1,743]

As Williams is in English!

[Jurassic Shark 12,023]

Are you implying that John Williams isn't related to John Williams the guitarist?

[mrbellamy 6,271]

Are you implying that they're not the same person?

[Jurassic Shark 12,023]

I'm saying it's quite difficult to not be related to yourself!

[Edmilson 7,380]

Iglesias is mostly known for working for Pedro Almodóvar. I listened to few of his scores, and wasn't a fan of what I listened. Too intellectual for me.

[Jurassic Shark 12,023]

He's also infamous for featuring in SAE's 50 Cent sales.