BuzzLightyear 143 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 As he has mentioned in some interviews, he tries to write every day. So I've often wondered if John Williams works in his hotel rooms while he's on concert tour, like in Vienna or somewhere else? What do you think? Does he compose on tour, even without piano? Or does he maybe do orchestrations and things like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jay 37,352 Posted March 21, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted March 21, 2022 I think for a lot of his travel he's in a rented house and not a hotel, and that house is probably one with a piano I think when he is in a hotel with no piano, he's probably not composing that day WilliamsStarShip2282, JTN and BuzzLightyear 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,516 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Oh! "Works". I thought it said something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andy 4,123 Posted March 21, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted March 21, 2022 I picture the Maestro alone on his bed, using his Talkboy recorder to order a large cheese pizza just for himself using someone else's credit card, after giving his chewing gum to the concierge as a tip. apples, Brando, Jurassic Shark and 5 others 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Naïve Old Fart 9,516 Posted March 21, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted March 21, 2022 Yeah, and when he pays for it, he shouts: "Keep the change, ya filthy animal!". Brando, apples and Andy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 907 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 I recall the “Going to School” duet from Geisha for piano and cello was written in a hotel room. I think Yo-Yo Ma said in an interview that he was in his hotel room when Williams surprised him with the manuscript for it. And I imagine he always stays in a hotel room with a piano… maybe. I think most of the presidential suites in big hotels have a piano.. well at least the Grand Hyatt in Seoul does. I’m sure in major cities his staff could find a room with a piano found it.. well Yo-Yo Ma doesn’t say if Williams was staying in the same hotel - just that Yo-Yo received the piece when he was in a hotel Maybe not as they were both in LA. … from 2:30 https://youtu.be/2Bgi6unlPFY aviazn and BuzzLightyear 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miguel Andrade 1,263 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Yo-Yo Ma was in an hotel, not Williams. But in old interviews he stated that he requested a piano on his room, so he could keep working in whatever he was writting. And the place he stays at Tanglewood also provides him with a piano, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,516 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 I bet the other guests love him (!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,286 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 I don't know why I immediately pictured John Williams in a 2-star hotel room haha. Of course he'd be able to get a sizable place with a piano wherever he went. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JTN 2,007 Posted March 21, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted March 21, 2022 5 hours ago, Jay said: I think for a lot of his travel he's in a rented house and not a hotel, and that house is probably one with a piano I think when he is in a hotel with no piano, he's probably not composing that day I agree. To be more specific, I don’t think he wrote music while in Vienna or Berlin. His trips were so short and he probably focused all his energy on staying healthy and the concerts (and doing some sightseeing) that he didn’t compose any music at the hotel or at the Musikverein. One week without composing is not much time, and I believe that he doesn’t need a piano to compose, he can write down melodies into his sketchbook and he can revise and develop them later at home on the piano. crlbrg, BuzzLightyear and Fabulin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,192 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 2 hours ago, Miguel Andrade said: But in old interviews he stated that he requested a piano on his room, so he could keep working in whatever he was writting. Next time he comes to Vienna I'll have to ring up the Imperial and ask what a stay in the room next to his costs. Miguel Andrade and Raiders of the SoundtrArk 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post karelm 2,913 Posted March 22, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted March 22, 2022 When he's on a family vacation, yes, he requests a grand piano in the room. It's his version of "vacation" to play music. This was described by his family members and the Newman family who are family friends. His version of a vacation is writing music. Fabulin, JTN, Muad'Dib and 2 others 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTN 2,007 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 35 minutes ago, karelm said: When he's on a family vacation, yes, he requests a grand piano in the room. It's his version of "vacation" to play music. This was described by his family members and the Newman family who are family friends. His version of a vacation is writing music. I wonder when he was last on a traditional family vacation. In the past 5 or so years he seemed to be busier than ever with either composing a film score, or conducting concerts (in 2020 perhaps, but it's highly unlikely given the pandemic). Maybe he had more vacations when his children were younger. What's certain is that he was on a ten-day holiday in Hawaii between April 6 and April 16, 1976. He got back on the 16th and wrote a thank you-letter to Alfred Hitchcock, and then went to New York for ten days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,495 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 9 hours ago, JTW said: I wonder when he was last on a traditional family vacation. In the past 5 or so years he seemed to be busier than ever with either composing a film score, or conducting concerts (in 2020 perhaps, but it's highly unlikely given the pandemic). Maybe he had more vacations when his children were younger. I read in some interview awhile back that he said his wife, Samantha Winslow, has a place (i.e.a cabin?) up in the Berkshire mountains, so I wouldn't be surprised if he combines his Tanglewood concerts with a visit there now and then. Providing it's still easily accessible for a 90-year-old. JTN 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,067 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 13 hours ago, Miguel Andrade said: And the place he stays at Tanglewood also provides him with a piano, I think. Hasn't he said that he usually brings his own piano to Tanglewood? 9 hours ago, karelm said: When he's on a family vacation, yes, he requests a grand piano in the room. It's his version of "vacation" to play music. This was described by his family members and the Newman family who are family friends. His version of a vacation is writing music. Yes, didn't he compose parts of Catch during a holiday? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB-8 3,473 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Some hotels, like Hotel Imperial, may be able to provide a piano. And the rooms are large enough. JTN 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerateWohl 4,357 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 2 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said: Hasn't he said that he usually brings his own piano to Tanglewood? He must be related to Pippi Longstocking. Jurassic Shark and Fabulin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 In the mid eighties when he was visiting Wales he stayed in a four berth static caravan and he had a Yamaha keyboard plugged in just to keep him going in case he had any cool ideas. Naïve Old Fart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,654 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 10 minutes ago, Quintus said: In the mid eighties when he was visiting Wales he stayed in a four berth static caravan and he had a Yamaha keyboard plugged in just to keep going in case he had any cool ideas. There is even footage of this: Quintus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Haven Holiday clubs and gift shops have really gone downhill since then. Naïve Old Fart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BB-8 3,473 Posted March 22, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted March 22, 2022 Martinland, Raiders of the SoundtrArk, publicist and 4 others 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,516 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 1 hour ago, Quintus said: In the mid eighties when he was visiting Wales he stayed in a four berth static caravan and he had a Yamaha keyboard plugged in just to keep going in case he had any cool ideas. What was he doing in Wales (except, maybe, to get inspired by Sao Guan)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB-8 3,473 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 5 hours ago, Quintus said: In the mid eighties when he was visiting Wales he stayed in a four berth static caravan and he had a Yamaha keyboard plugged in just to keep him going in case he had any cool ideas. karelm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted March 23, 2022 Share Posted March 23, 2022 There's probably a piano app on his iphone. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jim Ware 526 Posted March 23, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted March 23, 2022 If we look at the fax numbers at the top of Williams' insert sketches for The Phantom Menace... We see two numbers. The 0181 number is Dakota Music - the music prep company for the film. The other number - 01714931895 - was the phone number for the Four Seasons on Park Lane in Central London. The hotel does indeed have piano that can be hired for events (and presumably composer guests). MikeH, ragoz350, Marian Schedenig and 3 others 2 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now