Popular Post tranders65 96 Posted May 6 Popular Post Share Posted May 6 19 minutes ago, bollemanneke said: God, this is killing me. If you weren't great at the first chapter, you certainly are fantastic at cliffhangers. Was gonna say the same thing - Tim, you're keeping me on the proverbial edge of my seat reading these. Can't wait for the actual book! geom_00, BachSkywalker, crumbs and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyD 1,512 Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 3 hours ago, Maestro said: Thanks for reading, everybody. Lots more to come! I'll definitely be expounding on this (somewhat surprising) aspect, and the intimidating act of dialoguing with him when he's not jovially promoting something. He is the smartest person I have ever met. Absolutely. Looking forward to more. Also, once again leaving it on a cliffhanger. I love it! I can't wait to read about the next meeting next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 10,069 Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 I get seriously stressed out just reading these accounts! Once and bollemanneke 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Romão 2,403 Posted May 6 Popular Post Share Posted May 6 I would buy a book about the writing of this book. Gripping stuff igger6, crumbs, Sunshine Reger and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Meredith McKay 7,783 Posted May 6 Popular Post Share Posted May 6 Tim Grieving: A Composer's Biographer's Life Once, mikal_grig, Jay and 4 others 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,934 Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 Why does this read like the opening to a fan fic? Holko 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 2,007 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 I'm really enjoying reading these blog posts. To read how JW went from personally asking you not to write the book to giving you a full on critique of your first chapter is a pretty big turnaround. Great stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrbellamy 7,238 Posted May 7 Popular Post Share Posted May 7 I think infra dig is pretty much the official JWFan motto. crumbs, Once, igger6 and 2 others 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meredith McKay 7,783 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 11 hours ago, mrbellamy said: I think infra dig is pretty much the official JWFan motto. Is it infra dig to listen to soundtracks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tallguy 5,500 Posted May 7 Popular Post Share Posted May 7 4 minutes ago, Meredith McKay said: Is it infra dig to listen to soundtracks? No. But the prequels were infra dig. igger6, Once and BB-8 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB-8 4,893 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 5 minutes ago, Meredith McKay said: Is it infra dig to listen to soundtracks? Not at all, when listened in isolation without the distraction of the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Reger 3,646 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 20 hours ago, Loert said: Why does this read like the opening to a fan fic? Now that I think of it, it reads exactly like the fanfic Wagner wrote about meeting Beethoven.... https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/A_pilgrimage_to_Beethoven%3B_a_novel_(IA_cu31924022158822).pdf Quote BB-8, Loert and Amer 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom 5,562 Posted May 8 Popular Post Share Posted May 8 Wagner later realized that knocking on Beethoven's door wasn't the best way to get his attention. Mr. Hooper, artguy360 and kingtolkien 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post igger6 989 Posted May 8 Popular Post Share Posted May 8 This is riveting, winsome, exhilarating writing! I'm truly devouring every word. (And the interspersed film stills are hilariously well-chosen.) Honestly, the burden is on the book to live up to the experience of reading about its creation. Thanks for being so generous with your story, @Maestro. Once, Maestro and Sam s. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB-8 4,893 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 2 hours ago, Tom said: Wagner later realized that knocking on Beethoven's door wasn't the best way to get his attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 10,069 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 12 hours ago, igger6 said: Honestly, the burden is on the book No, that's the other Tim (@mahler3)… mahler3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igger6 989 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 7 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said: No, that's the other Tim (@mahler3)… In fairness, when the book comes out, I'm sure Tim will be on it like white on rice. mahler3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brando 2,439 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 @Maestro is it revealed in the book how Ken Wannberg got his nickname “Wampi” (or is it Wompi?)? It’s used in a few cue titles and we found out a little while ago it was a nickname, but then it got a little more confusing when you see it in cue title (“Wompi Intro/Outro” for the JP Theme album track, and “Wompi’s Wrench” from The Lost World). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 10,069 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 35 minutes ago, Brando said: @Maestro is it revealed in the book how Ken Wannberg got his nickname “Wampi” (or is it Wompi?)? It’s used in a few cue titles and we found out a little while ago it was a nickname, but then it got a little more confusing when you see it in cue title (“Wompi Intro/Outro” for the JP Theme album track, and “Wompi’s Wrench” from The Lost World). Even more confusingly, it always reminds me of "Wumpus". Brando 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Maestro 1,182 Posted May 10 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 10 1 hour ago, Brando said: @Maestro is it revealed in the book how Ken Wannberg got his nickname “Wampi” (or is it Wompi?)? It’s used in a few cue titles and we found out a little while ago it was a nickname, but then it got a little more confusing when you see it in cue title (“Wompi Intro/Outro” for the JP Theme album track, and “Wompi’s Wrench” from The Lost World). That nickname was given to him by Lionel Newman. Neither JW nor Wannberg could remember how or why the name got mutated into that, but it stuck! Marian Schedenig, crumbs, Brando and 3 others 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meredith McKay 7,783 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 1 hour ago, Brando said: @Maestro is it revealed in the book how Ken Wannberg got his nickname “Wampi” (or is it Wompi?)? It’s used in a few cue titles and we found out a little while ago it was a nickname, but then it got a little more confusing when you see it in cue title (“Wompi Intro/Outro” for the JP Theme album track, and “Wompi’s Wrench” from The Lost World). Wait when? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 7,238 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 1 hour ago, Maestro said: That nickname was given to him by Lionel Newman. Neither JW nor Wannberg could remember how or why the name got mutated into that, but it stuck! Marian Schedenig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brando 2,439 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 1 hour ago, Meredith McKay said: Wait when? When it was revealed? I believe Mike or Jay mentioned it somewhere kind of off handedly as if it wasn’t one of JWFans biggest mysteries (WHAT THE HECK DOES WOMPI’S WRENCH MEAN?!?!?!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meredith McKay 7,783 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 20 minutes ago, Brando said: When it was revealed? I believe Mike or Jay mentioned it somewhere kind of off handedly as if it wasn’t one of JWFans biggest mysteries (WHAT THE HECK DOES WOMPI’S WRENCH MEAN?!?!?!). All I remember is @Jay talking with Mike on Legacy of JW, and I suggested he ask about it, and then him NOT asking about WOMPI lol. Brando 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manakin Skywalker 5,623 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 3 hours ago, Maestro said: That nickname was given to him by Lionel Newman. Neither JW nor Wannberg could remember how or why the name got mutated into that, but it stuck! Only thing I can think of is maybe he was saying "Wannby" and they misheard it as "Wompi". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meredith McKay 7,783 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 2 minutes ago, Manakin Skywalker said: Only thing I can think of is maybe he was saying "Wannby" and they misheard it as "Wompi". Wannabe? Brando and Manakin Skywalker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,858 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 1 hour ago, Meredith McKay said: All I remember is @Jay talking with Mike on Legacy of JW, and I suggested he ask about it, and then him NOT asking about WOMPI lol. Wompi/Wampi came up in the Legacy of John Williams podcast interview with the woodwind player Phil Ayling, who mentioned it in passing during the interview. https://thelegacyofjohnwilliams.com/2024/05/30/phil-ayling-podcast/ Brando 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrbellamy 7,238 Posted May 13 Popular Post Share Posted May 13 Fridays with John enderdrag64, Mr. Hooper, Brando and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hooper 4,953 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Fascinating stuff. "I learned pretty quickly that if I asked about most of his film scores, he could call up barely any details; that was simply data he had chosen not to store." This struck me as interesting... One might be tempted to read something into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyD 1,512 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Really amazing. Thank you, Tim. Maestro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geom_00 87 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 33 minutes ago, Mr. Hooper said: Fascinating stuff. "I learned pretty quickly that if I asked about most of his film scores, he could call up barely any details; that was simply data he had chosen not to store." This struck me as interesting... One might be tempted to read something into it. I have heard numerous times that John really doesn't listen to his own scores all that much, or really like *like* listening to them, as he always feels he could have done more. A note here, and accidental there, to make it better. IIRC, one of the only pieces of his that he likes is Yoda's theme... /Don't quote me on these though, I am 95% sure I have heard these things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyD 1,512 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 3 minutes ago, geom_00 said: I have heard numerous times that John really doesn't listen to his own scores all that much, or really like *like* listening to them, as he always feels he could have done more. A note here, and accidental there, to make it better. IIRC, one of the only pieces of his that he likes is Yoda's theme... /Don't quote me on these though, I am 95% sure I have heard these things. Timestamp: 8:47. geom_00 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Reger 3,646 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 41 minutes ago, Mr. Hooper said: Fascinating stuff. "I learned pretty quickly that if I asked about most of his film scores, he could call up barely any details; that was simply data he had chosen not to store." This struck me as interesting... One might be tempted to read something into it. Immense, marvelously developed and specialized working memory and a rapid pace of work. Wiliams gets the job done and then moves to the next one. He is a tactician more than a strategist. Like a computer program that calculates but does not save most of the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Maurizio 5,780 Posted May 13 Popular Post Share Posted May 13 17 minutes ago, geom_00 said: I have heard numerous times that John really doesn't listen to his own scores all that much, or really like *like* listening to them, as he always feels he could have done more. A note here, and accidental there, to make it better. I believe that some of his public comments on that front are a bit of a stock answer to avoid looking pompous or egocentric, yet it's true that his mindset is one of constant improvement and hardly fully satisfied with anything he has done. All that being said, I'm quite sure he's very proud of many things he has written, but his down-to-earth and gentlemanly demeanor probably suggests him that is not elegant or proper to put it under the spotlight. He's really a man of a long-gone era. BachSkywalker, crumbs, geom_00 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,973 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 I wonder why he doesn't really remember details about his film scores. And we are so lucky he helped with the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,973 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Sorry if this has already been asked, Maestro, but did you speak to Chris Columbus? If so, long? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Thor 9,304 Posted May 13 Popular Post Share Posted May 13 This has been very fascinating to read, and I look forward to more details about the sessions. As I've told Tim off-board, it's also with a tinge of sadness. When I first started thinking seriously about doing a Williams book 20 years ago or so (there was even a publisher onboard for a while in the 2010s), it was exactly these kinds of encounters, as described in the most recent article, that I pictured in my daydreams. Although in them, Williams had intimate knowledge of all the titles he had worked on, as I laid them out in front of him on several sheets of paper, LOL! Be it film, TV, concert works, whatever. But that's just my own geekhood transcribed onto him, which isn't fair. Thankfully, most of that sadness and melancholy and ENVY have since transformed into sheer enthusiasm for Tim's project. The important thing is that we get a document like this before it's too late, not who gets to do it. Mr. Hooper, Maestro, Martinland and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 5,562 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Excellent read. You have lived out every fanboy's dream--you must have wished upon the right star. Maestro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Maestro 1,182 Posted May 13 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 13 17 minutes ago, bollemanneke said: Sorry if this has already been asked, Maestro, but did you speak to Chris Columbus? If so, long? I did! At least an hour. He gave me fantastic quotes about all five of their collaborations, and more. Lovely guy. Brando, mahler3, bollemanneke and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,973 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Thank you! Again, apologies for potential repetition, but have you ever talked about, or considered, releasing all your audio interviews? Is that something that might ever happen in some way or another, or were those just the means you happened to need to write the book and are they not for listening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Maestro 1,182 Posted May 13 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 13 2 minutes ago, bollemanneke said: Thank you! Again, apologies for potential repetition, but have you ever talked about, or considered, releasing all your audio interviews? Is that something that might ever happen in some way or another, or were those just the means you happened to need to write the book and are they not for listening? I would have to get permission from any of the interviewees to release them in audio (or video) form. And I may do that if I can find a new outlet for some/all of them down the road. But I will at the very least include little snippets (like the Richard Dreyfuss one) in the coming months. bollemanneke, Brando, enderdrag64 and 2 others 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JohnnyD 1,512 Posted May 13 Popular Post Share Posted May 13 3 hours ago, Maurizio said: I believe that some of his public comments on that front are a bit of a stock answer to avoid looking pompous or egocentric, yet it's true that his mindset is one of constant improvement and hardly fully satisfied with anything he has done. All that being said, I'm quite sure he's very proud of many things he has written, but his down-to-earth and gentlemanly demeanor probably suggests him that is not elegant or proper to put it under the spotlight. He's really a man of a long-gone era. Definitely; his humility shines forth. Also, I'm glad to see you back, Maurizio. Looking forward to more from The Legacy of John Williams. BB-8, mahler3, Once and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerateWohl 5,875 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 1 hour ago, bollemanneke said: Thank you! Again, apologies for potential repetition, but have you ever talked about, or considered, releasing all your audio interviews? Is that something that might ever happen in some way or another, or were those just the means you happened to need to write the book and are they not for listening? All these Audio and Video interviews should be released in that superfan 15-DVD box that I am dreaming of together with all of Spielberg's videos from Williams' scoring sessions. Martinland and enderdrag64 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 7,238 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 5 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said: Fascinating stuff. "I learned pretty quickly that if I asked about most of his film scores, he could call up barely any details; that was simply data he had chosen not to store." This struck me as interesting... One might be tempted to read something into it. Tim, does anything come to mind regarding his film scores that you were particularly surprised he didn't have an answer for? Or even a whole line of questioning that you abandoned because he just wasn't into it or it was just obviously a dead end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 10,069 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 10 minutes ago, mrbellamy said: Tim, does anything come to mind regarding his film scores that you were particularly surprised he didn't have an answer for? Or even a whole line of questioning that you abandoned because he just wasn't into it or it was just obviously a dead end? Also: Were it specifically the film scores he didn't have particular recollections about, or the entire projects as well? I.e. were there other aspects about the film projects he was involved in that left more memories related to the actual projects, like (since you mentioned people) the people he collaborated with? Continued thanks for sharing these insights, Tim. They feel like part of the book already, and at the same time make it even harder to wait for the actual proper book. Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB-8 4,893 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Wouldn't these chapters from "Behind the Moon" together with selected essays from "The Legacy of John Williams" potentially make a nice fan-sourced follow-up book? bollemanneke and Once 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Maestro 1,182 Posted May 13 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 13 49 minutes ago, mrbellamy said: Tim, does anything come to mind regarding his film scores that you were particularly surprised he didn't have an answer for? Or even a whole line of questioning that you abandoned because he just wasn't into it or it was just obviously a dead end? There are the scores he has often told stories about in interviews—Jaws, Star Wars, Raiders, Schindler's—and those repeated stories have reinforced his memories of the music and the films (although these were the ones I didn't really bother to task him about, because there wasn't much mystery left). Then there are scores that he has arranged as concert suites, and those have stayed fresher. But with almost anything else—A.I., Empire of the Sun, Always—the details of the music became extremely vague. Asking about specific themes, let alone individual cues or scenes, proved to be mostly futile. (I particularly wanted to go deep on A.I., but it wasn't meant to be!) 35 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said: Also: Were it specifically the film scores he didn't have particular recollections about, or the entire projects as well? I.e. were there other aspects about the film projects he was involved in that left more memories related to the actual projects, like (since you mentioned people) the people he collaborated with? Continued thanks for sharing these insights, Tim. They feel like part of the book already, and at the same time make it even harder to wait for the actual proper book. Yes, the projects themselves often had memories attached. He could tell me a thing or two about most of the directors he worked with, even the one-offs in the ’60s. And sometimes the actors or literary sources (etc.) drew up an anecdote or memory. Just not the score! Thanks for the all the positive feedback, everyone. It means a lot to me. Mr. Hooper, Marian Schedenig, MaxTheHouseelf and 12 others 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 2,007 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Another fantastic blog post. It must have been both a privilege and rather intimidating to have JW apply his exacting nature and high standard he holds for his own music to your writing. What an amazing experience you've had! Maestro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrbellamy 7,238 Posted May 14 Popular Post Share Posted May 14 11 hours ago, Thor said: This has been very fascinating to read, and I look forward to more details about the sessions. As I've told Tim off-board, it's also with a tinge of sadness. When I first started thinking seriously about doing a Williams book 20 years ago or so (there was even a publisher onboard for a while in the 2010s), it was exactly these kinds of encounters, as described in the most recent article, that I pictured in my daydreams. Although in them, Williams had intimate knowledge of all the titles he had worked on, as I laid them out in front of him on several sheets of paper, LOL! Be it film, TV, concert works, whatever. But that's just my own geekhood transcribed onto him, which isn't fair. Thankfully, most of that sadness and melancholy and ENVY have since transformed into sheer enthusiasm for Tim's project. The important thing is that we get a document like this before it's too late, not who gets to do it. The saddest thing to me about this latest post is that it still doesn't sound like Williams is 100% at peace with it. The "biography-victim" line is hysterical, though, and I'm happy that he eventually took the attitude that if it's gonna be out there, then at least he better make sure it's credible. Which makes me all the more grateful that Tim put both himself and JW in an uncomfortable position and gently forced this issue because a biography isn't really for the subject, anyway, it's for all of us and generations down the line who believe in his music, artistry, and impact. Somebody needed to get a real, comprehensive series of interviews with this man, not a puff piece about his greatest hits or a rare peek into one area of special interest. I envy the discussions an actual JWFan member got to have with Mr Williams but not how much Tim got beat up for it lol, he really managed the impossible and sounds like he made the most of it. And we'll get to be a fly on the wall. I also find it just as valuable that this opportunity is clarifying what are the things we're just never going to get answered by him. Like I always thought wouldn't it have been cool to get an interview that went through one score from beginning to end, so I'm satisfied all the breakdowns and analyses can be left to us. Also regarding this quote... Quote He frequently reminded me I was so young, and that he would like to know how “Tim Greiving” (he sometimes referred to me in the third person) would approach this book in ten or twenty years. ...there's always the second edition Brando, Sam s. and Maestro 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerateWohl 5,875 Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 All we can read here about Williams' ambition about what a good biography is, makes it to me unlikely that he is happy with the "Music by John Williams" documentary. I am looking forward to the book. Mr. Hooper and BB-8 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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