New concert work: "When the World Was Waltzing" - premieres October 25, 2025

[MovieMusicMaestro 71]

https://www.wienersymphoniker.at/index.php/konzert/hommage-johann-strauss-25-10-2025

[pete 1,284]

Now this is the kind of post I want to see more often! 

[jwfan06 561]

whatttt? thats crazy

[Muad'Dib 2,002]

Cool!

[Tom 6,155]

Anne-Sophie is on the program, so undoubtedly a piece for her.  Really cool.  

[pete 1,284]

It was revealed maybe late last year that Williams had a few pieces he was working one, one being what we now know is the ocean forest thing, and another I think was the now completed piano concerto. And there was always another mystery piece that wasn't known to the public - I guess this is that piece?

 

And Tim said at his Zoom thingy a few weeks ago that Williams was currently writing something and that it was "probably not what we think".... which I assumed to mean that piece wasn't for the new Spielberg movie nor the previously mentioned cello concerto. So maybe this was the piece Tim refered to?

 

Either way, busy man!

[Maurizio 6,561]

8 minutes ago, pete said:

And Tim said at his Zoom thingy a few weeks ago that Williams was currently writing something and that was "probably not what we think".... which I assumed to mean that piece wasn't for the new Spielberg movie nor the previously mentioned cello concerto. So maybe this was the piece Tim refered to?

 

 

Amazing news, by the way!

 

Interesting to note that the Vienna Boys Choir is listed among the performers... Perhaps it's for Max Richter's piece, but who knows?

[Mr. Hooper 7,340]

A Williamsian waltz? Should be fun!

[Maurizio 6,561]

5 minutes ago, Mr. Hooper said:

A Williamsian waltz? Should be fun!

 

 

 

 

[JohnnyD 1,672]

2 hours ago, MovieMusicMaestro said:

https://www.wienersymphoniker.at/index.php/konzert/hommage-johann-strauss-25-10-2025

 

2 hours ago, pete said:

It was revealed maybe late last year that Williams had a few pieces he was working one, one being what we now know is the ocean forest thing, and another I think was the now completed piano concerto. And there was always another mystery piece that wasn't known to the public - I guess this is that piece?

 

And Tim said at his Zoom thingy a few weeks ago that Williams was currently writing something and that it was "probably not what we think".... which I assumed to mean that piece wasn't for the new Spielberg movie nor the previously mentioned cello concerto. So maybe this was the piece Tim refered to?

 

Either way, busy man!

This is awesome! Will there be a recording of this upcoming piece?

[GerateWohl 6,263]

Maybe something like Aunt Marge's Waltz?

[pete 1,284]

3 minutes ago, JohnnyD said:

 

This is awesome! Will there be a recording of this upcoming piece?

 

No idea..but something was recorded recently as hinted at in this thread. So the timimg could have been right in terms of Williams maybe just finishing the piece? I'm sure some here know but have been sworn to secrecy!!

[BachSkywalker 162]

"A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one."

 

Premiere only a month away! 

[Jesse 260]

Oh wow! What great, unexpected news!
 

1 hour ago, GerateWohl said:

Maybe something like Aunt Marge's Waltz?

I would venture a guess that its probably more of an original piece with the Waltz as a more abstract concept being filtered through John Williams voice, rather then a pastiche like Aunt Marge's Waltz. But who knows? I for one am very curious to see what kind of piece this will be. 
I wonder when he wrote it? Might be the first piece we get to hear wich he wrote after his health concerns, since both the Piano Concerto as well as the Great Ocean Forest were largely finished before that as far as im aware. Or maybe it was written a while ago already.

[pete 1,284]

2 hours ago, Jesse said:

Or maybe it was written a while ago already.

 He was working on it in early September - i think specifically on September 2 for a fact. Thanks Williams bio book guy!!
 

but no idea when he started and finished. Yeah, i was so happy to hear he’s still doing what he loves doing. Not in a selfish “i get to hear more music” way but just happy for him. 
 

well maybe a little “i get to hear new music” happy feeling.  
 

 

 

[Mr. Hooper 7,340]

2 hours ago, Jesse said:

I would venture a guess that its probably more of an original piece with the Waltz as a more abstract concept being filtered through John Williams voice, rather then a pastiche like Aunt Marge's Waltz.

If this turns out to be the case, I hope it's not too abstract, and that there's a tune in there I can grab hold of.

[Tom 6,155]

It will be the first fugal waltz in 12/8 time.  

[Marian Schedenig 10,976]

What the…

[igger6 1,024]

Huzzah!!!  What a time to be alive!  That's one more for the John Williams Tonal Rarities album...

 

Fanfare for Michael Dukakis

Dear Basketball

Fanfare for the Vienna Philharmonic Ball

Of Grit and Glory

Overture to the Oscars

Centennial Overture

Deep Ocean Forests

When the World Was Waltzing

 

Super-excited for the inevitable follow-up piece, "When the World Loved Cat Dancing"!

[The Score Cleaner 8,904]

42 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

What the…

[Marian Schedenig 10,976]

Trying to buy one of the few remaining tickets… but the payment provider is broken and won't let me confirm my credit card transaction…

[Jurassic Shark 15,674]

I'm guessing it'll be a waltz deconstruction a la Ravel's La Valse.

[ST-321 25]

3 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

Trying to buy one of the few remaining tickets… but the payment provider is broken and won't let me confirm my credit card transaction…

I hope that you are able to get a ticket!

[Tom 6,155]

8 minutes ago, ST-321 said:

I hope that you are able to get a ticket!

and are perfectly willing to violate recording rules.  

[JazzyNips 125]

10 hours ago, Jesse said:

I would venture a guess that its probably more of an original piece with the Waltz as a more abstract concept being filtered through John Williams voice, rather then a pastiche like Aunt Marge's Waltz. 

 

You're guessing that a piece we know nothing about, except that it's premiering at "Hommage an Johann
Strauss" is LESS pastiche than Aunt Marge's Waltz? I'm not even going to try to figure that one out 😂

[artguy360 2,154]

I love that we're getting new JW music given his health and advanced age. I so wish we would get a proper, official release of the piece he wrote for the Berlin Philharmonic ball thing.

[GerateWohl 6,263]

28 minutes ago, artguy360 said:

the Berlin Philharmonic ball thing.

What's that?

[Miguel Andrade 1,638]

2 hours ago, artguy360 said:

I love that we're getting new JW music given his health and advanced age. I so wish we would get a proper, official release of the piece he wrote for the Berlin Philharmonic ball thing.

 

Vienna Philharmonic. Totally different orchestra, city and even country.

[Jurassic Shark 15,674]

I wish he did write something for the BPO.

[GerateWohl 6,263]

26 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I wish he did write something for the BPO.

Yes. A symphony!

[Jurassic Shark 15,674]

Yeah, now that the piano concerto is crossed off the list, that's the only thing remaining.

 

Well, an extended big band piece would also be great to have from him.

[Marian Schedenig 10,976]

6 hours ago, ST-321 said:

I hope that you are able to get a ticket!

 

Didn't work last night (with three different browsers on two devices). But I've got it now. Will report.

[BB-8 5,739]

Is anyone going? @Marian Schedenig - I mean just for the Williams, not the other K&K bulk...

 

Tickets are almost gone (and the remaining ones look pretty poor).

 

I hope it will be recorded...

 

Btw, it's Ravel's 150th anniversary so they could/should have programmed "La Valse" (original title "Vienne") which is to date the greatest orchestral tribute to the waltz form of Johann Strauß II. But why care if you've got Williams?

 

[BB-8 5,739]

[Mr. Hooper 7,340]

1 hour ago, BB-8 said:

Is that bow enchanted?

[BB-8 5,739]

JW: "What an absolute disgrace that this homage to Johann wasn't commissioned by the Vienna Philharmonic."

JSII: "Don't worry, Johnny, the idea that Viennese waltzes and polkas have the same place in the concert hall as the best music in the classical canon is a mistaken notion, anyway.”

AR: "Yes, it's like with your film music, a mix of styles, stolen and haphazardly thrown together to entertain the mob. It's all just pop culture. Welcome to the club!"

[Jay 44,378]

7 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

What's that?

 

https://www.jwfan.com/forums/index.php?/topic/32317-williams-composing-for-the-vienna-philharmonic/

 

Can always find info about all recent JW works here

 

https://www.jwfan.com/forums/index.php?/topic/33860-find-a-thread-information-catalog-all-upcoming-recent-john-williams-works-concerts/

[GerateWohl 6,263]

59 minutes ago, Jay said:

https://www.jwfan.com/forums/index.php?/topic/32317-williams-composing-for-the-vienna-philharmonic/

Thanks. But that's the Vienna Philharmonic ball thing, not a Berlin Philharmonic ball thing. That is why I asked.

 

Miguel explained it already.

[Jesse 260]

10 hours ago, JazzyNips said:

 

You're guessing that a piece we know nothing about, except that it's premiering at "Hommage an Johann
Strauss" is LESS pastiche than Aunt Marge's Waltz? I'm not even going to try to figure that one out 😂

You mean we know nothing about the piece except that the title is “When the World Was Waltzing”? That, and the fact that it is written for a Johann Strauss homage concert, who is known pretty much exclusively for his waltzes.
Right… how could I have ever come to the conclusion that the piece may have some connection to the waltz? All I did was speculate that it probably has a more abstract connection rather than a pastiche one. 

[JazzyNips 125]

Based on what?

[Jurassic Shark 15,674]

Probably based on JW's general style for his concert works. 

[The Score Cleaner 8,904]

3 minutes ago, JazzyNips said:

Based on what?

[JazzyNips 125]

Yeah but you just said Aunt Marge's Waltz was pastiche. That was John Williams. 

[Tom 6,155]

1 hour ago, Jesse said:

You mean we know nothing about the piece except that the title is “When the World Was Waltzing”? That, and the fact that it is written for a Johann Strauss homage concert, who is known pretty much exclusively for his waltzes.
Right… how could I have ever come to the conclusion that the piece may have some connection to the waltz? All I did was speculate that it probably has a more abstract connection rather than a pastiche one. 

You are way off base with this read. The title is clearly a reference to the US presidential race this past fall.  

[BB-8 5,739]

 

A Waltz can be many things...

[The Score Cleaner 8,904]

43 minutes ago, JazzyNips said:

Yeah but you just said Aunt Marge's Waltz was pastiche.

Technically I didn't. He did. His basis, is in JW's history of film work vs concert work.

[Marian Schedenig 10,976]

1 hour ago, JazzyNips said:

Yeah but you just said Aunt Marge's Waltz was pastiche.

 

Well… it is.

[Jurassic Shark 15,674]

Perhaps derivative is a better word.

[Jesse 260]

59 minutes ago, JazzyNips said:

Yeah but you just said Aunt Marge's Waltz was pastiche. That was John Williams. 

I’m confused about what you’re trying to tell me. That Aunt Marge’s Waltz isn’t pastiche? Or that I have no basis for assuming that Williams probably wouldn’t write a pastiche for this occasion? Because I’d disagree with both. 

[Marian Schedenig 10,976]

26 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Perhaps derivative is a better word.

 

I'm sure the Rossininess is deliberate, so I think pastiche fits just fine.