ASM interview in The (London) Times

[QuartalHarmony 1,005]

Anne-Sophie Mutter: ‘John Williams is one of the greatest composers of our time’

https://www.thetimes.com/article/3f8716c5-af70-483d-b571-dd93b5b36e21?shareToken=da3544e7f86e228fe3091eebd71c6952

 

For those without a subscription, here’s the section where she talks about JW:

 

 

[toothless 1,056]

“His music is all melody-driven” is such a pretentious take. As if being melodic were a flaw, or as if music automatically becomes deeper the more atonal or inaccessible it is. It is the usual elitist reflex: dismiss what moves people, then pretend the dismissal itself is sophistication.

[QuartalHarmony 1,005]

That certainly was the consensus among most self-appointed guardians of ‘serious’ music for a lot of the 20th century and something we know from various interviews and Tim’s biography that greatly affected JW’s feelings about his own work, especially his film vs. his concert works.

Here, though, I read ASM as quoting it as an example of that sort of closed-mindedness, and herself dismissing it. Rightly so.

On a slightly separate note, can anyone direct me to a recording of Hedwig’s Cadenza, as mentioned in the article. I’m intrigued.

[Miguel Andrade 1,725]

13 minutes ago, QuartalHarmony said:

That certainly was the consensus among most self-appointed guardians of ‘serious’ music for a lot of the 20th century and something we know from various interviews and Tim’s biography that greatly affected JW’s feelings about his own work, especially his film vs. his concert works.

Here, though, I read ASM as quoting it as an example of that sort of closed-mindedness, and herself dismissing it. Rightly so.

On a slightly separate note, can anyone direct me to a recording of Hedwig’s Cadenza, as mentioned in the article. I’m intrigued.

 

She's probably referring to a section of the arrangement on the Across the Stars album.

[bollemanneke 4,331]

They should've asked her when DG is doing Vienna 2.

[Jesse 303]

This is now the second time that I have heard Mutter say that the "Hedwig’s Theme" cadenza is twelve tone. I wonder if she actually means it literally, that it uses twelve tone techniques, or just that it sounds very atonal.
I dont know many, if any, examples of Williams actually employing twelve tone techniques, so it would be cool to know if this actually does. 

My ears aren’t good enough to analyze the music without sheet music to see for myself how the cadenza is constructed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[QuartalHarmony 1,005]

Hedwig’s Theme - as in the actual melody line itself - contains all 12 notes (pitch classes). I was surprised when I first heard this, but it’s correct; see below. Of course, it’s not pure serialist, since notes are repeated, but it’s impressive and, I’m sure, intentional.
 

As to anything beyond that, I don’t know, but it doesn’t sound much like Berg to me!

 

B E G F# E B A F# E G F# D# F B

B E G F# E B D Db C Ab C B A# A# G E

[Jesse 303]

That the melody in itself contains all twelve notes is a cool thing, but has nothing to do with twelve tone music. But Mutter talks specifically about the cadenza, which does sound as if it could, while not being strictly 12 tonal throughout, at least contain 12 tone techniques. 
It would be fitting, since the melody itself contains all 12 notes, to adapt a 12 tone row from it on the basis of which he could then create and work out some material in the cadenza. It would be cool to know if that was actually the case.

[QuartalHarmony 1,005]

Very much so - hence why I asked!

[Falstaft 2,241]

Anyone attend the ASM concert last night at the Barbican and happen to hear what the (presumably new, presumably Star Wars) violin/piano arrangement she played?

 

[Jesse 303]

On 17/05/2026 at 3:09 PM, Falstaft said:

Anyone attend the ASM concert last night at the Barbican and happen to hear what the (presumably new, presumably Star Wars) violin/piano arrangement she played?

 

According to this review it was Schindlers List. Almost certainly in the arrangement for Piano Trio wich Williams made a while back.
https://www.thetimes.com/culture/classical-opera/article/anne-sophie-mutter-review-barbican-tl9k8sr2l 

[BB-8 6,228]