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86 today!
I will be playing lots of his music in his honour (for a change) 
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for me every day is John Williams CD (pun intended) but need to get my ducks in a row so I don't quack up.
So much to listen to so little time
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Posted: |
Feb 8, 2018 - 5:01 AM
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By: |
Broughtfan
(Member)
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To Mr. John T. Williams, on the occasion of his eighty-sixth birthday, 8 February, 2018 -
This is indeed a time for celebration (and, for me, reflection). Mr. Williams, for the majority of your eighty-six years you have inspired everyone from beginning students to established professionals, many of the latter now enjoying substantial music careers. If it wasn't for your considerable example my own musical journey likely would have begun and ended in sixth grade with the viola, an instrument for which I had neither a talent nor any real affinity. Forty-plus years later my "love affair" with music, all genres/styles of music, continues on, stronger than ever.
Thank you for all of the music you've created that has had an impact on me, all the way back to your 1964 pilot score for, as you then knew the assignment, "Gilligan's Travels." With all due respect to Benjamin Britten, the original "Star Wars" OST album was, I feel, my generation's "young person's guide to the orchestra" (thank you also for those thoughtful, informative album notes you supplied!)
Would love to eventually see your music drafting table (topped with your sketch pad/writing pencil) donated to the Smithsonian (surrounded by an artwork collage from all of your OST/concert music recordings). A reminder to young people (in particular) of just what can result from dedication to one's craft, unceasing study and just sheer hard work.
Looking forward to many more 'humble scribblings' (your words) from your pencil.
Many Happy Returns, Mr. Williams.
Respectfully, appreciatively -
William
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Blasted through LAST JEDI and THE POST in work this morning.
Spot of lunch and then onto that back catalogue!!! Where to begin!?!?
I love my job! 
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Galactic Birthday Wishes on Your Special Day - Feel The Force JW!
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Laudamus te!
Laudamus!
Laudamus te!
Luadamus!
Exultate justi in Domino!
Go Dogplant
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The first album I ever bought was "The Empire Strikes Back," and from that moment on I hoovered up every ounce of information I could find on film music while building a collection that today is my pride and joy. (Williams, of course, occupies the top shelf.) Happy birthday, John. I don't know what this planet did to deserve you, but we're mighty grateful.
QUESTION for y'all: Does anyone remember a video that was posted here a while back (by which I mean years) of John working with Spielberg, I think at the piano, on "Jaws"? There is a moment, if memory serves, where Spielberg is asking John about a certain moment where he wonders if the audience will react with enough fright. John gets this mischievous look in his eye---this look of almost sadistic glee---and he says something like, "Just wait!" As in, relax, Steven, I know exactly what to do.
It's a brief moment, and I have never seen that kind of playfulness and giddy confidence in John's face before as he's composing, let alone composing such as classic as Jaws. I went looking for it yesterday and couldn't find it, but I'll never forget that moment.
-
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Laudamus te!
Laudamus!
Laudamus te!
Luadamus!
Exultate justi in Domino!
That was... Sunny!
Happy Birthday, Maestro!
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Happy Birthday indeed.
I was a film music fan long before Star Wars. But I will never forget the letter to Photoplay: Film Monthly just after Star Wars was released where someone said that everyone MUST get the soundtrack and see the movie, as it was an overdue return to the film scores of the kind Korngold and Steiner would have done back in the day.
Not for the first time I'm ashamed to say I thought the film would sport a score like the Meco chart single! I'd heard THAT and was initially disappointed with the soundtrack (which I bought before seeing the film).
Of course things have changed a LOT since that silly moment. Don't forget that before SW I was a fan of Rozsa, Herrmann and Morricone! So I was having what I can only describe as a (then) modern moment.
Since then we've had some of the most memorable music in film history, and it was my honour to see the man himself conducting at the Royal Albert Hall for Filmharmoic '80. I heard and saw him conducting his awesome music for many of his hits including Empire Strikes Back, which was pretty damn fresh then.
Only one word to describe my enjoyment on that evening: WOW.
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Listening to The Towering Towner... I mean Inferno.
No... no, I got it right the first time.
PS: Also looked at Oscar clips of his ET and Schindler's wins.
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Listening to LLL's Hook right now.
A happy 86th Birthday to Maestro Williams!
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Do we think a moment like that can come again? Will someone make a hit movie where everyone says "Make it sound like Williams?"
I'm not a firm believer of "the pendulum" theory as others are here. Music has become too cheap and fast to make for the Romantic style to return again. Although, if it did, there's also the matter of whether audiences will accept it wholesale. "Cheese" and "cringe" have become shorthand for whimsy and wonder.
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