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Posted: |
Feb 8, 2014 - 12:14 PM
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By: |
jonnyquest
(Member)
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As our hero (and we all) get older, I'm increasingly grateful for each and every new note and musical memory John Williams gives us. And I look to his vast body of past work as one of the things that has made my life - many of ours - most worth living.
I finally saw "The Book Thief" last weekend, and at the unexpected, climactic and totally haunting moment when "The Visitor At Himmel Street" appears in the movie and the score, I was just crushed (in the best way) by what an absolutely perfect movie moment (two minutes, actually) it was, and how many of those have washed over me, courtesy of Mr. Williams, since I was a kid.
No matter who the "other" film makers may have been, from Hitchcock or Irwin Allen or Eastwood to DePalma, Spielberg, Altman or Robson (!), Williams has always been the steadfast voice of the moments that made me love cinema. So now each time I hear that "Himmel Street" cue, it seems to be the perfect accompaniment to this montage I see in my mind's eye of my own movie/music memories. I can imagine a little film of myself, wide-eyed with excitement at the opening helicopter sequence of "Inferno," or feel my chest thumping with wonder at the "I Can't Believe It's Real" moment in CE3K, or crying like a baby as Clark Kent says goodbye to his mother while Johnny cues the London Symphony Orchestra. And a thousand others. In this gallery of memories, I'm growing up and changing, but one thing is constant: me sitting there in the dark - eyes, ears and heart wide open, and John Williams supplying the wonder. And then, me sitting there in the dark, as audiences leap up to bolt for the exits, while I just close my eyes to take in every note as the credits roll. (There's nothing like hearing a new JW score for the first time, in a cinema, knowing this is the latest of what seems to be an unstoppable parade of melodies that will now be part of your everyday life). I was that guy 40 years ago, and I was that guy last weekend at "The Book Thief".
I often wonder if the day that I join the ranks of those who just jump up and leave will be the day we won't have another Williams score.
But for now, I will close my tribute by joining everyone else in wishing someone I love so much a wonderful birthday and abundant health, happiness and music. And then I wish him many more.
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His scores have affected me in such a positive light that I will be forever grateful.
Happy Birthday to the greatest composer of all time, Mr. John Williams.
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That's a lovely post/tribute jonnyquest. I really enjoyed reading it.
For the most part, you've lived - and perfectly summed up - my last 35 years or so (ever since I saw Star Wars in January 1978 in Liverpool).
I haven't seen Book Thief yet (it opens in the UK in a few weeks time) but thank you for whetting my appetite for what I have to come.
NP = The Book Thief (JW)
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TO MALEFICIO- You scared me for a minute I had to read it twice. Not that people don't change their opinions on these things. But from what I heard so far from you I don't think you have.
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I'll add my best wishes for a long, healthy, and productive life, dear John, for as long as you enjoy to do so.
From my earliest years in the early sixties, when I nearly electrocuted myself (never, never touch the B3 tube!) attaching alligator clips to the TV speaker through the opened-up back to tape your TV themes onto my faithful old Wollensak reel-to-reel recorder, your music has been a major part of my soundtrack life. I still have those old tapes here somewhere.
Since my first Tanglewood Film Night concert in 1993, through numerous Hollywood Bowl and Lincoln Center concerts, and in your Boston Pops TV concerts, and now even on so many YouTube clips, I have so enjoyed your gentle showmanship, absolute professionalism, and incredible wellspring of thrilling musical inspiration that each new composition/performance reveals.
I can't wait for what is next for you to accomplish. The anticipation is fun, but the experience is always such pleasure.
Ron Burbella
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