Prom 8 - 20.07.17: Celebrating John Williams

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Looking at the following list (from Wikipedia) of his concert works, there seems little excuse for not taking this opportunity:-

Concertos
• 1969: Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
• 1976: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
• 1985: Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra
• 1991: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra
• 1993: Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, The Five Sacred Trees
• 1994: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
• 1996: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra
• 2000: TreeSong for Violin and Orchestra
• 2002: Heartwood: Lyric Sketches for Cello and Orchestra
• 2002: Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (cut from the Catch Me If You Can film score)
• 2003: Concerto for Horn and Orchestra
• 2007: Duo Concertante for Violin and Viola
• 2009: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra
• 2009: On Willows and Birches, for Harp and Orchestra
• 2011: Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra
•
Other orchestral works
• 1965: Prelude and Fugue on Stan Kenton Conducts the Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra (Capitol, 1965)
• 1965: Symphony #1
• 1968: Sinfonietta for Wind Ensemble
• 1975: Thomas and the King – Musical
• 1980: Jubilee 350 Fanfare
• 1984: Olympic Fanfare & Theme
• 1986: Liberty Fanfare
• 1987: A Hymn to New England
• 1988: Fanfare for Michael Dukakis
• 1988: For New York
• 1990: Celebrate Discovery
• 1993: Sound the Bells!
• 1994: Song for World Peace
• 1995: Variations on Happy Birthday
• 1999: American Journey
• 2003: Soundings
• 2007: Star Spangled Banner
• 2008: A Timeless Call
• 2012: Fanfare for Fenway
• 2012: Seven for Luck for soprano and orchestra
• 2013: For 'The President's Own'
• 2014: Star Spangled Banner
• 2014: Scherzo for Piano and Orchestra
•
Chamber works
• 1951: Sonata for Piano
• 1997: Elegy for Cello and Piano
• 2001: Three Pieces for solo Cello
• 2009: Air and Simple Gifts for violin, cello, clarinet and piano
• 2011: Quartet La Jolla for violin, cello, clarinet and harp
• 2012: Rounds for solo guitar
• 2013: Conversations for solo Piano
• 2014: Music for Brass for Brass Ensemble and Percussion

[makropulos]

Looking at the following list (from Wikipedia) of his concert works, there seems little excuse for not taking this opportunity:-

Concertos
• 1969: Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
• 1976: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
• 1985: Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra
• 1991: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra
• 1993: Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, The Five Sacred Trees
• 1994: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
• 1996: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra
• 2000: TreeSong for Violin and Orchestra
• 2002: Heartwood: Lyric Sketches for Cello and Orchestra
• 2002: Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (cut from the Catch Me If You Can film score)
• 2003: Concerto for Horn and Orchestra
• 2007: Duo Concertante for Violin and Viola
• 2009: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra
• 2009: On Willows and Birches, for Harp and Orchestra
• 2011: Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra
•
Other orchestral works
• 1965: Prelude and Fugue on Stan Kenton Conducts the Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra (Capitol, 1965)
• 1965: Symphony #1
• 1968: Sinfonietta for Wind Ensemble
• 1975: Thomas and the King – Musical
• 1980: Jubilee 350 Fanfare
• 1984: Olympic Fanfare & Theme
• 1986: Liberty Fanfare
• 1987: A Hymn to New England
• 1988: Fanfare for Michael Dukakis
• 1988: For New York
• 1990: Celebrate Discovery
• 1993: Sound the Bells!
• 1994: Song for World Peace
• 1995: Variations on Happy Birthday
• 1999: American Journey
• 2003: Soundings
• 2007: Star Spangled Banner
• 2008: A Timeless Call
• 2012: Fanfare for Fenway
• 2012: Seven for Luck for soprano and orchestra
• 2013: For 'The President's Own'
• 2014: Star Spangled Banner
• 2014: Scherzo for Piano and Orchestra
•
Chamber works
• 1951: Sonata for Piano
• 1997: Elegy for Cello and Piano
• 2001: Three Pieces for solo Cello
• 2009: Air and Simple Gifts for violin, cello, clarinet and piano
• 2011: Quartet La Jolla for violin, cello, clarinet and harp
• 2012: Rounds for solo guitar
• 2013: Conversations for solo Piano
• 2014: Music for Brass for Brass Ensemble and Percussion

Interesting list. It would have been great to have included something from here - but is the Proms programme perhaps of JW's own devising?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Perhaps this is a missed opportunity to perform some of Williams' concert works.

Interesting list. It would have been great to have included something from here - but is the Proms programme perhaps of JW's own devising?

Bearing in mind how dire a piece Williams' Air & Simple Gifts is, perhaps it's more charitable to hear his film themes.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Bearing in mind how dire a piece Williams' Air & Simple Gifts is, perhaps it's more charitable to hear his film themes.

I agree that that particular work isn't great, but there's much more to choose from.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8hJGbiDwYE

[BBMmk2]

I've heard that some of his concertante music, is not on par. I know his Tuba Concerto, that kind of is a rather meandering work, unfortunately.

[french frank]

Interesting list. It would have been great to have included something from here - but is the Proms programme perhaps of JW's own devising?

I wouldn't have thought so - it's not as if he was conducting. Probably they just wanted to give the likely audience an enjoyable evening out with the well-known stuff.

[Barbirollians]

It's not exactly paying the Americans a compliment to make such an assumption. There are culturally ignorant people on both sides of the Atlantic, I can assure you.

True but the III was removed from the film version of Alan Bennett's play The Madness of King George III so Americans did not think they had missed I and II .

[Barbirollians]

No sign of the Imperial March also known as Darth Vader's theme ( perhaps being saved for an encore ? )

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

True but the III was removed from the film version of Alan Bennett's play The Madness of King George III so Americans did not think they had missed I and II .

[Bert Coules]

Given that an on-stage announcer was deemed necessary, surely there must be some interesting musical things to say about the works? I know that these lighter Proms are intended as a way in to the classical repertoire, but even so, the general impression given by both the presentation and the script tonight is that this is a concert aimed at an audience of five year olds.

[bluestateprommer]

Given that an on-stage announcer was deemed necessary, surely there must be some interesting musical things to say about the works? I know that these lighter Proms are intended as a way in to the classical repertoire, but even so, the general impression given by both the presentation and the script tonight is that this is a concert aimed at an audience of five year olds.

That seems to be going on in the interval feature now on iPlayer. (Evidence; use of the term 'perfect fifth' )

[Bert Coules]

Ah, thanks. I'm afraid I'd given up on the live broadcast before it reached the interval.

[DracoM]

Ditto. Surprised it wasn't on R2?
But possibly all packaged for 'global' distribution.......?
I know.......Trump at his next rally?

[bluestateprommer]

No sign of the Imperial March also known as Darth Vader's theme ( perhaps being saved for an encore ? )

I was half-hoping for the 'Cantina' music from the first Star Wars, and....well.... :) (But the music would be better in a Benny Goodman / Count Basie style arrangement, to be sure.)

For EA, you'll be pleased to know that when KL announced the second encore, he did give the film title as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone :) .

For DracoM, given that JW composed for President Obama's 1st inaugural, I would hope that he wouldn't sanction the current idiot occupant at 1600 PA AVE using any of his music for his rallies. (But that wouldn't stop the moron from doing so, since Drumpf is known to flout the law, copyright, fair use, whatever, no matter what.) Plus, you can look at some of KL's choices of tracks, e.g. "the Resistance", "J.F.K." (Democratic US President - can't have that, can we?), or Harry Potter selections (wizardry - Pence would object to that), as not being friendly to the R's in control (sadly) here.

[Barbirollians]

I didn't get past the Overture to Mr Chips .