Composer John Williams.
In Monday’s (5/3) Saturday Evening Post, Andy Hollandbeck writes, “When it comes to composing movie scores, John Williams is the unchallenged master: Jaws, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Superman, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, and on and on. Few can match his ability to raise the emotional level of an onscreen story by levels of magnitude, but none can rival his success at it. He has the statuettes to prove it, too: He has won 26 Grammy Awards (out of 76 nominations), 5 Oscars (54 nominations), 4 Golden Globes (27 noms) and even 3 Emmys (6 noms)…. But while Williams’s silver-screen work has elevated experiences in movie theaters, his works for concert halls haven’t gotten the exposure they deserve. His standalone musical work is every bit as exciting, uplifting, and heart-breaking, only without moving images to go along with it. Here are six of his best.” The article includes descriptions and clips of Williams’s Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (1985), Song for World Peace (1985), Five Sacred Trees (Bassoon Concerto) (1995), For New York (1988), Air and Simple Gifts (2009), and Music for Brass (2014). Read League President and CEO Simon Woods’s in-depth interview with John Williams on Symphony.org.
