Star Wars Revisited
John Williams discusses the challenges of returning to the Star Wars series, nearly two decades on, and the hidden plot clues buried deep in his music.
John Williams talks exclusively to Donald Macleod for the final time this week, with Star Wars once more taking centre stage.
Williams discusses the challenges of returning to the Star Wars series, nearly two decades on, and the hidden plot clues buried deep in his music. We'll hear highlights from Williams's brand-new music for the three 'prequels' (Eps I-III), including Duel Of The Fates and the climactic Battle Of The Heroes.
The programme opens with two recent works that throw back to his background in big bands and concert halls - the effervescent, jazz-infused Main Title from Tintin - and a spiky, Stravinskyan Horn Concerto. We also showcase one of Williams's most haunting scores of the previous decade - his music to Rob Marshall's Memoirs of a Geisha.
Donald Macleod ends the week with thoughts on John Williams's career and position as "America's composer", a unique musical voice transcending popular and classical music, and arguably the inheritor of a mantle once held by Gershwin, Copland and Bernstein. The week plays out with Williams's music for the inauguration of Barack Obama as US President in 2008 - his Air and Simple Gifts.
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John Williams
The Adventures of Tintin Main Title
Orchestra: Hollywood Studio Symphony. Conductor: John Williams. -
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John Williams
The Adventures of Tintin - Snowy's Theme
Orchestra: The Hollywood Studio Orchestra. -
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John Williams
Memoirs Of A Geisha - Sayuri's Theme
Ensemble: Ensemble Nipponia. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.- SONY CLASSICAL: 82876778572.
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John Williams
Memoirs Of A Geisha - Chiyo's Prayer
Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Ensemble: Ensemble Nipponia. Conductor: John Williams.- SONY CLASSICAL: 82876778572.
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John Williams
Memoirs Of A Geisha - The Chairman's Waltz
Conductor: John Williams. Ensemble: Ensemble Nipponia. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.- SONY CLASSICAL: 82876778572.
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John Williams
Memoirs Of A Geisha - Sayuri's Theme And End Credits
Ensemble: Ensemble Nipponia. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.- SONY CLASSICAL: 82876778572.
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John Williams
Horn Concerto (2003)- Angelus:Far Far Away, Like Bells: At Evening Pealing
Performer: Karl Pituch. Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin. -
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John Williams
Horn Concerto (2003) - The Battle Of The Trees: Swift Oak: Stout Guardian Of The Door
Performer: Karl Pituch. Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin. -
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John Williams
Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace(1999) - Duel Of The Fates
Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.- SONY CLASSICAL: SK61816.
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John Williams
Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace(1999)- Anakin's Theme
Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.- SONY CLASSICAL: SK61816.
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John Williams
Star Wars: Episode 2 Attack Of The Clones(2002)Across The Stars
Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.- SONY CLASSICAL: SK89932.
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John Williams
Star Wars: Episode 3 Revenge Of The Sith (2005) Battle Of The Heroes
Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.- SONY CLASSICAL: SK94220.
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John Williams
Air and Simple Gifts (2008)
Performer: Anthony McGill. Performer: Itzhak Perlman. Performer: Yo鈥怸o Ma. Performer: Gabriela Montero.- SONY MASTERWORKS: 8869770636.
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Broadcasts
- Fri 18 Jan 2013 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 18 Jan 2013 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 4 Oct 2013 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 4 Oct 2013 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
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