“Who is the most famous composer in the world? Paul McCartney? No, I mean classical division. Philip Glass? The answer must be John Williams, chiefly of movie fame. Born in 1932, he is still working and, by the look of it, flourishing.”
That is the way I opened a recent review. Williams had led a gala of his own music in Carnegie Hall. And I devote my latest Music for a While to him: him and his music. To listen, go here.
As I say in the podcast, there are at least three John Williamses in our lives. One is the composer. Another is the classical guitarist, born in Australia in 1941. And have you ever read Stoner? Many people say it is a classic, or deserves to be. It was written by an American John Williams who lived from 1922 to 1994.
Probably everyone has his favorite Williams piece. (I’m talking about the composer now.) I might vote for the Raiders March. But I also want to vote for The Mission, which Williams composed for NBC News in 1985.
Both of those pieces show up in my podcast. So do others, well-known and not. (Did you ever see the 2002 Spielberg movie Catch Me If You Can? That was not a blockbuster, but it has a nifty Williams score.)
After I published my review — my review of the Williams gala — I received a letter from a musician, which I share on my podcast, and would like to share here:
Let me tell you something about John Williams: He is literally the nicest man I have met in the classical-music business. He has boundless patience with audience, donors, musicians. I have never seen him show a trace of anger or annoyance. Everyone wants a piece of his time and there is no one who would be in a better position, or have more of an excuse, to decline, but he gives his all. The last time he was here, he reduced his fee, and even after an exhausting rehearsal-and-concert day he agreed to a reception for donors afterwards and wouldn’t leave until every last person had had the chance to talk with him. He stood for well over an hour in the reception line and didn’t even get any food because it was all gone by the time he had talked to everyone! The stories of his patience and generosity abound in our business.
Anyway, I have fashioned a little Williams tribute on my podcast. Again, here. He has been with us all of our lives, and hasn’t it been a pleasure to have him?