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A look into John Williams’ work of the last five years

BBG News

A look into John Williams' work of the last five years

As a lifelong fan who has grown up with John Williams‘ enchanting melodies echoing through countless cinematic adventures, I can confidently say that the maestro continues to weave his magic spell on audiences of all ages. His work transcends generations, and every new composition feels like reuniting with an old friend.

Over the past few years, the esteemed composer John Williams has garnered widespread acclaim following the debut of the Disney+ documentary titled “Music by John Williams“. Remarkably, at 92 years old, he remains an active force within the music industry, continuing to create new compositions and maintain his significant influence in this field for over five consecutive years.

He composed the music for the final installment in the Skywalker saga, The Rise of Skywalker, in 2019, where he also made his first on-screen cameo for the Star Wars franchise as Oma Tres. He also worked again with his longtime collaborator, Steven Spielberg, twice composing the score for The Fabelmans and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

This piece of work was up for both a Grammy and an Oscar award, making Williams the individual with the second most Academy Award nominations ever, surpassed only by Walt Disney. Currently, he stands at fifth place in terms of all-time Grammy nominations.

It wasn’t just The Rise of Skywalker where John Williams composed music for the Star Wars franchise; he also created the theme for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, which premiered in 2022. According to Variety, Williams actually recorded this piece clandestinely before the show was even released.

More recently, he was associated with ESPN and composed the piece “Of Grit and Glory” for the 2023 National Championship Game in NCAA Football. Additionally, he functioned as a musical advisor, collaborating once more with Spielberg on the 2021 remake of “West Side Story”.

Over the past several years, the renowned composer has been focusing more on conducting than composing. He’s been devoting his time to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, where he has led performances of his Violin Concerto No. 2 and many other well-known works.

He was recently seen in Chicago this past October and will be performing in Los Angeles and Berlin in 2025. For anyone who watches the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, the main theme is written by Williams himself.

Delighted by Williams’ compositions, I’ve been eagerly anticipating his latest creations. Attending the 2022 concert in Pittsburgh with my wife was a treat. Checking off conducting him from my bucket list was an unforgettable experience.

Previously, I acquired the vinyl version of Violin Concerto No.2, featuring renowned violinist Anne Sophie-Mutter’s collaboration. It’s an excellent album, retaining the charm and signature sounds that fans of Williams have grown fond of.

In my perspective as an ardent admirer, Williams’ melodious compositions are bound to captivate more and more music enthusiasts, adding to the extensive roster of unique motifs he weaves.

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2024-11-09 17:21

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