John Williams

John Williams & The Boston Pops Orchestra - A Celebration
EAC+LOG+CUE | 2xFLAC: 776 MB | Full Artwork: 103 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Decca # 478 3590 | Country/Year: Europe 2012, 2004
Genre: Classical / Stage & Screen | Style: Various

Celebration, John Williams' 2012 release on Decca, is a double-disc sampler of his recordings from the 1980s with the Boston Pops Orchestra that also serves as a kind of snapshot album of the conductor and composer. The first disc is entirely devoted to film music, and Williams' popular scores are well-represented by excerpts from Star Wars, E.T., Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Williams shares the limelight with other prolific film composers, notably Max Steiner and Henry Mancini, and the longest track, Pops Salutes the Oscars, is an evocative medley of familiar movie themes, including "When You Wish Upon a Star," "Moon River," "The Way We Were," and "The Shadow of Your Smile."…

The guitar gained international acceptance as a classical instrument only in the 20th century. In that time, however, few musicians achieved a reputation for utter mastery of the instrument equal to that of John Williams. This collection of bright moments from his illustrious career includes music from throughout the world, each highlighting an aspect of Williams' brilliance. While some of the works included in this album may be novelties for Williams, listeners will no doubt be familiar with them. The traditional tune 'Romance' is often performed by guitar students, but rarely with the delicacy found here. Simon and Garfunkel fans will recognize the Peruvian folksong, "El condor pasa," but will delight in Williams' performance of this arrangement.

Virtuosic classical guitarist John Christopher Williams is renowned for his ensemble playing as well as his furtherance of the modern classical guitar repertoire. A Grammy Award-winner, he and fellow guitarist Julian Bream were recognized for Best Chamber Performance for their album Julian and John. It’s been said of Williams, “John is perhaps the most technically accomplished guitarist the world has seen.” (Guitar historian Graham Wade) Since his first professional performance in London in 1958, Williams has been performing throughout the world. He has commissioned works from composers like Stephen Dodgson, Andre Previn, Patrick Gowers, Richard Harvey and Steve Gray, as well as writing some of his own work. He is currently a visiting professor and honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London. "On The Wing" is John Williams' new solo recording, featuring five of his latest compositions, which include the highly regarded "Homage to Rafael", based on the beautiful 16th century song "Toda mi Vida". Also included are his arrangement of the popular Neapolitan song "Catarí, Catarí" and other pieces by Bach and Couperin.