There are so many new composers I know nothing about. Perhaps I’ll start a series that features composers who are new to my ears. We shall see.
This composer was great fun to listen to, especially as she talks about her composition process.
Hannah Kendall, talking about her work Baptistry.
But he sure has composed a ton for the series!
Film composer John Williams has revealed he will only write the music for one more Star Wars movie.
The composer, who has written the music for Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Schindler’s List, recently spoke to California radio station KUSC, and said he wouldn’t write any more music for the Star Wars franchise after Episode IX, which is expected in 2019.
Williams has so far composed the scores for eight of the Star Wars films: the original Star Wars (A New Hope), its sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, as well as The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
In recent years, the composer has handed the reins over to other composers: in 2016, Michael Giacchino composed the music for Rogue One, and John Powell will score this year’s Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Williams told KUSC: “We know JJ Abrams is preparing one [Star Wars movie] now that I will hopefully do next year for him. I look forward it. It will round out a series of nine, that will be quite enough for me.”
I read it here.
In celebration of Boston Pops Laureate Conductor John Williams’s 81st birthday on February 8, 2013, the Boston Pops is releasing a new live recording of the composer’s Oboe Concerto. Written for principal Pops oboist Keisuke Wakao, the Oboe Concerto is the latest John Williams work to showcase the talented musicians of the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops. The recording took place during the world premiere performance of the work at a Boston Pops concert at Symphony Hall on May 25, 2011.
Release: 1/29/2013
Duration: 00:18:34
Genre: Classical – Live Performance
Label: BSO Classics
Just go here to purchase the recording.
In case you aren’t familiar with him, Kerry Lewis is a composer in our area and he’s written some wonderful pieces for oboe and piano. Here are some samples with the fantastic Michael Adduci on oboe. Both works are available through Trevco.
Suite: 1. At Play 2. At Rest 3. Intermezzo 4. Rondo
Here’s the second movement in its complete form (but including a bit of noise, as it’s a live recording). It’s lovely and works quite well on its own!
At Rest from Oboe Suite
Elegy for Oboe
From the YouTube page:
As part of the 2014 East Neuk classical music festival in Scotland, Sand in Your Eye created a sand drawing portrait of the composer Franz Schubert. The film was captured on a Go Pro 3 camera on a DJI Phantom Quadcopter.
… even though I’d not heard of you before!
(Wikipedia entry)
This is the German Brass (2009 posting)
The Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias plays works conceived, composed and orchestrated by 9 year-old Asturian composers (plus one from NYC). This concert was given in Mieres, Asturias, SPAIN May 27, 2011, with Daniel Sanchez, guest conductor.
I’d love to know more about the young composers. Are they taking lessons? Did they write out all of the parts? How much help did they receive? So far I’ve not found more about this anywhere, but it’s interesting to hear. No, the music isn’t going to necessarily last … but what were you doing when you were nine years old?
… at least this one must be making ’em. $48 milion? Yikes!
The Plaza Hotel has hit a high note.
A Russian composer has just closed on a $48 million home at the Plaza — the highest price ever paid for a single condo unit in New York.
The buyer is Igor Krutoy and his wife Olga.
The 6,000-square-foot unit in the swanky, historic hotel is on the 12th floor. While it has sweeping views of Central Park, it is not even a full-floor unit.
Prudential Douglas Elliman’s Lisa Simonsen, who brokered the deal, declined to comment.
Sources told the Post that Krutoy was willing to shell out the big bucks because he was tired of losing out. Krutoy had previously lost other apartments he was interested in buying at fancy 15 Central Park West and the Time Warner Center by bidding too low.
One does need a lot of square footage in order to write music, I’m sure. Sorry he didn’t get a full-floor unit, though. Sad.
I’d not heard of him before, so I’m guessing maybe one or two of you hadn’t either. So here, let me share …
Want another?
Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins will appear at two concerts in the U.K. in July to present his own music for the first time plus scores from several of his films performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
The Welsh-born actor will present scores he has written including those for August (1996) and Slipstream (2007), which he also directed and starred in, and a new piece that he has written especially for the Birmingham orchestra.
Hopkins said, “There are themes and passages in these pieces that have been several decades in the making, and to bring them all vividly to life with one of the great symphony orchestras of the world is absolutely thrilling.”
Found here.
