John Williams is, without question, one of America’s greatest composers. His vast career began in the 1950s and has continued for seven decades. During this time he has received twenty-five Grammy Awards, five Academy Awards, and countless other awards and recognitions. In 2005, his soundtrack to the film Star Wars (1977) was selected by the American Film Institute as the greatest movie score of all time. While he is best known for his collaborations with Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas, his vast body of work includes television, music composed specifically for the Olympic Games, stand-alone classical compositions, and a thirteen-year tenure as conductor of the world-renowned Boston Pops
is a celebration of this extraordinary composer in the year of his ninetieth birthday. We are pleased to feature music from his most popular and enduring film scores. All of the arrangements used this evening were created at Williams’ request specifically for the two occasions when he conducted the “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. We hope you enjoy our tribute to this musical genius.
Overture To ‘The Cowboys’ (1972) Johnarr.Williams(b.1932)Bocook
The Jedi Steps & Finale (2015) John Williams arr. Paul Lavender
Viktor’s Tale (2004) John Williams arr. Paul Lavender
Deborah Bish, clarinet
Adventures On Earth (1982) John Williams arr. Paul Lavender
Raider’s March (1981) John Williams arr. Paul Lavender Nickolas Doshier, graduate associate conductor
Theme From Schindler’s List (1993)
Benjamin Sung, violin
John Williams arr. John Moss
The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme) (1980) John Williams arr. Stephen Bulla
Star Wars Main Title (1977) John Williams arr. Stephen Bulla
The premieres for the following John Williams Signature Edition arrangements for wind ensemble coincided with the 205th and 210th anniversaries of the United States Marine Band – in 2003 and 2008 respectively – performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington D.C. and conducted by the legendary composer, John Williams. The subsequent program notes are John Williams’ original words relayed here for you from the conductor’s scores, including edits for content and length.
The Cowboys was a film directed by the very talented Mark Rydel and featured John Wayne, probably Hollywood’s quintessential cowboy. The movie required a vigorous musical score to accompany virtuoso horseback riding and calf roping, and when my friend Andrew Previn heard fragments of the score, he suggested that a concert overture lay hidden within the film’s music. Several years slipped by, and each time I saw the indefatigable Previn he would ask, “Have you made an overture of Cowboys yet?” He kept this up until 1980, when I finally worked out the piece and played it at a Boston Pops concert. Both the orchestra and the audience seemed to enjoy the music to such an extent that it has been part of our repertoire ever since. I am especially delighted that this edition has finally been made available, and I hope that interested people will find genuine pleasure in this music.
Over the years, George Lucas’ Star Wars saga has continued to hold its grip on the imaginations of its millions of fans worldwide. Presented with the task of renewing and extending the great story, in Star Wars: The Force Awakens , director J.J. Abrams has risen to the challenge magnificently. New and exciting characters join the original cast on a joy ride that offered rich possibilities to extend the musical score. Daisey Ridley, John Boyega, and Harrison Ford give particularly strong performances, and it’s been my privilege to musically accompany their fresh and energetic screen presence. For the soundtrack recording, we had the services of a brilliant Los Angeles-based studio orchestra and with this new music, my hope is that other orchestras, bands, and audiences may also want to continue to join in the fun of Star Wars .
The largely fictitious character of Vikto Navorsky was the central player in Steven Spielberg’s entertaining film, The Terminal . In the story, Viktor left his home in an imaginary Eastern European country, arriving at a U.S. airport where his adventures began. To portray Viktor’s warmth and friendliness, I decided to write a dance-like piece for clarinet and orchestra that would capture something of his colorful ethnic background. In recording the soundtrack of the film, I was very lucky to have the services of clarinetist Emily Bernstein, who performed the music with great style, technique, and taste.
Adventures On Earth Adventures On Earth is part of the score that I composed for Steven Spielberg’s classic film, E.T. (The Extra-Terrestrial) . The music was designed to accompany the bicycle chase near the end of the film and as the young cyclists reach escape velocity, E.T.’s theme is heard as they fly “over the moon.” The more sentimental music that follows, accompanies the dialogue as E.T. bids farewell to his earthling friends. This is followed by timpani and brass fanfares as the orchestra brings the film to a close.
“The Raider’s March” was written in 1981 for Steven Spielberg’s production of Raiders of the Lost Ark . I created the march as an “adventure” theme to be associated with Indiana Jones, the colorful hero of the film, played so brilliantly by actor Harrison Ford. The success of this wonderful movie led to two sequels: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade . These films formed a trilogy which became one of the most successful action-film series in cinema history and we used the march as the central musical theme for all three episodes. This music was introduced at the beginning of the first film when Indiana made his initial escape form the pursuing villains and it was subsequently used as the musical accompaniment for all of his daring exploits. Since its composition, I’ve had so much joy performing this piece in its original form, that I’m delighted that this [wind ensemble] edition has been made available.
During the summer of 1993 it was my great privilege to compose music for Steven Spielberg’s brilliant film Schindler’s List . The film’s ennobling story, set in the midst of the great tragedy of the Holocaust, offered an opportunity to create not only dramatic music, but also themes that reflected the more tender and nostalgic aspects of Jewish life during these turbulent years. For this part of the soundtrack I featured a solo violin, accompanied by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and our greatest good fortune was to have Itzhak Perlman as soloist for the recording. Included here is the main theme of the score, and it is especially gratifying to me that the music can now be available for performance independent of the film.
During 1997 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the release of George Lucas’ classic film Star Wars . All of us connected with this phenomenal movie have been greatly gratified to see an entire new generation of very young film-goers enjoy the Star Wars trilogy and relate so strongly to its story, characters, and music. I have always felt privileged to have had the opportunity to compose music for these landmark films, and the ongoing interest in the films and their music has continued to be one of my greatest joys.
The Star Wars Main Theme is featured in the iconic opening sequence of the original Star Wars trilogy, as each adventure is prefaced in one continuous narrative scroll across the backdrop of space. While the piece evokes an energetic and imaginative soundscape for the listener, the Main Title music features extreme technical demands for the performers. This edition for wind ensemble brilliantly captures the original orchestral edition’s boldness and fervor, preserving the sentiment evoked within this infamous film saga.
Piccolo
Brenna Wiinanen
Flute
Samantha Donnell*
Kaitlyn BrennaAshleighCalcaginoWallaceMiller
Oboe
Luis EliJenniferGallo*McHenryBarrios
Bassoon
Abigail Whitehurst
Alex EmmaleeLee Odom, Contra
E-Flat Clarinet
Ciara Solby
B-Flat Clarinet
Connor Croasmun
Maggie Watts
Marissa Stanfill
Jin JessicaYun Pollack
Trey Burke
Alex Vaquerizo
Bass Clarinet Renzo DeCarlo
Alto Saxophone
Dawson Coleman* Blake Adams Tenor Saxophone
Parker Franklin
Baritone Saxophone Collin Bankovic
Trumpet/Cornet Vito SawyerJamesJackVanceAngelaBell*King*GarvenLyonsPopperPrichard
Horn Leslie CoryTarreBriannaBellNayNelsonKirby
String Bass Gene Waldron
Justin Hamann Will Roberts Bass Trombone
Carter Wessinger
Euphonium
Jonah MichaelZimmerman*Chou
Tuba
Ramon Garavito, Jr.*
Chris Bloom Percussion
Jacob LandonChristopherConnorDellWillitsBairdHolladay
Piano Sihui Liu
Harp Alexandra Mullins
Graduate Assistant Nickolas Doshier
Program Manager
Chelsea Blomberg
* Principal/Co-Principal
