John Williams 85th
As the latest Star Wars film - The Last Jedi - hits the big screen - there's another chance to hear Mark Kermode's 85th birthday tribute to composer John Williams.
Lights, Camera, Action, Music!
As the latest Star Wars film - The Last Jedi - hits the big screen - there's another chance to hear Mark Kermode's 85th birthday tribute to composer John Williams.
A long time ago in a galaxy not so far, far away composer John Williams sat at his grand piano to sketch out ideas for his next film score. He knew little about the subject matter apart from the fact that it was a "spaceship film". His friend Steven Spielberg had recommended him to the film's producer who was called George Lucas. He set to work on the main theme - a blast of discordant brass - a fanfare to herald the start of the film. In later years he said - "I hope I wrote something mysterious, dramatic, and hugely effective". In 2005 the American Film Institute named the soundtrack to Star Wars as the most memorable film score of all time.
On 8th February this great movie maestro celebrates his 85th birthday. He is perhaps the last great maestro who writes big orchestral music for the big screen, continuing a line which has included the likes of Franz Waxman, Erich Korngold and Alfred Newman. He's provided scores for more than 100 films over a career spanning more than 5 decades including a 40 year collaboration with director Steven Spielberg. He has won 5 Oscars, 4 Golden Globes, 7 Baftas and 22 Grammy Awards. He has notched up 50 Academy Award nominations, second only to Walt Disney who achieved 59.
In this special Friday Night is Music Night concert film critic Mark Kermode looks back on John's career and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra and London Voices conducted by Stephen Bell perform some of his greatest scores including Jaws, Star Wars, Harry Potter, E.T. , Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Indiana Jones and Saving Private Ryan.
There's additional content on the Radio 2 website. It's your chance to hear some of John's greatest film scores in a new way. You can view an interactive video of some of tonight's performances and zoom in on sections of the orchestra to make them louder. Hear the effect of the brass, strings or the percussion in the mix or how the rhythm of the music is used to create tension, fear or drama. It's your chance to balance a 70 piece orchestra!
During tonight's interval British film composer David Arnold talks about writing music for the big screen. Arnold's work includes collaborations with the likes of Bjork, Kaiser Chiefs and Pulp; signature tunes for Little Britain and Sherlock as well as scoring for films Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla and five James Bond movies.
First broadcast in February this year.
Last on
More episodes
Harry Potter, Jaws, Jurassic Park and more...
Clips
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Excerpt from the Love Theme from Superman
Duration: 00:30
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Excerpt from Theme from Schindler's List
Duration: 00:28
Music Played
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Stephen Bell
Friday Night Is Music Night Opening Sig Tune
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ CONCERT ORCHESTRA C.B. Stephen Bell
Star Wars - Main Theme
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ CONCERT ORCHESTRA C.B. Stephen Bell & Nathaniel Anderson-frank
Schindler's List - Main Theme
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ CONCERT ORCHESTRA C.B. Stephen Bell
DEVIL'S DANCE (FROM THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK)
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ CONCERT ORCHESTRA C.B. Stephen Bell & London Voices
Hymn to the fallen
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ CONCERT ORCHESTRA C.B. Stephen Bell
"JAWS" - MAIN THEME
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Stephen Bell, Benjamin Hughes & Nathaniel Anderson-frank
Memoirs Of A Geisha - The Chairman's Waltz
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Stephen Bell & London Voices
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Alone - Somewhere In My Memory
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Stephen Bell
With Malice Towards None
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ CONCERT ORCHESTRA C.B. Stephen Bell
March: Raiders of The Lost Ark
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra
Jurassic Park (Main Theme)
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Amy Dickson & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Stephen Bell
Escapades, 1st movt
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Stephen Bell
The Finale - The Empire Strikes Back
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ CONCERT ORCHESTRA C.B. Stephen Bell
The Book Thief
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Stephen Bell & London Voices
DRY YOUR TEARS AFRICA
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Stephen Bell
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra
LOVE THEME - SUPERMAN
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ CONCERT ORCHESTRA C.B. Stephen Bell
HARRY'S WONDROUS WORLD
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra
E.T. Adventures on Earth
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Stephen Bell
FNIMN Closing Sig Tune
Broadcasts
- Fri 10 Feb 2017 20:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2
- Fri 8 Dec 2017 20:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2