Visit www.InsideTheMa... for more Star Wars fun! Legendary composer John Williams conducted the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra live as they played classic Star Wars songs live at Star Wars Celebration 2017 in Orlando.
" I've felt a great disturbance in the force. Thousands of voices cried out in joy, and were suddenly silenced. I believe something wonderful has happened....."
Can you imagine the reaction of the Orlando Philharmonic when they were told, "Oh yeah not only are you playing at the Star Wars Celebration but oh by the way, John Williams is conducting. I bet some of them flipped! I would have!
Twethereal man I was not 8 rows behind Williams himself. This moment left me floored and on the verge of tears. even after the surprise of Lucas and Ford appearing.
Twethereal As a lifelong music lover especially of movie soundtracks and compositions I would have died happy right there in front of Williams listening to the music and watching him conduct it.
I managed to be on the right end of the 3rd middle row. Everyone in that room cried. 5 seconds before this Billie Lourd recited her mother's speech to Obi-Wan just a few months after Carrie Fisher passed away. It was unforgettable
The man himself once said "Good composers borrow, great composers steal!" .. JW is a perfectly filtered result of Beethoven, Holst, Brahms, Wagner and Copland.
Ren Outlaw Actually, "classical music" describes European music from a period that began shortly before and ended shortly after the French Revolution (late 18th century). I believe, you are referring to "classic" music, meaning music that stays alive for decades or centuries and defines genres for what comes after it.
Ren Outlaw Ah, okay, albeit I would say that Williams' music is neo-romantic in style, structure, orchestration and atmosphere and thus stems heavily from the symphonic traditions of the late 19th and early 20th century.
Since celebration in 2019 will likely be the last year to celebrate John Williams' new contributions to the saga (Episode 9), I think they should let him conduct one final epic Star Wars concert and give him some kind of lifetime tribute award.
John Williams is what made the movies feel so magical, when I was a kid. It made going to the movies, feel like a "movie". I feel so blessed to have been able to grow up and be a kid when E.T., Superman, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Jaws were in the theater.
S. SH How could you forget Jurassic Park, no other theme would ever make me go to a land of flesh eating monsters but if i got to listen to the opening theme with the doctor in a helicopter on the way there, i think i eould die happily knowing my life is complete
I love how he got the biggest cheers that whole session. It was such a surprise and the whole place freaked out :) Of course people are going to pick up their cellphones and record this. Most of the people there don't live in LA where we get to see him conduct the orchestra live every year to his incredible music. This is a MASSIVE treat for them!!!
guess you're right. i've seen him 4 times at the hollywood bowl over the years. last year included. not to mention an entire star wars concert in san pedro.
Wael Binali I was there and I would say that both Lucas' and Harrison's were bigger. But it's really not a competition. It was an incredible experience in the spirit of the whole Star Wars family together. It was all magical.
I went that whole tribute only shedding a couple sad tears and a lump in my throat. It wasnt until John Williams showed up and I heard Leia's them playing that I couldn't take it and just broke down into an emotional wreck. Im an average nobody 22 year old man who grew up on Star Wars since I was barely in Pre-School and Im deeply mourning a celebrity as if she was a close family member. Thats the effect Carrie had on people. No matter where you are in the world she has a habit of making any fan feel like someon special. As if every interview or panel she took part in felt like she was talking beyond the screen and directly to you. There will never be a character that compares to Princess Leia and there will never be another Carrie Fisher...
John Williams: A composer on the magnitude of Mozart, Bach and Beethoven before him. Truly a Master at his craft and the reason so many films have heart. We will not see a composer like John again for quite some time.
Same. My dad had the entire soundtrack and we’d set it up on the record player in the living room and listen to it from the dining area during dinner. Good memories.
True. Look him up on Wikipedia. In terms of academy awards for movie music (any sub-category), he is second only to "the Mouse" - and they had not one but SIX major composer teams, going back to the Sherman brothers and including Ashman and Menken - plus Sir Elton. Plus TV music awards and a few other honors. Think about this: The Star Wars franchise started in the late 1970s and that theme is still going strong. Oh, another one of his long-running contributions? Hedwig's Theme from the Harry Potter series! Living legend is true but somehow words do not do justice.
That is a extremely rare opportunity. John Williams is an icon to the entire film industry. So many films with music are directed by him, not just Star Wars.
Within the first few notes of "Princess Leia's Theme," realizing this was a tribute to Carrie Fisher, it was instant waterworks. RIP, Carrie Fisher. We'll miss you. :'-( Also, I think if I had to choose just one film score great to look up to, it'd be John Williams, for sure.
When they begin the Main Theme - Just that reaction from hearing about half a second of the song - one big hit- and knowing exactly what it is, and that kind of reaction - that's still just one of my favorite things in the world. :)
What an honor, I got to see it online at celebration wish I was there. OMG Williams is an Icon and a favorite of mine. He will go down as one of the greatest ever. 2 cheers for Orlando Film Harmonic Orchestra too, amazing job.
Loved the dedication to Carrie Fisher with Princess Leia's theme. Great surprise for a festival and legendary John Williams is the greatest composer of our existence
Go to Tanglewood, Massachusetts in August. He conducts a "film night" there every year with Boston Philharmonic. Guaranteed Star Wars + Indiana Jones etc.
When I matriculated at Juilliard, and was asked who my favorite composer was and I said John Williams. The teacher said John Williams, isn't a classical music composer. He's a film composer, I felt like unenrolling at Juilliard. All the best Shaun of NYC
John Williams' score to Star Wars was heavily influenced by Gustav Holsts: The Planets. ... and Jerry Goldsmith definitely has seen John Williams eye to eye.
Clarification: I was talking about film composers in the present day. I understand your comments and agree that Mozart, for example, was more of a genius.
Some pseudo-intellectual always name drops classical composers, as if they are relevant to giving accolades to John Williams or relevant to film scoring.
I love that the two biggest cheers of the whole thing were for Carrie Fisher's memorial and John Williams himself. If you want to know the impact that this man has had on so many generations of people with his music, just look at how respectful this crowd is when he asks them to be quiet and how little noise there is during the performances.
What a glorious moment and a great surprise for Star Wars fans. This is one of those once in a lifetime things and I wish I could have been there. Thank you John Williams for all your hard work and talent making world-class soundtracks and to all the fellow fans that support Star Wars.
I've had the privilege of watching Mr. Williams conduct twice, at Tanglewood. Unlike conductors who bully, Mr. Williams leads and, with simple and graceful gestures, brings out the best of every musician in the orchestra. What a joy to watch him again.
I love his conducting, it's so smooth... Damn, this man is a freaking magician... I love you, John Williams, for all the emotions you've been providing us with for years and years. May you live as long as possible to keep gracing the world with your genius... You have my eternal respect, sir.
Amazing. You can feel the love in that auditorium. I was already welling up during Leia's theme, but when the Star Wars theme started playing and the one lightsaber to the left came up, and whoever was holding it stood so proud, I lost it. The theater I worked at ran Star Wars exclusively on one screen, in one theater in the PHX, AZ (OGCC4EVEVAH) until Alien came along. Can you believe Fox didn't believe in Star Wars enough to give it a 70mm roadshow or full nationwide release? Executives (except one) were PISSED at George Lucas after they saw the movie and didn't want to release it at all, but were contractually obligated to do so. They vowed never to work with Lucas again (HA). Fox released Star Wars in a few (50 or so) theaters nationwide in 35mm MONO (only major cities got 4-track sound) because they thought it was going to lose money. After articles started popping up about "the phenomenon" of the sci-fi movie the kids were going back to see again and again, Fox realized the box office wasn't declining, it was going up or staying steady. Major theater chains also noticed & started begging Fox for prints. As far as the music; John Williams had his misgivings after hearing Lucas' ideas, but believed in him enough to deliver the now classic score., Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Who else comes close in composing music?
I'm not a fan of Star Wars, but I am of John Williams; I was genuinely astonished to how only person silenced a room in 2 seconds, and at their own waiting will, so that they could hear his music. You know you are loved when all the people didn't expect your presence, and immediately silences to hear you.
Even in the early '90s it was rare to see someone with a video camera at an event. I remember being at an air show with one and I felt weird when I looked around and didn't notice anyone else recording.
He appears at Star Wars concerts all of the time. I've seen him twice in the last few years -- once conducting an encore of the Imperial March, and once a full concert. Make your own luck! He performs regularly.
I see what u mean, but in another perspective, someone might have think ur saying,"because the president is more popular, people won't shut up about him"
The man NEVER compromised on quality. The rendition is near as studio-quality as it can get given the setting in which this is performed. A big salute to the maestro on his technical brilliance.
This was an incredible thing to be in the room for! When Princess Leia's theme began, you could hear people openly sobbing. I was ine of them. Such a powerful, emotional moment.
John Williams has earned his spot in the circle of godly musicians. He has put over 30 years into this one movie saga alone, and has done many more along his way. He's earned the respect of millions, and for that, the way he shushed 1000 people in a single wave of the hand shows how far he's come. We salute you John Williams, keep making Star Wars revolutionary
My first experience was when I saw Empire Strikes Back in theaters when it came out and am so thankful that I am still here able to enjoy these new amazing experiences!! Children now will look back at these days with great fondness, guaranteed!
I actually thought that John Williams might perform this piece/leitmotif at Carrie's funeral. I'm sure he's really going to put his all (when doesn't he, though?) in to his music for Princess/General Leia in Episode VIII. The man is an American (and international) Icon.
