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A compilation of the legendary film composer's work with a difference, A Tribute To John Williams: An 80th Birthday Celebration features a track list specially selected by the octogenarian himself. This personal touch ensures the 15-track collection avoids the usual, ubiquitous standards and allows some of his lesser-known musical numbers the chance to shine. Indeed, most of his major blockbuster work is represented here in some shape or form (Superman and Jurassic Park are the only major omissions), but instead of Jaws' iconic "duh-duh" theme tune, it's the slow-building suspense of "Out to Sea/Shark Cage Fugue" that makes the cut here, while his memorable Star Wars opening number is ignored in favor of the equally majestic "Theme Room & Finale." Elsewhere, the sweeping romance of "Sabrina's Theme" and the Oriental-tinged "Going to School" showcase the best from his under-rated scores for Sabrina and Memoirs of a Geisha, respectively; the haunting memorial of Elegy for cello & orchestra, and the triumphant fanfare of Sound the Bells! are contrasting but equally emotive occasional concert pieces. While Happy Birthday Variations is a previously unreleased piece, specially composed in 1995 for four of his musical friends, including renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and esteemed violinist Itzhak Perlman, both of whom appear twice here. There are more familiar orchestral works, including several cuts from soundtracks written for long-term collaborator Steven Spielberg, both old (1941, E.T.) and new (War Horse, The Adventures of Tintin), while NBC News' The Mission Theme showcases one of his few excursions into TV. But fans looking for a greatest-hits should look elsewhere, as An 80th Birthday Celebration is an altogether more arbitrary retrospective that rightfully highlights the best of Williams' less-applauded but equally illustrious back catalog.
© TiVo
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John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Performer - John Williams, Producer - Ken Wannberg, Producer - Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles, Performer
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Performer - The Boston Pops Orchestra, Performer - Thomas Z. Shepard, Producer
(P) 1991 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Itzhak Perlman, Violin - John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - Laraine Perri, Executive Producer - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Performer - Thomas Frost, Producer
(P) 1997 Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - The Boston Pops Orchestra, Performer - Thomas Z. Shepard, Producer
(P) 1991 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - The Boston Pops Orchestra, Performer - Thomas Z. Shepard, Producer
(P) 1991 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
JoAnn Kane Music Services, Preparer - John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Producer - Louise Di Tullio, Flute - Peter Rotter, Producer - Ramiro Belgardt, Edited By - Sandy De Crescent, Producer - Shawn Murphy, Mixing Engineer - Shawn Murphy, Recording Engineer - Tim Morrison, Trumpet
(P) 2011 DreamWorksStudios under exclusive licence to Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Producer - The Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles, Performer - Yo-Yo Ma, Acoustic Cello - Yo-Yo Ma, Performer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment
Itzhak Perlman, Performer - Itzhak Perlman, Violin - John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Performer - John Williams, Producer - Orchestra, Performer - Rob Marshall, Executive Producer - Yo-Yo Ma, Acoustic Cello - Yo-Yo Ma, Performer
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Producer - Ken Wannberg, Producer - Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles, Performer
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Itzhak Perlman, Performer - Itzhak Perlman, Violin - John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Performer - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Performer - Thomas Frost, Producer
(P) 1997 Sony Music Entertainment
Jason Richmond, Coordinator - Jo Ann Kane Music Service, Preparer - John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Performer - John Williams, Producer - Patricia Sullivan Fourstar, Mastering Engineer - Peter Rotter, Contractor - Ramiro Belgardt, Edited By - Randy Spendlove, Executive Producer - Sandy De Crescent, Contractor - Shawn Murphy, Mixing Engineer - Shawn Murphy, Recording Engineer
(P) 2011 Paramount Pictures, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment
John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Performer - Skywalker Symphony Orchestra, Performer - Thomas Z. Shepard, Producer
(P) 1990 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
John Williams, Composer - John Williams, Conductor - John Williams, Producer - Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles, Performer
(P) 2012 Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
A compilation of the legendary film composer's work with a difference, A Tribute To John Williams: An 80th Birthday Celebration features a track list specially selected by the octogenarian himself. This personal touch ensures the 15-track collection avoids the usual, ubiquitous standards and allows some of his lesser-known musical numbers the chance to shine. Indeed, most of his major blockbuster work is represented here in some shape or form (Superman and Jurassic Park are the only major omissions), but instead of Jaws' iconic "duh-duh" theme tune, it's the slow-building suspense of "Out to Sea/Shark Cage Fugue" that makes the cut here, while his memorable Star Wars opening number is ignored in favor of the equally majestic "Theme Room & Finale." Elsewhere, the sweeping romance of "Sabrina's Theme" and the Oriental-tinged "Going to School" showcase the best from his under-rated scores for Sabrina and Memoirs of a Geisha, respectively; the haunting memorial of Elegy for cello & orchestra, and the triumphant fanfare of Sound the Bells! are contrasting but equally emotive occasional concert pieces. While Happy Birthday Variations is a previously unreleased piece, specially composed in 1995 for four of his musical friends, including renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and esteemed violinist Itzhak Perlman, both of whom appear twice here. There are more familiar orchestral works, including several cuts from soundtracks written for long-term collaborator Steven Spielberg, both old (1941, E.T.) and new (War Horse, The Adventures of Tintin), while NBC News' The Mission Theme showcases one of his few excursions into TV. But fans looking for a greatest-hits should look elsewhere, as An 80th Birthday Celebration is an altogether more arbitrary retrospective that rightfully highlights the best of Williams' less-applauded but equally illustrious back catalog.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:10:18
- Main artists: John Williams
- Composer: John Williams
- Label: Sony Classical
- Genre: Classical
Compilation (P) 2012 Sony Music Entertainment / (P) 1990, 1991, 1997, 2002, 2005, 2012 Sony Music Entertainment / (P) 2001 Warner Bros. / (P) 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. / (P) 2011 DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, under exclusive license to Sony Music En
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