name	Fernando Sor
alt	A monotone image of Fernando Sor playing the guitar
birth name	Josep Ferran Sorts i Muntades
birth date	Baptized 14 February 1778 (date of birth unknown)
birth place	Barcelona, Spain
death date	July 10, 1839
death place	Paris, France
occupation	Composer, guitarist
nationality	Spanish }}

Josep Ferran Sorts i Muntades (baptized 14 February 1778 – died 10 July 1839) was a Spanish classical guitarist and composer. While he is best known for his guitar compositions, he also composed music for a wide range of genres, including opera, orchestra, string quartet, piano, voice, and ballet. His ballet score ''Cendrillon'' (''Cinderella'') received over one hundred performances. Sor’s works for guitar range from pieces for beginning players to advanced players such as ''Variations on a Theme of Mozart''.

Sor gave concerts throughout Europe, including in England, Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw. Before the early 19th century, the guitar was little-known in England. Sor seems to have created a market for himself there and then met the demand. Sor’s contemporaries considered him to be the best guitarist in the world, and his works for guitar have been widely played and reprinted since his death.

As Sor's works were published in various countries, his name was translated, leading to variations in the spelling. Variations have included Joseph Fernando Macari Sors, Fernando Sor, Ferran Sor, Ferdinand Sor, and Ferdinando Sor.

Biography [link]

Spain [link]

Born in Barcelona to a fairly well-off family, Sor was descended from a long line of career soldiers, and intended to continue that legacy, but was distracted from this when his father introduced him to Italian opera. He fell in love with music and abandoned his military career goals. Along with opera, Sor's father also introduced him to the guitar, which, at the time, was little more than an instrument played in taverns, thought to be inferior to orchestral instruments.

At a young age, Sor’s parents were wary of giving his musical abilities too much special attention, because his father was afraid that it would distract from his Latin studies. Therefore, the very young Sor (less than 11 years old) began to write songs to words in Latin to impress his parents. He even invented his own system for notating music, as he had not yet received formal training.

When he reached the age of 11 or 12, the leader of the Barcelona Cathedral took attention to him as a young talent. In a very unfortunate stroke of fate, however, not long after Sor was enrolled in the school his father died, leaving his mother without the funds to continue Sor’s education at the Cathedral. However, at around the same time, the new abbot of Montserrat, Joseph Arredondo, heard of his talent as well, and provided funds for him to attend the “Escolanía” (Choir School) at the famous monastery in Montserrat. Sor reveals in writings, mainly from the last ten years of his life, that he was greatly attached to this place, and had fond, nostalgic memories of his childhood there. Unfortunately, his mother began to see that Sor was becoming greatly distracted from his “chosen” path in the military or administration, and following the advice of friends took him out of the monastery and placed him in military school for four years. It was not a terrible turn of events, as he had much free time to play and compose music in the army as well.

In 1808, when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain, Sor began to write nationalistic music for the guitar, often accompanied by patriotic lyrics. Sor was even part of traveling military bands that would play protest music on the streets. He was also promoted to captain in Córdoba and may have fought battles against the French at this time. After the defeat of the Spanish army, however, Sor accepted an administrative post in the occupying government. Here he was to be officially labeled an afrancesado along with the other Spaniards who abandoned their defense of Spain to embrace the French Revolutionary ideas. After the Spanish repelled the French in 1813, Sor and the other afrancesados left Spain for fear of retribution. He went to Paris, and never returned to his home country again.

Paris, London, and Moscow [link]

Having completely abandoned his family’s ideal of a military or administrative post, Sor could finally give music a serious try in France. He gained renown at first as a virtuosic guitarist and composer for the instrument. When he attempted composing for operas, however, he was rejected by the French as a composer. His Op. 7 was a large and strange piece, strangely notated in three clefs, and no guitarist at the time could play it. Since France was no longer supportive of his music, Sor decided to try his talents elsewhere.

In 1815, he went to London, England, to attempt to build a stronger music career there. Again, he started to gain considerable fame as a guitarist, and even gave guitar and voice lessons. Since ballet in London was a more popular genre than opera, Sor decided to try his hand at this new area of music. He began to have considerable success this time, especially with his ballet ''Cendrillon'', the most successful of his works in its own day.

By 1823, once he had acquired a level of fame in London, Sor again wandered away, this time with the ballerina Fèlicitè Hullen to Moscow in her quest to become a prima ballerina. Not much is known about his time in Russia, however, though much has been exaggerated about his romantic and professional life there. After three years in Moscow, he traveled around Europe giving concerts, getting into music circles everywhere he went.

In 1827, due partly to his advancing age, he settled down and decided to live out the rest of his life in Paris. It was during this retirement that he composed the majority of his guitar works. He had to comply with the demands of the public, though, and most guitarists wanted simple, nice-sounding pieces to practice that didn't require any special technical ability. It was in these last ten or so years of his life that his writings reveal his bitterness towards his career for the instrument. For example, Op, 43 is entitled Mes Ennuis (“My Annoyances”), and six of his ballets are dedicated to “whoever wants them.” These and other caustic remarks did not help his sales in the least. The foreword to Op.45 goes even further than sarcasm: “Let’s see if that’s that. Six short and easy pieces in stages which aim to lead to what has generally been agreed are difficulties. Composed and dedicated to the person with the least patience, by Fernando Sor. Opus 45.”

His last work was a mass in honor of his daughter, who died in 1837. Her death sent the already sickly Sor into serious depression, and he died in 1839, of tongue and throat cancer.

Quotations [link]

François-Joseph Fétis has called him "le Beethoven de la guitare" , though he has also remarked the Sor had failed to produce a good tone on one occasion.

Works [link]

One of Sor's most popular compositions is his "Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Mozart", Op. 9. It is based on a melody "Das klinget so herrlich, das klinget so schön!" from ''The Magic Flute'', which Mozart composed in 1791.

Méthode pour la Guitare [link]

Sor's ''Méthode pour la Guitare'' was first published in Paris in 1830 and translated into English by A Merrick in 1832 under the title ''Method for the Spanish Guitar'' .

Instructional material [link]

Sor was a prolific and, in his time, quite popular composer—and there was a great demand for him to compose material that was approachable by less accomplished players. The resulting body of instructional studies he produced is not only noteworthy for its value to students of the guitar, but for its inherent musicality. Much of this work is organized in several opuses (in increasing order of difficulty): Opus 60 (25 lessons), Opus 44 (24 lessons), Opus 35 (24 exercises), Opus 31 (24 lessons), Opus 6 (12 studies) and Opus 29 (12 studies).

Instruments used by Sor[link]

Sor undoubtably played guitars by Pierre René Lacôte, mentioning: ''"M. Lacote, a French maker, the only person who, besides his talents, has proved to me that he possesses the quality of not being inflexible to reasoning"''. Some guitars of Lacote show Sor's signature: ''Fernando Sor, the Catalan guitarist living in Paris has signed a number of guitars by René Lacôte – examples now survive in the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, Cat. No. 2521; and in private ownership (exhibited at the Londen Early Music Instrument Makers Exhibition, 1991). Sor also lent his name to the instruments of Louis Panormo of London. However, in neither case is the instrument known, then or now, as a "Sor model".'' A guitar of Lacote that was signed by Sor is displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: 1. In his method, Sor mentions: ''"[...] if I wanted an instrument, I would procure it from M. Joseph Martinez of Malaga, or from M. Lacote [...]The guitars to which I have always given the preference are those of Alonzo of Madrid, Pagès and Benediz of Cadiz, Joseph and Manuel Martinez of Malaga, or Rada, successor and scholar of the latter, and those of M. Lacote of Paris. I do not say that others do not exist; but never having tried them, I cannot decide on that which I have no knowledge."'' In his method, he also mentions that "J. Panormo" of London and "Mr. Schroeder of Petersburgh", made some guitars under his direction; but it is curious that he mentions them only in regard to his own guitar design ideas, which are today partly critically viewed. Guitars made according to Sor's design have not yet been located.

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

Fernando Sor, Composer and Guitarist by Brian Jeffery (London, Tecla, second edition, 1994). A critical view of the second edition, by Matanya Ophee

Moser, Wolf. “Fernando Sor: the Life and Works of a Reluctant Guitarist, Part Two.” Classical Guitar Magazine 26 No. 4 December 2007: 20 – 25.

Moser, Wolf. “Fernando Sor: the Life and Works of a Reluctant Guitarist, Part One.” Classical Guitar Magazine 26 No. 3 November 2007: 20 – 25.

Ophee, Matanya. “Fernando Sor and the Russians.” Soundboard Magazine, Volume XXXI No. 3-4 2007: 13 – 29.

''Diccionario biográfico-bibliográfico de efemérides de músicos españoles'' by Baltasar Saldoni 1868

historical source ''Revue de Paris''; published by Demengeot & Goodman, e.a., 1851

historical source ''Bentley's miscellany''; by Charles Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth, Albert Smith; published by Richard Bentley, 1844

''Recensionen: Guitarre-Schule von Ferdinand Sor'' Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung; published by Breitkopf und Härtel, 1832

historical source ''Dictionnaire des artistes de l'école française, au XIXe siècle''; by Charles Gabet; 1831

historical source ''Seven years of the King's theatre''; by John Ebers; published by Carey, Lea & Carey, 1828

historical source ''Revue musicale''; by F. J. Fétis; 1827

historical source ''The Harmonicon'', 1823

External links [link]

Sheet music[link]

Rischel & Birket-Smith's Collection of guitar music 1 Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Denmark

Boije Collection The Music Library of Sweden

George C. Krick Collection of Guitar Music Washington University

creativeguitar.org (sheetmusic largely compiled from the above primary sources)

Complete Works for Guitar (sheetmusic largely compiled from the above primary sources)

HOMAdream Complete guitar works by Fernando Sor (Engraved and edited by Jun Sugawara)

Biography and Articles[link]

Fernando Sor UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography, (2003)

Biography (www.musicweb-international.com)

Biography (www.classicalguitar.net)

Fernando Sor: Músicas En La Guitarra by Gerardo Arriaga Moreno

Publications[link]

''The Doctrine of Affections:'' short story collection including "The Studies of Fernando Sor"

Information (Tecla Editions)

''Ich, Fernando Sor'' ''Versuch einer Autobiografie und gitarristische Schriften''; by Wolf Moser (Edition Saint-Georges, ISBN 30001552741)

Photos[link]

Images of Sor (Gallica)

Image of Sor (enciclopedia.cat)

Fernando Sor's grave at the Cimetière de Montmartre: paris.fr (Plan of the cemetery – Sor's grave is located at Division 24, number 1) (see also landrucimetieres.fr, findagrave.com)

Category:1778 births Category:1839 deaths Category:Catalan composers Category:Catalan musicians Category:Classical era composers Category:Composers for the classical guitar Category:Deaths from esophageal cancer Category:Opera composers Category:Romantic composers Category:Spanish classical guitarists Category:Spanish composers Category:Afrancesados Category:Ballet composers Category:Burials at Montmartre Cemetery

zh-min-nan:Fernando Sor bg:Фернандо Сор ca:Ferran Sor i Muntades cs:Fernando Sor da:Fernando Sor de:Fernando Sor es:Fernando Sor eo:Fernando Sor fa:فرناندو سور fr:Fernando Sor it:Fernando Sor he:פרננדו סור hu:Fernando Sor nl:Fernando Sor ja:フェルナンド・ソル no:Fernando Sor pl:Fernando Sor pt:Fernando Sor ru:Сор, Фернандо sl:Fernando Sor fi:Fernando Sor sv:Fernando Sor ta:வேர்னாந்தோ சோர் uk:Фернандо Сор zh:費爾南多·索爾

name	John Doan
background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
birth name	John Doan
birth date	May 16, 1951
Birth place	Santa Monica, California, U.S.
instrument	Harp guitar, guitar, lute, harpolyre
genre	Acoustic, ambient, classical, Celtic, folk, New Age
occupation	Musician, composer
years active	1974–present
label	Hearts of Space, Narada, Windham Hill & Tapestry
website
notable instruments	}}

John Doan (Born May 16, 1951) is one of the best-known harp guitarists in the world. In addition, he is a performer, Emmy-nominated composer, historian, instrument collector, and university professor.

Background[link]

Doan grew up in Venice, California, and at the age of eleven began playing the guitar, first a 12-string, and later a double-neck electric in a rock band. Later, while studying music at California State University, Northridge he was introduced to classical guitar. He really enjoyed the music for the lute and was amazed at the sound of its many strings. Later when he found a century old harp-guitar on the back wall of a music store, it called to him with its beautiful shape and unusual collection of extra strings. He relates: "I was achingly curious and wanted to transform its silence and neglect into something alive and vibrant. It was and continues to be an adventure to play music on the harp-guitar." After moving to Oregon, Doan earned his master's in musical education from Western Oregon University and served on the faculty there. He studied the renaissance and baroque lute in the Netherlands. Doan's music has a strong classical influence and he also finds inspiration in folk traditions, Irish musical traditions in particular. He is an associate professor of music at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, a historian, and a multi-instrumentalist specializing in unusual vintage instruments. Over the years Doan has played with many folk and country artists, including Donovan, Burl Ives, Larry Carlton, and Chet Atkins.

Recordings[link]

Doan created his own brand of folk-fusion on his first album on Narada, titled ''Departures'' (1988). In the 1990s two television specials were produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting: ''A Christmas to Remember With John Doan'' (seen on PBS) and his Emmy nominated ''A Victorian Christmas With John Doan''. The live version of his ''Victorian Christmas,'' in which he re-enacts what it might have been like to celebrate Christmas a century ago, has been a holiday tradition for over 20 years. His latest recording on Hearts of Space, ''Eire - Isle of the Saints,'' won "Best Celtic Album of the Year." ''The Lost Music of Fernando Sor'' (2008) features the music of Fernando Sor (1778–1839), beloved as the "Father of the Classical Guitar", who composed ten works for the harpolyre, a three-necked, 21 string guitar. Doan discovered and restored a playable instrument from c. 1830 which he used for this recording. Doan's latest video project is a 90 minute documentary that he wrote and starred in titled ''In Search of the Harp Guitar.'' John recently hosted an International Harp Guitar Festival at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

Recognition[link]

"John's music is simply beautiful. No, it is more than that, it is heavenly!" – Burl Ives "I honestly believe we need more quality class-acts in our business of show, and John is exactly that. I love spending time with him, as both a friend and a member of an audience. He's wonderfully entertaining, and I believe in him. John is an undiscovered treasure and one of my best discoveries." Randy Sparks, Founder of The New Christy Minstrels "I can't tell you where I have been these past several minutes except to say that I got lost in your beautiful music! Where do you get one of them things?" Doc Watson "John returns audiences to a time when we use to dream before movies did that for us." Mason Williams "John has restored my faith ... there is still new and exciting music for the guitar." George Winston "I admire John's music and playing." Chet Atkins "John, it was great playing with you. You make lovely music." Donovan "I think your music is really beautiful and atmospheric." Sally Oldfield

Discography[link]

CDs[link]

''Harp Guitars Under The Stars'' (2010) (With Muriel Anderson)

''A Celtic Pilgrimage'' (2010)

''The Lost Music of Fernando Sor'' (2008)

''Wayfarer: Ancient Paths to Sacred Places'' (2007)

''Eire: Isle of the Saints (A Celtic Odyssey)'' (1997)

''Harp Guitar and Other Forgotten Instruments'' (1994)

''Wrapped in White: Visions of Christmas Past'' (1994)

''Remembrance: Melodies from a Forgotten Era'' (1993)

''Departures'' (1988)

Compilations[link]

''Brad Hoyt | Together Alone| Duets featuring Piano and Harp Guitar'' (2009)

''Harp Guitar Dreams'' (2008)

''Christmas Past: Holiday Harp Guitar Classics'' (2006)

''Beyond Six Strings'' (2006)

''Renaissance: A Midsummer Night's Dream''

''Celtic Twilight I-V''

DVDs[link]

''Primal Twang - The Legacy of the Guitar'' (2010)

''In Search of the Harp Guitar'' (2006)

''A Celtic Pilgrimage with John Doan'' (2010)

''John Doan Live In Concert''

''John Doan's two Christmas TV specials - Combo DVD''

''A Victorian Christmas With John Doan''

''A Christmas To Remember With John Doan''

TV specials[link]

OPB ''A Christmas to Remember with John Doan'' seen on PBS.

OPB ''A Victorian Christmas with John Doan'' seen on PBS.

References[link]

External links [link]

The official John Doan site

MySpace Page

Official YouTube Channel

Oregon Art Beat: Harp Guitarist John Doan

John Doan: ''A Celtic Pilgrimage'' video

The "Expanded" Harp Guitar article

Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:American academics Category:American classical guitarists Category:American folk guitarists Category:Windham Hill Records artists Category:Fingerstyle guitarists Category:Musicians from California Category:People from Salem, Oregon Category:Willamette University faculty Category:Western Oregon University alumni Category:Western Oregon University faculty

background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
instrument	Classical Guitar, Lute, baroque guitar
name	Julian Bream
birth date	July 15, 1933
birth place	London, England
genre	Classical music
label	RCA, EMI, BMG
notable instruments	}}

Julian Bream, CBE (born 15 July 1933), is an English classical guitarist and lutenist and is one of the most distinguished classical guitarists of the 20th century. He has also been successful in renewing popular interest in the Renaissance lute.

Early years[link]

Bream was born in London and brought up in a musical environment. His father played jazz guitar and the young Bream was impressed by hearing the playing of Django Reinhardt.

Bream began his life-long association with the guitar by strumming along on a small gut-string Spanish guitar at a very young age to dance music on the radio. The president of the Philharmonic Society of Guitars, Dr Boris Perott, gave Bream lessons, while Bream's father became the society librarian, giving Bream access to a large collection of rare music.

On his 11th birthday, Bream was given a guitar by his father. He became something of a child prodigy, at 12 winning a junior exhibition award for his piano playing, enabling him to study piano and cello at the Royal College of Music. He made his debut guitar recital at Cheltenham in 1947, aged 13.

He left the Royal College of Music in 1952 and was called up into the army for national service. He was originally drafted into the Pay Corps, but managed to sign up for the Royal Artillery Band after six months. This required him to be stationed in Woolwich, which allowed him to moonlight regularly with the guitar in London.

After three and a half years in the army, he took any musical jobs that came his way, including background music for radio plays and films. Commercial film, recording session and work for the BBC were important to Bream throughout the 1950s and the early '60s.

In the years after national service, Bream pursued a busy career playing around the world, including annual tours in the U.S. and Europe for several years. He played part of a recital at the Wigmore Hall on the lute in 1952 and since has done much to bring music written for the instrument to light.

1960 saw the formation of the Julian Bream Consort, a period-instrument ensemble with Bream as lutenist. The consort led a great revival of interest in the music of the Elizabethan era.

His first European tours took place in 1954 and 1955, and were followed by extensive touring in North America (beginning in 1958), the Far East, India, Australia, the Pacific Islands and other parts of the world. Bream performed for the Peabody Mason Concert series in Boston, first solo in 1959, and later with the US debut of the Julian Bream Consort.

In addition to master-classes given in Canada and the USA, Bream has also conducted an international summer school in Wiltshire, England.

Recordings[link]

Bream has recorded extensively for RCA and EMI Classics. These recordings have won him several awards, including four Grammy Awards, two for Best Chamber Music Performance and two for Best Classical Performance. RCA also released ''The Ultimate Guitar Collection'', a multi-CD set commemorating his birthday in 1993.

From the beginning of the 1990s Julian Bream continued his recording career with EMI Classics, featuring music by J. S. Bach, a Concerto album (with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle), and discs devoted to contemporary works and guitar sonatas.

Despite his importance as a classical guitarist, however, many of his RCA recordings (including the series of 20th-century guitar music) were out of print for several years. In 2011 RCA/Sony Classical released ''My Favorite Albums'', a 10-CD set of albums chosen by Julian Bream himself.

Later career[link]

A highly successful biographical film, ''A Life in the Country'', was first shown on BBC TV in 1976. Bream also presented a series of four master-classes guitarists on BBC TV. BBC TV has presented a programme about Julian Bream's life as a concert guitarist. In 1984 he made eight films on location in Spain for Channel 4, exploring historical perspectives of Spanish guitar music.

In 1991, BBC Radio and TV broadcast Bream's BBC Prom performance of Malcolm Arnold's Guitar Concerto. He also participated in a recital and concerto performances of works by Tōru Takemitsu at the Japan Festival in London with the London Symphony Orchestra.

During the 1992-93 season he performed on two separate occasions at the Wigmore Hall - at their Gala Re-opening Festival, and at a special concert celebrating his 60th birthday. In the same period, he toured the Far East, visiting Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan, and performed the premiere of Leo Brouwer's arrangement for guitar and orchestra of Albéniz's Iberia at the Proms. In 1994 Bream made debuts in both Turkey and Israel to great acclaim, and the following year played for the soundtrack to the Hollywood film ''Don Juan de Marcos''.

In 1997, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his debut, he performed a recital at Cheltenham Town Hall. A few weeks later, the BBC dedicated a special television tribute ''This Is Your Life'' programme to Julian Bream, filmed after a commemorative concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.

In recent years, his engagements have included a Gala solo performance at the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, a Kosovo Aid concert at St. John's Smith Square, London, with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields recitals at the Snape Proms, Aldeburgh, and at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival and a tour of UK National Trust properties in summer and autumn 2000.

In November 2001 he gave an anniversary recital at Wigmore Hall, celebrating 50 years since his debut there in 1951.

The 2003 DVD video profile ''Julian Bream: My Life In Music'' contains three hours of interview and performance. It has been declared by Graham Wade "the finest film contribution ever to the classic guitar." It became "GRAMOPHONE DVD of the year". His series ''Guitarra!'' was made for British television and charts a journey across Spain.

Style and influences[link]

Bream's recitals are wide-ranging, including transcriptions from the 17th century, many pieces by Bach arranged for guitar, popular Spanish pieces, and contemporary music, much for which he was the inspiration. He has stated that he has been influenced by the styles of Andrés Segovia and Francisco Tárrega.

Bream's playing can be characterised as virtuosic and highly expressive, with an eye for details, and with strong use of contrasting timbres.

Dedications and collaborations[link]

Many composers have worked with Bream, and among those who dedicated pieces to him are Malcolm Arnold, Richard Rodney Bennett, Benjamin Britten, Leo Brouwer, Peter Racine Fricker, Hans Werner Henze, Humphrey Searle, Tōru Takemitsu, Michael Tippett and William Walton. Britten's ''Nocturnal'' is one of the most famous pieces in the classical guitar repertoire and was written with Bream specifically in mind. It is an unusual set of variations on John Dowland's ''Come Heavy Sleep'' (which is played in its original form at the close of the piece).

Bream has also taken part in many collaborations, including work with Peter Pears on Elizabethan music for lute and voice, and three records of guitar duets with John Williams.

Honours and awards[link]

Bream was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1964 for services to music, and in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 1985 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He has received Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Surrey (1968), and Leeds (1984). In 1976 he was personally presented with the Villa-Lobos Gold Medal by the composer's widow. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music (1966), and has been honoured with Fellowships of the Royal College of Music (1981) and the Royal Northern College of Music (1983). In 1988 he became an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society, and was also presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist's Award in 1996.

Other details[link]

In 1984 Bream’s arm was seriously injured in a car accident. It cost him great effort to regain his previous technical ability.

Bream has stated that even though he had some "sessions" with Segovia, he never really studied with him — Bream also does not exclusively hold his right-hand fingers at right angles to the strings, but has stated that he uses a less rigid hand position for reasons of tonal variety.

Bream lived for over 40 years in a Georgian farmhouse at Semley in Wiltshire. In 2008 he moved to a smaller house in Donhead St Andrew, Wiltshire.

Pieces written for Julian Bream (in chronological order)[link]

Reginald Smith Brindle ''Nocturne for Guitar Solo'' (1946)

Reginald Smith Brindle ''El Polifemo de Oro'' (1956)

Lennox Berkeley ''Sonatina'', op. 52, no. 1 (1957)

Tristram Cary ''Sonata'' (1959)

Malcolm Arnold ''Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra'', op. 67 (1959)

Benjamin Britten ''Nocturnal after John Dowland'', op. 70 (1963)

Richard Rodney Bennett ''Impromptus'' (1968)

Tom Eastwood ''Ballade-Phantasy'' (1968)

Peter Racine Fricker ''Paseo'' (1969)

Reginald Smith Brindle ''Variants on two themes of J. S. Bach'' (1970)

Richard Rodney Bennett ''Guitar Concerto'' (1970)

Malcolm Arnold ''Fantasy'', op. 107 (1971)

Alan Rawsthorne ''Elegy'' (1971)

William Walton ''Five Bagatelles'' (1972)

Humphrey Searle ''Five'' (1974)

Lennox Berkeley ''Guitar Concerto, Op. 88'' (1974)

Hans Werner Henze ''Royal Winter Music'' (first sonata, 1976)

Giles Swayne ''Suite'' (1976)

Peter Maxwell Davies ''Hill Runes'' (1981)

Michael Berkeley ''Sonata in One Movement'' (1982)

Richard Rodney Bennett ''Sonata'' (1983)

Michael Tippett ''The Blue Guitar'' (1984)

Leo Brouwer ''Concerto elegiaco (Guitar Concerto No. 3)'' (1986)

Tōru Takemitsu ''All in Twilight'' (1987)

Leo Brouwer ''Sonata'' (1990)

Awards and recognitions (incomplete)[link]

1964: Officer of the Order of the British Empire

1964: Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1964 for ''Evening of Elizabethan Music'' performed by the Julian Bream Consort

1966: Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music

1967: Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance – Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (with or without orchestra) at the Grammy Awards of 1967 for ''Baroque Guitar (Works of Bach, Sanz, Weiss, etc.)''

1968: Honorary Doctorate from the University of Surrey

1972: Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra) at the Grammy Awards of 1972 for André Previn (conductor), Julian Bream & the London Symphony Orchestra for ''Villa-Lobos: Concerto for Guitar''

1973: Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1973 for Julian Bream & John Williams for ''Julian and John (Works by Lawes, Carulli, Albéniz, Granados)''

1981: Fellowship of the Royal College of Music

1983: Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music

1984: Honorary Doctorate from the University of Leeds

1985: Commander of the Order of the British Empire

1988: Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society

1996: Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist's Award

Partial discography[link]

LP[link]

''20th Century Guitar'', RCA LSC-2964

''70's'', RCA ARL 0049

''Dedication'', RCA ARL 5034

''A Bach Recital for the Guitar'', Westminster CLP 1929

''Baroque Guitar'' (1966), RCA

''The Classical Guitar'' (3 - LP set), Westminister WMS -1029

''Collection of the Greatest Performances of Julian Bream, Vol. II, Westminster

''Concertos for Lute and Orchestra'', RCA ARL1-1180

''Dances of Dowland'', RCA LSC-2987

''Elizabethan Lute Songs'', RCA LSC-3131

''Elizabethan Music by The Julian Bream Consort'', RCA LSC-3195

''The Golden Age of English Lute Music'', RCA LSC-3196

''Julian & John'', RCA

''Julian Bream's Greatest Hits'', Westminster

''Julian Bream's Greatest Hits Volume Two'', Westminster 9008-8185

''Lute Music of John Dowland'', RCA ARL1-1491

''John Dowland: 14 Lute Pieces'', Westminster W-9079

''Music for Voice and Guitar'' with Peter Pears, RCA LSC-2718

''Popular Classics for Spanish Guitar'', RCA

''Rodrigo: Concerto De Aranjuez, Berkeley Guitar Concerto (1975), RCA

''Sonatas for Lute and Harpsichord—Bach, Vivaldi'' with George Malcolm, RCA LSC-3100

''Villa-Lobos, Twelve Etudes for Guitar, Suite populaire bresillienne'' (1978), RCA

''The Woods So Wild'', RCA LSC-3331

CD[link]

''Fret Works'' (1990), MCA ''Guitarra: The Guitar in Spain'' (1990), RCA ''Joaquin Rodrigo: Concerto Elegiaco/Fantasia Para Un Gentilhombre'' (1990), RCA ''Julian Bream plays Bach'' (1990), RCA ''Julian Bream Plays Granados & Albéniz (Music of Spain, Volume Five)'' (1990), RCA ''Music of Spain, Vol. 7'' (1990), RCA ''Two Loves'' with Peggy Ashcroft (1990), RCA ''Baroque Guitar'' (1991), RCA ''La Guitarra Romantica'' (1991), RCA ''Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Villa-Lobos: Preludes'' (1991), RCA ''Romantic Guitar'' (1991), RCA ''Baroque Guitar'' (1993), RCA ''A Celebration Of Andrés Segovia—Bream'' (1993), RCA ''Highlights from the Julian Bream Edition'' (1993), RCA ''Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Fantasía para un gentilhombre No1-5'' (1993), RCA ''Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Takemitsu: To the Edge of Dream'' with Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (1993), Capitol ''Together/Julian Bream & John Williams'' (1993), RCA ''Together Again/ Julian Bream & John Williams'' (1993), RCA ''Villa-Lobos: Guitar Concerto; Preludes; Etudes'' with André Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra (1993), BMG International ''Bach Guitar Recital'' (1994), EMI Classics ''Bach: Lute Suites, Trio Sonatas'' (1994), RCA ''Guitar Concertos'' (1994), RCA ''Julian Bream Consort, Vol. 6'' (1994), RCA ''Music of Spain'' (1994), RCA ''Popular Classics for Spanish Guitar'' (1994), RCA ''Romantic Guitar'' (1994), RCA ''Sonata'' (1995), Angel ''20th Century Guitar I'' (1996), RCA ''The Golden Age of English Lute Music'' (1996), RCA ''Music for Voice & Guitar'' (1996), RCA ''Music of Spain: Milán, Narváez'' (1996), RCA ''Popular Classics for the Spanish Guitar'' (1997), RCA ''Julian Bream Edition, Volume 1: The Golden Age of English Lute Music'' (28 CDs) (1998), RCA ''The Romantic Hours'' (1998), RCA ''Spain—Sor, Vol. 24'' (1998), BMG Classics ''Guitar Concertos'' (1999), RCA ''Guitar Music by Albeniz, Vivaldi, Rodrigo & Grandos'' (2 CDs) (1999), RCA Classics/BMG ''Woods So Wild'' (1999), RCA ''Nocturnal: Martin, Britten, Brouwer, Lutoslavski'' (2000), EMI ''The Ultimate Guitar Collection'' (2 CDs) (2000), RCA ''Duos de Guitares'' with John Williams (2001), RCA ''Spanish Guitar Music'' (remastered) (2001), Deutsche Grammophon ''Spanish Guitar Recital'' (2001), RCA ''Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Fantasía para un gentilhombre; Tres piezas espanolas; invocacion y danza'' (remastered) (2004), RCA ''Spanish Guitar Recital'' (2004), ''Guitar Recital: Bach, Sor, Turina, Tippet, Schubert'' (2005), Testament ''Music of Spain'' (2005), RCA ''Elizabethan Lute Songs'', Decca ''Julian Bream & Friends'', Musical Heritage Society ''Lute Music from the Royal Courts of Europe'', BMG Classics ''Music of Spain: The Classical Heritage'', RCA ''My Favorite Albums'', RCA/Sony Classical

References[link]

;Books about Bream

Stuart W. Button, ''Julian Bream, the Foundations of a Musical Career'', Scolar Press, 1997 (reissued by Bold Strummer Ltd, 2006. ISBN 1577840674)

Graham Wade, ''The Art of Julian Bream'', Ashley Mark Publishing Company, 2008

Other books about Bream[link]

''Julian Bream: a Life on the Road.'' London: Macdonald, 1982. ISBN 0356078809. Text by Tony Palmer, photographs by Daniel Meadows, includes discography (pp. 204-16).

External links[link]

Julian Bream's myspace page

Biography (Hazard Chase)

Some photos of LP covers (Oviatt Library Digital Collections)

Category:1933 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from London Category:English classical guitarists Category:Academics of the Royal Academy of Music Category:Performers of early music Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music Category:Honorary Members of the Royal Philharmonic Society Category:British lutenists

de:Julian Bream es:Julian Bream eu:Julian Bream fa:جولیان بریم fr:Julian Bream it:Julian Bream he:ג'וליאן ברים nl:Julian Bream ja:ジュリアン・ブリーム nn:Julian Bream pl:Julian Bream pt:Julian Bream ru:Брим, Джулиан fi:Julian Bream

names	Johnny williams | background non_performing_personnel
birth name	John Towner Williams
birth date	February 08, 1932
origin	Flushing, Queens, New York, United States of America
genre	Film score, Contemporary classical music, Jazz Alma mater: UCLA, Juilliard School
occupation	Composer, pianist, conductor
years active	1952–present
spouse	Barbara Ruick (1956–74) (deceased)Samantha Winslow (1980–present) }}

John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932) is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the ''Star Wars'' saga, ''Jaws,'' ''Superman,'' the ''Indiana Jones'' films, ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,'' ''Hook,'' ''Jurassic Park,'' ''Schindler's List,'' ''War Horse'', ''Home Alone'' and the first three ''Harry Potter'' films. He has had a long association with director Steven Spielberg, composing the music for all but two (''Duel'' and ''The Color Purple'') of Spielberg's major feature films.

Other notable works by Williams include theme music for four Olympic Games, ''NBC Sunday Night Football'', the ''NBC Nightly News,'' the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, the DreamWorks Pictures production logo, and the television series ''Lost in Space.'' Williams has also composed numerous classical concerti, and he served as the principal conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra from 1980 to 1993; he is now the orchestra's conductor laureate.

Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven BAFTA Awards, and 21 Grammy Awards. With 47 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the second most nominated person, after Walt Disney. John Williams was honored with the prestigious Richard Kirk award at the 1999 BMI Film and TV Awards. The award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music. Williams was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000, and was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004.

Early life and family[link]

John Williams was born on February 8, 1932 in Long Island, New York, the son of Esther (née Towner) and Johnny Williams. His father was a jazz percussionist who played with the Raymond Scott Quintet.

In 1948, the Williams family moved to Los Angeles where John attended North Hollywood High School graduating in 1950. He later attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and studied privately with the Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. In 1952, Williams was drafted into the U.S. Air Force, where he conducted and arranged music for the Air Force Band as part of his assignments.

After his Air Force service ended in 1955, Williams moved to New York City and entered the Juilliard School, where he studied piano with Rosina Lhévinne. During this time, Williams worked as a jazz pianist in New York's many clubs and eventually studios, most notably for composer Henry Mancini. His fellow session musicians included Rolly Bundock on bass, Jack Sperling on drums, and Bob Bain on guitar—the same lineup featured on the ''Mr. Lucky'' television series. Williams was known as "Little Johnny Love" Williams during the early 1960s, and he served as music arranger and bandleader for a series of popular music albums with the singer Frankie Laine.

Williams was married to actress Barbara Ruick from 1956 until her death on March 3, 1974. The Williamses had three children: Jennifer (born 1956), Mark (born 1958), and Joseph (born 1960). Williams' younger son (Joseph) is one of the various lead singers the band Toto. John Williams married his second wife, Samantha Winslow, on July 21, 1980.

John Williams is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, the national fraternity for college band members.

Film and television scoring[link]

While skilled in a variety of 20th century compositional idioms, Williams' most familiar style may be described as a form of neoromanticism, inspired by the same large-scale orchestral music of the late 19th century—especially the compositions of Richard Wagner and its concept of leitmotif—that inspired his film music predecessors.

After his studies at Juilliard, Williams returned to Los Angeles, where he began working as an orchestrator at film studios. Among other composers, Williams worked with Franz Waxman, Bernard Herrmann, and Alfred Newman, and also with his fellow orchestrators Conrad Salinger and Bob Franklyn. Williams was also a studio pianist, performing on film scores by composers such as Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein, and Henry Mancini. Williams recorded with Henry Mancini on the film scores of ''Peter Gunn'' (1959), ''Days of Wine and Roses'' (1962), and ''Charade'' (1963). (Williams actually played the well-recognized opening riff to Mancini's ''Peter Gunn'' theme.) Williams (often credited as "Johnny Williams") also composed the music for various TV programs in the 1960s: The pilot episode of ''Gilligan's Island'', ''Bachelor Father'' (1959-1960), the ''Kraft Suspense Theatre'', ''Lost in Space'' (1965–68), ''The Time Tunnel'' (1966–67), and ''Land of the Giants'' (the last three created by the prolific TV producer, Irwin Allen).

Working at Universal Studios, Williams shared music credit on a number of films, the most notable being ''The Creature from the Black Lagoon'' in 1954. Williams's first major film composition was for the B movie ''Daddy-O'' in 1958, and his first screen credit came two years later in ''Because They're Young.'' He soon gained notice in Hollywood for his versatility in composing jazz, piano, and symphonic music. Williams received his first nomination for an Academy Award for his film score for ''Valley of the Dolls'' (1967), and then was nominated again for his score for ''Goodbye, Mr. Chips'' (1969). Williams broke through to win his first Academy Award for his adapted score for the film ''Fiddler on the Roof'' (1971). In 1972 he composed the score for the Robert Altman psychological thriller ''Images'' (recorded in collaboration with noted percussionist Stomu Yamashta) which earned him another nomination in the category 'Best Music, Original Dramatic Score' at the 1973 Academy Awards. During the early 1970s, Williams' prominence grew thanks to his work for now–film producer Irwin Allen's disaster films, composing the scores for ''The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972) and ''The Towering Inferno'' (1974). In addition, he scored Universal's ''Earthquake'' (1974) for director Mark Robson, completing a "trinity" of scores for the highest grossing "disaster films" of the decade. He also wrote a very memorable score to ''The Cowboys'' (1972), a western starring John Wayne and directed by Mark Rydell.

In 1974, Williams was approached by director Steven Spielberg to compose the music for his feature directorial debut, ''The Sugarland Express.'' The young director had been impressed with Williams's score for the movie ''The Reivers'' (1969), and Spielberg was convinced that Williams could compose the musical sound that he desired for any of his films. They teamed up again a year later for Spielberg's second film, ''Jaws.'' Widely considered to be a classic suspense film, its film score's ominous two-note motif has become synonymous with sharks and approaching danger. The score for ''Jaws'' earned Williams his second Academy Award, his first one for an original composition.

Shortly thereafter, Williams and Spielberg began a long collaboration for their next feature film together, ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' (''CE3K,'' 1977). In an unusual step for a Hollywood film, Spielberg and Williams developed their script and musical concepts simultaneously, as in the film these entwine very closely together. During their two-year-long collaboration, they crafted its distinctive five-note figure that functions both in the background music and as the communications signal of the film's extraterrestrials. Williams also used a system of musical hand signals in ''CE3K'' that were based on hand signs created by John Curwen and refined by Zoltan Kodaly.

During the same period, Spielberg recommended Williams to his friend and fellow director George Lucas, who needed a composer to score his ambitious space epic, ''Star Wars'' (1977). Williams delivered a grand symphonic score in the fashion of Richard Strauss and Golden Age Hollywood composers Max Steiner and Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Its main theme, "Luke's Theme" is among the most widely recognized in motion picture history, and the "Force Theme" and "Princess Leia's Theme" are well-known examples of leitmotif. Both the film and its soundtrack were immensely successful—it remains the highest grossing non-popular music recording of all-time—and Williams won another Academy Award for Best Original Score. In 1980, Williams returned to score ''The Empire Strikes Back,'' where he introduced "The Imperial March" as the theme for Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire. The original ''Star Wars'' trilogy concluded with the 1983 film ''Return of the Jedi'', for which Williams's score provided most notably the "Emperor's Theme," "Parade of the Ewoks," and "Luke and Leia." Both scores earned Williams Academy Award nominations.

Williams worked with director Richard Donner to score the 1978 film ''Superman.'' The score's heroic and romantic themes, particularly the main march, the Superman fanfare and the love theme, known as "Can You Read My Mind," would appear in the four sequel films. For the 1981 film ''Raiders of the Lost Ark,'' created and directed by Lucas and Spielberg, Williams wrote a rousing main theme known as "The Raiders March" to accompany the film's hero, Indiana Jones. He also composed separate themes to represent the Ark of the Covenant, the character Marion, and the Nazi villains of the story. Additional themes were featured in his scores to the sequel films ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' (1984), ''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'' (1989), and ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'' (2008). Williams composed an emotional and sensitive score to Spielberg's 1982 fantasy film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''. The music conveys the film's benign, childlike sense of innocence, particularly with a spirited theme for the freedom of flight, and a soft string-based, harp-featured theme for the friendship between characters E.T. and Elliott. The film's final chase and farewell sequence marks a rare instance in film history in which the on-screen action was re-edited to conform to the composer's musical interpretation. Williams was awarded a fourth Academy Award for this score.

The 1985 film ''The Color Purple'' is the only theatrical feature directed by Steven Spielberg for which John Williams did not serve as composer. The film's producer, Quincy Jones, wanted to personally arrange and compose the music for the project. Williams also did not score ''Twilight Zone: The Movie,'' but Spielberg had directed only one of the four segments in that film; the lead director and producer of the film, John Landis, selected Jerry Goldsmith as composer. The Williams-Spielberg collaboration resumed with the director's 1987 film ''Empire of the Sun,'' and has continued to the present, spanning genres from science fiction thrillers (1993's ''Jurassic Park),'' to somber tragedies (1993's ''Schindler's List'', 2005's ''Munich),'' to Eastern-tinged melodramas (2005's ''Memoirs of a Geisha'', directed by Rob Marshall). Spielberg has said, "I call it an honorable privilege to regard John Williams as a friend."

In 1999 George Lucas launched the first of a series of prequels to the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy. Williams was asked to score all three films, starting with ''The Phantom Menace.'' Along with themes from the previous movies, Williams created new themes to be used as leitmotifs in ''Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and ''Revenge of the Sith'' (2005). Most notable of these was "Duel of the Fates," an aggressive choral movement utilizing harsh Sanskrit lyrics that broadened the style of music used in the Star Wars films. Also of note was "Anakin's Theme," which begins as an innocent childlike melody and morphs insidiously into a quote of the sinister "Imperial March" of the prior trilogy. For ''Episode II,'' Williams composed "Across the Stars," a love theme for Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker (mirroring the love theme composed for the second film of the previous trilogy, ''The Empire Strikes Back''). The final installment combined many of the themes created for the series' previous movies, including "The Emperor's Theme," "The Imperial March," "Across the Stars," "Duel of the Fates," "The Force Theme," "Rebel Fanfare," "Luke's Theme," and "Princess Leia's Theme," as well as new themes for General Grievous and the film's climax, entitled "Battle of the Heroes." Few composers have scored an entire series of this magnitude: The combined scores of all six ''Star Wars'' films add up to more than 14 hours of orchestral music.

In the new millennium, Williams was asked to score the film adaptations of the widely successful book series, ''Harry Potter.'' He went on to score the first three installments of the film franchise. As with his ''Superman'' theme, the most important theme from Williams's scores for the adaptations of J. K. Rowling's ''Harry Potter'' series, dubbed ''Hedwig's Theme'', has been used in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth films (''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'', ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'', ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'' and ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2''), scored by Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper and Alexandre Desplat respectively. Like the main themes from ''Star Wars'', ''Jaws'', ''Superman'', and ''Indiana Jones'', fans have come to identify the ''Harry Potter'' films with Williams's original compositions. Williams was asked to return to the film franchise to score the final installment, ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2'', but director David Yates stated that "their schedules simply did not align" as he would have had to provide Williams with a rough cut of the film sooner than was possible.

In 2006 ''Superman Returns'' was completed under the direction of Bryan Singer, best known for directing the first two movies in the ''X-Men'' series. Although Singer did not request Williams to compose a score for the intentionally Donner-esque film, he employed the skills of ''X2'' composer John Ottman to incorporate Williams's original ''Superman'' theme, as well as those for Lois Lane, Krypton and Smallville. Don Davis performed a similar role for ''Jurassic Park III'', recommended to the producers by Williams himself. (Film scores by Ottman and to a lesser extent Davis are often compared to those of Williams, as both use similar styles of composition.)

In 2008 Williams returned to the ''Indiana Jones'' series to score the fourth film—''The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull''. He received a Grammy nomination for his work on the film. During 2008, he also composed music for two documentaries, ''Warner at War'', and ''A Timeless Call'', the latter of which was directed by Steven Spielberg.

After a three year absence from film scoring, Williams composed the scores for Spielberg's ''The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn'' and ''War Horse'' in 2011. Both scores received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with both scores earning Oscar nominations, and the latter being nominated for a Golden Globe. The Oscar nominations are Williams' 46th and 47th, making him the most nominated musician in Academy Awards history (having previously been tied with Alfred Newman's 45 nominations), and the second most nominated overall, following Walt Disney. Williams won an Annie Award for his score for ''The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn'' in 2012.

Williams is next scheduled to score Spielberg's 2012 film ''Lincoln''.

Conducting and performing[link]

From 1980 to 1993, Williams succeeded Arthur Fiedler as Principal Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. Williams never met Fiedler in person but spoke with him by telephone. His arrival as the new leader of the Pops in the spring of 1980 allowed him to devote part of the Pops' first PBS broadcast of the season to presenting his new compositions for ''The Empire Strikes Back,'' in addition to conducting many Fiedler audience favorites.

Williams almost ended his tenure with the Pops in 1984. Considered a customary practice of opinion, some players hissed while sight-reading a new Williams composition in rehearsal; Williams abruptly left the session and turned in his resignation. He initially cited mounting conflicts with his film composing schedule, but later admitted a perceived lack of discipline in and respect from the Pops' ranks, culminating in this latest instance. After entreaties by the management and personal apologies from the musicians, Williams withdrew his resignation and continued as principal conductor for nine more years. In 1995 he was succeeded by Keith Lockhart, the former associate conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.

Williams is now the Laureate Conductor of the Pops, thus maintaining his affiliation with its parent, the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). Williams leads the Pops on several occasions each year, particularly during their Holiday Pops season and typically for a week of concerts in May. He conducts an annual Film Night at both Boston Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, where he frequently enlists the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, official chorus of the BSO....

Williams has written many concert pieces, including a symphony; a Concerto for Horn written for Dale Clevenger, principal hornist of the Chicago Symphony; a Concerto for Clarinet written for Michele Zukovsky (Principal Clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) in 1991; a sinfonietta for wind ensemble; a cello concerto premiered by Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in 1994; concertos for the flute and violin recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra; and a trumpet concerto, which was premiered by the Cleveland Orchestra and their principal trumpet Michael Sachs in September 1996. His bassoon concerto, "The Five Sacred Trees", which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic and principal bassoon player Judith LeClair in 1995, was recorded for Sony Classical by Williams with LeClair and the London Symphony Orchestra. He is also an accomplished pianist, as can be heard in various scores in which he provides solos, as well as a handful of European classical music recordings.

Williams was the subject of an hour-long documentary for the BBC in 1980, and was featured in a story for ABC's newsmagazine 20/20 in 1983.

In 1985, Williams was commissioned by NBC to compose a television news music package for various network news spots. The package, which Williams named "The Mission", consists of four movements, two of which are still used heavily by NBC today for ''The Today Show'', ''NBC Nightly News'', and ''Meet the Press''. Williams also composed the "Liberty Fanfare" for the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, "We're Lookin' Good!" for the Special Olympics in celebration of the 1987 International Summer Games, and themes for the 1984, 1988, 1996, and 2002 Olympic games. His most recent concert work, "Seven for Luck", for soprano and orchestra, is a seven-piece song cycle based on the texts of former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove. "Seven for Luck" was given its world premiere by the Boston Symphony under Williams with soprano Cynthia Haymon.

Williams makes annual appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and took part as conductor and composer in the orchestra's opening gala concerts for the Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003.

In 2004, Williams both served as the Grand Marshall for the Rose Parade, and directed the Star Spangled Banner at the beginning of the Rose Bowl.

In April 2005, Williams and the Boston Pops performed "The Force Theme" from ''Star Wars'' at opening day in Fenway Park as the Boston Red Sox, having won their first World Series championship since 1918, received their championship rings. For Game 1 of the 2007 World Series, Williams conducted a brass-and-drum ensemble through a new dissonant arrangement of the "Star Spangled Banner."

In April 2004, February 2006, and September 2007, he conducted the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. The initial program was intended to be a one-time special event, and featured Williams's medley of Oscar-winning film scores first performed at the previous year's Academy Awards. Its unprecedented popularity led to two concerts in 2006: fundraising gala events featuring personal recollections by film directors Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. Continuing demand fueled three more concerts in 2007, which all sold out. These featured a tribute to the musicals of film director Stanley Donen, and had the distinction of serving as the opening event of the New York Philharmonic season. After a four-season absence, Williams conducted the Philharmonic once again in October 2011.

Awards[link]

John Williams has won five Academy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. He has also been nominated for 22 Golden Globes, winning four, and 59 Grammys, winning 20. With 47 Oscar nominations, Williams currently holds the record for the most Oscar nominations for a living person, and is the second most nominated person in the history of the Academy Awards behind only Walt Disney's 59. Forty-two of Williams' Oscar nominations are for Best Original Score and five are for Best Original Song. He won four Oscars for Best Original Score and one for Best Adapted Score ''(Fiddler on the Roof).''

Williams has received three Emmy Awards and five nominations, seven BAFTAs, twenty Grammy Awards, and has been inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. In 2004 he received a Kennedy Center Honor. He won a Classical Brit award in 2005 for his soundtrack work of the previous year.

Notably, Williams has won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for his scores for ''Star Wars'', ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'', ''Superman'', ''The Empire Strikes Back'', ''E.T. The Extraterrestrial'', ''Angela's Ashes'' (1999), ''Munich'' (2005), and ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.'' The competition includes not only composers of film scores, but also composers of instrumental music of any genre, including composers of classical fare such as symphonies and chamber music.

In 2003, the International Olympic Committee accorded Mr. Williams its highest individual honor, the Olympic Order.

In 2009, Williams received the National Medal of Arts in the White House in Washington for his achievements in symphonic music for motion pictures, and "as a pre-eminent composer and conductor [whose] scores have defined and inspired modern movie-going for decades."

John Williams was made an honorary brother of Kappa Kappa Psi at Boston University in the late 80's.

AFI[link]

Williams's richly thematic and highly popular 1977 score to ''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' was selected in 2005 by the American Film Institute as the greatest American movie score of all time. His scores for ''Jaws'' and ''E.T.'' also appeared on the list, at No. 6 and No. 14, respectively. Other Williams scores for the following films were nominated for the list:

''A.I. Artificial Intelligence'' (2001)

''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' (1977)

''The Cowboys'' (1972)

''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' (2001)

''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' (1981)

''Schindler's List'' (1993)

''Superman'' (1978)

''The Witches of Eastwick'' (1987)

List of awards[link]

! Award	! Year	! Project	! Category	! Outcome
rowspan=2
rowspan=2
rowspan=3	''Cinderella Liberty''
	''The Towering Inferno''
rowspan=2
''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''
	''The Empire Strikes Back''
	''Raiders of the Lost Ark''
rowspan=2
"If We Were in Love" (from ''Yes, Giorgio'')
	''Return of the Jedi''
rowspan=2	''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom''
rowspan=2
rowspan=2
''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade''
rowspan=2	''Home Alone''
"Somewhere in My Memory" (from ''Home Alone'')
rowspan=2
rowspan=3
	''Saving Private Ryan''
rowspan=2	''A.I. Artificial Intelligence''
	''Catch Me If You Can''
rowspan=2
rowspan=2
Annie Award		''The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn''	Music in a Feature Production
	1975
''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''
1980	''The Empire Strikes Back''
1981	''Raiders of the Lost Ark''
1982	''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''
1988
1993
1998	''Saving Private Ryan''
2002
2005
2011
		''Alcoa Premiere''	Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composed for Television
	''Alcoa Premiere''	Outstanding Achievement in Composing Original Music
		Outstanding Achievement in Musical Composition
		Outstanding Achievement in Musical Composition
	The 74th Academy Awards	Outstanding Music Direction
	''Great Performances''
rowspan=2	''Cinderella Liberty''
rowspan=2
	''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope''
	''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''
	''Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back''
	"If We Were In Love" (with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman) from ''Yes, Giorgio''
	''Schindler's List''
	''Saving Private Ryan''
	''A.I. Artificial Intelligence''
		''Checkmate''
rowspan=3
"Main Title" from ''Star Wars''
''Star Wars''	Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture
rowspan=2	"Theme" from ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''	Best Instrumental Composition
''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''	Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture
rowspan=2	"Main Title Theme from Superman"	Best Instrumental Composition
	Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture
rowspan=2		Best Instrumental Composition
''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back''	Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture
		Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture
rowspan=3	"Flying" (Theme from ''E.T.'')	Best Instrumental Composition
''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''	Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture
"Flying" (Theme from ''E.T.'')
rowspan=2	''Olympic Fanfare and Theme''	Best Instrumental Composition
		Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
		Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
		Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
rowspan=2	''Schindler's List''
	Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
		Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
		Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television
rowspan=2		Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
	Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
rowspan=2	''Saving Private Ryan''	Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
	Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
rowspan=2		Best Instrumental Composition
		Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
		Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
rowspan=2	''Catch Me If You Can''	Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
	Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
		Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
		Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
rowspan=3		Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
	Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
"A Prayer For Peace" (Theme from ''Munich'')	Best Instrumental Composition
rowspan=2	"The Adventures of Mutt" from ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull''	Best Instrumental Composition
''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull''	Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

Discography[link]

Charting hits (U.S., Billboard)[link]

1975 - "Theme From Jaws", #32

1977 - "Star Wars Theme - Main Title", #10

1978 - "Theme From Close Encounters Of The Third Kind", #13

1979 - "Theme From Superman", #81

See also[link]

List of compositions by John Williams

Star Wars music

Superman music

Harry Potter music

References[link]

Further reading[link]

External links[link]

John Williams Fan Network

Music by John Williams

The John Towner Touch (1957) (First solo album)

The John Williams Web Pages

Hollywood Bowl's Hall of Fame

John Williams Music Network

John Williams at Soundtrackguide.net

John Williams on SoundtrackNet

John Williams Discography at SoundtrackCollector.com

The John Williams Collection

John Williams Sheet Music and Scores

Timelines John Williams (Article Part 1 of 6)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Critical review of Williams's career by Anthony Tommasini at New York Times (2005)

John Williams Fan Site (Chinese language)

John Williams on Pandora

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Daekun Jang is a young guitarists of his generation from Korea. He began his guitar studies at the age of 13 in Seoul, Korea. Later, he moved to Spain and became a student of Manuel González at the Escola Luthier d´Ars Musicals of Barcelona. He then continued his studies with Jose Tomas at the Oscar Espla Conservatory Superior of Music in Alicante, where he won the Extraordinary Prize. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Jang continued his studies with the world-renowned guitarist Oscar Ghiglia in Konzertklasse at Musikhochschule in Basel, Switzerland, obtaining the Solisten Diplom. He also studied basso continuo with lutenist Peter Croton at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. He has attended seminars and master classes with Gustav Leonhardt, Erika Schneidr, Hopkinson Smith, Gerardo Arriaga, and György Kurtág.

From 1993 until 2003, Daekun Jang has won more than 20 prizes at various guitar competitions, among them first prize at the Luys Milan International Guitar Competition in Spain, the Kukulcan International Guitar Competition (Mexico) and the Zarautz International Guitar Competition (Basque Country). His awards also include the Maria Canals International Guitar Competition (Spain), the Fernando Sor International Guitar Competition (Italy), Printemps de la Guitare International Competition (Belgium), the Ciudad de Coria International Guitar Competition (Spain), the Sernancelhe International Guitar Competition (Portugal), the Villa de Puente Genil International Guitar Competition (Spain), the Segovia International Guitar Competition (Spain) and the Julian Arcas International Guitar Competition (Spain).

A noted solo and chamber performer, Daekun Jang has given recitals in many countries including Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, South Korea, Mexico and Japan. He has been a soloist with such orchestras as the Mexico City Symphony Orchestra and the Europea Mediterranea Symphony Orchestra.

Aside from his duties as a performer, Mr. Jang is also dedicated to the art of teaching. He has been invited to perform and teach at many festivals such as the Astorga Music Festival, the Balaguer Music School, the Ricard Chic International Guitar Course, the Tui International Guitar Festival, and the Madrid Getafe Conservatory of Music, etc. He currently resides in Salamanca, Spain.

[From Mr.Jang's official site with permission]

Albums[link]

Winners of Luys Milan International Guitar Competition (2003)

Songs of The Guitar (Aulos Media, 2006)

Impressions of Spain (Aulos Media, 2008)

External links [link]

Daekun Jang's official site

Album 'Songs of The Guitar"

Album 'Impressions of Spain'

References[link]

Category:South Korean classical guitarists Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)