It was either 1980 or 1981, but I remember going to a July 4th Boston Pops concert on the Esplanade in Boston—I believe Williams was the conductor of the Pops at that time—and they played a number of Star Wars soundtrack pieces, including the Darth Vader march. It was brilliant. The crowd loved it and it still holds up after nearly 45 years. Even better, the Pops launched into the 1812 Overture to accompany the cannon fire and fireworks, which are still some of the best ones to watch. Great experience and it’s an annual event. Not with Williams, per se, but the Pops always play the Esplanade on Independence Day.
Actually, believe it or not saw JW at Tanglewood MA with a James Taylor 4 piece (Steve Gadd on drums) I tell people (I'm a drummer) that I'm two letters of separation from the greatest. For reference the Steely Dan drum break in Asia. Many tried only Steve could cut it just right. John Williams of course did some Star Wars stuff. Check that one off the all-time concerts to remember. Not too long ago either was it 2010? Still 15 years ago is a lot. Never liked Star Wars it hit at the wrong time for me. I was deep into the Beats, Hippie Romanticism, and Speculative Fiction but not things that absolutely could never happen in a universe anywhere. That was kid stuff and when I was a kid that meant Chiller Theater, Forbidden Planet, Outer Limits... The Star Wars music however was astounding. Classical made for the masses that actually worked on all possible levels.
Greatest film score of all time: Ben Hur (Miklos Rosza)
It’s up there for sure 👍
100%
It was either 1980 or 1981, but I remember going to a July 4th Boston Pops concert on the Esplanade in Boston—I believe Williams was the conductor of the Pops at that time—and they played a number of Star Wars soundtrack pieces, including the Darth Vader march. It was brilliant. The crowd loved it and it still holds up after nearly 45 years. Even better, the Pops launched into the 1812 Overture to accompany the cannon fire and fireworks, which are still some of the best ones to watch. Great experience and it’s an annual event. Not with Williams, per se, but the Pops always play the Esplanade on Independence Day.
What a memory—thanks for sharing!
Actually, believe it or not saw JW at Tanglewood MA with a James Taylor 4 piece (Steve Gadd on drums) I tell people (I'm a drummer) that I'm two letters of separation from the greatest. For reference the Steely Dan drum break in Asia. Many tried only Steve could cut it just right. John Williams of course did some Star Wars stuff. Check that one off the all-time concerts to remember. Not too long ago either was it 2010? Still 15 years ago is a lot. Never liked Star Wars it hit at the wrong time for me. I was deep into the Beats, Hippie Romanticism, and Speculative Fiction but not things that absolutely could never happen in a universe anywhere. That was kid stuff and when I was a kid that meant Chiller Theater, Forbidden Planet, Outer Limits... The Star Wars music however was astounding. Classical made for the masses that actually worked on all possible levels.