JOHN WILLIAMS | THE INTERVIEW

[@simonsmatthew]

The humility of John Williams is a sign of his greatness.

[@MuzixMaker]

Hard to believe he’s 90. He’s blessed with good health.

[@KolegrahmH]

I love when people I admire are also unbelievably humble and genuine. As great as his music is, I think his humility is his greatest asset and greatest contribution. You can’t become great if you think you already are!

[@DaneBryantFrazier]

What a fantastic interview. John Williams is a genius and has added so much to the world of music. Very great questions asked as well.

[@riffraftmusic8669]

In his 90s and still talking about learning! Building on the masterpieces of classical music, incorporating World and Pop ideas/instruments, showcasing the virtuosity of performers both famous and unsung, his scores each impart unique, rich, tangible souls to their video "bodies".

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

It is good for the image to say things like that…try to teach him something with close doors….than you will see

[@BK42Cycles]

Amazing interview. Sometimes I think Mr. John doesn't realize his own significance and impact-he is so humble. What an incredible man!

[@mariolooney70]

He looks fantastic for his age , I think his music gives him a desire to live ⭐️

[@robkeil4831]

John Williams and his vast talents are a gift to the world. What a delight he is.

[@RichardM-kv4uu]

Science needs to find a way to make this man immortal, he is not just a national treasure for America, he's a WORLD treasure!

[@dianalee3059]

I’m retired from a blessed and busy 6 decade studio singing career during which time I had the honor and privilege to work with the Maestro. You will never meet a kinder, more humble, gentler man than John Williams. Live long and prosper 🖖 and thank you for every glorious, exquisite note ❤️❤️❤️

[@fabiolacardenas4592]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤I’m so infatuated by this 92 human ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤his music change me for ever . I forgive and forget everything I went thru just by the sounds of his adorable melodies . If I only one day meet this genious 😢❤

[@siddharth_r1]

Probably the only person on the planet who deserves the tagline “God of music” ❤

[@jslasher1]

Still going strong at 90 +. I hope that JTW lives forever.

[@shhtha]

He composes with his ears and thoughts. Patience and hard work

[@corner559]

I love the genuine love for John Williams and his music in the interviewer. Respect to both.

[@dotwaregames]

This has got to be the best interview I’ve seen with John. He’s so excited and so expressive in the details explaining his work - kudos to the interviewer, his passion in his questions clearly elevated this great conversation!

[@Soundpaintmusic]

What a sweet, sweet interview. Geniune. Non ego-centrical.

[@gregrg1]

Absolutely wonderful chat. It is quite obvious that John is truly a master craftsman. The intricacies of his thought process and how he examines every minute of a film is truly astounding. He is so erudite and sharp minded, it's so wonderful to see just on his 90th birthday. I am 60 this year and I, like very many, "found" John through Star Wars in 1977. He has been my life's companion for 45 years, such a wonderful, warm, gracious and humble man. He will live on forever through his music and "meeting" him in 1977 has been the best thing in my entire life. Love this man!

[@mistamovegas]

Both of these people are real gems! I absolutely love Stéphane's personality and warmth. St. Louis is so lucky to have him. Watching him conduct John Williams is amazing! A true love and respect for the work.

[@DavidRLentz]

(As I type this, it is late Sunday, 28 January, 2023.) What a spectacular treat this conversation--far richer and more fulfilling than just an interview; I found it a dialogue amongst professionals of the same cailbre, kindred spirits even!--is for me. I initially had wondered if I would finish such a long video. Yet well ere the end had I wanted it to continue! Now, I wish we had a comprehensive discussion of all such œuvres; composition of motion picture scores in the classical style, modern classical pieces, musical instruments of other cultures, and more, all folded into the most savoury auditory recipes as master chefs in the finest kitchens! I wish, dear reader, that I could express to you in the fulness of my feelings the true joy that motion picture scores in the classical style such as those Mr. Williams and his colleagues over the decades have brought to the world are for me. I am a vocalist, not an instrument player. Even so, I enjoy immensely singing along with such music. I have an extraordinarily wide vocal range that enables me to sing all the registers of the chorus. A friend I had known whilst at university had told me that I could sing from the fifth ledger line below the bass clef to the D above high C (and once an A)! Due to circumstances not of my causation and far beyond my capacity to resolve, however, I lack the means to afford the training and developing my voice, my writing ability (I am an aspiring novelist), and my other talents to marketable skills.

[@catherinel6]

Great interview. Thank you, John Williams, for making the sounds of my childhood.

[@brucekuehn4031]

What a wonderful conversation! I didn’t know Mr Denève, but he does a marvelous job in bringing Mr Williams into more depth than I’ve seen in other interviews. This goes so far beyond the “you’re so wonderful” adulation and gets into a real musical discussion. For me, not nearly long enough!

[@blue-balance]

I absolutely love this man, this genius, John Williams. Thank you for talking with him and sharing this conversation with the world.

[@johnny12022]

I can't think of another living musician who wouldn't make me pause if he said he doesn't really listen to music. Williams, too, has mentioned before that listening to the classical composers makes him feel inadequate and his compositions insignificant... what a both amazing and terrible place to be in as an artist, to have mastered the craft leaps beyond any living composer, and yet because of that mastery, to know better than anyone else alive that his own contributions are forever hopelessly overshadowed by the great Western composers

[@dustintheblacklight]

This is the one of the best interviews i have seen so far. John Williams is music genius. Very good questions and answers as well! Thank you.

[@kthx1138]

I love the technical precision of John's music. He knows EXACTLY how many notes are required, at what speed. And of course his music can be grand, overarching and romantic with simple but effective melodies when it needs to be too.

[@nathanaelreyes5854]

Hope to meet John Williams one day and tell him how much I’ve loved his soundtracks. Can’t wait for his score for The Fabelmans.

[@commonman317]

Growing up with the TV show "Lost In Space". His musical contributions to that series is just as impressive as his movie scores.

[@susansanders8485]

It's interesting to compare Mr Williams' music for Dracula to that for The Empire Strikes Back. I saw both movies in 1979. I didn't know that dissonance and lyricism could coexist! Thank you for this gentle and fascinating interview.

[@GregoryPLoomis]

I think we all know John Williams won’t be around much longer. He is a living legend. I would do anything to have like a 10 hour interview of him going through all of his themes and melodies, describing how he created them, and where they came from.

[@colleencupido5125]

As regards Stephanie Deneve's comment about Melody and archeology- I thought this quote was pertinent: "Mozart is the greatest composer of all. Beethoven 'created' his music, but the music of Mozart is of such purity and beauty that one feels he merely 'found' it-that it has always existed as part of the inner beauty of the universe waiting to be revealed"-Albert Einstein Yes, THAT Albert Einstein said this. I, myself remember reading of the Great New York Times critic, the late Harold Schoenberg, saying the Tchaikovsky was more afraid of Beethoven, but his favorite composer was Mozart. That makes sense. If there were ever two composers in the entire field of Classical music that truly had an Endless flow of different melodies that never seemed to run out- then it was Tchaikovsky and Mozart. For film music, on the other hand- in terms of a seemingly endless fund of melody....( Anyone reading can easily complete that sentence)

[@Davotheledge]

When I listen to the music from Home Alone, this is exactly the sort of person I imagine coimpising it. Seems like such a lovely, warm man ☺☺☺

[@mdgarciasa]

Such a genius.

[@golafs]

must say, one of the best interview i´ve seen with john williams

[@colleencupido5125]

Such a delightful interview. I remember reading of when Brahms first heard Dvorak's Cello Concerto, Brahms said that he had no idea such was possible with the Cello- and if he had, HE would have written a Cello Concerto. If I remember the Yo-Yo Ma CD, it was the final movement of your Cello Concerto that made the biggest impression. Hands down, I have listened to your Dracula score more often than any other piece of film music. From LP, to my putting it on audio cassette, to the original 40 minute CD- to the stunning double CD- it is probably my most-loved film score. You just mentioned that this score had a touch of horror. I am not disagreeing, but your score to The Fury is one of the most terrifying AND beautiful scores to come from anyone's pen. Bernard Herrman's shower scene is horrifying, and Jaws can be so scary to listen to that I've heard of people leaving the theater- blood and guts, yes, but not THAT music. But your score for The Fury is, in my opinion, music that is not only horrifying and scary- but also beautiful, in a way I haven't seen of a music score elsewhere: Terror OR beauty- but not both. You combined both.

[@garykuovideos]

One of the best interviews with John Williams I’ve ever seen. Fantastic production as well! Thank you, all!

[@hardlines4]

Long live this legend

[@johnny12022]

Knowing William's humility and perfectionism, I'm sure he was beating himself up for not getting the climax to ET perfect. Of course, he'll never admit it, but it was probably already 99% perfect to begin with. Touching to hear Spielberg went to such lengths to help him out

[@kthx1138]

I'm sure Steven could see exactly why and where John was struggling to conform the music to the film. It's a tribute to Steven's huge heart, and the clout that he had in the movie industry at that point, that Universal allowed him to go back and have Michael Kahn recut those last 10 minutes of E.T. to conform to John's music, which is just a wonderful 10 minutes of music.

[@dimension7prod]

For Dracula fans, JW starts talking about his score for the film at 2:58

[@bronson1392]

Great interview thanks

[@skynet5305]

John Williams is the man

[@patrickvigil9353]

King of the Big Screen

[@kthx1138]

Fascinating man, John Williams. His chameleonlike instincts for how to use music in film are uncanny.

[@ScyllaWyrm]

I have to say these questions are very good. Some of these I've wondered about myself. Why not ask them while we still have the chance?

[@syanhc]

I love this mam!

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

One does not fish for compliments anymore. You just make the compliments yourself.

[@carlstephenson8901]

There's a sound that is John Williams with his mix of instruments. I would love to know where that originates. There's only 1 John Williams!

[@celesteburley4035]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@benjaminstock5334]

Thanks for posting this! When is it from?

[@stef1138]

It was in 2016!

[@chazrocket]

They are so close to each other

[@dimosorchestral6338]

A master craftsman with seemingly infinite musical knowledge. At 7:06 you can hear that JW does not have absolute pitch (he is off by about 2 semitones), making his body of work even more impressive. This man is not a born genius, he earned his skills.

[@johns.8220]

I think he does have absolute pitch. He strongly alludes to it at 6:35 in this interview: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZzLaoFoiq1kfNE

[@dimosorchestral6338]

@@johns.8220 I think the statement you reference is vague. Potentially, JW could be referring to a situation where the F# in a D major scale is a bit lower than it should be, that's all. That would be relative pitch, not absolute. Anyhow, the example here is a way more direct form of evidence. Note that he actually sings Do-So (C to G), the first interval of the main theme from ET. Because of that we know that he is not referring to a modulated version of the piece. Having said that, I can admit to one potentially embarrassing loophole in my argument, namely the possibility that this youtube video plays 11% (two semi tones) slower than the actual recording of the interview.

[@dimosorchestral6338]

@@mikal_grigorowitsch As far as I know the deepening phenomenon is only one semi tone. The fact that JW is off by two semitones argues somewhat against that possibility.

[@johns.8220]

@@dimosorchestral6338 All due respect I think you're overthinking it a bit. All he was doing was rattling off a fragment of a melody for a fraction of a second. There's no reason to assume that even folks with absolute pitch would strive for pitch accuracy 100% of the time in situations like that. I certainly don't.

[@dimosorchestral6338]

@@johns.8220 Thank you for your critical comment. Also with all due respect: I don't think that people with absolute pitch strive for accuracy, they just have an established internal link between e.g. the word "C" or "do" with the actual pitch C. Watch e.g. a Dylan Beato video on youtube. When he says e.g. C, he sings the correct pitch, instantaeuosly and effortlessly. I don't know, but I would not be surprised if, for a person with absolute pitch, it would be actually quite difficult (or internally stressful) to say the word "C" but at the same time sing a different note (because it would break the internal link). But that is just my two cents.

[@jtdumee]

😘😘😘

[@py2007]

ok, sitting uncomfortably close

[@dutch90skid70]

Such a weird and uncomfortable setup for an interview. There's not a single technical reason justifying being this up close.

[@almur88]

to my cultural view the interviewer is sitting way too close and his manspreading doesn't help either

[@MadKingOfMadaya]

*_These questions are so foolish and too broad. If I were to ask him a single question is why he chose Sanskrit as the language of the Chorus to his "Duel of the Fates/Heroes" in episode I and III of Star Wars._*

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

Ein Plagiator im Gespräch mit einem Laiendirigent.

[@stevieb6368]

Why is John Williams being interviewed by such a mediocre talent? I don't know how that Monsieur has de nerve to stand in front of an orchestra.