A Certain Point of View: Writing, Film and Stuff

"Steven and I began, as we always did. by screening his finished cut of the film. And, at the end, the lights came up, and it was time for us to begin talking about the role of music in the film. But I was so overwhelmed by what I'd just seen, I really couldn't speak. So I excused myself and walked around the building for a few minutes to gather myself, and then came back to resume the meeting. And I said to him quite seriously, 'Steven, you really need a better composer than I am for this film.' And he said, very sweetly, 'I know. But they're all dead.'" - John Williams On December 3, 2018, almost a quarter century after MCA Records released the original 14-track soundtrack from director Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-winning film Schindler's List, Burbank-based La-La Land Records began to ship a limited edition 2-CD reissue titled Schindler's List: 25th Anniversary Soundtrack. Produced, edited, and remastered by Michael "M...

© 1993, 2018 La-La Land Records, Universal Music Special Markets, Amblin Entertainment, and Geffen  On December 3, 2018, La-La Land Records of Burbank, CA released Schindler's List - 25th Anniversary Soundtrack, a 2-CD set that presents John Williams' Academy Award-winning score in a limited edition (only 4000 units were made) reissue. Made in cooperation with Universal Music, Amblin Entertainment, and Geffen, this double album was remastered by soundtrack expert Mike Matessino and was approved by director Steven Spielberg and Maestro John Williams, who produced the original 1993 soundtrack. Per La-La Land's announcement, this limited edition consists of the original soundtrack album, which was reconstructed from material "sourced from the original 1993 release’s 24-karat gold Ultimate Masterdisc digital master." on Disc 1. Disc 2 presents six tracks that were not included in the 64:39 original soundtrack, including two cues (" Schindler's Workforce...

Cover  Design: Giulio Turturro; Cover Photo: Edward Steichen. (C) 1999 Sony Masterworks/Sony Classical On July 27, 1999, nearly two years after the successful debut of Cinema Serenade, Sony Masterworks dropped Cinema Serenade 2: The Golden Age, an album that reunited virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman and conductor John Williams for a 12-track collection of movie themes – or songs used in movies – during the Golden Age of Hollywood. For this sequel, Perlman and Williams are joined by “America’s Orchestra”: the Boston Pops, which Maestro Williams led from 1980 to 1993 and still serves today as the ensemble’s Laureate Conductor.  In contrast to their first album since their collaboration on Schindler’s List, Perlman and Williams chose a program of compositions heard in films released between 1936 ( Smile from Modern Times ) and 1952 (the traditional Irish gig St. Patrick’s Day from The Quiet Man ).  They chose wisely, for as the liner notes by Royal S. Brown...

On July 29, 1997, Sony Masterworks released Cinema Serenade, the first of two post Schindler's List movie themed albums featuring the collaborative team of violinist Itzhak Perlman and Oscar-winning composer John Williams.  Film scores have been a passion of mine since I first heard Williams' unforgettable score for Star Wars at the age of 14. Since then I have become acutely aware of movie themes and orchestral music's ability to affect one's perceptions and emotions. As a result, my musical collection includes many CDs of music by composers such as James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith and, of course, maestro Williams. Cinema Serenade, featuring acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman, John Williams and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, is a beautiful 13-track collection of movie themes by various notable composers, including  Quincy Jones, Elmer Bernstein, Michel Legrand, John Barry, Ennio Morricone, Luis Bonfa, Andre Previn and, of course, Williams. Because the f...