Purdue News
Purdue News
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October 8, 1999 Movie music fills Purdue Symphony's first pops concertWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – When John Williams writes movie music, it sticks in the mind and comes out through the lips. Without even realizing it, moviegoers hum his haunting melodies as they leave the theater and for days afterward. That kind of musical impact prompted Jay Gephart, assistant professor of bands at Purdue University, to fashion the Purdue Symphony Orchestra's first-ever pops concert around Williams' monumental movie music. The free concert is set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, in the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette. Familiar themes from "Star Wars" and "Schindler's List" – just two of the more than 75 films Williams has scored – fill the concert. "In the style of the great opera composer Richard Wagner, Williams writes wonderful melodies that are really associated with characters. Every time the characters return, the themes return," said Gephart, who will conduct the orchestra. Three student violinists – Jay Ro of West Lafayette, Ed Moy of Carmel, Ind., and Abe Huang of Hartford, Conn. – will be featured soloists as the orchestra performs music from "Schindler's List." Ro will be featured in "Jewish Town," Moy in "Remembrances," and Huang in the film's main theme. A student musician committee, put together this past spring to offer input on concert repertoire, rated Williams' music as its top choice, and Gephart was happy to oblige. "John Williams' music presents some very technical challenges to the performers. We're not talking traditional classical musicians like Mozart or Beethoven here, who are very predictable. Williams' music goes in many different directions, so students have to be on their toes when they play it," Gephart said. Williams, who started his professional career as a jazz pianist in clubs in New York City, has a diverse compositional style that contributes to the popularity of his music, Gephart said. He added that Williams has introduced audiences to a form of music many thought was too high-brow for them. "Classical music tends to have a resurgence in popularity when it's used in films," Gephart said. "That's why John Williams' music is so appealing. He's reached more people through the medium of film than has been possible in any other medium." Williams worked his way into movie music after writing for television in the 1960s. In 1980 he was named the 19th conductor of the Boston Pops, and since 1993 he has been its Laureate Conductor. He has written two symphonies, numerous concertos and scored more than 75 movies, winning Oscars for "Jaws" in 1975, "Star Wars" in 1977, "E.T.the Extra-Terrestrial" in 1982 and "Schindler's List" in 1993. He also wrote the theme for the "NBC Nightly News." CONTACTS: Gephart, (765) 494-7886, jsgephart@bands.purdue.edu; or Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands publicist, (765) 496-6785; kcmatter@bands.purdue.edu NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Journalists can photograph West Lafayette soloist Jay Ro rehearsing with the Purdue Symphony between 4:30 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, or Friday, Oct. 15. Contact Kathy Matter at Purdue Bands, (765) 496-6785, to make arrangements.
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