John Williams and his early aesthetic

By Simon Cummings, 17 May 2017

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“Williams leapt beyond the confines of convention to produce a score laden with innovation”

Bachtrack, 12th November

A ceremony honoured the legendary composer and conductor’s enduring impact on film and orchestral music, and his long-standing relationship with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Film composer Lalo Schifrin dies at the age of 93

Bachtrack, 27th June

The composer of scores for films such as Mission: Impossible, Bullitt, Cool Hand Luke and Dirty Harry has died aged 93.

The wolf returns: Debbie Wiseman talks The Mirror and the Light

Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, 7th November

Composer Debbie Wiseman talks about returning to Wolf Hall and the world of the Tudors, for the BBC’s adaptation of the conclusion to Hilary Mantel’s story of Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII, The Mirror and the Light.

Far from daily life: Saaremaa and Narva Opera Festivals

Simon Cummings, 12th June

Every summer, Saaremaa Opera Festival and Narva Opera Days are held at the extreme west and eastern ends of Estonia – far from everyday life, where things can become uncanny, unpredictable and fantastical.

The forgotten German composer who pioneered opera in Japan

David Grundy, 29th May

A leading composer and conductor of opera in Germany, Manfred Gurlitt’s Jewish ancestry led to his music being banned. Emigrating to Japan, Gurlitt became a pioneer of opera and Western classical music in Japan, a legacy still felt today.

Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and beyond

Lawrence Dunn, 10th March

We profile one of the most advanced and best-sounding concert halls in the UK, and take a look further afield at arts and culture across Manchester.

Simon Cummings

Simon Cummings is a composer, writer and researcher based in the Cotswolds. He composes instrumental and electronic music, exploring aspects of algorithmic composition, and has recently completed a Ph.D. in composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire under the supervision of Richard Causton and Howard Skempton. His musical tastes are ludicrously broad but are focused most on contemporary/avant-garde classical and electronic music. When not composing, he writes regularly about new music; Simon is the author of the contemporary music blog 5:4 (5against4.com), and regularly contributes articles for a variety of books, journals and websites. Follow him on Twitter @5against4.

The film music of John Williams: the makings of an aesthetic