TEXARKANA, Texas - If you love the movies, you know the music of John Williams. It's just that simple.
The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the music of this prolific and beloved film score composer on Saturday, Jan. 23, show time 7:30 p.m. at the Perot Theatre with a 6:40 p.m. concert preview.
The music of Williams is a memorable part of many renowned movies, such as "Star Wars," "Jaws," "Jurassic Park," "Harry Potter," "Saving Private Ryan," "Amistad" and others. The word iconic begins to describe his music and its effect on audiences.
Philip Mann, the TSO's conductor, will lead his musicians for this second pops concert of 2020-2021 season.
"I think that this has the promise to be a very special night for anybody who attends, for music fans, for fans of the movies - particularly for fans of John Williams, who is without a doubt the most requested, most popular and important film composer in at least American history," Mann said. "He certainly has written an indelible soundtrack to some of the biggest blockbuster movies of all time."
Across genres, this night of John Williams will have an appeal, the conductor said.
"It's got something for everybody," Mann said. "Similarly, I think the selection of repertoire on this program has something for everybody." He points out that John Williams first inspired many musicians to pick up their instruments, including trumpet or horn players, for example, who heard the beginning of "Star Wars."
"I think that speaks to how magnetic it is and how appealing. It explains how beloved his music is, as well," Mann said, noting the famous collaborations with the likes of Steven Spielberg, movies that become more than the sum of their parts.
"What I tried to do here is give a broad selection of different sides and faces of John Williams. He's a very interesting character. He's not just somebody who's written 'Superman' and 'Star Wars.' But he's somebody who had a jazz band background. He's been a conductor. He's written for other things," Mann said.
The conductor notes that they'll include his composition for the 2009 presidential inauguration, "Air and Simple Gifts." It was an important moment in American history, the inauguration of the first Black president. Williams essentially composed the soundtrack for it, Mann said.
"Similarly, another big moment in American history that's on the program is the 2002 Winter Olympics theme song, which is still played today," Mann said.
This music we already know.
"One thing that connects all of these things on this program is nearly everything on the program will be immediately recognizable to the audience," said Mann, who admits he's a "Star Wars" fan and has fielded requests from the community to play this music.
To that end, he's arranged a "Star Wars" symphony.
"We're doing five different selections of 'Star Wars.' It gives you five really different sides of John Williams and his approach to 'Star Wars,' and it also spans the movie saga, as well," Mann said, noting the Yoda theme is is one of the most beautiful things Williams has ever written.
"The Yoda theme is the second, slow movement, if you will," Mann said. Then there's a third movement, "Battle of the Heroes," a "Carmina Burana"-esque composition, he said. Of course, the Cantina music makes an appearance.
Also, look for the TSO to feature the principal trumpet player, Jeremy McBain, as he plays a selection from "Born on the 4th of July."
"There's also a really powerful, profound hymn that he wrote to the fallen soldiers of World War II from 'Saving Private Ryan' that's very powerful, and that includes a full chorus with extra men in the chorus," Mann said.
(Tickets: $47, $43, $30. Because of COVID-19 social distance seating arrangements, call the Perot Theatre Box Office at 903-792-4992 or visit the box office to buy tickets.)