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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: John Williams (1932-)

Composer of the Week: John Williams (1932-): Episode 5: Star Wars Revisited

John Williams (1932-)

Episode 5

Episode 5: Star Wars Revisited

Star Wars Revisited

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, John Williams (1932-), Star Wars Revisited

John Williams on the challenges of returning to the Star Wars series nearly two decades on

John Williams discusses the challenges of returning to the Star Wars series, nearly two decades on, and the hidden plot clues buried deep in his music.

John Williams talks exclusively to Donald Macleod for the final time this week, with Star Wars once more taking centre stage.

Williams discusses the challenges of returning to the Star Wars series, nearly two decades on, and the hidden plot clues buried deep in his music. We'll hear highlights from Williams's brand-new music for the three 'prequels' (Eps I-III), including Duel Of The Fates and the climactic Battle Of The Heroes.

The programme opens with two recent works that throw back to his background in big bands and concert halls - the effervescent, jazz-infused Main Title from Tintin - and a spiky, Stravinskyan Horn Concerto. We also showcase one of Williams's most haunting scores of the previous decade - his music to Rob Marshall's Memoirs of a Geisha.

Donald Macleod ends the week with thoughts on John Williams's career and position as "America's composer", a unique musical voice transcending popular and classical music, and arguably the inheritor of a mantle once held by Gershwin, Copland and Bernstein. The week plays out with Williams's music for the inauguration of Barack Obama as US President in 2008 - his Air and Simple Gifts.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod is joined by John Williams for an exploration of his life and music

To mark the composer's 80th birthday year, Donald Macleod is joined by John Williams for an exploration of his life and music

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John Williams (1932-)

Episode 5: Star Wars Revisited

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