As Star Wars: in Concert continues its journey delighting audiences across North America, we thought we'd shine a spotlight on some of the incredibly talented musicians involved in the show.
Hometown/Country: Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, UK
Role: Principal Timpanist
Previous Jobs: Principal Timpanist, Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, Koblenz, Germany
Best part of your job? The privilege of playing great music with some of the world's finest orchestras and ensembles
Worst part of your job? Every job has some but I can't think of any that really bother me. I love what I do!
What was the reaction from family and friends when you signed on with Star Wars: In Concert? They tought it would be a great opportunity to be involved with such a mammoth and spectacular production. They were really quite envious!
Were you a Star Wars fan before getting involved with the show? A fan of the music, very much, but I don't really know the stories behind the films.I had the great honor to be involved with the original soundtrack recordings for Episodes I, II and III as a percussionist with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios, London conducted by John Williams.
It was a great experience but hard work demanding long hours of concentration to absolutely perfect each "cue" being recorded. Typically each film would involve some twenty or so three-hour recording sessions split over a two-week period. We also do not get to see the music to be recorded until arriving each morning for the day's sessions. So that's two weeks of sight-reading. Some pretty demanding stuff!
How is performing it live different than a scoring session? A scoring session usually involves each cue being recorded in sections. A cue can be anything from as little as 15 seconds worth of music up to two or three minutes for the longer ones. Longer cues can take an entire three-hour recording session to be perfected. Playing live obviously means one chance to get each cue right and get it right night after night.
What was it like to work with John Williams himself?
Simply a great honor to work with such a great and outstanding musician. He writes so brilliantly for the vast array of timpani and percussion instruments and although often technically very demanding, it is always practical and playable. He also knows exactly what sounds or effects he wants and if this has not been created properly in our printed parts, he will often take an extra hour or so after the orchestra has gone home for the day with just the percussion section alone to build up and combine varying combinations of instruments until he has it sounding exactly as he intended in his head.
Have you toured the US before? Yes, many times, usually playing classical repertoire. I have toured to New York with the LSO as they have an annual residency at the Lincoln Centre and also to Daytona Beach where they have a very long standing International Festival which has featured the LSO since the 1960s.
Also when people ask me "what is the strangest or most unusual concert you have ever been involved in?" my answer is always playing Beethoven Symphony No 5 with an Irish orchestra at a party in Hugh Heffner's back garden, the Playboy Mansion in Hollywood! It's a long story!
What do you think of the Star Wars: In Concert experience so far? I think that I speak for all my colleagues in the orchestra when I say that this tour will be remembered as very special and with great fondness for very many years to come. It's a great pleasure to be involved with a production on this scale involving so many people absolutely dedicated to making it such a great success. We've all made many new friends already as everyone feels part of one big team.
How has the audience reaction been? Fantastic both on- and off-stage. We have often gone into the public areas before the shows or during the interval and people always come up to us very animated about the show and what they have just seen and heard. They love the combination of watching the films and effects to music played by a live orchestra.
What do you think of the set? Have you ever played under a screen like this or played a show with fire, lasers, and such? A very impressive set. I have played under a screen and with fire, lasers and pyrotechnics etc., but not quite on this scale before. As a live event I think anything less would simply not do the films justice though!
Do you get bored playing the same music every night? No and I don't think I could ever get bored of John's music.
Star Wars: In Concert is an amazing night of live orchestra accompanied by enormous video screens, pyrotechnics, and laser show. Narrated by Anthony Daniels, the music and visuals track the story of the entire saga in a new and unique way, that will give you new insight into the myth and music of Star Wars. Add to that the traveling exhibit of props and costumes from the Lucasfilm Archives as well as unique collectibles not available anywhere else, and it's a must-see event for Star Wars fans of all ages. Check in to its official site and its Facebook presence for updates of dates and venues.
