Hear the name John Williams and you likely will think of the guy who wrote the rousing themes to “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones” and scores of other blockbuster movies.
But does the word “composer” come to mind?
Funny thing that it doesn’t immediately for so many people. After all, those film soundtracks are “composed,” and they expertly serve their purpose of transporting listeners and watchers to galaxies far far away or into a snake-filled crypt in Egypt.
There’s no argument: Williams is one of America’s finest, best known composers. And if his scores for “Jaws,” “Lincoln” or “Harry Potter” don’t prove it, his vast catalog of concert music should.
Grand Teton Music Festival audiences will get a sample of that oeuvre this weekend when the orchestra performs Williams’ Trumpet Concerto. Longtime GTMF trumpet player Thomas Hooten will solo on the exciting, athletic concerto, with GTMF Associate Conductor Jerry Hou conducting. Guest conductor Eun Sun Kim was originally slated to lead the program but had to cancel due to illness, according to the festival.
Also on the Friday and Saturday night program are George Gershwin’s propulsive “An American in Paris” and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 — not Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 1 as originally planned.
