Force Is Strong With Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
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CHAUTAUQUA -- To watch a movie in a theater with all of the high-tech sound available may be a memorable experience.
To watch a live orchestra recreate the score of a movie is breathtaking.
And that's what happened Saturday at the Amphitheater at Chautauqua Institution as the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra performed live, the music of Stars Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in concert.
It was not just a concert.
Audience members also were treated to watch the film as the orchestra played in the background.
The performance would not be possible if the orchestra did not have a great score from which to perform. It gives the film a whole new dimension. It's almost as if one was watching the musicians record the soundtrack in a recording studio. The conductor watches the film and waits for cue marks and then instructs the orchestra to play in different spots.
Some of the music pieces are incidental. Some of the music pieces are not. Those pieces serve as main themes.
So the concert began with accordingly the 20th Century Fox theme. And then the main theme cascaded over the audience. I had a hard time watching the movie, because I was joyful watching the musicians flawlessly execute their parts. I sat on stage right, and I smiled every time I heard the orchestra play.
Above the orchestra was three screens in which the movie was shown. There were subtitles on the screen only because when played, the music was louder than the dialogue. Usually the incidental music is heard but almost unnoticeable because the viewer is watching the movie.
It was a neat switch.
Whether it was the "Main Theme," "The Binary Sunset" also known as Lukes Theme or "The Imperial March a.k.a Darth Vader's theme, Each time Conductor Stuart Chafetz waived his lightsaber (baton), the music of Composer John Williams became alive from the screens to the seats.
Chafetz is the Principal Pops Conductor of the CSO, where he also recently retired as Principal Timpanist after 22 seasons, according to chq.org. He is also Principal Pops Conductor of the Columbus and Marin Symphonies. Chafetz, a conductor celebrated for his dynamic and engaging podium presence, is increasingly in demand with orchestras across the continent and this season Chafetz will be on the podium in Detroit, Fort Worth, Texas, Naples, Fla., Buffalo, North Carolina and Seattle. He enjoys a special relationship with The Phoenix Symphony where he leads multiple programs annually.
Chafetz holds a bachelor's degree in music performance from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a master's from the Eastman School of Music.
And I think there is no one better at creating main themes then composer Williams.
As I have written before in this space, Williams' music has graced silver screens since a long time ago... .
So back in 1977, I remember my brother John taking me to see Star Wars at the Chautauqua Mall. In those days, there was not any Internet, Twitter, FaceBook, Tik Tok, or any other social media channels. Information came from newspapers, TV, radio, or magazines. And that was it. When I saw the movie, it became one of my favorite movies. Because of Stars Wars (In 1977 "Episode IV -- A New Hope" wasn't part of the title), I embraced classical music. And at 12, what also helped me embrace classical music was that I played percussion in the band at Lincoln Junior High School.
In 1980, my brother took me to see The Empire Strikes Back, again at the Chautauqua Mall.
I am so glad that I had those experiences in my life, as they helped shape my love for writing, music, and the arts.
But the Star Wars saga is not the only films to which Williams lends his magic touch. He has a long list which includes "Fiddler On The Roof," "The Poseidon Adventure," "Jaws," "Close Encounters of The Third Kind," "Superman," "Raiders of The Lost Ark," "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," "Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom," "Born on the Fourth of July," "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," "Home Alone," "JFK," "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan," "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," and "Lincoln." He won five Academy Awards for "Fiddler," "Jaws," "Star Wars (IV: A New Hope)" and "Schindler's List."
What more can I say. You should have been there.