Under the Starry Nightsky at Tanglewood
After a relaxing week at Sea Isle City, New Jersey with family, Michael and I drove north to Tanglewood, a music venue on the border of Massachusetts and New York. A few weeks ago, Michael found out that the Boston Symphony Orchestra celebrates the music of John Williams annually, and he snagged four tickets for Gabriel, his brother, along with Gabriel’s fiancé, Becca, and us. Once we arrived in the forests surrounding the Koussevitzky Music Shed, we realized the enormous popularity of the event.
Traffic was slowly filling up the sprawling field as attendees walked up the hill toward the entrance. Each person was carrying foldable chairs and pulling rolling carts filled with refreshments, with some dressed in costumes from some of the films orchestrated by John Williams. Once we parked and walked to the entrance, I was gazing at the lion sculptures that greeted us at the main gate. This facility has been around since 1937, donated by Mrs. Gorham Brooks and Miss Mary Aspinwall Tappan and named after the Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne who lived in a cottage on the estate. The Koussevitzky Music Shed was built the following year.
As we walked through the courtyard, hundreds of people at settled onto the lawn with tables, chairs, and, surprisingly, fine dinnerware. Some people were dressed in suits and dresses, elegantly sipping from wine glasses. A little hesitant that we were underdressed, I was relieved to see the majority of the audience dressed in casual clothing. We found an open spot toward the left flank of the lawn, unfurling our lawn blankets, unfolding our chairs, and cracking open cold beverages. Within an hour, the conductor walked onto the stage to rapturous applause.
While we were disappointed that John Williams was not able to make an appearance, the conductor that evening, Keith Lockhart, cultivated a sincere reverence to his legacy. Keith Lockhart has been a conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra for thirty years, and he wonderfully led us through a small selection of film music from John Williams. The evening’s music began with a 1992 film, Far and Away. Michael and I had not seen that movie, so I added it to our growing watchlist. Set in Ireland in 1892, it features a selection of bagpipes and percussion instruments that whisked us across the Atlantic.
The impending sounds of the Jaws theme was next in the lineup, permeating tension throughout the audience. When the film was released in 1975, it created a momentous stir that led to a collective fear of the ocean, particularly among the predatorial nature of sharks. The haunting music cultivated a fifty-year nostalgic journey into movie history. All of us were happy to enjoy the iconic compositions of Jaws after our beach vacation.
When the conductor introduced the next selection of songs from Stephen Spielberg’s E.T. film, the setting sun fell below the surface and the stars sparkled into view. Our minds were a buzz with images from the movie, imaging that a passing satellite could be an alien spaceship. Following the soaring, mystically themes of extra-terrestrial creatures, we were treated to a wonderful animated short film on the big screen. Titled “Dear Basketball”, it was written and narrated by the late Kobe Bryant where he described his lifelong passion and reverence for the game. The crowd cheered as the film faded out with some tears shed in memory of Kobe Bryant, who passed away tragically with his daughter in the beginning of 2020.
Venturing into adventure, the symphony spurred excitement in the crowd with the familiar themes from Indiana Jones. It was actually the second movie that John Williams and Steve Spielberg collaborated, the first being “Sugarland Express” in 1974. The screen above the stage showed a wonderfully edited montage of the five movies, spanning fifty years, with actor Harrison Ford and the rest of the cast. Finishing the evening, the conductor introduced another famous series, Star Wars. The conductor imbued his astonishment, relaying that John had composed all nine films in the series, from 1977 to 2015. His ability to transport the audience into the space adventures of the Star Wars universe is truly awe-inspiring, and a wonderful experience underneath the starry night sky.
With a roaring applause, the concert was over and all of us started to gather our belongings. It was an exceptionally wonderful experience, listening to and reminiscing about the musical legacy of composer John Williams. If you are ever near the Berkshires of Massachusetts next summer, be sure to head to Tanglewood to enjoy a show under the stars.
