The Cowboys Overture!

I first saw this movie on The Late Show (of all things!), sometime in the late 70s/early 80's. I tuned in just a little late and thereby missed the first few minutes of it. As I watched, I found myself taking greater and greater notice of the music, wondering who the composer was. To my great disappointment, that credit wasn't given at the end of the film. About six months later, I saw that it was going to be on The Late Show again. I made it a point to be tuned in and watching before it started. When "Music by John Williams" appeared on the screen, I was completely unsurprised. "No wonder the music in this film is so terrific!" I thought.

In a preface to the full score, John Williams tells that it was none other than his long-time friend Andre' Previn who suggested he compose a "Cowboys" Overture. Williams had played some of the music for Previn while he was working on it, and Previn told him, "I hear a concert overture there. Why don't you write one?" In the years that followed, whenever they met, Previn would ask Williams, "Have you written that "Cowboys" Overture yet?" Then came the appointment of John Williams as successor to the legendary Arthur Fiedler as conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra (a post that was first offered to Previn, who turned it down with gratitude; but then enthusiastically endorsed John Williams when the orchestra's management asked if he could recommend somebody). Needing an "orchestral showpiece" worthy of such a virtuoso orchestra as the Boston Pops to use as a sort of "calling card" as he assumed his new post (and probably also as a way of thenking Previn for that endorsement), he finally took his friend up on his suggestion. Needless to say, it was an instant hit.

"The Cowboys Overture" was included on one of his first albums with the Boston Pops. When it was first released, I was unaware of the existence of a "Cowboys" Overture, but I certainly remembered the music as heard in the film. I immediately bought the album and brought it home; and after playing it through from start to finish once, I just had to go back and play "The Cowboys Overture" at least five times over (no exaggeration)! It remains one of my all-time favorite pieces of music. When that album was later re-released on compact disc, it was one of the very first compact discs I ever owned (that vinyl LP having begun to show signs of how often it had been played long before then). I play "The Cowboys Overture" often on a classical music program I do at a local radio station (and the other selections on that CD as well!). I've even ripped it to my computer's hard-drive, so that it's "at my fingertips" should I be having "one of those days" while working and be in need of something to lift my spirits and bring a smile to my face (as this piece never fails to do, no matter how bad a mood I'm in).

One thing I've always wondered, though. Does John Williams "have it out" for horn players? The piece begins with the horns having to play "ice-cold" that ultra-treacherous fanfare motif that pervades the whole piece. I mean, that's what makes it right from its very first note such a thrilling piece of music; but man, the ulcers it must give the musicians! I wonder if the previous poster who played that concert-band arrangement of it can offer some insight as to the thoughts of the horn players in his band on that subject!

He probably might not ever read this, but...thank you, John Williams (and Andre' Previn!), for "The Cowboys Overture", which is just one amomg many (many!) compositions of yours which have brought so much joy, beauty and enlightenment to me and to the world!