January 8, 2021
Classical Guitar
When I arrived early at John Williams’ house he was deep in the throes of sorting out a welter of newspaper articles about his friend Jacqueline du Pre and the controversy surrounding the film “Hilary and Jackie.” Papers spread out everywhere, he simultaneously organised breakfast, discussed in precise detail some comments I’d made in CG, and spoke warmly about various musicians he’d met only recently. Williams is not one to settle back into a cushioned comfort zone; he’s as enthusiastic as ever about all his projects, he’s passionately concerned about a variety of things and “people that matter.” Resting on his laurels is not an option, and we soon found ourselves talking about new musical directions and current composition. As ever, he buzzed animatedly; and, as ever, his thoughts unfolded a wider view than my immediate question, a breadth of thinking that immediately complicates a basic query but which also provides it with a ri