вЂњHe is one of the great American voices.вЂќ вЂњHeвЂ™s lived through the better part of a century, and his music encompasses all of the events and changes of those times,вЂќ says Ma, a longtime friend. So itвЂ™s an essential part of our humanity.ДЄnd, in turn, Williams has provided the soundtrack to the lives of countless others through more than 100 film scores, among them вЂњStar Wars,вЂќвЂњJurassic Park,вЂќ вЂњJaws,вЂќ вЂњClose Encounters of the Third Kind,вЂќ вЂњE.T.,вЂќ вЂњIndiana Jones,вЂќвЂњSuperman,вЂќ вЂњSchindlerвЂ™s ListвЂќ and вЂњ Harry Potter.вЂќ I always like to speculate that music is older than language, that we were probably beating drums and blowing on reeds before we could speak. We can reflect on how necessary music has been for humanity. Music can raise oneвЂ™s thinking to the level of poetry. 'Without being religious, which IвЂ™m not especially, there is a spiritual life, an artistic life, a realm thatвЂ™s above the mundanities of everyday realities. вЂњItвЂ™s given me the ability to breathe, the ability to live and understand that thereвЂ™s more to corporal life,' Williams says. Turning 90 - an event that the Kennedy Center and Tanglewood are celebrating this summer with birthday concerts - has caused Williams to reflect on his accomplishments, his remaining ambitions and what a lifetime of music has meant to him. ItвЂ™s a radiant collection of cello concertos and new arrangements from the scores of вЂњSchindlerвЂ™s List,вЂќ вЂњLincolnвЂќ and вЂњMunich,вЂќ including the sublime вЂњA Prayer for Peace.вЂќ This spring, Williams and cellist Yo-Yo Ma released the album вЂњA Gathering of Friends,вЂќ recorded with the New York Philharmonic, Pablo SГЎinz-Villegas and Jessica Zhou. A вЂњStar WarsвЂќ film demands six months of work, which he notes, вЂњat this point in life is a long commitment to me.вЂќ Instead, Williams is devoting himself to composing concert music, including a piano concerto heвЂ™s writing for Emanuel Ax. Right now, though, there are other ways Williams wants to be spending his time. вЂњI canвЂ™t play tennis, but I like to be able to believe that maybe one day I will.вЂќ вЂњI donвЂ™t want to be seen as categorically eliminating any activity,вЂќ Williams says with a chuckle, speaking by phone from his home in Los Angeles.

(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Show More Show Less This spring, he and cellist Yo-Yo Ma released the album вЂњA Gathering of Friends,вЂќ recorded with the New York Philharmonic. Williams, 90, is devoting himself to composing concert music, including a piano concerto heвЂ™s writing for Emanuel X. ItвЂ™s a radiant and soulful collection of cello concertos and new arrangements from the scores of вЂњSchindlerвЂ™s List,вЂќ вЂњLincolnвЂќ and вЂњMunich.' Stephen Chernin Show More Show Less 11 of12 FILE - Composer John Williams poses at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences event 'Behind the Score: The Art of the Film Composer' in Los Angeles on July 21, 2014. Repository: Harvard Law School Library, Harvard University Record ID: 990031850330203941_HLS.9 of12 10 of12 FILE - Conductor/composer John Williams appears with film director Steven Spielberg before the New York Philharmonic's Spring Gala in New York on April 26, 2006. Wood engraving (2.4 x 2.5 cm.) : Male figure hanging from scaffold. Wood engraving (7 x 8.3 cm.) : Discovery of the victim's body by his father. Wood engraving (7.3 x 10.3 cm.) : Accused attacking victim with knife. (John Any Bird) Executions and executioners-England-Maidstone Murder-England Murder-England-Poetry Trials (Murder)-England Notes: Date of imprint from date of execution, Aug- Capital Punishment UK site via Account, with one column of verse, titled 'A copy of verses, written by himself.' Verses begin : Come children and parents too, and listen to these lines. Broadsides-England-19th century Poetry Digital Format: Books and documents Subjects: Taylor, R.

Language: English Genre: biography Wood engravings-England-19th century. Quick, 42, Bowllng Green Lane, Clerkenwell Extent: 1 sheet ( p.) : ill. Creation Date: 1831 Place Of Origin: England Publisher: Printed and sold by J.

John any bird bell