Page 15 - NWS January 2025 Digital Playbill

a symphonic

odyssey

ADVENTURES ON EARTH FROM E.T. (THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL)
John Williams (b. New York City, 1932)
Composed: 1982

Instrumentation: piccolo, three flutes, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, three
bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba,
timpani, percussion, harp, piano, celesta and strings
Duration: Approximately 10 minutes
Director Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) is the enchanting story of
10-year-old Elliot (Henry Thomas), who befriends a lovable alien stranded on earth
when his spaceship hurriedly leaves without him. These two unlikely friends learn to
communicate intimately, and they form a close and very special relationship, which
ends poignantly when E.T.’s ship returns to take him home. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and John Williams’
memorable score won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award. Of the sequence
titled Adventure on Earth that he extracted from his score for concert performance,
Williams wrote, “The music was designed to accompany the bicycle chase near the
end of the film. As the young cyclists reach escape velocity, E.T.’s theme is heard as
they fly ‘over the moon.’ The more sentimental music that follows accompanies the
dialogue as E.T. bids farewell to his earthling friends. This is followed by timpani and
brass fanfares as the orchestra brings the film to a close.”
©2008 Dr. Richard E. Rodda

Note: If you enjoy this performance, please join us November 1 & 2, 2025 for a
presentation of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial with the John Williams’ Academy Award -
®
winning score, performed live by the New West Symphony orchestra in sync to the film.

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