(Image: John Williams conducting the Boston Pops in May 2018)

The iconic scores of John Williams will be celebrated with documentary “Music by John Williams.” The Disney+ film reunites legendary composer Williams with his frequent collaborators Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, and Kathleen Kennedy, who all produce the documentary. Williams has scored films such as “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Jurassic Park,” and in 2023 made history as the oldest Oscar nominee in any category for “The Fabelmans.” The composer has a total of 54 Oscar nominations and five wins.

“Music by John Williams” will “offer a fascinating and insightful look at the prolific life and career of the legendary composer,” according to the official logline. “From his early days as a jazz pianist to his Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy wins, the documentary takes an in-depth look at Williams’ countless contributions to film, including many iconic franchises, as well as his music for the concert stage and his impact on popular culture.”

The documentary also includes interviews with artists and filmmakers including George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Chris Martin, Chris Columbus, Yo-Yo Ma, Ke Huy Quan, James Mangold, and Alan Silvestri. 

“Music by John Williams” premieres November 1 on Disney+ and will have a limited theatrical release in New York, Los Angeles, and London. Check out the trailer below.

Watch the Trailer

A previously unknown piece of music by one of the world's most celebrated composers has been uncovered.

The 12-minute piece by Austrian composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is called "Ganz kleine Nachtmusik" and was likely written when he was a teenager sometime in the mid-to late-1760s. Researchers found the manuscript while putting together the latest update to the Köchel Catalog, the official archive of Mozart's music which has existed for more than 160 years. The latest edition of the catalog took more than 10 years to compile and is the first update since 1964, according to the International Mozarteum Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on the life and works of Mozart by offering free concerts, maintaining Mozart museums and supporting academic research.

The piece written for a string trio is a significant piece in the mosaic of Mozart's music, according to Ulrich Leisinger, head of research at the International Mozarteum Foundation and editor of the latest version of Köchel.

"Until now the young Mozart has been familiar to us chiefly as a composer of keyboard music and of arias and sinfonias but we know from a list drawn up by [his father] Leopold Mozart that he wrote many other chamber works in his youth, all of them unfortunately lost." Leisinger said in a statement.

(Image: TikTok)

YouTube has blocked songs by several popular artists, including Adele, Green Day, and Bob Dylan, due to an expired licensing agreement with SESAC, a performing rights organization. According to reports from Variety, users attempting to play affected videos are met with a message stating the content is unavailable in their country, as YouTube and SESAC negotiate a new deal.

The blocking of popular songs on YouTube stems from an expired licensing agreement with SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers), a performing rights organization representing over 35,000 music artists and publishers12. SESAC, which manages public performance rights for more than 1.5 million songs, failed to reach a new agreement with YouTube before the existing deal's expiration32. This dispute echoes a similar situation between Universal Music Group and TikTok earlier in the year, highlighting the complex relationships between digital platforms and music rights organizations2. While YouTube claims to have negotiated in good faith, an unnamed source suggested that the previous deal was not set to expire until the following week, implying that the content removal might be a negotiation tactic. 

The content blocking extends beyond Adele, affecting a diverse range of high-profile artists across various genres. Some of the notable musicians impacted include:

Kendrick Lamar

Nirvana

R.E.M.

Burna Boy

Kanye West

Britney Spears

Green Day (though newer releases remain available)

Interestingly, the block's scope is not uniform, with some artists having only specific songs or versions affected12. For instance, while one version of Kanye West's "Power" is blocked, the music video version remains accessible2. Even covers of Bob Dylan's songs have been removed in some cases3. This selective blocking highlights the complex nature of music licensing and copyright management in the digital age.

(Image Credit: Fazioli)

The F198 is a medium-sized piano ideal for smaller spaces like living rooms, home studios, classrooms, and small venues. It's perfect for space-conscious settings. 

Fazioli, founded in 1981 by Paolo Fazioli in Sacile, Italy, ranks among the top piano makers, known for its concert grands praised by leading pianists.  The F198 delivers a surprisingly powerful sound for its size. Fazioli achieved this by redesigning the soundboard and bridges, and using advanced technology to optimize string pressure, resulting in exceptional dynamics and a stronger tone.

We are very proud to present this new model. It symbolizes how our company always looks to the future, embracing new challenges and offering pianists worldwide an increasingly wide range of expressive possibilities. The piano is not an instrument passively and indissolubly anchored to tradition, but, like every other work of human ingenuity, it must evolve and follow continuous technical and scientific development, without this constituting a betrayal of that glorious past that has written its history.

Paolo Fazioli, founder and CEO of Fazioli.

Length: 198cm (6.5ft)

Width: 154cm (5ft)

Height: 100cm (3.5ft)

Weight: 400kg (880lbs)
More info: Here

(Image Credit: Arturia)

French electronics company Arturia has unveiled its avant-garde stage keyboard, the AstroLab. Tailored for the contemporary musician and producer craving boundless creative exploration, AstroLab is a cutting-edge instrument that redefines the boundaries of expression.

Featuring advanced virtual synthesis capabilities, an innovative ecosystem, and intuitive controls, AstroLab seamlessly integrates studio production, live performance, and unrestricted artistic innovation. Boasting 34 meticulously crafted instruments and over 1300 inspiring presets, it introduces a galaxy of essential sounds, iconic synths, and contemporary textures previously unheard in a performance keyboard.

From streamlined mobile sound management to seamless DAW integration and intuitive drag-and-drop playlist creation, AstroLab’s companion software empowers users to organize, customize, and expand their sonic palette effortlessly. Elevate your performances, unleash your creativity, and explore new musical horizons with AstroLab.

AstroLab is priced at €1599.
More info: Here