About
"You say you pass down your genes. I just hope that whatever I've imparted musically gets through to my grandchildren and they pass it on to the next grandchildren. That's really how knowledge never dies."
In his one-and-a-half-hour interview, Ian Fraser (1933-2014) describes the role of a music director. He talks of directing music for Christmas in Washington, AFI specials, and the American Teacher Awards. He then details his working relationship with Julie Andrews, directing music for her many television specials (including Julie on Sesame Street), her theater work, and her then-recent performance at the Hollywood Bowl. Fraser discusses directing music for the cult hit The Star Wars Holiday Special, conducting for the Emmy Awards, and directing music for the Television Academy Hall of Fame broadcasts and for several television movies and films. He also speaks of his musical influences, offers advice to young musicians starting out in television, and explains what semi-retired means to him. Jon Burlingame conducted the interview on September 21, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Ian Fraser on working with Muppets on a Julie Andrews special, Julie on Sesame Street
Ian Fraser on conducting The Emmy Awards
Ian Fraser on Julie Andrews losing her voice, and the first time she sang again
Ian Fraser on music direction for The Star Wars Holiday Special
Ian Fraser on directing music for AFI specials
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On the role of a music director; on serving as music director on Christmas in Washington
On his theatrical training; on directing music for AFI specials and for The American Teacher Awards; on dealing with technical difficulties on live shows
On music direction for The Television Academy Hall of Fame specials; on music direction for Muppets and for several Julie Andrews specials and albums; on Julie Andrews singing live at the Hollywood Bowl (after she had lost and regained her voice)
On music direction for The Star Wars Holiday Special
On scoring for the TV movie Torn Between Two Lovers, the films "Zorro: The Gay Blade", "Hopscotch" and "First Monday in October"; on scoring for TV's Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice and for the Television Academy Hall of Fame specials
On conducting The Emmy Awards; on serving as a Governor for The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; on the Television Academy peer groups
Chapter 2
On his musical influences
On advice to young musicians starting out in television; on music for the Television Critics' Awards
On how he'd like to be remembered; on his semi-retirement
Shows
Christmas in Washington
Ian Fraser on serving as music director on Christmas in Washington
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Ian Fraser on conducting the Emmy Awards
Julie Andrews Specials
Ian Fraser on music direction for the Julie Andrews special "Julie and Carol Together Again"
Ian Fraser on music direction for several Julie Andrews specials and albums and Julie losing her voice
Julie on Sesame Street
Ian Fraser on working with Muppets on a Julie Andrews special, Julie on Sesame Street
Star Wars Holiday Special, The
Ian Fraser on music direction for The Star Wars Holiday Special
Topics
Emmy Awards
Ian Fraser on conducting for the Emmy Awards
Professions
Music Director
Ian Fraser on the role of a Music Director and Orchestrator
Music Professionals
Ian Fraser on his musical influences
Ian Fraser on advice to young musicians starting out in television
Genres
Awards Shows
Ian Fraser on conducting The Emmy Awards
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Ian Fraser on music direction for several Julie Andrews specials
People
Julie Andrews
Ian Fraser on working with Muppets on a Julie Andrews special, Julie on Sesame Street
Ian Fraser on working with Julie Andrews and Perry Como on a Julie Andrews Special
Ian Fraser on music direction for the Julie Andrews special "Julie and Carol Together Again"
Ian Fraser on music direction for several Julie Andrews specials and albums and Julie losing her voice
Ian Fraser on Julie Andrews singing live at the Hollywood Bowl (after she had lost and regained her voice) and other more recent performances
Ian Fraser on writing music for Julie Andrews
Carol Burnett
Ian Fraser on music direction for the Julie Andrews special "Julie and Carol Together Again"
Diahann Carroll
Ian Fraser on music direction for The Star Wars Holiday Special
Perry Como
Ian Fraser on working with Julie Andrews and Perry Como on a Julie Andrews Special
Dwight Hemion
Ian Fraser on working with director Dwight Hemion and Producer/Director Gary Smith
Buz Kohan
Ian Fraser on working with Buz Kohan and Larry Grossman
Henry Mancini
Ian Fraser on his musical influences
Nelson Riddle
Ian Fraser on his musical influences
Gary Smith
Ian Fraser on working with director Dwight Hemion and Producer/Director Gary Smith
Herbert W. Spencer
Ian Fraser on his musical influences
John Williams
Ian Fraser on music direction for The Star Wars Holiday Special