Ian Fraser

Composer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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."

People Talking About ...
Ian Fraser
Highlights
Ian Fraser on working with Muppets on a Julie Andrews special, Julie on Sesame Street
03:05
Ian Fraser on conducting The Emmy Awards
05:52
Ian Fraser on Julie Andrews losing her voice, and the first time she sang again
02:50
Ian Fraser on music direction for The Star Wars Holiday Special
04:24
Ian Fraser on directing music for AFI specials
02:05
Full Interview

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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

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Ian Fraser on serving as music director on Christmas in Washington
09:06

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Ian Fraser on conducting the Emmy Awards
05:52

Julie Andrews Specials

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Ian Fraser on music direction for the Julie Andrews special "Julie and Carol Together Again"
01:46
Ian Fraser on music direction for several Julie Andrews specials and albums and Julie losing her voice
07:26

Julie on Sesame Street

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Ian Fraser on working with Muppets on a Julie Andrews special, Julie on Sesame Street
02:47

Star Wars Holiday Special, The

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Ian Fraser on music direction for The Star Wars Holiday Special
04:24
Topics

Emmy Awards

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Ian Fraser on conducting for the Emmy Awards
05:52
Professions

Music Director

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Ian Fraser on the role of a Music Director and Orchestrator
09:24

Music Professionals

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Ian Fraser on his musical influences
08:22
Ian Fraser on advice to young musicians starting out in television
01:49
Genres

Awards Shows

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Ian Fraser on conducting The Emmy Awards
05:52

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Ian Fraser on music direction for several Julie Andrews specials
11:59
People

Buz Kohan

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Ian Fraser on working with Buz Kohan and Larry Grossman
00:52

Carol Burnett

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Ian Fraser on music direction for the Julie Andrews special "Julie and Carol Together Again"
01:46

Diahann Carroll

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Ian Fraser on music direction for The Star Wars Holiday Special
02:45

Dwight Hemion

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Ian Fraser on working with director Dwight Hemion and Producer/Director Gary Smith
00:50

Gary Smith

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Ian Fraser on working with director Dwight Hemion and Producer/Director Gary Smith
00:50

Henry Mancini

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Ian Fraser on his musical influences
01:26

Herbert W. Spencer

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Ian Fraser on his musical influences
03:16

John Williams

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Ian Fraser on music direction for The Star Wars Holiday Special
00:17

Julie Andrews

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Ian Fraser on working with Muppets on a Julie Andrews special, Julie on Sesame Street
01:32
Ian Fraser on working with Julie Andrews and Perry Como on a Julie Andrews Special
00:30
Ian Fraser on music direction for the Julie Andrews special "Julie and Carol Together Again"
01:46
Ian Fraser on music direction for several Julie Andrews specials and albums and Julie losing her voice
06:37
Ian Fraser on Julie Andrews singing live at the Hollywood Bowl (after she had lost and regained her voice) and other more recent performances
00:49
Ian Fraser on writing music for Julie Andrews
02:07

Nelson Riddle

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Ian Fraser on his musical influences
01:26

Perry Como

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Ian Fraser on working with Julie Andrews and Perry Como on a Julie Andrews Special
00:30

All Interviews

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