The Mission

"The Mission" is an orchestral suite composed by John Williams in 1985 as a television news music package for NBC News. It consists of four movements: The Mission, used for NBC Nightly News, with variations used for some other NBC programs, Fugue for Changing Times, used for Before Hours during 1987–1988, Scherzo for Today, used for Today until 1990, and The Pulse of Events, used by Meet the Press and special breaking news reports. History At the time Williams was approached to write the NBC News suite, he was already well known for his work on Star Wars, Superman, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. NBC engaged Williams due to the network's desire to contrast with the synthesized music common for news programs at the time. Williams stated he wanted to convey the concepts of nobility of purpose, consistency, and dignity. The original recordings were made with an 80-piece orchestra. Movements The suite consists of four movements. The original recording included two versions of each movement to open and close each show, and eleven bumpers conveying varying moods. The Mission The first movement is also called The Mission, and has been used for NBC Nightly News since September 9, 1985. It has also been known as The Sound of the News. Its opening features a distinctive syncopated fanfare over a violin line. A reviewer for Slate compared it to the work of Richard Strauss and Aaron Copland, and noted that the piece makes "you feel that you've been asked to join an exciting journey for truth."