The Music And Life Of John Williams
John Williams. The conductor and composer of several famous pieces. Haven’t heard of him before? Then, I’m sure you’ve heard of his pieces. Hedwig’s Theme? The Imperial March? The Jurassic Park Theme Song? They were all composed by him.
The Details of His Early Life
Born on February 8, 1932 in Queens, New York, NY, John Towner Williams had three other siblings. His father, part of the CBS orchestra on a radio station, was a percussionist. Williams began playing piano as his first instrument and soon learned how to play the clarinet, trumpet, and the trombone.
He began to compose and tried to be a conductor of his own music in his teen years. He moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1948 and graduated from North Hollywood High School. Enlisted in the Air Force, he served for three years before attending Julliard School of Music (NY) in 1995. In the 1960s, Williams began to work with film producers, composing famous scores and music for the movies.
Famous Compositions
Some of the movies that his music has been starred in are:
- (1972) The Poseidon Adventure
Star Wars - (1975) Jaws
- (1977, 1980, 1983, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2019) Star Wars
- (1981, 1984, 1989, 2008, 2023) Indiana Jones
- (1982) E.T. (The Extra-Terrestrial)
- (1990, 1992) Home Alone (1 & 2)
- (1991) Hook
- (1993) Jurassic Park
- (2001, 2002, 2004) Harry Potter
Harry Potter - (2001) TinTin
- (2013) The Book Thief
- (2016) The BFG
And these are only some of the movies that his music was cast in. He is still composing to this day!
The Style of John Williams’s Music
John Williams has certainly produced a lot of music over the years, but each one has its different style. Here, we will be focusing on two of the famous movies that he has performed for: Harry Potter and Star Wars. Whether it’s the magical feeling of “Harry’s Wondrous World” or the marching beat of “The Imperial March”, each piece of music has its own distinct flair.
For example, in Star Wars: A New Hope, “Princess Leia’s Theme” matches the first impressions of the princess. The french horn plays a solo with the harp, its beautiful and nostalgic melody describing Princess Leia Organa. As the song continues, the brass instrument is joined by other instruments. The violin finishes at the end, the musical instrument’s sound ringing through the air, leaving the audience in awe.
Another example from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, is “Hedwig’s Theme”. This instant classic starts with a piano solo, before the entire orchestra joins in together. Sometimes having a smooth, slow melody to a fast, energetic tune, this piece has everything it needs to describe the magic and enchantment of Harry Potter.
Last, but definitely not the least, from Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, “Victory Celebration” is a composition that illustrates the victory of the Alliance over the Empire. The song is both jubilant and melancholic, which perfectly fits the mood and tone. Even though the rebels have finally defeated the Empire and destroyed the Death Star II, many have fallen during the long fight for freedom, including Luke Skywalker’s father.
These are only some of the scores that John Williams has produced over the years. Discover the magic of his music as others have and dive in!
RELATED STORIES:
https://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/biography
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Williams-American-composer-and-conductor
https://www.biography.com/musicians/john-williams
https://www.biography.com/musicians/john-williams
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