How John Williams Changed Music And Film

Pratham Asher
Professor Tresler
Music 20H
May 7th, 2023
Title: John Williams: the composer that Changed Music and Film
John Williams is widely regarded as one of the most influential film composers of all time. He is known for his musical contributions to iconic movies such as "Indiana Jones," "Star Wars,", ”Jaws”,” Jurassic Park”, “E.T.” and "Harry Potter." His approach to music in movies revolutionized the industry and had a profound impact on film history. One of his most notable works is his composition for "Star Wars," where the music seamlessly integrates with the story. Williams's concept of film music is to convey emotions and personality through sound to enhance the characters' portrayal. He gives each character their unique musical

In "Star Wars," Williams uses this approach masterfully with Darth Vader's theme, the Imperial March, which perfectly conveys his idea about film music. The Imperial March serves as an introduction to Darth Vader, cementing his villainous nature through music. Williams's film music fundamentally changes the audience's perception of characters through his music. With his innovative approach, Williams became a renowned composer who transformed the landscape of film music.
John Williams grew up in a musical household. As his father was a jazz percussionist in New York, he had connections in the Hollywood studio orchestras. As Ian Lace writes, "his father performed in the studio orchestras in Hollywood." From a young age, Williams showed a remarkable passion for music, particularly film music. Growing up around his father's colleagues in the music industry allowed him to meet various people and gain a deeper understanding of the capabilities and

In 1981, "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark" was created by George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, and directed by Steven Spielberg, the director of one of the most iconic horror films, Jaws. After composing for Star Wars and Superman, John Williams composed the music for the Indiana Jones movies. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" features a young archaeologist named Indiana Jones who finds mystical treasures while evading Nazi troops. The Raiders March was a "recognizable theme for the Indiana Jones character" and "the interesting thing about 'The Raiders March' is that it is a straightforward little tune" (Williams). Throughout the Indiana Jones films, Williams had to match the theme for each movie to their story. Each film had a different theme. For example, the first and second movies were supposed to introduce Indiana Jones. The fourth and fifth were about Indy and his dad. Williams had to create themes for each one accompanying them with the story. During Indiana Jones, there were a few "traditional love scenes, Williams"felt it was permissible to inject that musical emotion into their relationship" (Williams). Indiana Jones was another hit film that John Williams composed and made him quite