By: Jack Meersman Music 1010: Introduction to Music

 Born February 8, 1932  Flushing Queens, NY  Parents  Ester and John Williams Sr. ▪ His father was a studio musician and one of his initial inspirations

 Family moved to Los Angeles  He attended North Hollywood High School  After High School ▪ He attended UCLA ▪ He also studied with Italian Composer- Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco

 1952  Drafted into the United States Air Force ▪ He served a 3 year term. ▪ Conducting and arranging music for the USAF band were some of his duties

 1955  He moved to New York. ▪ Studied at Julliard  He also worked as a Jazz pianist  Earned the nickname: “Little Johnny Love”

 : 1 st Marriage  Married Barbara Ruick ▪ 3 Children ▪ Eldest child-Jennifer ▪ Middle child-Mark ▪ Youngest child-Jospeh

 1980-Present: 2 nd Marriage  Married Samantha Winslow

 Early Career  He shared credits on many film compositions  First screen credit: Because They’re Young  First Academy Award nomination: Valley of the Dolls (1967)  First Academy Award win: Adapted score Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

 Williams and Director Irwin Allen (1970’s)  The Trinity of Disaster Movies ▪ The Poseidon Adventure ▪ Towering Inferno ▪ Earthquake

 Directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas use John Williams for film scores.  Jaws  The Star Wars sagas  Superman  The Indiana Jones movies  E.T.  and many more

 Awards  Emmys  Grammys  Oscars  BAFTA  Golden Globes  National Medal of Arts  Kennedy Center Honor

 Current Career  Hollywood Bowl  Boston Pops  Film Composer

 “Lietmotiv”  The music signifies a character or characteristic  For example the brass and robust fanfare signify Luke Skywalker, heroism or adventure.  Williams uses this style in all of his scores.

 Star Wars Theme Star Wars Theme  Composed in 1977  Performed by London Symphony Orchestra  Even after 34 years it is still one of the most well known movie themes.

 Raiders March Raiders March  Composed for Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.  All 4 movies used it as the theme, as well as: ▪ The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV Show ▪ Temple of the Forbidden Eye in Disneyland

 Jurassic Park Theme Jurassic Park Theme  12 th collaboration for Williams and Spielberg  MCA Released the soundtrack on May 25, 1993  Williams scored the sequels to Jurassic Park as well.

 Jurassic Park Theme  3 Melodies ▪ 1 st : The dinosaurs and their elegance and beauty ▪ 2 nd :The park and its majestic inhabitants ▪ 3 rd : The Ominous carnivorous dinosaur

 0:00-Opening rumble of percussion followed by horns, the joining together for a triumphant fanfare.  0:25-A transition to a more soothing melody of strings at a moderate tempo  0:47-With a cymbal crash, the orchestra comes to life with the main dynamic up beat melody.  1:07- A more dramatic transition occurs with a rumble of percussion and horns straight to strings in an awkwardly spiraling frenzy.  1:23-The melody and rhythm have changed. It’s very calm and surreal.  1:33-Then we jump back into a frenzy of strings with an element of danger.  1:41- The melody switches to a give a sense of insecurity. You feel safe, but yet in danger.  1:55- The percussion and horns again take you to a more safe feeling up beat melody.  2:06- Bells are added here and theme of victory is near.  2:28- We are back to our transition strings melody and moderate tempo  2:44- The main melody and tempo are transitioned to.  3:02- The feeling at this point is romance and femininity. It is a gentle slow tempo with strings and occasional horns.  3:49- A transition occurs with a percussion roll and ever so dramatic range strings followed by horns. This leads back into the main melody  4:09- A transition back to strings and peacefulness from the upbeat main melody and tempo  4:27- A blast of trumpets takes through into the tempo and melody, while the percussion can be felt. 4:45- The strings come in slightly after to take us to the final horn set in dramatic fashion.  4:59- The horns blare the main verse  5:11- The percussion ends it all

 0:00- A French horn plays a melodramatic introduction.  0:27- Flutes then carry us into a happier melody  0:38- A harp joins to solidify our emotion.  0:44- The French horns come back and begin the main melody of the score at a moderate tempo.  1:02- Strings take over the main melody and tempo.  1:20- A nice balance and alteration in tempo and range can be heard.  1:40- Percussion is heard with bass and bells to solidify the magnificence and beauty being felt.  1:48- The French Horns lead us in true fashion again.  2:00- The strings and brass again carry us through the melodic chorus.  2:49- A big transition occurs as the horns lead out.  2:50- Strings re-enter with a different melody and tempo. It is calm and reassuring.  3:06- The French Horns return us to the main tempo and melody.  3:22- With a few cymbal crashes the horns and strings come alive to the main chorus the range is varying.  3:54- The strings alter the emotion here with a dramatic upbeat flare.  4:07- Oboes draw a little more pessimistic mood here.  4:28- Again there is a crash of cymbals and the orchestra comes alive with the chorus, dominated by horns.  4:43- Now the French Horns dominate the melody and tempo.  5:00- Followed by a variety of altering horns.  5:27- Cymbal crash for effect  5:35- A dramatic climax is building  5:39- Another cymbal crash for effect  5:40- The percussion leads us down to the end in a dramatic and symbolic fashion.

 0:00- A low rumble of percussion is heard as well as a horn. The range is narrow.  0:08- The range jumps as trumpets sound and bring out the mood of excitement and danger. The low rumble of percussion and low horn can still be heard.  0:19- Low rumble drops out briefly as the rhythm and tempo change slightly for a couple seconds.  0:22- Trumpet is still blasting the main verse, as the rumble of the tempo returns.  0:38- The trumpet drops out and some strings take you into a different emotion and rhythm.  0:53- The strings and horns come together to play Indy’s theme.  1:03- A little dramatic transition occurs as horns and trumpets up the pace a little.  1:12- It plateaus and the orchestra brings the character and emotions alive.  1:48- The strings and horns now take us through a transition into a new theme.  2:00- A theme of love and femininity is felt, and drawn from a character.  2:30- As the tempo and range change, our emotions do as well. It is almost like a heartbeat faster and slower or high and lower. It is romance.  3:00- The mood and emotion intensify as the characters kindle their passion. The tempo is almost so surreal like a fairytale.  3:22- With a little hoppy beat the transition begins back to the main Indy theme.  3:38- The horns seem to lead as the strings provide a little support.  3:47- The range increases and draws us back to the hero.  4:03- The transition is complete and the horns lead the charge as the percussion keeps the tempo up beat.  4:35- A brisk change in ranges adds some effect as it nears on end.  4:45- The horns belt a triumphant sound as if the end is here.  4:48- The percussion seems to close it out.  4:49- The low rumble from the beginning returns.  4:53- A flute enters to play the main verse with a tender emotion and tempo.  5:10- An oboe seems to cast a slight under tone here.  5:15- A little drum beat and cymbal carry into the strings gently sending us to the end.

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