Publish at June 12 2024 Updated June 12 2024
With 50 Oscar nominations and 5 statuettes to his name, composer John Williams is a Hollywood legend. He has accompanied some of the most popular sagas, as well as veteran directors such as Steven Spielberg. Star Wars, Jaws, Harry Potter, E.T., Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park: all titles that make well-known tunes resound in our heads. They are all the creation of Mr. Williams.
How did he manage to compose such famous and memorable melodies? Le Monde analyzed the composer's technique. It's all based on the idea of the "leitmotif": characters or concepts are associated with a tune that is repeated several times throughout the film. Richard Wagner was already doing the same thing with his huge operas; Williams has only adopted it for the cinema. For example, to represent the shark, which is practically invisible in Jaws, he uses repeated series of notes, making us feel the threat as it approaches.
The use of a symphony orchestra allows him to adapt his musical motifs even better. For example, the theme of the Empire (and Darth Vader) resonates fully with all the instruments as it gains in power in Episode 5. However, towards the end of the redeemed villain's life, only a harp will recall the notes to signify the demise of the Dark Side and the Empire. It's this mix of techniques that makes the soundtracks of these films nuggets that are still appreciated by music and film lovers alike.
Running time: 10min54
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