John Williams Composer Essay

Introduction

John Williams is an American composer director who has received huge applauds in the United States of America and beyond. Williams is a renowned producer who has made more than 100 productions in his life. Williams was born in 1932 in the city of New York. He studied at Juilliard University and performed as a Jazz pianist at the start of his career (Eldridge, 2). He later worked as a studio musician who was well accustomed to the art of maintaining healthy studio music and composed for televisions and films before settling for his career in the 1970s. William has an incredible impact on the American production as he has been involved in most of the hit films in the country (Eldridge, 3). Some of his most proclaimed compositions are the Jaws, the Star Wars and the first three Harry Potter films.

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Background

Williams was born and raised in New York as a son of radio orchestra, and thus he received immense motivation from his father. His affiliation to musical instruments can be traced ages back when he was a kid and started playing the piano perfectly among other musical instruments such as the tambourine, the trumpet, the clarinet among others. He made his first pieces as a kid and used to enjoy singing them to his parents and close accolades. In 1948, his family moved to Los Angeles, and William as a kid could not have an option other than to move with them (Eldridge, 2). He encountered a break from the music fraternity where he joined the air force only to leave the force in 1954 and indulge in music once again. To survive in the film industry, William found himself become a Jazz artist back in New York where he was known which is the place that the final realised his dreams.

Musical Training

There is very little related to William's musical training. He makes a close comparison ever to join a music school when he left the force in 1952. After leaving the force, William was heartbroken and felt like his dreams of ever becoming great were shattered. He thus decided to pursue his earlier experience of a Jazz pianist in clubs just for the simple purpose of making money for upkeep and to feed his young family (Eldridge, 3). He, however, found it a worthwhile career to pursue considering that he already had the talent. The spectral view arising from his consequent encounters made him believe that he could make a good musician.

In pursuit of an improved career in the music industry, William joined the Juilliard music school shortly after leaving the force. Here, he made instrumental investments in understanding how to play various instruments that he had not been acquainted. Indeed, William related his view of ever making it be a better composer to attending school at Juilliard (Eldridge, 4). From the school, he met equal competitors who challenged him that even with talent in the same field; he had to make immense investments in understanding more tactics and applying them. William relates his view of the film and music industries as intertwined arguing that music and filming go hand in hand.

William spent only a year at the Juilliard School. He was good in almost every aspect of the music training and thus, he graduated with ease. He, however, spent more time after graduating from the school visiting teachers, friends, and partners with the idea of improving his scope and understanding of music and film production. William ended up a seasoned musician, not only in Jazz music but a greater exposition, even in film production (Eldridge, 4). He still relates his time at school as the redefining moment that made him a seasoned composer.

Musical Influences

The musical influences on William range from his early influences to his style influence. Williams's father was a drummer, and William found pleasure listening to his father play his music. He was therefore influenced to be like his father, and as such, he started composing songs by himself, playing the guitar all by himself and ended up creating band composition using a drum similar to that which his father was using. Rising from creativity and lack of adequate finances at his young age, William had already made a drum using wood blocks, tuned percussions and made a cymbal set up (Dean, 22). Jazz music later became his favourite music even when it was his father's favourite. It is, therefore, crucial to conclude that his father had such an immense influence on his love of music, specifically, jazz music.

Regarding the style and film production, William lays instrumental appreciation to Wagner's inclusion of music in a film. Wagner left a historical influence in the 19th century by including music in almost every one of his films (Dean, 23). William found this rather appealing and interesting and ended up borrowing this trick from Wagner. The romanticism influence of his films also lies instrumental anointing from the romantic era of the Mahler. His style of engaging the use of music in the film production is thus a romantic approach that made his films rather involving and impeccable.

Key Compositions

The Star Wars

The star wars is a key composition by John William which features an epic space where the characters live in a time that we passed way long ago. The film receives both criticism and appreciation from fans across the globe. It remains a key seller that had a vehement audience from across the globe (Mcandrew & Martin, 12). The film makes use of background music immensely which attracts and creates a rhythm that looks like the characters are actually in another world where the language is different, and the people there thrive on mixed feelings. A supernatural setting is made in the film which makes the film harness the aspect of a force of conflict between two individuals who cannot be helped. The film exposes a dark side of people that would be reflected in the case of hate and aggression (Mcandrew & Martin, 15). The film thus shows a well-crafted thought that surpasses the understanding of the universe which makes it a particular piece of art.

Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones is another key composition by John William which is also based on a supernatural background where the characters are charged with the responsibility of guarding the arc of the covenant before the rise of the Nazis. The film shows instances of kidnapping, instances of death, stealing of the arc of the covenant and in the long run, the restoration of the arc to its original position (Schneller, 49). The spectral view that is guaranteed by the film is that there is a supernatural power which no one can surpass as even in death, it will revenge, and things will fall back into the plan of this supernatural power. The film also uses a lot of music that related life to supernatural powers and could be affiliated with the reason it was a hit film (Schneller, 50).

Conclusion

John Williams is an inspirational composer in the United States who even after having been born in conditions that never favoured his rise, he made it. He has produced scores of films and has a vast understanding of musical instruments having undergone training at the Juilliard music school. Some of his key compositions are the star wars and Indiana Jones. William is, therefore, an inspiration in the music industry.

Works Cited

Dean, Sally Husch. Musical Syncretism: An Examination and Comparison of Folk Music in Choral Compositions of Ralph Vaughan Williams, Alice Parker, and Osvaldo Golijov. Diss. California State University, Los Angeles, 2014.

Eldridge, Alison. "John Williams AMERICAN COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR". 2018, Https://Www.Britannica.Com/Biography/John-Williams-American-Composer-And-Conductor. Accessed 1 May 2018.

Mcandrew, Siobhan, and Martin Everett. "Symbolic Versus Commercial Success among British Female Composers." Social Networks and Music Worlds. Abingdon: Routledge (2014).

Schneller, Tom. "Modal Interchange and Semantic Resonance in Themes by John Williams." The Journal of Film Music 6.1 (2013): 49-74.