JOHN WILLIAMSIs the man

BIOGRAPHY

JOHN TOWNER WILLIAMS

Born February 8, 1932

Premiered first original composition at 19

Attended UCLA, LA City College, and the Julliard School

Worked as a staff arranger in Hollywood

50’S 60’S & 70’S

Became staff arranger at Columbia and 20th Century Fox

Married Barbara Ruick

Wrote music for T.V. shows

Met Steven Spielberg and George Lucas

1980’S

Wrote scores for several films

Married Samantha Winslow

Became 19th Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra

Two exceptions to Spielberg partnership

1990’S TO PRESENT

Finished scoring the Star Wars saga

Nominated for 48 Oscars

Won: 5 Academy Awards 7 BAFTA Awards 4 Golden Globes 21 Grammys

Awarded 20 honorary degrees.

COMPOSITION HISTORIES

THE IMPERIAL MARCH

Also known as: Imperial Death

March Darth Vader’s Theme

Premiered April 29, 1980

Leitmotif associated with Darth Vader

SUPERMAN: MAIN THEME

Debuted during film Has been reused for

most Superman films

Upheld William’s reputation for bold orchestral fanfare

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Full concert version debuted during the final credits

Various themes heard throughout the film

Nominated for an Academy Award

JAWS

Spielberg initially wasn’t a fan

Iconic two-note theme

Effectively captured the intensity of the film

LISTENING GUIDE

THE IMPERIAL MARCH

http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/john-williams/album/john-williams-40-years-of-film-music/track/star-wars-episode-v--the-empire-strikes-back---the-imperial-

SUPERMAN: MAIN THEME

http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/john-williams/album/john-williams-40-years-of-film-music/track/superman-main-theme

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/john-williams/album/john-williams-40-years-of-film-music/track/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-raiders-of-the-lost-ark

JAWS

http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/john-williams/album/john-williams-40-years-of-film-music/track/jaws

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Burlingame, Jon. "John Williams." V Plusa 6 January 2009: A23.

"Master Class." Variety 30 November 2005: A2, A13.

Filmtracks.com. Jaws. 23 March 2003. <http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/jaws.html>.

Raiders of the Lost Ark. 27 September 1996. <http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/raiders.html>.

Superman. 5 November 1998. <http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/superman.html>.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

IMDb. Biography for John Williams. 2012. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002354/bio>.

Sony BMG Music Entertainment. 2005. <http://web.archive.org/web/20071012155709/http://sonyclassical.com/artists/williams_composer/adbio.html>.

Sullivan, Jack. "Conversations With John Williams." Chronicle of Higher Education 12 January 2007: B12-B13.

"John Williams Close Encounters With a Modest Icon." Music in Concert July/August 2006: 30-31.

The John Williams Web Pages. 05 June 2006. <http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/biography.html>.