Essential Williams
John Williams (b. 1932) is one of the household names of film music. In a career spanning seven decades and crowned with five Academy Awards, he has created some of the most memorable movie themes in the history of cinema.
Read more…Williams started working in Hollywood as a pianist, shining with exceptional skills in sight reading and improvisation, before composing his first original film score in 1958. In 1977, he made film music history with his score for George Lucas's 'Star Wars': instead of matching Lucas's film with a futuristic sound palette, Williams opted for a sweeping orchestral sound and memorable melodic motifs, creating an ageless, genre-defining score.
Beside his work with George Lucas, Williams has frequently collaborated with Stephen Spielberg, with whom he worked on films such as 'Jaws', 'Saving Private Ryan', 'Jurassic Park' and 'Catch Me If You Can'. The majestic 'Star Wars' scores are balanced in Williams's oeuvre by the more intimate compositions for 'Schindler's List' and 'Seven Years in Tibet'. Several generations of children have grown up with his scores for 'E.T.', 'Hook' and the 'Harry Potter' movies. As varied as Williams's filmography is, what all his film scores have in common are unforgettable themes and finely chiseled orchestrations.
Beside his work for film, Williams has composed chamber and orchestral music and collaborated with soloists like Yo-Yo Ma and Anne-Sophie Mutter, as well as conducting world class orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic.