John Williams: Star Wars to Jurassic Park, Private Ryan to E.T.
New York native John Williams is one of the most recognized composers of the modern day. Known primarily for his work on the Star Wars films and for his long-time partnership with director Steven Spielberg, Williams has been a household name for decades, continuously touching hearts around the world through his music.
John Williams was born in 1932 in Queens, New York. As a young child, Williams studied many instruments, the first being piano. After serving in the Air Force for three years where he arranged and conducted band music, he returned to New York to continue studying piano at Juilliard School of Music. There, he worked as a jazz pianist before moving to Hollywood and starting his career in music for film and television.
His well-known creative partnership with Stephen Spielberg started in the early 1970’s. Williams went on to score some of Spielberg’s most popular films, including E.T: The Extraterrestrial, Jurassic Park, and eventually Saving Private Ryan, for which he composed one of his most famous pieces, Hymn to the Fallen. This will be just one of Williams’ pieces that the CSO and Choral Society will perform at our “Music from the Silver Screen” concert.
Saving Private Ryan is a renowned WWII film that highlights strength, courage, and brotherhood. Williams’s Hymn to the Fallen plays through the end credits of the film, serving as a testament to all those who sacrificed their lives during WWII. However, many people today feel that this piece serves as a remembrance for all soldiers in all wars. Spielberg believes that Saving Private Ryan imparts a sense of pride for our country, and that Williams’s creation perfectly complements that message.
Throughout his career, Williams has composed music that is instantly recognizable to millions of people, including the iconic Star Wars Suite which the CSO and Choral Society will also be performing. This historic, remarkable piece is known by millions of people, evoking feelings of nostalgia and childhood adventure for many. Williams has composed music for all nine Star Wars films, winning the 1978 Academy Award for “Best Original Soundtrack”.
In total, John Williams has 52 Academy Award nominations – the most of any living person. His achievements in the film and music industries are unprecedented, and the CSO is honored to be performing the music of such an accomplished composer. Join us on May 13th at SUNY Oneonta for our “Music from the Silver Screen” concert, hosted by the CSO and Catskill Choral Society. Tickets are $40 and on sale now at CatskillSymphony.org.
