Acclaimed movie composer John Williams discloses his dislike for film music.
In a career spanning several decades, John Williams has proven himself to be one of the most accomplished film composers of our time. With over 50 Oscar nominations to his name, Williams has worked on some of the most iconic films in cinema history, including collaborations with Steven Spielberg on classics like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," the "Indiana Jones" series, "E.T," and "Jurassic Park."
Williams' first Oscar nomination came in 1967 for the score to "Valley of the Dolls." Before his rise to fame, he worked as a session musician in the 1950s and even had the opportunity to work for the legendary Henry Mancini.
However, Williams' relationship with film music is not without its complexities. In a rare interview for his forthcoming biography, Williams confessed that he never liked film music very much. He refers to his film commissions as "just a job," and believes that a lot of film music is ephemeral and fragmentary.
This self-deprecation about film music in general is genuine, according to biographer Tim Greiving, who interviewed Williams for the book "John Williams: A Composer's Life." Williams stated that until someone reconstructs film music, it isn't anything that can be considered as a concert piece. He thinks that the idea of film music having the same place in the concert hall as the best music in the classical canon is a mistaken notion.
Despite Williams' internalized prejudice, his film music is described as "sublime art at its best" by others. His work, despite being considered a lesser art form by Williams himself, has been integral to the success of many films.
It's worth noting that Williams' feelings towards film music are not typically shared by others in the industry. Film music is usually considered a vital part of cinema, and Williams' words about film music are sort of shocking, according to Greiving, not false modesty.
Despite his reservations, Williams' contributions to film music cannot be denied. His self-criticism about his work, as well as his expressed desire to make his film music more unified with his concert music, serve as a testament to his dedication to his craft. Williams' career, with its highs and lows, continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.
