Happy 75th Birthday to John Williams!
(photo: Greg Weiner)
February 8, 2007 marked the 75th birthday of the world's best known
film composer,
John Williams. Over the years he has worked with many directors but two especially:
Williams with Steven Spielberg (photo: Murray Close)
Williams with George Lucas (photo: Peter Mason)
Above photos courtesy of the highly recommended Sony 2 CD set:
John Williams Greatest Hits 1969-1999
Awards
John Williams has received numerous awards over his long career, including
16 Grammys+
4 Golden Globes
5 Oscars and 45 Oscar nominations (tied with Alfred Newman)
+ = In 2007 he has received these two Grammys:
Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media:
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA (John Williams, composer) [Sony Classical]
Best Instrumental Composition:
" A Prayer For Peace" from MUNICH ( John Williams, composer)
[Decca Records]
John Williams has also received more Sammy Film Music Awards than any other film composer.
Listener's Poll
Thanks to all those who participated in this special John Williams 2007 web poll.
Several hundred votes were sent in for a wide variety of scores -- 52 film scores received at least one vote,
from THE REIVERS (1969)
to MUNICH (2005).
Here are the results of the Top Ten vote getters:
1. STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
2. STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE (1977)
3.
SUPERMAN (1978)
4.
E.T.: The EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
5.
JURASSIC PARK (1993)
6. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1979)
7. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
8. JAWS (1975)
9. HOOK (1991)
10.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
And the next 20 vote getters, listed alphabetically...
THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST (1988)
AMISTAD (1997)
A.I.: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (2001)
BORN OF THE FOURTH OF JULY (1989)
DRACULA (1979)
EMPIRE OF THE SUN (1987)
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001)
HOME ALONE (1990)
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989)
INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984)
JANE EYRE (1970)
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA (2005)
MINORITY REPORT (2002)
THE PATRIOT (2000)
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)
STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)
STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)
STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)
WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005)
John Williams In Print
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A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC: Songs and Scores
On the title page of this guide is a copy from the original E.T. score, boldly signed by John Williams.
Inside the film music guide is information about film scores
and songs by John Williams as well as many other film composers.
The expanded 4th edition is now available as a multimedia computer disc
with audio and video bonus features.
To order this guide, click on this link to the
Store
Here are a few recommended CDs with John Williams and the Boston Pops...
And a recommended CD with his classical and film music...
The Music of America - John Williams (3 CD set)
See the John Williams film music on the list of
100 Essential Film Scores of the 20th Century
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