Happy birthday John Williams! One of the greatest ever composers of film music. He stands alongside such masters as Max Steiner, Erich Korngold and Bernard Herrmann.
John Williams popularised the Wagnerian Leitmotif technique of Film Music composition whereby individual characters, places or incidents have their own particular theme. A classic example is the Star Wars trilogy whereby Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and Yoda, all have their own distinctive musical themes.
When Spielberg asked Williams to write the music for Schindlers List, Williams initially refused Spielberg’s request. You need a better composer than me, he said. You are right, Spielberg replied, but they’re all dead! Enough said. Happy Birthday Maestro!
Happy birthday!