John Williams's method of creating numerous unforgettable film soundtracks

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John Williams, a key figure in the Hollywood film industry, celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday. Known for his melodies that have become cultural icons, Williams is not just one of our most acclaimed living composers, but also likely one of the most-heard composers to have ever lived due to the power of movies.

Throughout his illustrious career, Williams has composed music for several iconic films such as "Jaws," "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Superman," and "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial." His work with filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas during the 1970s and 1980s is particularly noteworthy.

Williams' music has been influenced by classical composers like Stravinsky, Holst, and Dvorák, but his unique style has set him apart. His melodies, often evoking, reworking, and referring to the past, ask the audience to think more deeply about what they are seeing and hearing. This approach, demonstrated by Williams' work, gave meaning to the most popular culture of the 20th century.

One-fifth of the top 100 films at the North American box office have music by John Williams when adjusted for inflation. This popularity has led many to pick up their instruments for the first time to puzzle out tunes from "Star Wars" or "Indiana Jones."

However, Williams' music has not been without criticism. Some in the classical establishment have criticized him for writing simple popular ditties or plagiarizing the classical canon. Yet, these criticisms have little momentum today, and many in the classical world now count Williams as one of their admirers. Famous orchestral conductors who have publicly expressed great admiration for John Williams include Leonard Bernstein, Gustavo Dudamel, and Michael Tilson Thomas, all well-known for championing his film music in concert settings.

Williams has also written music for major events like the Olympics, Presidential inaugurations, and nightly news programs. At his conducting debut with the Vienna Philharmonic in 2019, the musicians asked him for autographs like a celebrity. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and violinists Anne-Sophie Mutter and Itzhak Perlman are among Williams' biggest admirers.

Williams' music has been a significant part of our cultural landscape for decades. From the suspenseful strings of "Jaws" to the hopeful themes of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," his music has evoked a wide range of emotions. The conclusion of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" features a direct allusion to Howard Hanson's "Romantic Symphony," demonstrating Williams' mastery of classical music.

As Williams turns 90, we take a moment to appreciate his incredible contribution to the world of music and film. His music has revived the romantic orchestral sound of Hollywood's Golden Age and reinvented it for a new era, leaving an indelible mark on our collective memory.