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John Williams

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"Once again, John [Williams] has exceeded my expectations and produced a lavish, rich, moving and thrilling score. Every fan of Star Wars—and of great music—is in his debt."
―George Lucas about John Williams' score for The Phantom Menace[2]

John Towner Williams KBE (born February 8, 1932)[1] is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. He has composed nearly all of the music heard in the Star Wars films. He has also composed scores for multiple other well-known movies and television shows, including Indiana Jones, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Superman. Williams announced his intention to retire from film score composing after the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2023 to focus more on composing independent orchestral and symphonic pieces, though he later rescinded this.

In September 2022, John Williams and former Disney chief Bob Iger were each made an honorary Knight of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, with Williams being approved for his services to film music as a composer and conductor in the United Kingdom.[3]

Biography[]

Maestro Williams

Williams conducting the London Symphony Orchestra

In 1977, he composed the music for Star Wars, which turned out to be a huge success. Star Wars became the best-selling score-only soundtrack of all time and won him an Oscar.

Williams's son, Joseph Williams, chose a musical career like his father. The two worked together on Return of the Jedi and Attack of the Clones.

Rick McCallum stated at Star Wars Reunion II that he had hoped to have John Williams on the musical score for the Star Wars live-action TV series and added that each episode would have had its own original score.

Williams announced his intention to retire from film score composing after the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2023 to focus more on composing independent orchestral and symphonic pieces, though he later rescinded this.[4]

Works[]

Discography[]

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

  • Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner
  • Imperial Attack
  • The Dune Sea of Tatooine/Jawa Sandcrawler
  • The Hologram / Moisture Farm
  • Binary Sunset
  • Landspeeder Search/Attack of the Sand People
  • Tales of a Jedi Knight/Learn About the Force
  • Burning Homestead
  • Mos Eisley Spaceport
  • Cantina Band (Source Music)
  • Binary Sunset (Alternate)
  • Princess Leia's Theme
  • The Millennium Falcon/Imperial Cruiser Pursuit
  • Destruction of Alderaan
  • The Death Star/The Stormtroopers
  • Wookiee Prisoner/Detention Block Ambush
  • Shootout in the Cell Bay/Dianoga
  • The Trash Compactor
  • The Tractor Beam / Chasm Crossfire
  • Ben Kenobi's Death / TIE Fighter Attack
  • The Battle of Yavin (Launch from the Fourth Moon/X-Wings Draw Fire/Use the Force)
  • The Throne Room/End Title

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

  • Main Title/The Ice Planet Hoth
  • The Wampa's Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan/Snowspeeders Take Flight
  • The Imperial Probe/Aboard The Executor
  • The Battle of Hoth (Ion Cannon/Imperial Walkers/Beneath the AT-AT/Escape in the Millennium Falcon)
  • The Asteroid Field
  • Arrival on Dagobah
  • Luke's Nocturnal Visitor
  • Han Solo and the Princess
  • Jedi Master Revealed/Mynock Cave
  • The Training of a Jedi Knight/The Magic Tree
  • The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)
  • Yoda's Theme
  • Attacking a Star Destroyer
  • Yoda and the Force
  • Imperial Starfleet Deployed/City in the Clouds
  • Lando's Palace
  • Betrayal at Bespin
  • Deal With the Dark Lord
  • Carbon Freeze / Darth Vader's Trap / Departure of Boba Fett
  • The Clash of Lightsabers

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

  • Main Title/Approaching the Death Star/Tatooine Rendezvous
  • The Droids are Captured
  • Bounty for a Wookiee
  • Han Solo Returns
  • Luke Confronts Jabba/Den of the Rancor/Sarlacc Sentence
  • The Pit of Carkoon/Sail Barge Assault
  • The Emperor Arrives/The Death of Yoda/Obi-Wan's Revelation
  • Alliance Assembly
  • Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor
  • Speeder Bike Chase/Land of the Ewoks
  • Jabba's Baroque Recital (Source Music)
  • Jedi Rocks (Source Music)
  • Parade of the Ewoks
  • Luke and Leia
  • Brother and Sister/Father and Son/The Fleet Enters Hyperspace/Heroic Ewok
  • The Emperor's Theme
  • The Battle of Endor I (Into the Trap/Forest Ambush/Scout Walker Scramble/Prime Weapon Fires)
  • The Lightsaber/The Ewok Battle
  • The Battle of Endor II (Leia is Wounded/The Duel Begins/Overtaking the Bunker/The Dark Side Beckons/The Emperor's Death)
  • The Battle of Endor III (Superstructure Chase/Darth Vader's Death/The Main Reactor)
  • Leia's News/Light of the Force
  • Victory Celebration/End Title
  • Ewok Feast/Part of the Tribe (Source Music)
  • The Forest Battle (Concert Suite)

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

  • Star Wars Main Title and the Arrival at Naboo
  • Duel of the Fates
  • Anakin's Theme
  • Jar Jar's Introduction and the Swim to Otoh Gunga
  • The Sith Spacecraft and the Droid Battle
  • The Trip to the Naboo Temple and the Audience with Boss Nass
  • The Arrival at Tatooine and the Flag Parade
  • He is the Chosen One
  • Anakin Defeats Sebulba
  • Passage Through the Planet Core
  • Watto's Deal and Kids at Play
  • Panaka and the Queen's Protectors
  • Queen Amidala and the Naboo Palace
  • The Droid Invasion and the Appearance of Darth Maul
  • Qui-Gon's Noble End
  • The High Council Meeting and Qui-Gon's Funeral
  • Augie's Great Municipal Band and End Credits

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

  • Star Wars Main Title and Ambush on Coruscant
  • Across the Stars (Love Theme from "Attack of the Clones")
  • Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant
  • Yoda and the Younglings
  • Departing Coruscant
  • Anakin and Padmé
  • Jango's Escape
  • The Meadow Picnic
  • Bounty Hunter's Pursuit
  • Return to Tatooine
  • The Tusken Camp and the Homestead
  • Love Pledge and the Arena
  • Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

  • Star Wars Main Title and the Revenge of the Sith
  • Anakin's Dream
  • Battle of the Heroes
  • Anakin's Betrayal
  • General Grievous
  • Palpatine's Teachings
  • Grievous and the Droids
  • Padmé's Ruminations
  • Anakin vs. Obi-Wan
  • Anakin's Dark Deeds
  • Enter Lord Vader
  • The Immolation Scene
  • Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious
  • The Birth of the Twins and Padmé's Destiny
  • A New Hope and End Credits

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

  • Main Title and The Attack on the Jakku Village
  • The Scavenger
  • I Can Fly Anything
  • Rey Meets BB-8
  • Follow Me
  • Rey's Theme
  • The Falcon
  • That Girl with the Staff
  • The Rathtars!
  • Finn's Confession
  • Maz's Counsel
  • The Starkiller
  • Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle
  • The Abduction
  • Han and Leia
  • March of the Resistance
  • Snoke
  • On the Inside
  • Torn Apart
  • The Ways of the Force
  • Scherzo for X-Wings
  • Farewell and The Trip
  • The Jedi Steps and Finale

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)

  • Main Title and Escape
  • Ahch-To Island
  • Revisiting Snoke
  • The Supremacy
  • Fun With Finn and Rose
  • Old Friends
  • The Rebellion Is Reborn
  • Lesson One
  • Canto Bight
  • Who Are You?
  • The Fathiers
  • The Cave
  • The Sacred Jedi Texts
  • A New Alliance
  • "Chrome Dome"
  • The Battle of Crait
  • The Spark
  • The Last Jedi
  • Peace and Purpose
  • Finale

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

  • The Adventures of Han[5]

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

  • Galaxy's Edge[6]

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

  • Fanfare and Prologue
  • Journey to Exegol
  • The Rise of Skywalker
  • The Old Death Star
  • The Speeder Chase
  • Destiny of a Jedi
  • Anthem of Evil
  • Fleeing from Kijimi
  • We Go Together
  • Join Me
  • They Will Come
  • The Final Saber Duel
  • Battle of the Resistance
  • Approaching the Throne
  • The Force Is with You
  • Farewell
  • Reunion
  • A New Home
  • Finale

Obi-Wan Kenobi (television series) (2022)

  • Obi-Wan

Filmography[]

Year Title Contribution(s)
2017 Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi off-screen performer for "The Long Goodbye"
2019 Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker Oma Tres

Awards[]

Academy Awards[]

JohnWilliamsBestOriginalScoreOscar-MOSW

Williams (with Jonathan Tunick, winner for Best Score Adaptation-A Little Night Music) holding his Oscar for Best Original Score

Year Project Category Result
1977 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope[7] Best Original Score Won
1980 Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back[7] Best Original Score Nominated
1983 Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi[7] Best Original Score Nominated
2015 Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens[8] Best Original Score Nominated
2017 Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi[9] Best Original Score Nominated
2019 Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker[10] Best Original Score Nominated

BAFTA Awards[]

Year Project Category Result
1978 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope[11] Original Film Music Won
1980 Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back[11] Original Film Music Won
2015 Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens[12] Original Film Music Nominated
2019 Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker[13] Original Film Music Nominated

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 This Week in Star Wars logo This Week! in Star Wars Battlefront II Updates, A Look Into Poe Dameron's Past, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
  2. ↑ The Ultimate Edition -- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith on www.ultimateeditionsoundtrack.com (archived from the original on July 13, 2001)
  3. ↑ Honorary awards to foreign nationals in 2022 by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on GOV.UK (archived from the original on September 24, 2022)
  4. ↑ John Williams Walks Back Retirement Claims on comicbook.com (archived from the original)
  5. ↑ 'Solo' Locks In Key 'Star Wars' Veteran (EXCLUSIVE) by Burlingame, Jon on Variety (December 30, 2017) (archived from the original on August 2, 2020)
  6. ↑ YouTube John Williams - Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite (Audio Only) on the DisneyMusicVEVO YouTube channel (backup link)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Awards on The John Williams Web Pages (June 5, 2006) (archived from the original on June 10, 2002)
  8. ↑ The 88th Academy Awards on www.oscars.org (archived from the original on October 18, 2020)
  9. ↑ The 90th Academy Awards on www.oscars.org (archived from the original on October 16, 2020)
  10. ↑ The 92nd Academy Awards on www.oscars.org (archived from the original on October 20, 2020)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 BAFTA Awards Search (John Williams) on British Academy of Film and Television Arts (archived from the original on August 9, 2020)
  12. ↑ Film in 2016 on awards.bafta.org (archived from the original on October 31, 2020)
  13. ↑ Film in 2020 on awards.bafta.org (archived from the original on July 31, 2020)

External links[]

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