John Williams is one of the most renowned film composers in history. He has penned unforgettable scores for Star Wars, the Indiana Jones series, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Superman, and countless other films. Fans flock to his many concerts, and with forty-nine Academy Award nominations as of 2014, he is the second-most Oscar-nominated person after Walt Disney. Yet despite such critical acclaim and prestige, this is the first book in English on Williams's work and career.
Combining accessible writing with thorough scholarship, and rigorous historical accounts with insightful readings, John Williams's Film Music explores why Williams is so important to the history of film music. Beginning with an overview of music from Hollywood's Golden Age (1933–58), Emilio Audissino traces the turning points of Williams's career and articulates how he revived the classical Hollywood musical style. This book charts each landmark of this musical restoration, with special attention to the scores for Jaws and Star Wars, Williams's work as conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, and a full film/music analysis of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The result is a precise, enlightening definition of Williams's "neoclassicism" and a grounded demonstration of his lasting importance, for both his compositions and his historical role in restoring part of the Hollywood tradition.
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John Williams's Film Music
Jaws, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the Return of the Classical Hollywood Music Style
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Release date
June 12, 2014 -
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- ISBN: 9780299297336
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- ISBN: 9780299297336
- File size: 3349 KB
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- ISBN: 9780299297336
- File size: 3358 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Library Journal
June 15, 2014
Audissino (film studies, Univ. of Southampton; L'infanzia nel cinema di Steven Spielberg) ventures here well beyond the scope of the work of John Williams (b. 1932)--possibly to this book's detriment. Part I is dedicated solely to the history of film music. Part II relates Williams's music to others; however, this investigation does not begin until nearly 20 pages into the section with Star Wars, which although not his first score, was arguably what brought him fame. The examination of Star Wars, Jaws, and Raiders of the Lost Ark reveal how the composer revived the classical Hollywood musical style with what Audissino calls "neoclassical" works. Because of the analysis, a musical background is helpful. Also included are discussions of Williams's conducting career, his role in Hollywood, and his legacy. Approximately the last third of the book is dedicated to two appendixes; a list of the composer's film scores by release date and one of film and television scores, concert pieces, and arrangements. VERDICT For those seeking a comparison of Williams to other film composer greats, including Henry Mancini, Max Steiner, and contemporaries such as Danny Elfman, in the context of film music history, this resource is worth a look.--Elizabeth Berndt-Morris, Central Michigan Univ. Lib., Mount Pleasant
Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Formats
- OverDrive Read
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- Open EPUB ebook
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- English
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