Mark Kermode: A John Williams Birthday Special
Mark invites film composers to select their favourite John Williams score
Legendary composer John Williams celebrates his 90th birthday on 8th February, having created some of the most memorable scores of all time, from Star Wars to E.T and Indiana Jones to Harry Potter, it's pretty hard to pick a favourite. But that's exactly what we've been asking you to do.
For the past few weeks we've been inviting you to vote for your favourite of John Williams' scores ahead of his birthday on Tuesday when we will count down the top 10 scores as voted by you across the day.
Vote for your favourite John Williams score
Mark Kermode, however, has gone one step further. He's reached out to film composers to ask them to do the same thing for a special celebratory programme.
In his latest show on Scala Radio composers including Rachel Portman, Michael Giacchino, Anne Dudley, Harry Gregson-Williams, Lorne Balfe, and Nainita Desai shared their favourite John Williams scores and told us how influential Williams has been to them.
Listen back to Mark Kermode's birthday special here:
Here's what the composers had to say:
Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman (Emma, Chocolat, The Cider House Rules):
"My favourite score of John Williams' is Schindler's List and in particular the main theme. I hugely admire all his film work and in particular his complex rich orchestration to compliment his musical ideas, but for me, there's something even more elevating in his theme for Schindler's List. I think it's the deep humanity and grief he expresses in the violin melody that resonates so fully with the story. It moved me so much when I first heard it. Wishing him a very happy birthday!"
Oscar-winning composer Anne Dudley (The Full Monty, Elle, The Crying Game):
"A score full of wit and sparkle. It seems in many ways to prefigure the "Harry Potter" scores with its big colourful orchestration, glittering percussion and celeste. It captures the devilish humour of the film so well. "The Dance of the Witches", as you might expect builds to a frenzy and when the trumpets take the tune towards to end the woodwind, strings and percussion provide a positively manic backdrop. But the track ends quite quietly, almost with a little wink".
Nainita Desai (The Reason I Jump, For Sama):
Nainita Desai (The Reason I Jump, For Sama): "John William's music has been a huge inspiration to me, particularly his use of strong melodies and themes which formed a part of my musical awakening to film scores as a kid. The music from Raiders, Close Encounters and ET have been eternal ear worms for me and the reason why I fell in love with walking out of a cinema whistling a good tune.
"I have a soft spot for Sayuri's Theme from Memoirs of a Geisha. The score is mesmerising and the Japanese influence is very cleverly interwoven into the score becoming part of the fabric of the film.
"Along with various oriental instruments, William's draws upon renowned cellist Yo-Yo-Ma and violinist Itzhak Perlman who performed on Schindler's List. The atmosphere is delicate, intimate and perfectly captures the grace and beauty of the film. It was a touchstone for me when I composed the score for Enemy Within, a WW2 drama that also required a Japanese influence."
Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna (Life of Pi, Little Miss Sunshine, Capote):
"hmm I know it's not quite the right season just now, but if I'm going to be honest: My Very Favourite JW score, is Home Alone. The Maestro takes a rather cheezy B-movie, and gives it a high class, masterfully orchestrated A-movie musical score, which singlehandedly transforms Home Alone into a must see Christmas Classic. That simple melody of the Main Title theme sums up the fun, warmth, nostalgia and play that is Christmas. This movie would be forgotten, not an evergreen classic, without this score, and that's the proof of the power of his music. A great track is Man of the House… a pudding of mayhem, magic and mischief.
Harry Gregson-Williams (Chicken Run, House of Gucci, The Last Duel):
"Of course, I love and admire John Williams' scores. The main theme he wrote for Schindler's List is sublime and created the perfect, heart wrenching emotions that that film just had to have.
"However, after an unexpected experience I had in Prague a few years ago, maybe my favourite cue is from Jurassic Park. I had the pleasure of conducting a couple of suites of my own scores in the first half of a symphonic concert and JW's Jurassic Park was scheduled to be played during the second half of the program that night. Of course I'd heard this score before, but never quite how I did that evening. From my position backstage I was able to creep unseen in to a vantage position on the stage floor best described as 'within the brass section!' Being in such close proximity to the players as theme soars and takes off was an unforgettably exhilarating moment."
Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Jurassic World):
"I have always loved the Witches of Eastwick score - Along with the brilliant melodic aspect of the writing, John's use of both full orchestra and smaller ensemble has always intrigued me. He managed to create both a wonderfully romantic and at the same time atonal and frightening sonic soundscape which gave an incredibly unique sound to this score".
Brian Tyler (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Crazy Rich Asians, Scream):
"There are too many masterpieces to name from John Williams. But one in particular that really stirred my soul was 'Born on the Fourth of July.' His emotional depth is heard in the music here: the stoic strings, restrained in their tragedy, along with beautiful trumpet melodies. This is a score that should not be missed. I love everything he has done and I am also moved to tears by 'ET' and so many others. As popular as John Williams is as a composer, I have always maintained that he is actually underrated. Brilliant."
Lorne Balfe (Black Widow, His Dark Materials):
"You can close your eyes and the score tells the story of the movie perfectly. The mixture of patriotic themes and conspiracy blends perfectly together . The haunting main theme reflects the loss of a country's hero."
Segun Akinola (Doctor Who, The Last Tree):
"I absolutely love John Williams' score for Memoirs of a Geisha. If I had to choose a favourite from the soundtrack release it has to be Sayuri's theme. The composition, coupled with the performance of Yo-yo Ma, is so emotional and I think it's played a big part in informing the solo cello sound that I like. I often find myself humming the theme, even if I haven't watched the film recently".
Patrick Doyle:
"I am a huge science fiction fan and I will never forget watching 'Close Encounters' in Glasgow's Greens Playhouse in the 1970s. The theatre had a two and half thousand seat capacity and a screen the size of the city itself!vI sat on the balcony for the full vista and audio experience and was captivated. I had no idea I would become a composer one day, but I revelled in the drama and music. When I saw the scientist, played by François Truffaut, make a hand signal to the visitors using John Williams' famous contact theme, I recognised this fine detail, as I was taught the same choral teaching method at my primary school. It would have meant very little to most people in the audience but, as a music boffin, it made the experience even more special and memorable.
Germaine Franco (Encanto, Dora and the Lost City of Gold):
"I have been inspired by John Williams' music since I was a child. He is one of the true pillars of film scoring! He has set the standard very high for all other film composers. His contributions to music reach beyond the world of film scoring. In short, he is an entire musical universe unto himself. He is simply the best!vMy favorite John Williams score is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. This score is the epitome of storytelling through music. I still remember seeing that movie when it came out as a young musician. It made a huge impact on me. There are so many amazing cues in that film. It is hard for me to just pick one favorite cue. However, if asked to choose only one, it would be: Escape / Chase / Saying Goodbye Soundtrack Reissue (2002)"