John Williams is a genius

[matril]

Not that I didn't already know that - he's been my favorite composer since I danced around to the music from E.T. and Return of the Jedi when I was little girl - but today I noticed something ever-so-subtle. The music when Anakin is saying good-bye to his mother in Episode I reappears when she dies in his arms Episode II. *sniff* It's such a quiet, wistful melody. John Williams is so, so brilliant.

I don't think he could have chosen an instrument more suited for the beginning solo rendering of the Episode II love theme than the oboe. (I'm pretty sure it's the oboe; it's definitely a double-reeded woodwind.) It captures the tone of the relationship so well - sweet, but with undertones of sadness. More depth than a flute, not blaring like brass, more intense than strings. *sigh...* And just when I thought it couldn't be more beautiful and heartrending, he writes a version for Episode III that puts the main theme against a haunting counter-melody played on a violin. I just can't listen to it often enough.

How many different renditions of the Force theme are there? Each one so perfect for each situation. I love the one during ESB when Leia hears Luke calling for help on Bespin. There's this pulse behind it that's reminiscent of a heartbeat. And oh, the one for Anakin's funeral pyre! The way the music swells, then slips away into quiet peace. Combined with that Look on Luke's face, that scene always, always makes me teary-eyed.

Branching out from SW for just a moment, his music for the first Harry Potter movie was so whimsical and fun, with just a hint of mystery and danger...and then it was expanded in the third movie to encompass the greater depth of the story. (Actually, the score for the POA movie is the only thing about that film that I love unreservedly). Window to the Past, to me, captures all the tragedy that has consumed each of the old Marauders, from being betrayed to being framed to being a cowardly traitor to being left all alone. I was seriously unhappy when John Williams wasn't able to score the fourth movie. I'd be happy if he scored every movie I ever watch. ;)

I could gush for a few more hours, but I'll stop for now.

Comments

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

The music when Anakin is saying good-bye to his mother in Episode I reappears when she dies in his arms Episode II. *sniff* It's such a quiet, wistful melody. John Williams is so, so brilliant.

That he is! I don't think I ever picked up on that bit of music...*runs to look for DVDs.* Ah well, it took me months to discover, while listening to ROTS's score on my iPod, that when Anakin tells Padmé she dies in his nightmare, you can hear the funeral music.

[matril.livejournal.com]

*gasp* How could I have missed that?? That's possibly my favorite track on that CD!! I must listen now and hear it for myself.