“No, I am your father,” Darth Vader reveals in The Empire Strikes Back. Just like how Luke was shocked that Vader was his father, you might be surprised to learn that classical composers were the unsung fathers of many of John Williams’s most iconic scores. Think back to the movie Jaws. What sound automatically pops into your head? Undoubtedly, it’s the chilling two-note motif that echoes ominously, planting seeds of dread and anticipation. This theme is a truly incredible encapsulation of what is to follow. However, what if I were to tell you that that exact pattern was used way before Williams? Yes, that motif is featured in Dvořák’s New World Symphony No. 9, movement 4, which features a melody with two repeating notes in a half step. Dvořák has clearly had a lasting impact, manifested in Wiliams’ work.
The Throne Room theme from the original Star Wars movie, another iconic John Williams piece, was widely inspired by Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance which emanated the atmosphere of a formal ceremony. When composing the Throne Room theme, Williams aimed to create a musical backdrop that mirrored the ceremony’s grandeur, as heroes receive medals for their hard-fought victory. And what better piece to model it after than Pomp and Circumstance, a piece that is classically played at graduations and commencement ceremonies? By weaving in these classical influences, Williams not only enhances the emotional resonance of the scene but also demonstrates that musical traditions can elevate storytelling.
John Williams drew inspiration from classical composers, borrowing various motifs and themes. Through his musical prowess and expertise, classical themes have been reinvented into the original masterpieces that reach for the future while holding on to past traditions. After all, isn’t that what music is all about? Beethoven stood after the greatness of Bach and wrote music that followed the rigidity and formality of Bach’s. However, Beethoven also paved the way for composers such as Chopin. He experimented and changed the style of music, and in turn laid the foundation for Chopin to take from the past and pioneer new techniques and styles for the next composers. Great composers carry on the legacy of their predecessors, innovating and reforming music for the following generation of composers. John Williams embodies this excellence in tradition and revision. Because of his work, generations of young people, including myself, have been inspired to pursue music, laying the foundations of yet another musical canvas. Ultimately, Williams’s work is a testament to creation, connection, continuity, and advancement.
