Week 6 – AIM110.1 Patchwork Task (Genealogy)

John Williams

 Who are said to be their creative influences or inspirations?

John Williams earliest influence dates back to watching his father who was a drummer in “the Raymond Scott Quartet” Jazz Band. The lasting influence of jazz on William’s film score work  can be observed in examples as early as 1976’s Missouri Breaks and as recent as 2002’s Catch Me If You Can, for which Williams received an Oscar nomination.

other influences for Williams have been largely classical including Wilhelm Richard Wagner and Gustav Holst. The influence of Holst on Williams work can be observed in the similarity between Holst’s “MARS” from the planets suite and William’s iconic STAR WARS score.

What examples of works are specified as being influential to their career?

While there many examples of work that are influential to John William’s career,  Wagners leitmotif style of composing, which is the method of associating a specific musical piece with a reappearing  theme, character or event, was adopted by Williams most noticeably in examples like the “SHARK THEME” in JAWS or “THE IMPERIAL MARCH” in STAR WARS.

For the genre of work they are known for, what are some other associated influences to this genre?

John Williams is most known for is film scoring (music composed for film and television). the associated influences for this genre are almost limitless as the style of music could change dramatically depending on what the associating body of work calls for. in this case the most associated genres would be classical and folk music based heavily on the artists that Williams takes inspiration from.

What specific technologies have influenced their practice or work?

Typically most composers over the years have adopted some form of technological aid or electronic device to either enhance or improve their work. Williams has almost defiantly kept his process low tech. As quoted in the article “John Williams , The Music Master” (Burton,C.2012) Williams states “It’s an influence that would be hard to quantify, but I think methodology is intimately connected to result,”. Williams goes on to explain that using pen and pad and sitting at a piano to compose employ a sense of craftsmanship that could have only added to his specific style of work

 

How do the influences or inspirations of your chosen practitioner relate to your own? Are they directly or indirectly related?.

Williams’s influences being largely in classical masters such as Gustav Holst and Richard Wagner as well as other noted classical artists, are related to my interests and influences in a round about way. in my chosen career path of sound for film and games so many of the iconic tracks and pieces of music from these classical masters appear frequently in some of my most loved and favoured films. Also as well as Wagner having founded John Williams Adopted Leitmotif Style of composing, Wagner also innovated the practice of synchronising musical performance to live movement on stage, a practice that was in later years adapted as a part of the foley process, as foley artists would perform and record sound effects live to a film track projected in their work area.