So basically, no one can deny that John Williams' music has a very distinct "sound" to it--it's what makes it possible for you to hear his scores and know that it's him. I think a lot of that has to do with his orchestration, or choice of instrumentation. For example, he treats brass instruments (specifically the horn) in ways that other composers don't, often times by giving them, rather than strings, the most important part or melody. He likes to double certain instruments, especially in the woodwinds. For example, he'll often add flute to an important melody in horns or trumpet to give them a slightly different color. All of these details really contribute to the style and sound we have come to love and I'm wondering if anybody else has observations about his orchestration to share. What have you noticed, from studying his scores and/or listening to recordings, about the way he orchestrates and how this has made his music unique and distinct?
J_N got a reaction from musictheorist in Orchestration and that special John Williams "sound"