John Williams is tops among other film composers

[David Coscina 3]

Something that is becoming quite evident in my interviews with other popular film composers is that John Williams is revered more than any other composer for film. It's quite amazing to hear this common sentiment from various composers with various backgrounds and styles. The universal appeal of maestro Williams cannot be emphasized more. Fans like Williams' music because it is tuneful, emotional ,exciting and communicative. Film composers laud Williams' music for its complexity, virtuosity, clarity and genius. I really wonder who future film composers will look up to this highly?

[Luke Skywalker 1,284]

John Williams works will always be there to newer composers to look up...

[Richard Penna 2,083]

I've heard better.

[David Coscina 3]

Nothing like a smart incisive response.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

I really wonder who future film composers will look up to this highly?

Why does it have to change? People are still inspired by Beethoven and Mozart.

[indy4 152]

Among film composers I agree. But amongst the classical realm, he is really looked down upon. I've heard people say that every single Williams piece sounds like "Summon the Heroes." Obviously they're unaware of the maestro's flexibility in style.

[King Mark 2,924]

Well, every Chopin piano sonata sounds the same to me .And modern composers music sounds like random noises

[David Coscina 3]

In 50 years, classical music buffs will start to realize that they missed the opportunity to enjoy our era's Mozart in John Williams. Pity for them. Lucky for us that we have and continue to value and enjoy his music.

[AC1 3,565]

I think most classical music people look down on Williams because he writes music which is meant to enhance another art form. They see film music as something that has a functional purpose. In the end, it's about the film and not about the music. This makes me wonder if classical music fans are looking down on the dance music of Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky.

Alex

[King Mark 2,924]

Didn't Mozart write music to accompany theater stuff? That would make it film music of these days

[Neimoidian 13]

Didn't Mozart write music to accompany theater stuff? That would make it film music of these days

In our times Mozart would be more like a rock star, not film composer

Seriously though, I think Williams is criticized by the classical community (or some part of it) mainly for one reason - despite his virtuosity, his biggest accomplishements are considered too accessible (or even "populist") and too unoriginal (= often inspired by some other works or consisting an imitation of someone else's style) to be found TRUE ART, which is defined as something challenging (in other words: difficult and for that reason not much popular) and unique or at least very personal. If there is antything in JW's body of work that conforms to that definition, it's his serious compositions, but quite often "classical community" is unware of them.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

Didn't Mozart write music to accompany theater stuff? That would make it film music of these days

Not sure Mozart did (unless you count his operas, but while opera has much in common with film music, the composer has more control there, and it's all "about" the music). But Mendelssohn and Grieg, among others, did. Some of the most popular classical pieces (Grieg's Peer Gynt suites) are nothing more than concert adaptations of stage music.

As for Williams, I'm sure he's the top living film composer in the business. Of those in his generation, he's probably tied with Goldsmith - the one composer every single of the composers who were present at last year's film music symposium mentioned and praised.

[David Coscina 3]

I wish I could find an example of a contemporary concert composer who hasn't committed the same "offenses" that classical buffs deride Williams of. I also cannot find anyone in the concert hall composing music that is more moving, detailed, and frankly kick ass than Williams. John Adams gets close but I don't hear any greater technique that Williams hasn't displayed. Don't get me wrong, I love concert music, but to go back to someone who really rocked it out would be Shostakovich, Prokofiev or Bartok for me. Or Vaughan Williams.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

I feel like an old-timer when I scoff at modern film music.

I wonder how the next generation will look back at the music of JW, say 50-100 years from now if the Earth is still around.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

I feel like an old-timer when I scoff at modern film music.

I wonder how the next generation will look back at the music of JW, say 50-100 years from now if the Earth is still around.

As a "golden age".