John Williams (composer)

John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932) is one of the most widely recognised composers of film scores. He is often credited with the revival of the symphonic film score with his brassy themes for the Star Wars series, probably his most famous and recognisable work. Among his composing credits are:

He wrote the scores for several TV shows, including Gilligan's Island and Lost in Space. Williams often works with Steven Spielberg and has been nominated for 42 Academy Awards, of which he has won five (for Star Wars, Fiddler on the Roof, Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Schindler's List).

From 1980 to 1993, he was principal conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. He still has close ties with the Pops and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), which have much overlap and both perform out of Boston's Symphony Hall. He conducts several concerts with the Boston Pops every year, particularly during their Holiday Pops season. He also frequently enlists the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the official chorus of the BSO, to sing choral music in his movie scores (such as Saving Private Ryan).

Williams has written various concert works, including concerti for flute, violin, trumpet and tuba.

He is an accomplished pianist, as can be heard in various scores in which he provides solos, as well as a handful of classical recordings.

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John Williams (composer)

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