John Williams, one of the greatest film composers of all time, has created some of cinema’s most unforgettable music for classics like Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars. Yet, despite winning five Oscars, the 93-year-old believes film music falls short when compared to the great works of classical music history.
In a rare interview for an upcoming biography, Williams admitted, “I never liked film music very much.” He explained, “Film music, no matter how good it might be—and it usually isn’t, except maybe for an eight-minute stretch here and there—just doesn’t hold up as music on its own. What we think of as great film music is often remembered through nostalgia.” He added, “The idea that film music belongs in the concert hall alongside the best classical works is mistaken. A lot of it is ephemeral and fragmentary. Until someone reconstructs it, it’s not something we can consider a proper concert piece.”
Williams has scored more than 100 films, including the Indiana Jones series, E.T., Schindler’s List, and the first three Harry Potter movies. He is the most Oscar-nominated living person, with 54 nominations, a testament to how his music has deepened the emotion and atmosphere of countless films. With just two haunting notes in Jaws, he captured the menace of the shark, and his mournful theme for Schindler’s List conveyed the tragedy of the Holocaust.
He was interviewed by Tim Greiving for the biography John Williams: A Composer’s Life, set to be published by Oxford University Press in September. Greiving was surprised by Williams’s critical view of film music, noting, “His comments are somewhat shocking, and it’s not false modesty. He is genuinely self-deprecating and dismissive of film music in general.” Williams referred to his film-scoring work, even the most celebrated projects, as “just a job.” Still, Greiving added, “We shouldn’t take his words entirely at face value. He clearly took composing for film as seriously as anyone ever has. He has an internalized prejudice against film music as a functional art, which is ironic because I see his work as sublime. He perfected film scoring and elevated it to a high art form.”
Despite widespread acclaim, Williams remains self-critical. He told Greiving, “If I could do it all over again, I would have made a cleaner separation between my film music and concert music, or found a way to unify them more. But it didn’t happen that way. Film work was a job, an opportunity I took.”
In the biography, Williams also discusses his long collaboration with Steven Spielberg, for whom he scored films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Saving Private Ryan. Early in his career, Williams was often frustrated by directors who lacked musical understanding—a common complaint among film composers. With Spielberg, however, he found a “very special collaboration.” He said, “Steven is more musically educated than most directors I’ve worked with. He grew up with a mother who played Clementi, Bach, and Chopin, and she took him to concerts. He played clarinet a little and is very musical.”
Beyond film, Williams has composed numerous concertos, fanfares, and other works for the concert stage. He also served as music director of the Boston Pops Orchestra for many years.For over a decade, Williams served as the conductor of the Boston Pops, inspiring countless children to pursue orchestral careers and earning worldwide respect from the classical music community, Greiving noted.
Williams has personally approved a new concert performance of his most famous scores, including Star Wars and Schindler’s List. Titled John Williams Reimagined, the concert will feature new arrangements for flute, cello, and piano. It is set to take place at Cadogan Hall in London on October 27, with an accompanying album to be released.
Williams remarked, “Pianist Simone Pedroni, flutist Sara Andon, and cellist Cécilia Tsan have enhanced and elevated my music, and that brings me great joy.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about John Williamss statement regarding film music designed to be clear and conversational
General Beginner Questions
Q Wait did John Williams really say he wasnt a big fan of film music
A Yes In a 2012 interview with NPR he stated that he was never a particular fan of film music as a genre preferring instead to listen to classical and concert music
Q Who is John Williams
A He is one of the most famous and successful film composers of all time known for creating the iconic music for movies like Star Wars Jaws Indiana Jones and Harry Potter
Q If he doesnt like it why did he become a film composer
A He has expressed a deep love for the collaborative process of filmmaking He enjoys working with directors and using music to serve the story even if he doesnt personally listen to film scores for pleasure
Q Isnt that a bit hypocritical
A Not really Its similar to a worldclass chef who specializes in fine dining but prefers to eat a simple homecooked meal His professional mastery doesnt dictate his personal taste
Advanced Deeper Questions
Q What kind of music does he listen to and admire then
A He is a devoted fan of classical music particularly the works of composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries like Gustav Mahler Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky
Q How has his love for classical music influenced his film scores
A Greatly His famous scores are deeply rooted in the Romantic and early Modernist classical traditions The Star Wars themes for example use the same large orchestra and compositional techniques as Richard Wagner or Richard Strauss
Q What was the context of his quote Was he dismissing his own work
A No he wasnt dismissing it He was making a distinction between music written to serve a narrative and absolute music written for its own sake He holds the latter in the highest artistic regard
Q Do other film composers feel this way
A Many do Its a common sentiment among composers who have a deep background in classical music They see film scoring as a brilliant and challenging craft
