- Compare and contrast two compositional periods (early 1958–1973, blockbuster 1974–1996, motto 1997–2007, or modern 2008–present) in John Williams’s career. Identify important styles, characteristics, innovations, and ideas that he brought to his scores during these periods. Provide at least one score from each period as an example that is representative of your points.
(Write approx. 250–500 words)
- Watch this carbon freezing scene from The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and critically analyze the cue and its relationship to the drama. Explain the musical materials associated with this scene (orchestration, themes, style, etc.). Identify any other key elements that contribute to Williams’s dramatic enhancement of this scene. It might be helpful to refer to Lehman’s Thematic Catalogue. I’ve attached the manuscript of this cue to this Dropbox folder.
(Write approx. 250–500 words)