(Score Aficionado interview continued)

Q: What in your opinion has the most important role in move music: main theme, underscore, action score or maybe something else?

Williams: I feel the most important role of music is to support the drama and emotion. Music adds the emotional quality that can’t be put on film. It needs to help the audience feel what the characters and story are feeling. The main theme, underscore and action all contribute to this. Which is more important? It depends on the story being told. Generally, the underscore provides the emotional shifts in a story but themes are important for emotional payoffs. This music generally can be derived from a main title.

Q: Now I would like to ask about my favorite score: “Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of Africa”. Was there any special way to treat that score to capture the spirit of that magnificent mountain?

Williams: I’m glad you enjoyed that score. David Breashears, the director, wanted the music to do exactly what you are saying. It was to create the grandeur of the mountain while still letting the audience know that it’s in Africa. Because it was a journey to the top of the mountain, the score evolved as the climbers moved through the different climate zones finally reaching the climax as they reached the top of the mountain.

Q: When you are writing music to a movie, do you think about how it will sound on the album or are you only focused on how it will sound in the movie?

Williams: Film music is music for motion picture. I’m concerned about how it works with the picture. Hopefully it will stand alone on a CD but that is secondary. I must commit to the movie first.

Q: I think you’re a master with documentary films. If you will compose a couple more scores as good as “Kilimanjaro” and “Amazon”, the IMAX producers will never let you go. Are you afraid that you could only be associated with IMAX movies?



Williams: I have been fortunate to work in many different genres. I do love the IMAX format because music plays such a vital and important role in the film. IMAX theaters also have the best sound systems so my scores always sound fabulous in the theater. I don’t want to be labeled as only a certain type of composer but IMAX films have allowed me to write melodic, large orchestral scores. If I am to wear that label, that would be OK.

Q: Would you like to write the music to a big epic movie?

Williams: Yes, very much. I love the genre and would enjoy writing music for such a film.

Q: What can you tell about your next projects?

Williams: Presently I’m writing the score to the feature “Crab Orchard” starring Judge Reinhold and Edward Asner. I then begin work on the feature “Lost in New Harmony”.

Q: When can we see and hear you in Poland in concert?

Williams: I would love an opportunity to have a concert in Poland. I just need an invitation.

Previous page