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From: cbspt002@abnjh.UUCP (Marc E. Kenig )
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: more on John Williams and stealing
Message-ID: <635@abnjh.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 23-May-84 12:10:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: abnjh.635
Posted: Wed May 23 12:10:33 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 26-May-84 11:19:40 EDT
References: <864@unm-cvax.UUCP>, <12100002@acf4.UUCP> At issue is the definition of 'steal'.  If John Williams uses a
Organization: ATTIS, NJ
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theme or rhythmic motif which is exactly taken from another composer's
work, he is stealing.  He is not going to do this.
   Granted he may want to work in the style of another composer. A not
previously mentioned example is the Wagner cloned music at the end
of SW-ROTJ, in the Luke vs. Darth battle. It is not uncommon for composers
to adopt the style of a composer they admire. Sullivan does this throughout
the operas with Gilbert, Stravinsky had a whole period in which he composed
in other musico's styles.  Mimmicry is the most sincere form of flattery, and
Williams seems to want to flatter many a composers' memory.
   Or, maybe he is backhandedly trying to get the hoi poloi to appreciate
classical music more by gentle introduction ("Hey that Wagner guy composes 
just like the Star Wars theme...").  This phenomenon is most readily 
observed in Also Sprach Zaratheustra (R. Strauss) most commonly being 
identified by the populus as "the theme from 2001".
   I refuse to believe that Williams simply lacks creativity. The handling
of the low strings in the Superman march (also my favorite) belies a 
mastery of composition. I would love to hear any Williams non-film work.

Just an opinion from an opinionated classical music lover...

M. Kenig  ["Share and Enjoy"]
AT&T-IS, S. Plainfield (no matter what the From: line says.)
...!abnjh!cbspt002