A Night with John Williams Program Notes

A Night with John Williams
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 7:00 PM | UNC Campus Commons

As an Air Force veteran, Oscar winner, and honorary knight, John Williams is much more than a run-of-the-mill composer. With 124 film scores and a 50-year partnership with Steven Spielberg, Williams is one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures.

Olympic Fanfare and Theme (10’)

John Williams was commissioned to write “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” for the 1984 XXIII Olympiad held in Los Angeles, California. Triumphant trumpets and sentimental violins capture the tenacity of the human spirit. John Williams explained that he wrote this music to capture the emotion he felt watching the Olympics on TV. In a New York Times interview, Williams said, “The human spirit stretching to prove itself is also typical of what musicians attempt to achieve in asymphonic effort.”

Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind (8’)

The score for Close Encounters of the Third Kind shaped the direction of the film. In fact, much of the music was composed before filming even began. In a break from tradition, director Steven Spielberg structured scenes around the music, rather than having the music scored to match the scenes. The film centers on humanity’s attempt to connect with extraterrestrial life, with music serving as the key to communication. The score blends both tonal and atonal elements, and a central five-note motif becomes the basis for communication between humans and aliens. This motif is prominently featured at the end of “Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and is passed around the orchestra.

The March from 1941 (4’)

1941 is a comedic film directed by Steven Spielberg, set in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. The movie focuses on panicked Californians who fear they will be the next target. 1941 was released in 1979 but ultimately flopped. “The March from 1941” portrays Wild Bill Kelso, a zany Air Force pilot. The march juxtaposes determination with humor in this fun, patriotic tune.

The Adventures of Indiana Jones (18’)

The five-film Indiana Jones series focuses on the daring adventures of archaeologist Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones, Jr. Throughout the franchise, Jones faces Nazis, Soviet agents, and other villains. The series features some of the film in-dustry’s greatest minds, including George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and John Williams. The Adventures of Indiana Jones features selections from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Suite from Jaws (8’)

“Suite from Jaws” highlights music from Spielberg’s 1975 film, Jaws. In the movie, a sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer team up to take down a deadly shark. The iconic shark motif creates a tense atmosphere with a simple two-note oscillation, often scored in the low voices. Williams described the theme as “grinding away at you, just as a shark would do, instinctual, relentless, unstoppable.” Only his second collaboration with Spielberg, Williams attributes Jaws to “jump-starting” his career.

Flight to Neverland (5’)

“Flight to Neverland” is from Hook, a 1991 Spielberg film about a reality in which Peter Pan grows up. In the movie, adult Peter Pan, played by Robin Williams, works as a career-obsessed lawyer and has forgotten his wondrous former life. Everything changes when Captain Hook kidnaps his children. To save them, he must return to Neverland and reclaim his inner child. “Flight to Neverland” evokes images of wonder, flight, and freedom.

Star Wars, Suite for Orchestra (24’)

The film score of George Lucas’ Star Wars was revolutionary in many ways. While most movies at the time relied on pop music, John Williams’ score for Star Wars used a full orchestra, reminiscent of Erich Korngold’s scores from the 1930s and 1940s. Williams drew inspiration from Wagner’s use of leitmotifs, musical phrases that represent characters, ideas, or objects. For example, “The Imperial March” is synonymous with Darth Vader. “Star Wars Suite” is a collection of notable themes from the original Star Wars trilogy, including Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983).

This concert is sponsored by Baessler Homes, High Plains Library, and Lincoln Park Emporium.