Audissino, Emilio (2011) John Williams, Star Wars and the canonization of Hollywood film music. In: Il Canone Cinematografico/The Film Canon. Forum, Udine, Italy, pp. 273-278. ISBN 9788884206633

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Abstract

This paper focuses on John Williams' score for Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977) as a seminal landmark in the canonic history of Film Music, namely for opening the classical Hollywood music Renaissance of the late 1970s. As part of the filmic text, Star Wars music proved brilliantly that leitmotiv and symphonic scoring could still be not only feasible but even desirable, after more than a decade of a pop-oriented or theme song-centred approach. From an inter-textual point of view, with its patent references to the modus operandi of the classical Hollywood music - late romantic idiom, symphonic medium, leitmotivic structure, continuous accompaniment, dialogue underscoring, action mickey-mousing -, it was also crucila in bringing back to the public attention and appreciation the rich legacy of the hollywood music tradition. Finally, with its unprecedented best-selling music album, its re-recordings by various world orchestras and its increasingly frequent concert presentations, Star Wars music paved the way for a better acknowledgement of film music even off-screen, as music tout court.

Item Type:	Book Section
Subjects:	Film and television Music
Depositing User:	Emilio Audissino
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2016 13:36
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2024 11:02
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1646

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