The music of John Williams is some of the most iconic and beloved in film history. And what better way to experience a Williams-scored film than with a live orchestra performing as the movie plays on the big screen? FIM presented Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™ Live in Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Whiting Auditorium.

What is it about Williams’ music that makes it so enduring and recognizable? For starters, he’s composed for some hugely popular films — Jaws, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Harry Potter and E.T., to name a few. Williams took lots of inspiration from the classic masterworks repertoire. The simple yet unforgettable two-note Jaws theme is derived from part of Dvořák’s 9th Symphony, for example.

In the case of Indiana Jones, Williams used leitmotifs — a recurring musical theme tied to a particular character, idea or location — which was made famous by composers like Richard Wagner (and later utilized by Max Steiner in film). The melody from The Raiders March (the film’s main theme) is used to symbolize Indy himself.

This high-energy, classic adventure film also lends itself well to the live orchestra format. “The goal of the music in a film is to enhance the emotional impact of a scene, and seeing it live will augment the experience even more. It’s also pretty rare to get to hear the score live in this type of setting,” said Michelle Tschirhart, manager of FSO operations.

Mark Flegg, principal trumpet for the FSO, said that the audience’s familiarity with the film enables them to more easily immerse themselves in the experience.

“If they already know the movie, they can get drawn into the music without losing the storyline,” he said.
Indiana Jones is also an opportunity for the brass section to shine. “Williams likes to use the trumpets a lot, and we get nice ‘meaty’ lines to play. It’s also really fun to know the audience is getting a truly immersive experience, and that we’re a big part of it,” said Flegg.

Nostalgia plays a role in presenting a film like Indiana Jones, and is just one of the reasons that Williams’ scores have endured for decades.

“People saw these movies when they were kids, and they get excitement from sharing that with their own kids, through generations. When people think about Indiana Jones, one of the greatest adventure films ever, the music is just as present as the visual component,” said Tschirhart.

In the case of film music, it’s nearly impossible to separate the movie from the score — the two are inherently entwined. But one thing remains true: music is an artform that expresses what words cannot, explained Tschirhart.

“If you pair that musical expression with action, it makes the art that much more powerful.”