Today is the 90th birthday of a decorated composer and cinematic legend. We’ve listed our favourite John Williams songs in honour of the big day!

John Williams is an American conductor, composer and pianist. He is most widely known as the composer of some of cinema’s biggest titles’ soundtracks. These include Jaws, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and ET. Having worked closely throughout his career with Steven Spielberg, Williams is currently working on two new film scores. He is also planning to conduct a handful of orchestral concerts, and is set to release an album in the coming months.

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Nothing seems to slow this nonagenarian down, though. A birthday gala for John Williams is set to take place in the summer at the Kennedy Center, Washington. Undoubtedly, this birthday bash will feature plenty of John Williams songs and scores. Here at Synchedin, we wanted to list some of the classics here, to celebrate a long life of musical magic wizardry and wonder.

Out To Sea – Jaws

The two note motif of E and F is perhaps one of the most recognisable yet simple pieces of film music in history. John Williams mastered the approach of “less is more”, using music to convey the presence of the shark. Out To Sea is a much more decorated and jaunty piece, demonstrating Williams’ range and vision.

Hedwig’s Theme – Harry Potter

Nothing spells (pardon the sort of pun) magic like Hedwig’s Theme, composed by Williams for the Harry Potter movies. This flighty orchestral piece has become synonymous with the wizarding world for several generations.

Imperial March – Star Wars

The most menacing and evil sounding theme of all, Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back is, again, incredibly recognisable. You may be noticing a pattern by now. Williams has worked on some of the most well-loved movies in cinematic history, and it’s no different here with Star Wars.

Main Theme – Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Yet another theme that won’t leave your head once you’ve heard it. John Williams has been nominated for an incredible 52 Oscars, and this piece demonstrates why. The main theme consists of just 5 notes, but is big in terms of its impact. Such is the mastery of John Williams.