JAWS Composer John Williams Awarded The Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal
Jaws score composer John Williams, 88, is the recipient of this year’s RPS Gold Medal.
Williams, who composed the iconic scores for films including Star Wars, Superman, Schindler’s List and many more, won the coveted award at the 2020 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards, for introducing millions to orchestral music. The RPS Gold Medal, is one of the highest honours in music recognising outstanding musicianship since 1870.
Accepting the medal via video, Williams said: “To receive this award is beyond any expectation I could possibly have. For any composer to be able devote his or her life entirely to the composition of music is very fortunate indeed.”
Jaws director Steven Spielberg presented a special congratulatory message to his long-time collaborator via video message, saying: “John, you have brought the classical idiom to young people all over the world through your scores, and through your classical training and your classical sensibilities. You are in the DNA of the musical culture of today.”
John Williams receives RPS Gold Medal award. Picture: Royal Philharmonic Society
“To receive this award is beyond any expectation I could possibly have. For any composer to be able devote his or her life entirely to the composition of music is very fortunate indeed.”
When composer John Williams originally played the score for director Steven Spielberg, Spielberg laughed and said, "That's funny, John, really; but what did you really have in mind for the theme of Jaws?" Spielberg later stated that without Williams's score, the movie would only have been half as successful and according to Williams, it jumpstarted his career. Williams’ work on Jaws went on to win that year’s Academy Award for best score.
Williams has scored dozens of Spielberg films and has a record 52 Oscar nominations for a living person
When Steven Spielberg first showed John Williams a cut of this Schindler’s List, Williams was so moved he had to take a walk outside for several minutes to collect himself. Upon his return, he told Spielberg he deserved a better composer. Spielberg replied, "I know, but they're all dead."
Jaws director pays tribute to his friend and long time collaborator John Williams
“John, you have brought the classical idiom to young people all over the world through your scores, and through your classical training and your classical sensibilities. You are in the DNA of the musical culture of today.”
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