It’s here! My essay on John Williams’ score to Jaws. There’s much to it than just the shark attack theme. Discover the musical genius at work in this classic!

An excerpt:

John Williams’ score to Jaws truly began to sparkle for me when I started to teach myself about orchestral music in my late twenties. I realized that all my favorite scenes are punctuated by a distinct musical mood created by Williams. The musical genius went far, far beyond the famous shark attack theme. This was a composer who scored what I loved most about the movie—the push and pull between three headstrong men stuck on an old wooden boat. Their every ebullience is noted. Hooper gushes during the great shark chase, “Bring another barrel! I’m coming around again!” And John Williams is there to score Hooper’s momentary feeling of control over nature.