To musically evoke the mightiest of all superheroes, one might use the C-G-C fifths, a stable and satisfying interval, loudly declared fortissimo by the horns and trumpets. And to capture the spectacular flight of our hero, what better than a grand orchestral crescendo! Hammered chords that gradually enrich from low to high notes, giving the sensation of taking off, like the character from the planet Krypton, instantly recognizable with his red S symbol on the chest!
The popularity of John Williams is certainly due to memorable themes like Superman’s march. An original soundtrack composed in 1978 reminiscent of Hollywood symphonies from the 1930s and the extravagant style of Italian composer Ottorino Respighi. Think of Respighi’s “The Fountains of Rome” theme from 1916, built on C and G fifths, and a grand orchestral crescendo, much like Superman’s theme!
Ottorino Respighi and John Williams also share a particular taste for brass, percussion, and one of the smallest instruments in the orchestra. The piccolo flute, the highest-pitched flute whose timbre can be heard amidst an orchestral uproar, much like Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” Bacchanale. An ancient dance from 1924 that echoes the orchestration and bold rhythm of Harry Potter’s iconic and festive theme composed 80 years later by John Williams!
John Williams has always said that Ottorino Respighi, along with Gustav Holst and Prokofiev, was the classical composer who inspired him the most. He even went as far as to explicitly mention another excerpt from “The Pines of Rome.” Here is Respighi’s original work!
And here are those sustained pedal notes in the bass, that same brass fanfare theme, slightly transformed by John Williams in the Superman soundtrack! Picasso was right, good artists copy, great artists steal!
