How to Write Like John Williams - EP1: Harry Potter

To get in touch with me for Zoom composition or piano lessons, commissions, collaborations, or just a friendly chat, you can use the email [e-mail]

[@JJBerthume]

"I don't want to minimize the contribution of orchestrators but, on the other hand, I try to be very careful about my sketches so that I get just what I want: winds on two or three staves, horns, brass, low brass, piano, percussion, etc, in the middle, and then three or four staves for strings, so that on eight or ten staves you can get almost a note-perfect accurate score. But the sheer labor of laying it out in full score for symphony orchestra would greatly slow me up, so here orchestrators help. When you consider that Star Wars had some 90 minutes of orchestral music and had to be written in some 6+ weeks...about half the length of an opera...well, to do that without even stenographic help from an orchestrator would be physically impossible. On Star Wars I used four: Herb [Spencer] was contracted to do it and he receives the credit (he must have done about 500 of the 800-or-so-pages of the score), but Arthur Morton, Angela Morley and Al Woodbury also helped a lot. I even did some sequences myself, so I hope that's a compliment to my sketches that you can't tell who did what!" - John Williams Excerpt from John William's Film Music by Emilio Audissino: "The Boston Pops percussionist Patrick Hollenbeck debuted as an orchestrator after Williams had asked for his help on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: "When I got out there I heard these horror stories of orchestrators being handed a page with a title, a key signature and a number of bars and nothing else on it; so orchestrators have developed a mystique as, allegedly, 'the secret composers,' and in many cases it may be true - but not with John Williams. With him, orchestrating means taking his notes from the little green paper and putting them on the big yellow paper.""

[@JSMallard]

I think I almost had a heart attack when I saw this in my notifications. These videos are amazing!

[@peterharrison5833]

John Williams worked in Hollywood studios for years as a pianist and is listed on many films (back when they used credit the guys) as "Johnny Williams" (LOL!) on piano. He did this for years, and it's one of the best ways to learn what the instruments sound like, individually and in various combinations. He also did formal study with some very good teachers. Additionally, he took many projects along the way, working with major composer/orchestrators in Hollywood and cut his chops on a lot film and TV scores. Jaws was his 63rd film score. So...lots of listening, and lots of writing. Respectfully, PMH.

[@passage2enBleu]

I'm convinced it takes a genius to truly appreciate it in another.

[@jsnell126]

This is one of the best orchestration walkthroughs I've ever seen. Looking forward to going through the rest of your videos.

[@cehape2719]

+1

[@JJBerthume]

CORRECTION: Glock sounds 2 octaves higher than written, and celesta 1 octave higher than written.

[@benh7870]

When will the next episode be coming out!? Can't wait to see which JW score you'll be doing. I've already watched this video 3 times with my own HP score and gone through other parts of the sound track to pick out features you've mentioned in this video!

[@zaharishtonov]

That’s right! They do. 🙂

[@NOVAsteamed]

John Williams is a Genius. Every song he makes(mainly the ones in star wars and harry potter) always gives me chills.

[@Aznariaa]

Yeeeeeessssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm glad you're posting more videos, it gives me inspiration to keep composing and arranging!

[@toddkreuzburg4162]

i'm always amazed when i see kids your age that are so intelligent and well spoken. It gives alot of hope for the future. You should have millions of subs.

[@JJBerthume]

What a lovely compliment, thank you so much! I shall strive to deserve it.

[@KiteFlyingRobot]

Man I love your videos. You articulate yourself so well, and I enjoy that you use experienced terminology but not so deep that intermediates wouldn't know.

[@carlpowell0]

Watched every second of this heavily immersed... Forgot i even existed. So many great points you make. Legend

[@kathiestockburger9443]

you are a born educator! Loved the few tutorials I have listened to and watched this evening! Bravo. BTW, you are also a brilliant composer and arranger. Haven't listened to that much this evening.....but you have held this aging former educator, arranger and keyboard musician in the palm of your hands! Loved every minute!

[@lawrenceclemens8494]

You are Fantastic.... thanks for your videos!

[@ToastedCigar]

This is a fantastic video, thank you! John Williams is a very sophisticated composer, and I can see how his writing is much more influenced by the great classical composers, and he really knows what role every instrument plays in the orchestra. Whereas a lot of the nowadays' film composers tend to rely more on big sounds, simpler harmonies etc. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the latter approach, obviously, but I just tend to gravitate more towards the more refined and detailed compositions like John Williams' works.

[@ShirlyLyubomirsky]

I love the clarity and detail. Such a pleasure to listen and follow this methodical breakdown.

[@morten2bach]

Fantastic video! I found this at the perfect time for me. Just the perfect level of nerdiness for where I am at right now. Thank you very much for this. I will look into more of your videos!

[@RavenLuni]

I learned something from this that brings me 1 step closer to one of my greatest heroes. Thankyou :)

[@jr_ryb3432]

JJay, I love your videos. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas.

[@xaviduch]

Bravo!! An amazing travel to John Williams score's with a fresh an useful (a lot) way to explain things!!! Bravísimo!!

[@kingkong6666]

Awesome Jjay. I remember years ago before I started composing hearing this and thinking this section sounded so cool and.. totally bonkers. So insightful to have it broken down. Thanks!

[@AlekVila]

I learned so much from this video. I'll be watching more from you - Thank you!

[@fernandoortegacomposer]

Amazing video, thank you so much!! Can´t wait for EP2...

[@davyyoannbernagoult-compos7410]

Excellent analysis of this part of the score. Congratulations, very well explained.

[@TomLaPointe]

Love this period thank you very much for sharing!

[@oskarhrankowski]

Amazing video!!! Thanks - your videos make my music better and better!!! I'm waiting for episode 2

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Thank you so much JJ. Please....Episode 2!!!

[@kilioakenshield1164]

This is awesome! John Williams is one of my favorite composers and HP is one of my favorite franchises!

[@polkmusic]

Nice breakdown of this JJay

[@Evli10]

I love this, videos like these are just what I need for quick and effective studying of orchestration. :)

[@collinsrajendran8326]

This is an amazing analysis :) Thanks for the video Jay :)

[@samuelhaines617]

Wonderful walkthrough, lad.

[@ghostrecon29]

Absolutely gold video JJay!

[@chrisharrison809]

Thanks so much. I've been studying this piece a lot and trying to understand it. I wanted to add that up bow is used in the low strings because it has a built in crescendo. Tip has less weight, as you move to the frog you get more hand weight/ weight from the frog. It's automatically a crescendo. Nice touch with having basses on a down for more clear articulation

[@harrysanders818]

Fantastic Man! So educational! Thank you so much! Love Williams. Very inspirational

[@liftmanproductions]

for someone who is just learning note reading as an adult, this was very useful and enlightening, as something of a starter to do deeper orchestration. thanks.

[@bryanpoulsen8969]

Amazing how often Williams across scores uses pedal notes in the bass lines during tutti sections.

[@MaemiNoYume]

so much details!! You are fantastic! thank you so much

[@picksalot1]

Excellent detailed analysis with tons of useful information. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. Subscribed - Thanks

[@carlpowell0]

Really great rundown man im learning so much from these!!! The info about which instruments are strong where and why and what works well is very informative for me. Thankyou

[@paulmattaway5637]

So glad I found this

[@CHMmusic]

you are a genius. thank you for your insight!

[@laagislaag]

Just came here via the orchestration FBn and glad I did. Thanks for some really valuable stuff!

[@Xanadu2025]

Thanks for this! More please!

[@unnamed5007]

I really like this series. It's very informative. Keep up the good work.

[@DaneBryantFrazier]

You are the first person I have heard mention the xylophone in that piece from TPM! That has always stood out to me and honestly makes the piece in my opinion. His use of xylophone in all of his music is great. Overall great insights and I learned a lot from you (as a listener and composer) just from this first part. I'd definitely be interested in more series like this.

[@Puzzles32]

You are the man. Thanks for the Genius Mind.

[@AdamMessy49]

Brilliant video! Thank you!

[@patbreacadh]

Excellent video, thank you so much!

[@nicksaya]

GREAT!! Thanks

[@dylannolan7454]

This is amazing I'm so glad I subbed to you

[@tomvanmoorst1317]

This is great! Thanks, very informative.

[@4kuj1n]

30 seconds in I subscribed. great content

[@yosijimusic6311]

Very well done and comprehensible. I never heard about "planing" though. Couldn't even find it on the internet?! Thanks a lot! Jos

[@JJBerthume]

So glad you enjoyed it! :) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_harmony

[@interstellarginger5042]

This video just helped me through a kink in my arrangement! Thanks :)

[@klavierunterricht-bergstra2187]

Williams is a genius!

[@gerbenkruisselbrink5181]

As an arranger for Big Orchestra's (see Steengroeve Theater) I love this video. And bought Adler's Instrumentation book, Thanks for THE tip! greetings from The Netherlands, Europe.

[@sweatynevets]

Thanks. Great vid. Learned so much. And had a chuckle too when the sub-titles wrote 'beat it up about a table' for your "be-da-ba-bu, be-da-ba-du" singing. :)

[@SayceBuckleyFreak]

fantastic video !!!

[@lalomores4686]

Awesome

[@mikestibor1]

Just found this video! For anyone who truly wants to practice the craft of film scoring and orchestration, and not just produce generic "epic orchestral music" they should be following you. Awesome job!

[@Eden_Rubin_Music]

Good explanations bro!

[@zooglah]

amazing!!

[@JawdatOutree]

Very nice job man!! Keep it up!!

[@golafs]

i´m always trying to move the document around forgetting it´s not my sibelius :P

[@zaharishtonov]

LoL! I've done that before too when watching full screen :)

[@kirillmalchenko4453]

Woow its a very instresting! Thanks thanks thanks!!!

[@faustoorieta]

Thanks bro!

[@itznoxy7193]

Awesome video and great tips and analysis! I love Williams and HP is one of my favourite scores. I hope this won't be the only Harry Potter video you do. ;) Cheers!

[@JJBerthume]

iTzNoxy Definitely more Harry Potter in near future! :)

[@alpineuniverse]

Excellent!

[@Skansouille]

If I might suggest that you play the instrument once before the explanations and once you've finished with this instrument. Sometimes you do it and it just really helps to consider your analysis afterwards because we do not always have the instrument's line in mind. Just a viewer's point of view ! Thank you for your rich analysis

[@JJBerthume]

Skansouille That makes sense - I’ll try and do that! Thanks!

[@itznoxy7193]

Please do more of these. I want to see Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, etc.

[@rachelzimet8310]

One note about the 'sideways' accent mark is that it's literally a very small diminuendo mark - start loud and get softer quickly - while _marcato_ just means marked; getting softer isn't necessary. Edit: then again this depends on the composer. Some composers use _marcato_ to mean louder & staccato; others like Williams arguably used it to mean more accented than an accent mark.

[@briansullivan3234]

Hearing a glockenspiel being referred to as a "glock" got me rethinking so much of the 90s hip-hop I grew up listening too...

[@JJBerthume]

Lmaoooo

[@davidalonsoaguilarvaldizan6448]

You are my hero!!! Thank you very much. Please make a video of the track “entry into the geat hall” of Harry Potter.

[@OReitmeier]

Great!

[@benh7870]

holy shit i honestly think I have pooped myself (just a tiny bit ;) ) when I saw this video come up! John Williams is my favourite film composer and JJ is my favourite music youtuber... this made my day!

[@mydogskips2]

Wow, I really like your video(s) they're great, and don't take this the wrong way, but I find it utterly amazing how you've made a 37 minute video based on four measures of music which take about FIVE SECONDS to play in real time. I just wish you included the next four measures which has one of my favorite parts, the runs in the high winds transitioning to a new theme.

[@MrJazzycool]

Thaks so mutch for you remarcable analyze!!!

[@TheMrzhangjason]

MrJazzycool duude, kan yo spel??

[@gmarinovich]

Actually the extra down bow indication for the celli might be better explained so as to allow for an easier crescendo on the half note leading to the sfz. (Bowing for double bass should be the same if that were the case, but it may be obvious and so it wasn't marked on both staves.) Amazing video btw, on my way to parts 2 and 3!

[@JohnMassari]

EXCELLENT

[@GrumpyOldMan9]

Dazzling analysis

[@alexpoyner7295]

You really know your stuff...! Have you studied music for long? Mind blowing

[@biozel67]

thank you for the video! to me it was always a question how does JW gets this complex, complete feel in his score. so this video explains this at some level, that's really cool!

[@DanieleGaruglieri]

Thank you for this videos, can you please explain "Scherzo for X-Wing" from Episode VII and the part after the intro of the intro piece from Episode III (I mean the one durign the intial space battle scene)? I need to learn better how to correctly use orchestral percussions to accent the melody or the rhythm. Thanks.

[@marcel_schweder-composer]

Amazing, JJay! Keep going with all your stuff including these videos! But don't forget your own music over it! ;)

[@JJBerthume]

All my subs hate me for taking your advice but I'm glad I did LOL! Only joking, more tutorials on the way! 😁

[@bonbonpony]

Now _that's_ what I call analysis :> It is clear that you know your stuff :> My question is, though: _where_ did you learn so much about movie scores?

[@shitfuckmcgee8611]

19:45 Clarinets actually prefer to jump up in most cases, especially when we're crossing from the clarion into the chalumeau or making big leaps in the clarion. Sometimes the attack on the lower note is fuzzy or "chipped" and it sounds kind of bad. Clarinets always seem to be the odd one out among the woodwinds so it's important to keep in mind that composers should make considerations for their quirks. Either way, great video and orchestration analysis.

[@GreenJetsam]

Great video! Just referring to the Sibelius saying the oboe can’t play that low C. On Sibelius a dark red colour means the note is obtainable only by peopl(generally) of grade 5 or above standard, however if it colours it a light red colour that means it’s pretty much impossible to most people

[@mewtwoberr]

10:15 I think that he wanted an up bow on the 4th measure just because up bows are much easier to crescendo on, and I would assume both the cellos and basses would do the same bowings. At this tempo, a down bow on beat 4 is fine for a bass (coming from a bass player)

[@jeremysmith5183]

Fascinating content, very interesting. But you can really slow down! That will deal with the hesitations and 'dead ends' where you can't fit your words into a sentence, and make it easier to listen to. Looking forward to seeing more episodes!

[@ToneCanyon]

Great stuff. What software do use for your orchestrAl sounds?

[@theviolinoob]

what soundfonts do you use in Sibleius? it's kontakt?.pretty amazing

[@bumchong1]

Thanks AJ Soprano

[@finnfransen_official279]

I hope John Williams gets the chance to score a big movie. ;) ;)

[@davidsimons5944]

What samples are you using? Are you using one or more VSL libraries? I own several specifically chosen special edition libraries plus MIR Pro with roompack 1 as I wanted a Vienna concert hall for my waltzes, but I have met with so many technical problems like trying to get all the above working together without running out of channels for a big 30 plus stave score, Sibelius 7.5 now only wants to play its own crappy general midi sounds & my Vienna usb key packed up for no reason, so I haven't had much luck! About a year ago I bought Vienna pro 7 which is meant to address some of my issues but as I'm retired I don't think I can afford the extortionate upgrade costs for Sibelius & I'm discouraged to the point where I gave up. I'm longing to make it work though somehow. Any suggestions please? Thanks.

[@MrGeorgeBaj]

Great job! Many great point although I think you get the down bow marking in the cellos wrong. Bowing marking dosen't make any solid string player to make any extra push if there isn't any articulation or dynamic marking as well. Basically it just gives you the information if you should pull your bow to the left or right (just a little joke haha :)) I'm pretty sure though he put the down bow marking there because of next bar. One thing is that it is more natural to make cresc. by playing up bow and second even more important it is much more effective to make accent on the last note down bow as you mentioned later in Violin part. As well I don't think he wants basses to play different bowing. I am a bass player myself and the usual attitude for basses is to play the same bowings with cellos, if we are playing the same music. Either he forgot to put the same marking in bass part or he count on fact that we will match cellos. Once again - Great job I'm looking forward for next videos!

[@deloreanized]

What keys suit better the execution of most instruments in a symphonic orchestra, from "easier" to "hellish", in your opinion?

[@elchabonification]

Where can i download the full orquestra partiture? Love your channel

[@ruhinmusic]

Thank you for video!Where i can download score for Sibelius?

[@flavin3187]

Hey really nice analysis. Your orchestral library sound great. Which do you use?

[@JJBerthume]

Flavin Thanks! I use NotePerformer.

[@rachelzimet8310]

I want to note that the F (Eb, concert pitch) below the treble clef staff _does not_ work well for trumpets. The F# does (E, concert pitch). I'm sure the confusion is somewhere around whether JJay was speaking in terms of concert pitch or not, but i wanted to clarify.