Watching the Oscars last night, I was impressed by the shout-out host Jimmy Kimmel gave to 91-year-old John Williams, composer of the iconic Star Wars theme. Williams looked happy and healthy for a nonagenarian (or any 'genarian'). 

Williams' Star Wars theme is one of the most brilliant film soundtracks I think has ever been created. It is dramatic, touching, and mysterious and puts the listener into an 'other worldly' zone. Scoring like that takes exceptional skill and talent to create. Kimmel tested the audience of Hollywood luminaries by quipping, 'If you never made love to the Star Wars theme.....'

The maestro was nominated year again this year for the Fabelmans.  There are no limitations on true talent--which always finds a home. It was inspiring to hear what the first Asian lead actress Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh had to say about being of a certain age. 60-year-old Yeoh said 'Don't let anyone ever tell you you're past your prime!" 

How do innovators like Williams get inspired? What makes them different from others who might not be able to produce such a glorious piece of music, brilliant painting, or exceptional work of literature? It amounts to unwavering personal drive, training, practice, and God-given gifts.

Williams, a Julliard graduate, is a classically trained pianist and conductor. The internationally award-winning film composer did a stint in the US Air Force Band as a pianist and bass player, which helped inspire him to write for film. According to Williams, "As far as band was concerned, I had a tremendous education in the Air Force." Seeing firsthand how the war affected people in World War II affected how the composer scored Saving Private Ryan. 

George Lucas knew of John Williams from his partnership with Steven Spielberg and hired him to score Star Wars in 1977. Lucas asked for "a body of work comparable with the greatest masterpieces of symphonic history.” And Williams more than delivered.

Bold notes, variation, and drama were inbred in the composition. Who can forget the haunting bass line to Darth Vadar's entrance? The masterful film score has been categorized as a space opera. Williams used similar techniques to compose the music for Schindler's List, the Academy Award-winning film in 1993. 

Williams was influenced by Richard Wagner and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in his musical styling and undoubtedly many other classical composers. 

Articles about the process say a composer sits with the director and develops a partnership, watching each segment of film cuts to design appropriate music to 'describe' the sequence of events. This is something I don't think you can exactly learn. A musician/composer I know told me he just  'hears' music in his head--it comes naturally.

Although Williams lost to composer Volker Bertelmann this year, his artistry will always stand.

The most recent Star Wars movie director J.J. Abrams summed it up nicely. he said that Williams “writes feelings… and knows how to make your heart soar like no one else.”