Whether genetically engineered dinosaurs are on the rampage, schoolkids are helping a homesick alien find his way home or an adventurous archaeologist is battling Nazis, director Steven Spielberg’s movies always pack an emotional punch.
But their magic does not only rely on what you see on the screen, as audiences will discover this week when two classic Spielberg films – Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park – are screened at Dubai Opera with a live orchestra providing the scores by composer John Williams.
He has written the music for almost all of Spielberg's films, beginning with the director's 1974 big-screen debut, The Sugarland Express. The famous Jaws music? That was Williams. So was the music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Saving Private Ryan, among many others.
Away from Spielberg, his work includes two of the best-known movie themes in cinema history – Star Wars and Superman – not to mention the first three Harry Potter movies. In short, his back catalogue is a roll call of classic blockbusters.
His genius – much like that of Spielberg – lies in a maverick ability to take on any genre and make it his own, for which he has been rewarded with five Oscars, four Golden Globes, seven Baftas and 23 Grammys. It is amazing to think it takes him just eight to 12 weeks to write such memorable music. And unlike the younger generation, he still does it the old-fashioned way – with a pencil and paper.
Some critics point out the similarities between his music and that of other composers. Luke's theme from Star Wars has echoes of Venus from Gustav Holst's The Planets, for example. Elements from his Superman score remind others of Richard Strauss's Death and Transfiguration. And the rich, romantic orchestral palette Williams so expertly puts to task certainly comes from the same musical world as the work of Richard Wagner.
Another trick Williams undeniably learnt from this German colossus of 19th-century music is the cunning use of “leitmotifs”: short melodies associated with particular characters. As in Wagner’s operas, they help tie a film together and add emotional weight.
They are so effective that when you watch a film such as Jaws or Star Wars, you could almost close your eyes and still follow the story, guided by the emotional hints and triggers you hear.
When the Imperial March starts to blast out in Star Wars, everyone knows Darth Vader is about to arrive.
Talking to Total Film magazine in 1997, Williams said: "Writing a tune is like sculpting. You get four or five notes, you take one out and move one around, and you do a bit more and eventually, as the sculptor says: 'In that rock there is a statue, we have to go find it'."
This insight into William’s technique reveals the dedication to his craft. “I spend more time trying to create those little musical signals than I do with anything else,” he adds.
It also provides the key to his success. As he has often said, his primary focus is always to create the best musical fit for the movie he is working on. Suggesting his music is derivative of other composers misses the point; by employing sounds evocative of other sources, Williams harnesses a shortcut to our emotions. Sure, this technique is a musical hack of sorts – but one that requires great skill to avoid sounding clichéd.
However, it is not only the big tunes Williams excels in. He is also a brilliant “painter in sound”.
Many of Spielberg’s films have music running almost continuously throughout. Williams is able to pick up on what is happening on the screen and enhance its dramatic potential.
One such gem is the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark in which Indy is trapped in a temple. Williams sets the scene with creepy aural cues, including pizzicato strings, suggesting insects scuttling across the floor.
The music gradually wells up to the sound of rattles and the big reveal when Indy cries, “Snakes”, eyes wide open in fear.
The score for Jurassic Park contains many thrilling moments and it is amazing to think that Williams composed it in the same year as another, very different Spielberg opus, Schindler's List.
While the former may be overshadowed by the latter, there is no sign he skimped in the writing.
"Jurassic Park has a 95-minute score," he told Total Film. "It pumps away all the time. It is a rugged, noisy effort – a massive job of symphonic cartooning."
Now in his 80s and with more than 100 films to his name, you'd think that Williams would be slowing down. With scores for four films coming soon, including the next two Star Wars films and Indiana Jones 5, that does not seem to be the case – which should delight film lovers everywhere.
• Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert is at Dubai Opera April 19 and April 21; Jurassic Park in Concert is on April 20 and April 21. Tickets start at Dh150 from www.dubaiopera.com
artslife@thenational.ae
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
TOURNAMENT INFO
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Thursday results
UAE beat Kuwait by 86 runs
Qatar beat Bahrain by five wickets
Saudi Arabia beat Maldives by 35 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, third-place playoff – Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
3pm, final – UAE v Qatar
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPECS
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
