> John Williams' popularity (though i do not
> doubt that he s an accomplished and intelligent
> musician) seems mostly due to movie work which
> is HARDLY original. He has, quite frankly,
> ripped most of his recognizable themes (e.g.,
> Superman & most of Star Wars) from the likes of
> Gustavus von Holst (Mars, the Bringer of War =
> Vader's March), Johannes Brahms, Antonin
> Dvorak, and other great Romantic composers.

Saying that Williams has "ripped" off other composer's works and used them as his own themes is not only unnecessarily harsh, but IMO an unfounded accusation. I don't know what other comparisons you might have to make, but I have recordings of both Holst's "Planets" and The Imperial March from TESB, and while I do notice similarities between the two compositions, I don't think there is any basis there for labeling Williams a musical plagiarist.

In any given field, one builds on the work of others. As a graphic designer I studied the works of many great artists and designers of the past, and I use many of the ideas that they developed in my work. Scientists continue in the research of their predecessors. New authors use ages-old themes to tell new stories. Likewise, musical composers naturally draw on what's been done in the past as a resource.

The idea behind innovation is to do something that is either new or better. I think Williams can do and has done both.

Of course, when it comes to music, or any other artistic medium, beauty really and truly is often in the eye of the beholder (or in the ear of the hearer, in this case). Sometimes it just boils down to personal taste. Given the option, nine times out of ten I would choose to listen to John Williams over Holst.

Gri"agree to disagree?"shny