> I have a problem with this thread - John Williams is not a petty thief, he
> is a master thief.

> To quote one of his great influences, Stravinsky: 'Good composers don't
> borrow, they steal'.

I just found this thread as I have been listening to Stravinsky's Firebird Suite a lot lately and the final movement screamed Jurassic Park at me the minute I heard it - I wanted to see whether anyone else had picked that up. Interesting to see here that you have Stravinsky down as one of Williams' great influences.

I have to say I really don't mind where Williams finds his riffs. I think music for films, as opposed to standalone music, can afford to wear its influences more clearly on its sleeve. Indeed, I might go as far to say that it's almost a duty given the wide reach of many film scores - in my case I had heard the Jurassic Park piece before the Stravinsky, and its familiarity to me may even be the reason I responded to the Stravinsky in the first place. It's quite nice to feel that my enjoyment of the Jurassic Park theme may in fact rest somewhat on its genesis in the Stravinsky, and not just because it's a nostalgic movie score for me.