Film Music History Quiz #1

Where is John Williams originally from?

• New York

• Canada

• California

• England

From this list, choose the PRIMARY instrument that John Williams was trained to play.

• Piano

• Cello

• Trumpet

• Trombone

• Oboe

In what branch of the U.S. military did John Williams serve in the band?

• Air Force

• Marines

• Navy

• Coast Guard

Which famous music school did John Williams attend?

• Juilliard

• New England Conservatory

• Oberlin

• Yale

Which television comedy was among John Williams' first work?

• Gilligan's Island

• The Golden Girls

• The Brady Bunch

• Friends

Which film director worked with John Williams on JAWS?

• Steven Spielberg

• George Lucas

• Danny Elfman

• Ron Howard

Which of these is NOT a John Williams film score?

• Pirates of the Caribbean

• Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones)

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

• Star Wars

• Jurassic Park

As of 2025, John Williams has been nominated for 54 Academy Awards, holding the record for most nominations for a living person. How many has he won?

• None

• One

• 5

• 54

• 23

Choose the correct application of music for the Silent Film era (1890-1929).

• Live musicians performed during the movie, typically on a piano or small organ. Some theatres used phonograph recordings.

• Classically trained composers and musicians were hired to write and record custom music for movies.

• Classically trained composers wrote music that was influenced by popular genres, but still primarily used classical orchestral instruments.

• Filmmakers used computer-generated music, popular songs, or orchestral soundtracks to underscore their movies.

• Composers create unique music using mixed media, including computers, traditional orchestral instruments, and diverse cultural instruments and styles of singing.

Choose the correct application of music in films for the "Golden Age" era (1930s-1950s)

• Live musicians performed during the movie, typically on a piano or small organ. Some theatres used phonograph recordings.

• Classically trained composers and musicians were hired to write and record custom music for movies.

• Classically trained composers wrote music that was influenced by popular genres, but still primarily used classical orchestral instruments.

• Filmmakers used computer-generated music, popular songs, or orchestral soundtracks to underscore their movies.

• Composers create unique music using mixed media, including computers, traditional orchestral instruments, and diverse cultural instruments and styles of singing.