program notes by composition > R > Raiders March
Raiders March
John Williams, transcribed for band by Paul Lavender
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay written by Lawrence Kasdan, from a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. Starring Harrison Ford, it was the first installment in the Indiana Jones film franchise to be released, though it is the second in internal chronological order.
The film originated from Lucas' desire to create a modern version of the serials of the 1930s and 1940s. It pits archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones (Ford) against a group of Nazis who are searching for the Ark of the Covenant, which Adolf Hitler believes will make his army invincible.
Raiders March, also known as the Indiana Jones theme, turned out to be one of the most instantly recognizable musical themes in cinematic history.
Last updated on July 2, 2023 by Palatine Concert Band