The Best Piece of Music in The World, Ever: the Theme from Schindler's List

            One of my most favorite pieces of music in the world is the theme from the movie Schindler’s List, which was composed by the academy-award winning film composer John Williams. Actually, my fascination with this piece was also present back in high school; when my AP music theory teacher asked us to share our favorite piece of music, this was the piece that I brought to class. To me this piece is a very powerful expression that—because of the historical context of the film—can be closely tied to the historical events during the holocaust and the horrors that surrounded that dark era, as well as the glimmer of hope that Oskar Schindler offered.

            The theme itself makes use of melodic and harmonic devices that are commonly used to convey sorrow and despair. For instance, the melody makes use of the “sigh-motif” (in a minor key, from scale degree 6 to 5), giving the piece a melancholic “sighing” quality. The melody also uses many unresolved and repeated minor 7^th leaps that make the music feel unsettling and emotionally hollow. The music also utilizes several deceptive cadences that help propel the feeling of anguish.

            Of all the instruments that could have been featured in the theme, Williams chose the violin, one of the most expressive instruments ever created as so many details could be implemented into the playing of it. The usage of vibrato and portamento, as well as a dynamic range that could diminish to niente, gives the violin a human voice-like quality that no other instrument can imitate. Moreover, the violin is closely tied to Jewish culture (mainly due to the musical Fiddler on the Roof). It also evokes images of a people who never really belonged anywhere, fleeing from persecution all throughout history; as families of Jews immigrated to the United States, they brought along their highly portable violins as their primary music-making instruments.

            As film score is united with all of the other components of a movie (screenplay, acting, cinematography, set design, sound editing, etc.), one cannot deny that the story also plays a very large role in contributing to the content of the piece. The film is an account of the acts of Oskar Schindler, a German during the Second World War, as he initially decided to hire Jews for cheap labor in his factory. During the course of war, he notices the highly disturbing and cruel acts that are committed against the Jews and eventually develops a heart for the suppressed group. He kept the Jews in his factory safe during the course of the war and attempted to save more lives.

            The most powerful scene was near the end when Schindler realizes the sacredness of life and is deeply ashamed that he did not do more to save more lives. As he wept, he thought about all of the things he could have done: if he sold his car, or even his Golden Party Nazi badge, he could have used that money to save many more lives. Inevitably, the melancholic theme makes a reprise in this scene.

            I also really admire Schindler himself. Even though humans are so easily pressured to conform to the common beliefs and practices of those around them—no matter how wrong or rotten those things are—Schindler took the step to look beyond those boundaries and respect others because of their worth as human beings. Through his acts and beliefs, he demonstrated honor and loyalty toward the Jews, which are two qualities that I really admire.

            As mentioned above, the art of film is really a unity of many other forms of art. For me, whenever I hear the theme from Schindler’s List, I cannot help but associate it with particular scenes and characters in the movie. This, in combination with the instrumentation choice and melodic conventions, is why the theme from Schindler’s List is one of my most favorite pieces.

The Main Theme: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad5Ma6AGkGk

The music played in the particular scene mentioned above ("I Could Have Done More"):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYkB1t6X64s