Somewhere In My Memory Analysis

“Somewhere In My Memory,” written by John Williams with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, is a well known piece of music that represents the joy of Christmas time. This piece was created specifically for the Christmas movie Home Alone, and was written at a culminating point in Williams’ career. Alone has scored more than 100 films and been nominated for 49 academy awards. As a reflection of Williams’ work, “Somewhere In My Memory” has the characteristics of a soaring song that features recurring melodies and musical motives. The intricate piano accompaniment reflects his early piano experience as a child and how he has developed since. This song is one of 19 composed by Williams on an album for Home Alone. Obviously a success, “Somewhere In My Memory”

As a family film this song had to appeal to all ages. Despite the inexistence of a way to make a song sound like Winter or Christmas, there are certain attributes that permit this ambiance. Christmas is a cultural tradition for many, and Williams needed to create a song that expressed the serenity of Winter, the gratitude of gift giving, and the happiness as family comes from near and far to celebrate together. In order to do this Williams used simple techniques to give off a winter vibe. For example, the melody starts with only the female voices singing, and this airy and gentle sound resembles the quietness of the sky and everything outside after snowfall. Then the harmonies join in and it creates a feeling of togetherness. It is difficult to imagine how a Christmas song or Winter season song is distinct from others, but it is easier to tell than one would think. A holiday song like this one has bouncing melodies that portray contentedness. In measure thirty one their is a modulation that represents the uplifting nature of Christmas as a holiday. “Somewhere In My Memory” accomplishes the difficult task of making a melody into a Christmas song. The words in this song tell the story of the Christmas tradition with “that ‘gingerbread’ feeling”, “happy faces”, and “candles in the window” all the excitement of this holiday is dictated. Also, they explain how memories are made and shared all while