John Williams is a modern day Mozart, says Steven Reineke

Think of any stand-out movie theme from the last five decades and there's a good chance John Williams was behind it.

Star Wars, E.T., Jaws, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, the Indiana Jones movies and many more iconic films were infused with the magic of Williams' music. 

Tonight, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to the octogenarian's musical genius. 

In the lead up to that celebration, acclaimed composer and pops orchestra conductor Steven Reineke joins Shad to talk all things John Williams — from the brilliance of his music to his humility as a man.

Don't let the popularity of the form fool you, says Reineke. The cultural significance and reach of film scores make them today's classics.

"I think of John Williams as our current day Mozart," he says. 

WEB EXTRA | Reineke walked us through key Williams works on air. Listen to the longer versions below.  

Theme from Steven Spielberg's 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Theme from George Lucas' Star Wars, originally composed in 1977. 

Theme from Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Jurassic Park. 

Theme from Steven Spielberg's 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark.