Raiders of the Lost Ukulele

Who would believe that people have been raiding the Lost Ark for more than thirty-one years already? Yes, Raiders of the Lost Ark reached cinemas in 1981, and I confidently maintain that it can still compete with any modern action-adventure film. It won four Oscars, all in technical categories. The music Oscar went to Vangelis for Chariots of Fire - a piece that everyone had probably had enough of by the end of this year's Olympics. The Indiana Jones scores were written by John Williams, who turns eighty this year and has won four Academy Awards. His work also includes the music for Star Wars, Jaws, Jurassic Park and the first three Harry Potter films. Returning to Indiana Jones: I first saw the Indy films about twenty years ago, and I considered them perfect films then - and still do today.

The score is catchy, beautifully composed symphonic music. Across the first three films the same main theme appears with various smaller and larger changes.

What, there are four Indy films? Sorry, I somehow cannot regard the last one as belonging to the same category. I recently watched the fourth film again, thinking perhaps... maybe... but no. It simply is not good. And, unbelievable though it may sound, the original Indy theme is barely heard in the fourth film. I deliberately listened for it during the rewatch. I also think choosing an Elvis song for the opening was a mistake from the start. I love Elvis's music, but it does not belong at the beginning of an Indy film. Yes, I know it was intended to establish the period, but still. The beginning of an Indiana Jones film needs the Indiana Jones theme. End of discussion.

One ukulele is not enough to reproduce every detail, idea and sound of music composed for a full symphony orchestra. The melody of the main theme, however, works very well on the ukulele - even in the original key - and by rhythmically playing the right chords we can also "simulate" the brass parts.