Music from the Star Wars Trilogy (Compilation)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

What do you get when you combine several of the best tracks, of all the classics of the late '70 and early '80 together, composed by one of the greatest composers alive, let him conduct and get an renowned orchestra to perform it? Simple, stairway to heaven! I'm not kidding, even if you have all the tracks (which basically any fan of music has), this disc still kicks butt. The great thing is, you have got your own selection so you don't have to mix them yourself and it has several new tricks hidden through it. Music from the Star Wars Trilogy is basically one of the greatest compilations ever made. Real John Williams fans who still have everything might be pleasantly surprised that several tracks are different from the original. Different sometimes in the material that takes a step in the new direction, but always walking with a clearer sound. This especially makes sure that you hear every sound or instrument that comes on the foreground. The flutes and bells never sounded so clear during 'Parade of the Ewoks'. This also makes that the whole score takes on a new level on its own and is also for that reason a kinda new experience, even after all those years for me. So let's start shall we.

Why it is entitled Music from the Star Wars Trilogy is basically clear when you spot the first 9 tracks of the disc. Coming of either Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi, they all rock in their slightly altered version. 'Main Theme' is not the actual main theme but in truth the end titles, with the short love theme of Leia through it. This theme appears fully in the following track. 'The Asteroid Field' is also different that it doesn't use the cave music at the end of the track but actually a longer version of the asteroid music. The other themes are the well known concert pieces and sound superb in their own performance. 'Parade of the Ewoks' is the rollicking concert piece and sounds here more in favor to the instruments apart from the orchestra, such as the flutes and bells that ring before it on occasion. 'Jabba the Hutt' is not really a favorite track of mine, especially with the low (almost farting tubas) but its there for a difference in tone I guess. The treasures still on this disc (apart from anything else of course) are the two selections of Superman. 'March' was used so cleverly during the main titles of the second Superman film and basically adds each wonderful idea into one amazing design and the following track 'Love Theme' is still and will remain one of my ultimate favorites when it concerns the love themes, and I'm not really that big on love themes. So that still says something.

Of the last three tracks, there is one thing in common. Each has a fanfare at the end to knock your socks off, so you basically could have let any of the three end the score and it wouldn't have made a difference. 'Adventures on Earth' is the fantastic bike / chase sequence and is slightly different that it uses an alternate path on occasions, still the end fanfares are all there but just doesn't expect the main theme performance when they fly in the air. And 'The Flying Theme' doesn't contain the piano music which some of you love so much, however it does contain the exact finishing notes (meaning once more the fanfare of the previous track), so both tracks end on the same way. And a favorite of practically anybody is Close Encounters of the Third Kind, with its thunderous finale notes. However, there is a little more emphasis on the discovery music when the ships are finally landing at the end of the film. It doesn't matter, what you have here is simply 68 minutes coming of the best film music scores and initial films and is a treasure, no matter if you have them already in your collection. I would have reacted the same way, "Why buy music if I already have everything in my collection?". True, but you don't have them altogether on one CD and you don't have the slightly altered versions of the pieces assembled. Music from the Star Wars Trilogy contains in truth more then just the Star Wars trilogy but also has something what we are used to calling "that excitement factor to send you up there, in the galaxy far far away ...

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Tracks

Single Disc

Star Wars

1. Main Theme (5.39) Excellent Track

2. Princess Leia (4.05) Excellent Track

The Empire Strikes Back

3. The Asteroid Field (4.13) Excellent Track

4. Yoda's Theme (3.19)

5. The Imperial March (3.06) Excellent Track

Return of the Jedi

6. Parade Of The Ewoks (3.31) Excellent Track

7. Luke & Leia (4.25) Excellent Track

8. Jabba The Hutt (3.32)

9. The Forest Battle (4.03) Excellent Track

Superman

10. March (4.25) Excellent Track

11. Love Theme (4.47) Excellent Track

E.T.

12. Adventures On Earth (9.13) Excellent Track

13. The Flying Theme (3.43) Excellent Track

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

14. Suite (10.07) Excellent Track

Total Length: 68.40

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Williams ===