American Journey

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

If John Williams is known for one thing today, it is standard class. And American Journey can prove this even without a movie we know or heard about. You can compare this actually a bit with a compilation, even though I don't consider it one. It is actually one of those releases that covers John Williams in all the things we know him best at, namely concert arrangements that make the score grand or strong. In this case, it is actually the downfall that too many is heard on one score and namely after each other. I don't consider this bad music, but this is mainly an orchestral arrangement after another and by the time you have reached the middle, the uniqueness is gone and so is half the pleasure. Still, American Journey is what it is, a collection of Olympic themes, a score written for a multimedia presentation and several orchestral tunes that accompanied various shows or special parties. In all fairness, you couldn't mistake it for anyone but John Williams, the music has all the trademarks but frankly, it is one of the rare occasions that influences after influences are heard from almost any classic score he has written since the last couple of years. If you don't consider it a bad thing, then it is all worth it and frankly even one or two highlights make this score solely worth it for the music fan you so truthfully are.

The highlights are undoubtedly the first and last track, including several others that don't stay far behind. 'Call of the Champions' is the reason for me to buy this score. It is a glorious palette of orchestral complexity (we didn't expect anything else of Williams) and choral majesty, both delivering much on the pleasure scale. Frankly, the first time I heard it (during the ceremony), I wasn't convinced but it is indeed a piece that grows on you. Now, after four times it has become one of those favorites I play on occasions. At times reminiscent of Duel of the Fates or even Hook, it is a theme that perfectly captures the essence of Olympic pride, and more worked flawlessly with the fireworks that ended the ceremonial hymn. The pieces (2 to 7) entitled American Journey are perhaps the real reason why there is a release of Williams, mainly because one single Olympic theme couldn't make a release worthy. Considering its origin, this is Williams in all his trademarks. 'Immigration and Building' is just The Patriot like in sound, 'The Country at War' Born on the Fourth of July with its trumpet solo, 'Civil Rights and the Women's Movement' almost completely states the exact theme of The Patriot and 'Flight and Technology' has great fanfares to offer, begin and end. Considering the material appropriate for a release, it seems to suffice one way or another.

On the other hand, the more the merrier and tunes and orchestral concert arrangement rain from now on. Whether it is a classical violin reminding you of Schindler's List, or the Spacecamp / E.T. like tone in track 10, they are all well crafted pieces of music. Still, it is the constant use of the orchestral concert arrangement (knowing the theme usually works its way to the climax or ultimate performance), it is this factor that makes the score a bit the same in listening experience after a while. Also, one of the reasons American Journey was criticized is the way Williams scores his music, with the same Patriotic American touch, even if it has something to do with a Japanese marriage. It all has the same style in tone musically. You can either see this as the big negative thing or something positive, but it keeps this score on the same level, ultimately requiring diversity in tone some way or another to make the listening experience once more top notch. Yet, listen to them separately day after day and you've got musical highlights that explain Williams' true art and technique. One word about the two last pieces, 'Celebrate Discovery' is a perfect piece of concert music with (in my opinion) an excellent usage of thematic quality and 'Summon the Heroes' is the other Olympic theme that indeed grows the minute it reaches the climax of Williams score. Overall, this is Williams in a nutshell and separately, each track has potential in spicing up your afternoon. But together it is a bit too much of the same, making at least the experience more exhausting when heard together.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Call Of The Champions * (5.00) Excellent Track

American Journey

2. Immigration And Building (5.38)

3. The Country At War (3.22)

4. Popular Entertainment (2.29)

5. Arts And Sports (2.37)

6. Civil Rights And The Women's Movement (3.26)

7. Flight And Technology (7.09)

8. Song For World Peace (4.41)

9. Jubilee (3.44)

10. The Mission Theme + (3.30)

11. For New York ** (3.02)

12. Sound The Bells! (2.49)

13. Hymn To New England (3.11)

14. Celebrate Discovery (3.50) Excellent Track

Bonus Track

15. Summon The Heroes ++ (6.16) Excellent Track

* The Official Theme of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games

+ Theme for NBC News

** Variations on themes of Leonard Bernstein

++ Written for the Centennial Celebration of the Modern Olympic Games

Total Length: 60.55

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

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