Star Wars IV: A New Hope

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

No one could ever expect what Star Wars did for movies and for music. The movies itself have become one of the biggest sensational hype machines of its generation and everyone on the planet has heard something about it. About the music I can say the same, it is music that young and old know, mostly simply the main theme but if that's what a five year old can scream, then John Williams did real good in my eyes. The first Star Wars movie (or better said the fourth in the rank) is considered a classic to die for and no one ever saw this one coming. It only did extraordinary things for Harrison Ford because Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher never got the extensive career as Ford got. On the other hand, the three are magic on screen and created one of the best character driven groups of all time. Enough praise about the film, let's start praising the score from now on shall we. Even if I enjoy the second or the third much more than this one, it is still the score that set the saga in motion. That started the hype and mostly introduced people back to the good old orchestral touch. At times seriously classically influenced, it is still a piece of magic that absolutely works like dynamite when seen on screen. It is one of those rare scores that makes the movie so good, and that tells the story even flawlessly without the pictures. This probably through the use of leitmotifs but on the other hand, Williams has crafted emotion, fear and action where there was before non to be found.

Now, what release does a Star Wars score justice? Frankly, only one covering all the best parts of the score. And the first three cover multiple highlights, meaning you need two discs to fully please the fans. The first disc of this double CD release is perhaps the least action oriented one of the whole part but lays the foundation of the entire saga brilliantly. The themes are here introduced, and carefully presented so that each theme will make its impact when the time comes. The begin overture we all know, the introduction of Leia's theme, Luke's theme and Ben's theme, they all are witnessed here in minor or major form. After the major fanfare in 'Main Title / Rebel Blockade Runner', we hear the first glimpses of classical inspired music when Williams does a powerful Holst like move, nonetheless it is riveting and powerful when heard on screen. 'Imperial Attack' has mighty brass writing and hints several themes, at the end we even hear fanfares a la E.T.. The clever use of oboe and English horn to typify the Jawa's is as just as clever but one of the highlights is still the version of Ben's theme or the force theme in 'The Hologram / Binary Sunset', a majestic and powerful version which ultimately replaced a much sinister version heard in track 13. While I am not a big favorite of the pounding percussion use for the sand people, it still sets your nerves on fire and at the end we hear the soft theme for Ben Kenobi (appropriately used as trailer music for The Phantom Menace). 'Burning Homestead' has a powerful piece of emotional music (really great during the movie) and the Cantina source band cues are a nice extra and set the mood well. The extra five versions of the opening title in track 13 is even something for the die hard fans, lasting 16 minutes long.

The begin of disc two hints already the major 'Princess Leia's Theme' which is as classic as they come before always a favorite enters the screen, the quick energetic hyperspace music in 'The Millennium Falcon / Imperial Cruiser Pursuit'. The rebel fanfare during 'The Death Star / The Stormtroopers' is just as great and Luke's theme in 'Wookie Prisoner / Detention Block Ambush' is fantastically loud and exciting. Really here I started to notice how loud this score was mixed. A cool hint is 'Shootout in the Cell Bay / Dianoga' which uses some Poltergeist like dark mood music before a climax is reached in 'The Trash Compactor'. 'The Tractor Beam / Chasm Crossfire' is a major track with a strong version of the main theme and the exciting action music that follows it ('Ben Kenobi's Death / Tie Fighter Attack') is no different than just brilliant. 'The Battle of Yavin' has the same extravaganza of themes and 'The Throne Room / End Title' is probably the best final track of the entire collection of finales of Star Wars music. Together this double CD release is perhaps in my opinion the least favorable when it comes down to pleasure. But on the other hand it is still vital in the saga's continuous battle. Williams simply selected and presented the themes and the one that is missing is introduced in the sequel The Empire Strikes Back. So, no doubt that Star Wars is a fantastic begin of the saga and Williams solely made the galaxy another part of history, movie music and magic.

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Tracks

Double Disc

Disk One: 57.34

1. 20TH Century Fox Fanfare + (0.20)

2. Main Title / Rebel Blockade Runner (2.14) Excellent Track

3. Imperial Attack (6.42) Excellent Track

4. The Dune Sea Of Tatooine / Jawa Sandcrawler (5.01)

5. The Moisture Farm ** (2.24)

6. The Hologram / Binary Sunset (4.08) Excellent Track

7. Landspeeder Search / Attack Of The Sand People ** (3.20)

8. Tales Of A Jedi Knight ** / Learn About The Force * (4.28)

9. Burning Homestead (2.50) Excellent Track

10. Mos Eisly Spaceport (2.12)

11. Cantina Band (2.46)

12. Cantina Band #2 (3.48)

13. Binary Sunset (Alternate) * (16.59)

Disk Two: 48.16

1. Princess Leia's Theme (4.25) Excellent Track

2. The Millennium Falcon / Imperial Cruiser Pursuit ** (3.51)

3. Destruction Of Alderaan (1.32)

4. The Death Star / The Stormtroopers * (3.34)

5. Wookie Prisoner / Detention Block Ambush (4.01)

6. Shootout In The Cell Bay / Dianoga (3.47)

7. The Trash Compactor (3.06)

8. The Tractor Beam / Chasm Crossfire (5.18) Excellent Track

9. Ben Kenobi's Death / Tie Fighter Attack (3.51) Excellent Track

10. The Battle Of Yavin (9.06) Excellent Track

11. The Throne Room / End Title (5.36) Excellent Track

+ Composed by Alfred Newman

* Previously Unreleased

** Contains previously unreleased music

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

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