STAR WARS: THE SKYWALKER SYMPHONY
Rating: 
Original Review: Before the 1997 re-release of all three Star Wars scores, this was probably the best collection of Williams' classic music around. It was conducted by Williams himself, played by the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra, and recorded at the inauguration of George Lucas' Skywalker Sound facility at his ranch in Marin County back in 1990. The music, of course, is wonderful, opening with the world-famous main theme, the gentle Princess Leia theme and the quirky, chirpy theme for the Jawas - 'The Little People'. It runs the gamut of exciting action cues ('Here They Come' and the marvellous 'The Asteroid Field'), tender quiet, gentle themes ('Yoda's Theme/Luke and Leia') and, of course 'The Imperial March', before finishing with a splendid seven-minute of my favourite cue, 'Throne Room and Finale', which always tingles my spine. This score would have got a five-star rating had it not been surpassed by the Special Edition releases, but I would still highly recommend it for anyone who can't afford the £75 plus for the newer versions. And, just as a matter of interest, listen to the end of the 'Cantina Band' cue - I'm sure that was Han Solo's coin I can hear rattling on the floor behind the bar....
Track Listing:
- Main Theme from Star Wars (5:51)
- Princess Leia from Star Wars (4:43)
- The Little People from Star Wars (5:15)
- The Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back (3:03)
- Yoda's Theme from The Empire Strikes Back (3:15)
- Parade of the Ewoks from Return of the Jedi (3:47)
- The Asteroid Field from The Empire Strikes Back (4:34)
- Luke and Leia from Return of the Jedi (4:59)
- The Cantina Band from Star Wars (2:16)
- Here They Come! from Star Wars (2:16)
- Jabba the Hutt from Return of the Jedi (3:07)
- The Forest Battle from Return of the Jedi (4:20)
- Throne Room and Finale from Star Wars (7:57)
Running Time: 55 minutes 48 seconds
Sony Classical SK-45947 (1990)
Music composed and conducted by John Williams. Performed by The Skywalker Symphony Orchestra. Orchestrations by Herbert W. Spencer. Recorded, mixed and edited by Bud Graham, Bob Edwards and Shawn Murphy. Album produced by John Williams and Thomas Z. Shepard.
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These web pages were designed and maintained by Jonathan Broxton copyright 1997. All opinions and views expressed on these pages are my own and are in no way intended to reflect those of my employer, the Trent Institute for Health Services Research, or those of the University of Sheffield.