Recorded February 1999 Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace
(1999) Angela's Ashes
(1999) Release date 4 May 1999 | Length 74:23 Artist John Williams Producer John Williams | |
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Released May 4, 1999 (Original release)
November 14, 2000 (Ultimate Edition)
March 14, 2014 (Vinyl Reissue) Studio Abbey Road Studios, London Label Sony Classical, I Am Shark Movie Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Genres Soundtrack, Classical music Similar John Williams albums, Soundtracks | ||
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the film score to the 1999 film of the same name released by Sony Classical on May 4, 1999, two weeks before the film's theatrical release. The music was composed and conducted by John Williams, and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices. In anticipation of the long-awaited film, the soundtrack was certified Platinum in the United States and Gold in the United Kingdom, where it entered the UK album charts at number eight.
Contents
- Overview
- Differences between versions
- I Am Shark reissues Episode I II and III on limited edited colored 2xLP
- Original release
- Ultimate Edition
- Recording Information
- Cue List
- Songs
- References
Three formats were available, and a new one was released in February 2012:
None of the releases contain the entire score. Currently, no complete release has been made. The Album and Ultimate Edition each contain music not featured on the other release. Both sets also contain alternate takes of cues, while neither present some of the alternate takes only heard in the film.
Overview
Recorded in Abbey Road Studios over a week, starting on February 10, 1999 performed by the London Voices and London Symphony Orchestra, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was the first Star Wars score Williams had composed in over 16 years. Williams produced the recording sessions himself with Shawn Murphy recording and mixing the score. Kenneth Wannberg returned as music editor, having fulfilled this task on the previous three Star Wars scores. Several source cues were also composed by Williams' son, Joseph.
The scores of the following two films would rely heavily upon tracking from this score, a decision that Williams and George Lucas had decided upon early into the film's production.
No complete score has ever been released, but the majority of unreleased pieces can be heard in various LucasArts video games.
After the album's release, the popularity of a more complete bootleg version of the score began to steal profits. In response, Sony released the Ultimate Edition, presenting the score nearly as it is heard in the film while falsely marketing itself as "every note ever recorded."
Differences between versions
In the recording studio, Williams records cues multiple times. A track's film and album versions can be drastically different. One cue can be made up of several takes, putting together the best moments of each, replacing flubbed notes.
Since each track is run several times, each performance differs slightly. Occasionally, Williams will change orchestrations right on the spot. The score also makes use of several insert pieces which usually replace certain sections within a cue.
Examples of Different Takes:
I Am Shark reissues Episode I, II, and III on limited edited colored 2xLP
I Am Shark reissued the release the original soundtrack to Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, in late 2014 continuing through December 2015. This will be part one of three, continuing on the prequel trilogy soundtracks, as well as I Am Shark’s new face as an independent label for Film/TV/Game soundtracks. "John Williams’ score is wonderful, and his use of leitmotif and the way he creates new themes while weaving in existing music from the saga is a treat. Williams is truly a master of Wagnerian-bombast and baroque composition, and when “Duel Of The Fates” kicks in, the Star Wars faithful can just sit there, listening and wishing that the theme was from a much better movie. The vinyl mastering on the release is also very good, and retains that certain warmth that you can’t get from the digital releases."
The release was released in a 2xLP format, with limited color versions coordinating with characters through out the movies;
- Qui-Gon Jinn - (Green / Brown Marble)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (Transparent Blue)
- Darth Maul (Black w/ Red and Gold Stripe)
- Hyperdrive (White Splatter on Black)
- Darkside (180 Gram)
Original release
The original release of the soundtrack only contained one disc.Ultimate Edition
Due to the Ultimate Edition portrayal of the score as a film version, and to alleviate long tracks, certain tracks may be several minutes long, but are broken up into segments. When being played, the individual segments are separate tracks. The main track names are in bold and their separate portions follow.Recording Information
During production, several scenes from the final reel were re-edited and re-arranged. Due to this, several recorded cues did not appear in the film, and are instead replaced by Duel of the Fates.
Cue List
Songs
1Episode I - Star Wars Main Title and the Arrival at NabooLondon Symphony Orchestra2:56
2Episode I - Duel of The FatesLondon Symphony Orchestra4:14
3Episode I - Anakin's ThemeLondon Symphony Orchestra3:09