Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Label: Sony
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 2


UPC: 827969295021
EAN: 0827969295021
ASIN: B0002YCVIS


Release Date: 2004-09-21

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope


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Tracks:

  1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare
  2. Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner
  3. Imperial Attack
  4. The Dune Sea of Tatooine/Jawa Sandcrawler
  5. The Moisture Farm
  6. The Hologram/Binary Sunset
  7. Landspeeder Search/Attack Of The Sand People
  8. Tales of a Jedi Knight/Learn About the Force
  9. Burning Homestead
  10. Mos Eisley Spaceport
  11. Cantina Band
  12. Cantina Band
  13. Archival Bonus Track: Binary Sunset (Alternate)

Tracks:

  1. Princess Leia's Theme
  2. The Millennium Falcon/Imperial Cruiser Pursuit
  3. Destruction of Alderaan
  4. The Death Star/The Stormtroopers
  5. Wookie Prisoner/Detention Block Ambush
  6. Shootout in the Cell Bay/Dianoga
  7. The Trash Compactor
  8. The Tractor Beam/Chasm Crossfire
  9. Ben Kenobi's Death/Tie Fighter Attack
  10. The Battle of Yavin
  11. The Throne Room/End Title

Similar Items:

  1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
  2. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
  3. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  4. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  5. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Best Soundtrack Ever Composed.......2007-04-07

This is not only the best of all six Star Wars soundtracks but is the very best soundtrack ever written. No joke, it was even voted "Best Sountrack Ever Written" by the American Film Institute. It is truely a masterpiece.

5 out of 5 stars A masterpiece for XX Century........2006-06-25

STAR WARS ARE THE BEST SCORE of the Maestro John Williams,
this not only music Score,this a symphony of the stars

5 out of 5 stars Will outlast the movies, no question........2006-06-18

I have listened to John Williams score for this film from start to finish more times than I've watched the film!

This music captures the essence of the story extremely well - maybe even better than the film itself. While the first disc moves extremely slowly, the music begins to pick up speed as things actually begin to happen in the film ("Tales of a Jedi Knight", track 8, is the start of the really engaging music). At the end of the first disc, you get the special treat of hearing the different takes of the original Star Wars scores (16-20). The first two takes were discarded, and the one we hear on disc and in the movies is a blend of takes 18, 19, and 20. Very nice touch, and interesting in terms of knowing the evolution of the music.

Disc two starts with a concert suite of Princess Leia's theme which is extremely touching, lots of strings/French horn. Then the rest of the disc, after "The Destruction of Alderaan" and "The Death Star/The Stormtroopers", is mostly action music, besides the music for Ben Kenobi's sneaking around.

The last several tracks are what many consider the crown jewel here, beginning with "Ben Kenobi's Death/TIE Fighter Attack" - a great piece of bombastic action music, accelerating into "The Battle of Yavin IV" (the pronouncement of the 'Force Theme' when Ben tells Luke to use the Force is still the most touching moment)and finishing with one of Williams's crowning achievements - that of course being the "Throne Room/End Credits" sequence, five and a half minutes of pure magic, and probably my most played track from this set. A reprise of this music could actually be heard in the 13-minute long end credits to Revenge of the Sith - it's a pity that Williams's didn't reference themes from other movies there, but the fact that he chose this one should tell you something...)

This soundtrack - with its myriad themes, cues, variations and all - this introduced me to film score music, and I honestly would not have had it any other way. It is dear to my heart.
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In 1977, Lucas thought that this was the only thing about Star Wars that he was happy with. This happens to be the only part of the movie that he DIDN'T change in 1997, so that should also clue you in. Get this now.

One note - if you have the spare change, get the scores for all three movies separately; not the 2004 Sony versions that are remastered, but the 1997 RCA/Victor versions. The tracklists are identical, however; the Sony packaging is much cheaper and DO NOT come with what I consider ESSENTIAL liner notes, which explains Williams's music, the way he uses various instruments and themes throughout, etc.

5 out of 5 stars An Inspired & Intense Soundtrack for an Epic Film.......2005-10-06

I still remember the first time that I ever saw the original "Star Wars" film back in 1977 in a local theater. In silence, the classic line, "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...," appeared against a black screen. Suddenly, a blaze of John William's main title for "Star Wars" filled the theater and began to capture the minds and hearts of the audience for an adventure of epic proportions. Rich with percussion, brass instruments and a string orchestra, the main title for "Star Wars" is probably one of the most recognized pieces of music in the world today.

Following the power of the main title, the music momentarily softens to a flute solo only to quickly crescendo once again as a rebel passenger ship is under attack from a powerful Imperial Starcruiser. With a blaze of laser blasts, the rebel theme is squashed by the power of the Imperial Attack music with the eventual entry of Stormtroopers and Darth Vader into the captured rebel ship. It is here that two robotic characters, R2-D2 and C-3PO, take center stage as they escape to the desert planet of Tatooine. The music that accompanies their long journeys across its arid surface is quite appropriate, followed by the Jawa mechanical-sounding march.

The music that accompanies the introduction of Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) at his uncle's moisture farm/home becomes his personal theme music throughout the film, but I prefer the more emotional theme music written for Princess Leia (played by Carrie Fisher). One of the most dramatic musical scores in the film is the theme that accompanies the destruction of the peaceful planet of Alderan, which was Princess Leia's home. This is similar to the theme used towards the end of the film during the final destruction of the Death Star, but some of the music in "Star Wars" was rather comical, such as the two cantina band songs on the planet of Tatooine.

Shortly after seeing the film in 1977, I purchased the complete "Star Wars" soundtrack when it was first made available on a dual LP album and loved to listen to it. Even years after the film was released many friends and acquaintances of mine also owned the film's soundtrack in one form or another. The film and its music captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of people and continues to do so to this day. The film would never have been as good without an impressive soundtrack, but thanks to George Lucas' selection of John Williams as the primary composer, both the film and its soundtrack will no doubt capture hearts and imaginations for decades to come. Therefore, I rate the dual CD soundtrack for "Star Wars: Episode IV--A New Hope" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it. Listening to the intensity and emotion of the music without simultaneously watching the film can be wonderful experience.

5 out of 5 stars

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  2. Ladder 49 ~ Various Artists
  3. I Heart Huckabees (Score) ~ Jon Brion
  4. The Legend Of 1900: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ~ Ennio Morricone
  5. Wolf's Rain ~ Yoko Kanno
  6. The Piano
  7. Shine: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ~ David Hirschfelder
  8. Strictly Ballroom ~ Various Artists , and David Hirschfelder
  9. Pulse - A Stomp Odyssey: Soundtrack from the Imax Film ~ Various Artsits
  10. Sweet & Lowdown: Music from the Motion Picture ~ Dick Hyman , and Various Artists - Soundtracks - 1999

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Circle of Stones

Eulogy for a Dying Fetus ~ Skeletal Earth

Ozzified: A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne ~ Various Artists

Electro Bamako ~ Mamani Keita, Marc Minelli

Cuore Agitati ~ Eros Ramazzotti

Canciones y Romances de Espana ~ Various Artists

Unheard Message

Grupo Disfarce ~ Grupo Disfarce

Urban Skins, Vol. 2 ~ Various Artists