Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (soundtrack)

The Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace score was composed and conducted by John Williams and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. It was released in three formats:


 * The Original Album released to accompany the film (May 4, 1999). This release is a single disc containing 17 tracks from selections of the score. Meant to stand alone as a separate listening experience and not as one hears the score in the film. Each track is edited by John Williams to present the score as one would hear it in a concert suite.


 * This Album was also available on a two disk vinyl LP set through specialized retailers such as Star Wars Insider.


 * The 2 Disc Ultimate Edition released by popular demand (November 14, 2000). This set presents the score predominantly as heard in the film (with most of the edits, loops, tracked music, and post-production changes in place). Although not exactly what is heard in the film, this set was meant to be listened to as one would hear the score in the film, but is not the complete score (although it is falsely stated on the back of the set as being 'every note recorded.')

None of the releases contain the entire score. Currently, no complete release has been made.

Score Information
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.

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 production of the film.

No complete score has ever been released, but missing bits and pieces can be heard in various Lucas Arts video games.

After the release of the album, the popularity of a more complete bootleg version of the score began to steal profits. 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."

A fragmentary list of all known slate numbers and original track titles follows:


 * 1) 1m? Star Wars (Main Title)
 * 2) 1m? The Arrival
 * 3) 1m? Gas Leak
 * 4) 1m? Droid Fight
 * 5) 1m? Queen Amidala
 * 6) 1m? The Droid Invasion
 * 7) 1m? Introducing Jar Jar
 * 8) 1m? Bubble World
 * 9) 1m? Gone Fishin'
 * 10) 2m? Darth Sidious
 * 11) 2m? Tentacles
 * 12) 2m? Theed Palace Arrival
 * 13) 2m? You're Under Arrest
 * 14) 2m? Escape from Naboo
 * 15) 2m? Intro Darth Maul
 * 16) 2m? Arrival at Tatooine
 * 17) 2m? [Title Unknown]
 * 18) 2m? [Title Unknown]
 * 19) 3m? Running Out of Time
 * 20) 3m? [Title Unknown]
 * 21) 3m? Talk of Podracing
 * 22) 3m? Watto's Deal
 * 23) 3m? Kids at Play
 * 24) 3m? [Title Unknown]
 * 25) 3m? The Sith Spacecraft
 * 26) 3m? [Title Unknown]
 * 27) 3m? Flag Parade
 * 28) 3m? Jabba Introduction
 * 29) 3m? Start Your Engine (unused)
 * 30) 3m? The Race Begins (This cue went mostly unused, but the opening moments were abridged before the cue 'Escape from Naboo' was tracked)
 * 31) 4m? Anakin Defeats Sebulba (swapped with 'Gungans Retreat' in the film)
 * 32) 4m? Anakin's Great Victory
 * 33) 4m? Anakin Is Free
 * 34) 4m? Darth and Qui-Gon
 * 35) 4m? Coruscant Arrival
 * 36) 4m? Queen and Palpatine
 * 37) 5m? High Council Meeting
 * 38) 5m? The Senate
 * 39) 5m? Anakin's Test
 * 40) 5m? He Is the Chosen One
 * 41) 5m? [Title Unknown]
 * 42) 5m? Naboo Temple
 * 43) 5m? The Gungans
 * 44) 5m? War Plans
 * 45) 6m? Forest Mist (a section of this was replaced with a revised cue 'Drum Insert')
 * 46) 6m? The Armies Face Off
 * 47) 6m? Moving Forward (the latter half of this cue was removed entirely)
 * 48) 6m? Take To Your Ships
 * 49) 6m? Laser Fight March (most of this cue was removed in favor of Duel of the Fates)
 * 50) 6m? Anakin Takes Off
 * 51) 6m? The Big Army
 * 52) 6m? The Droid Battle
 * 53) 6m? Up the Wire
 * 54) 6m7 The Great Duel (This cue was removed in favor of Duel of the Fates)
 * 55) 6m? Gungans Retreat (swapped with 'Anakin Defeats Sebulba' in the film)
 * 56) 6m? Crash Landing
 * 57) 6m? Qui-Gon's Noble End
 * 58) 6m? Battleship Destroyed
 * 59) 6m? The End of Darth Maul
 * 60) 7m? [Title Unknown]
 * 61) 7m? Qui-Gon's Funeral
 * 62) 7m? Augie's Great Municipal Band
 * 63) 7m? End Title
 * 64) 7m? End Title Part II (unused)

Differences between the versions
In the recording studio, Williams records cues multiple times. The film and album versions of a track 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.

Examples of Different Takes:


 * Track 4 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. Games: The UE version of the cue "Gas Leak" omits one of the final hits in favor of a loop, and it also omits an ending that can be heard in games such as Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.


 * Track 7 on Disc 2 of the Ultimate Edition vs. Film: The film version has a very obvious cough at the very end of the cue not heard on the Ultimate Edition.


 * Track 6 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. Alternate take in game: During the conversation with Queen Padmé Amidala, the music that plays has alternate wind parts not heard in the official release.


 * Track 31 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. DVD: the film features loops and extended segments of the Flag Parade not featured in the UE.


 * Track 32 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. Film: The track segues straight into the ending moments of the Flag Parade, whereas in the film, there is a considerable gap in between. Also, an abridged version of the cue "Start Your Engine" has been retained despite not appearing in the film.


 * "Anakin's Theme" vs. Alternate Take: The Alternate take heard in the games has a loud bang in the middle of the track (possibly from an instrumentalist hitting their stand). It also is shorter and eliminates the return to the descending middle segment.


 * "Take to Your Ships": Take to Your Ships has many different orchestrations heard throughout the UE, the album, the early Phantom Menace games (Jedi Power Battles and Starfighter) and later LucasArts games (Battlefront II, Revenge of the Sith, The Force Unleashed)


 * "Duel of the Fates" many versions: Duel of the Fates has several different orchestrations heard in the games, Album, and Ultimate Edition.

Several source cues composed by Williams' son, Joseph. Alternates of cues and alternate recordings of "Duel of the Fates" have unknown slate numbers and for the most part are unreleased.

Major themes

 * Star Wars Main Title
 * Anakin's Theme
 * Duel of the Fates

1st Violins

 * G. Nikolitch (Leader)
 * J. Graham (Assistant Leader)
 * L. Mackenzie (Sub-Leader)
 * M. Yang
 * M. Humphrey
 * A. Adlam
 * R. Brightman *
 * N. Broadbent
 * G. Decuyper
 * C. Lauri
 * C. Parfitt
 * E. Pigram
 * L. Quenelle
 * H. Rayfield
 * C. Renwick
 * R. Retallick
 * I. Rhodes
 * M. Spencer
 * S. Vasseur

2nd Violins

 * E. Grach (Principal)
 * W. Hill (Co-Principal) *
 * R. Blayden
 * N. Clarke
 * M. Gardner
 * D. Goodall
 * I. McDonough
 * B. McFarlane
 * J. Nixon
 * T. Noriss
 * A. Pollock
 * S. Quinn
 * P. Robson
 * S. Rowlinson

Violas

 * E. Vanderspar (Principal)
 * A. Viytovych (Co-Principal)
 * P. Norriss (Sub-Principal) *
 * B. Clarke
 * D. Burns
 * G. Haddow
 * R. Holttum
 * M. Johnston
 * P. Sulski
 * R. Turner
 * E. Varlow
 * J. Welch
 * G. Zagni
 * K. Bradley

Cellos

 * M. Welsh (Principal)
 * R. Adams (Sub-Principal) *
 * J. Brown
 * M. Bergin
 * A. Blayden
 * N. Bradshaw
 * N. Gethin
 * K. Glossop *
 * H. Jones
 * F. Saunders *

Basses

 * R. Ibragimov (Principal)
 * C. Paris (Co-Principal)
 * N. Worters
 * P. Laurence
 * G. Newson *
 * M. Gibson
 * J. Vaughan
 * A. Bouchaux
 * K. Knussen
 * P. Dawson

Flutes

 * P. Edmund-Davies (Principal)
 * M. Parry
 * S. McIlwham

Oboes

 * R. Carter (Principal)
 * J. Lawley
 * C. Pendrill

Horns

 * T. Jones (Principal)
 * D. Pyatt (Principal)
 * R. Clews
 * W. Haskins
 * J. Lipton
 * N. Evans
 * R. Clarke
 * H. Jenkins

Trombones

 * I. Bousfield (Principal)
 * E. Crees (Co-Principal) *
 * J. Maynard
 * R. Hughes

Timpani

 * K. H. Goedicke (Principal) *

Percussion

 * N. Percy (Principal)
 * S. Carrington (Co-Principal)
 * D. Jackson
 * R. Northcott *
 * C. Thomas
 * C. Malabar
 * J. Comes

Cretan Lyra, Cümbüs

 * S. Hall

Bassoons

 * R. Gough (Principal)
 * N. Hunka
 * D. Morgan

Clarinets

 * A. Marriner (Principal)
 * C. Mo
 * J. Stenhouse
 * N. Rodwell

Trumpets

 * M. Murphy (Principal) *
 * R. Franks (Principal)
 * G. Ruddock
 * N. Gomm
 * A. McAneney

Tuba

 * P. Harrild (Principal)

Piano

 * J. Alley (Principal)

Harps

 * B. Lewis (Principal)
 * K. Vaughan

Recorders

 * A. Findon
 * T. Hinnigan
 * H. Keen

Synthesizers

 * R. Kerber
 * J. Williams

Staff

 * Administrator: S. Mallet *
 * Concerts Manager: S. Wales
 * Librarian: G. Chambers
 * Managing Director: C. Gillinson *
 * Personnel Managers: T. Morton *, M. Lindop
 * Stage Manager: N. Graham

* Performed on the original Star Wars soundtrack recording (March 1977)

Additional credits

 * London Voices
 * Director: Terry Edwards
 * New London Children's Choir
 * Director: Ronald Corp
 * Album Mastered by Patricia Sullivan Fourstar at A & M Mastering, Hollywood, CA
 * Assistant Engineers: Jonathan Allen, Andrew Dudman, Dave Forty
 * Music Editor: Ken Wannberg
 * Music Preparation by Dakota Music Service
 * Music Recorded and Mixed by Shawn Murphy at Abbey Road Studios
 * Additional Mixing at Todd-AO Scoring Stage and Skywalker Scoring Stage
 * Producer: John Williams