Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

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",...Read more

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...Read more

From the opening Fox Fanfare to the first notes of John Williams score, Star Wars: A New Hope is the one of the greatest scores of all time. While I prefer the maturity of Return of the Jedi, A New Hope is just as good, because it is the score that began it all. It is the classic score from the trilogy. While there are not as many of the themes so well known to Star Wars, the classics are there. Luke's theme, the Force theme, Leia's theme and the old school style of the orchestra. Themes like the Imperial march are hinted at, but not fully realized. Overall, however, this is a great score, one of the greatest of all time.