The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music

While this 4-CD set does offer one of the most comprehensive collections of film music by the 20th century's greatest composer, I was very disappointed that they didn't have Williams himself conduct, or use original tracks from the movie scores. [...]

While I'm as big a fan of John Williams' music as anyone, I was *highly* disappointed by this collection for one simple fact--the quality of the orchestra playing his scores here is simply appalling. For those used to hearing Mr. Williams' music being played by only the finest of ensembles, this recording will be an extreme let-down. I was especially looking forward to this recording for its concert arrangements of songs such as "Flag Parade" that are unavailable elsewhere ... but I can't even bring myself to listen to it, the musicianship is so poor. My advice: skip this over-priced, substandard recording and stick with the original, official soundtracks.

This collection has intended to bring together some of the best work from this centurys greatest composer! And it achieves this just.

On the four disc that you get for your money, you are bombarded by william's talent for creating mood in the music that brings you so close to the film itself, you almost no longer need the pictures or the actors to see the film. His scores help to set the mood of the film and every note played every chord struck fits the action of the film exactly. Great examples are the raiders march, duel of the fates or hedwig's theme.

However, there is one very big drawback to this CD boxset, and that is the attention given to one of his greatest soundtracks. I'm talking about superman. This was a soundtrack that actually sounded as incredible as the film itself was. There was no sense of O.T.T about and neither was it underplayed and shadowed by the film, but it made the film as much what it was as christopher reeve playing the man of steel himself. The...Read more