Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Well boys and girls, here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for, it's finally arrived, that score for that film has appeared, 'so Tom' you're thinking, 'what's it like?' Well, my answer is that it is different, definitely superb, but not possibly what you might expect. The first thing that strikes me about a lot of it is that it is possibly more innocent than the original scores were. This is not to say that there aren't any darker moments, but the light hearted moments are more frequent and even some of the action music has a Hook like innocence and balletic grace.

Well, let's start at the beginning. The opening titles from the original is performed with suitable thunder and while I don't think it quite tops Return of the Jedi for best performance of the opening credits scrawl, it's not likely to be surpassed by any other performance. This blends more in the manner of the opening to Empire with wafting strings which then translate into some imposing brass fanfare which immediately set the tone for one part of this score. There are lots of broad fanfares, especially for the music associated with the Queen. The following two tracks are both concert arrangements. Duel of the Fates is a 4 minute epic choral work with running strings interspersed with bright brass and menacing (appropriately) choir. The motives from this selection appear a few times later on, but I assume there is a film version of this cue which accompanies a light sabre duel of some description. Anakin's Theme is a marvellously ambiguous lullaby which has slightly disturbing undercurrents when a hint at the Imperial March appears at the end of the phrase. It's just the right amount of suggestion that perfectly sets up Anakin's character. As I mentioned, the comedy music is a little on the increase from the first films and it comes out as some kind of cross breed of the droids music with the bouncing woodwind, but with added plucked strings and is there for Jar Jar, the comic relief for the film. The Swim to Otoh Gunga produces some splendid subliminal choral work which is suitably mysterious.

There don't seem to be nearly the same number of action cues or action set pieces that the original trilogy had, but what action there is, works supremely well. The Droid Battle features a hyper action version of the Imperial March as a basic motif, but with rising woodwind and string figures. The brass certainly get a great work out here. The following cues are all a little quieter and very sublime, only interrupted by the Flag Parade which is John Williams coming over all Miklos Rosza with a cross between the Parade of the Charioteers from Ben Hur and his Parade of the Slave Children from Temple of Doom and it certainly works a treat. He is the Chosen One is very elegiac, but rising and with imposing brass toward the end becomes one of the highlights of the quieter music. Anakin Defeats Sebulba moves from quiet into a frenetic scherzo with strings tearing about and blaring brass that is just thrilling. Passage Through the Planet Core has a similar feel to Swim to Otoh Gunga with a spooky choir which transforms into a brassy action cue toward the end.

Panaka and the Queen's Protectors is Williams in very Korngold-esque mode with some very swashbuckling action, which then breaks off to make way for a more ceremonial fanfare which echoes those in The Arrival of Naboo. The following cue is quite subdued but does contain more of those fanfares. The final action section starts with the Droid Invasion, although it never quite reaches the same level of intensity as The Droid Battle, but I have a feeling that the Battle might just appear after the invasion and the appearance of Darth Maul which would produce a more prolonged and sustained action segment. The actual appearance of said Darth is accompanied by the Emperor's Theme from Return of the Jedi and so presumably has some connection with Palpatine as well. Qui Gon's Noble End begins with a brass version of the choral start to the Duel of the Fates but then moves into heavy brass and percussion making for yet more thrilling action, which is interrupted by a whispering chorus that is very malevolent indeed which then moves into more action music, using some of the motifs from the Duel of the Fates to propel everything along nicely. The High Council Meeting has a brief appearance of Yoda's Theme surrounded by elegiac string music and noble horns that sometimes recalls the Alliance Assembly from Return of the Jedi, but also with a hint at the Imperial March. The funeral music is this time done with a mass-like choir and is much more sombre than the similar event from Jedi but is interpolated with the Force Theme briefly.

The final track is possibly the most disappointing aspect of the entire score. The Municipal Band will probably have some people cringing, however, there are two things which make it bearable, the first being that it's only short and the second being that it probably doesn't seem nearly as bad in the film with actual onscreen celebration. It is more like a souped up parade version of the Victory Celebration from Jedi, with high trumpet fanfares. I think it would have been improved by having one synth instrument removed since that is actually quite horrible. The transition to the end credits isn't the most comfortable and certainly not on a par with the transitions in Star Wars or Empire. After a brief section of the main theme, it dies down and then Duel of the Fates is played out in its entirety followed by Anakin's Theme, again, just as the concert arrangement. Unlike the other films, there is no heroic reprise of the main theme and there is just a sombre fading away as the Imperial March hint at the end of Anakin's Theme just lets the score disappear to nothing. It's a good idea, but will have people up in arms I think! In the film, this way of doing the credits is fine, but on an album where about 7 minutes of the music is repeated verbatim, it seems rather lazy to be honest. A shame that a couple of extra cues of score couldn't have been included instead.

I think it's fair to say that some people will find parts of the score disappointing as a Star Wars score, but taken on its own terms (which really it ought to be), it's an excellent score and certainly a great deal better than many of the recent sci fi scores and certainly containing more dynamism and variety. There are no supremely great themes to take away, which is a tad disappointing. Anakin's Theme is lovely, but the way it's structured makes it rather hard to remember. Hopefully Lucas will give up his love for victory celebrations and provide Williams with the opportunity to either write something more like the Throne Room or just some orchestral ending that would blend much more successfully into the end titles. The sound quality is worth mentioning since it's absolutely splendid, the LSO booms triumphantly when required, but also the nuances of the quieter parts can be heard clearly. There's no point recommending purchase of it since more people will get this than most of the other things I've reviewed. Have an open mind, listen to it several times before complaining bitterly that it doesn't contain this, that or the other.