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the best star wars music


natedog

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Hi there, i am fairly new fan of John Williams and i was wondering what are the best tracks from each of the star wars soundtracks (Episodes 1-6) like the ones that you really have to listen to?

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Hi Nate, most of mine are in Star Wars. In fact every single track is something I really have to listen to. The other scores are obviously greats, but I find myself skipping parts here and there.

Welcome to the board.

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Hi natedog,

If you seek for a great highlight of the six movies, you can start with the programme of the 2005 Bonus DVD "Star Wars: A Musical Journey".

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_A_Musical_Journey

  1. A Long Time Ago -
    "20th Century Fox Fanfare" / "Star Wars Main Title" (from all of the films) - Showing several clips from the first 5 Star Wars Films
  2. Dark Forces Conspire -
    "Duel of the Fates" (from Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) - The Battle of Naboo and Geonosis
  3. A Hero Rises -
    "Anakin's Theme" (from The Phantom Menace) - Anakin's journey in Episode I
  4. A Fateful Love -
    "Across the Stars" (from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones) - Anakin and Padme faling in love
  5. A Hero Falls -
    "Battle of the Heroes" (from Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith) - The end of the Clones Wars and the fall of Anakin Skywalker
  6. An Empire Is Forged -
    "The Imperial March" (from Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back) - All scenes of the Empire
  7. A Planet That Is Farthest From -
    "The Dune Sea Of Tatooine" / "Jawa Sandcrawler" (from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope) - All Tatooine Scenes
  8. An Unlikely Alliance -
    "Binary Sunset" / "Cantina Band" (from A New Hope) - Luke's journey in Episode IV
  9. A Defender Emerges -
    "Princess Leia's Theme" (from A New Hope) - Princess Leia Scenes
  10. A Daring Rescue -
    "Ben's Death" / "Tie Fighter Attack" (from A New Hope) - Rescue Missions
  11. A Jedi Is Trained -
    "Yoda's Theme" (from The Empire Strikes Back) - Luke's Training on Dagobah
  12. A Narrow Escape -
    "The Asteroid Field" (from The Empire Strikes Back) - Hot Pursuits and Escapes
  13. A Bond Unbroken -
    "Luke And Leia" (from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi) - Luke and Leia being Brother and Sister
  14. A Sanctuary Moon -
    "In The Forest (Concert Suite)" (from Return of the Jedi) - The Battle of Endor and Naboo
  15. A Life Redeemed -
    "Light Of The Force" (from Return of the Jedi) - The Fall of Darth Vader and Redemption of Anakin Skywalker
  16. A New Day Dawns -
    "The Throne Room" / "Finale" (from A New Hope) - The end of the Empire and the return of the Jedi

In 1990, John Williams digitally re-recorded some of his best titles taken from the first Trilogy, it's also a good start!

http://www.discogs.com/John-Williams-John-Williams-Conducts-John-Williams-The-Star-Wars-Trilogy/release/619617

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SW

1 Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner (02:14)
2 Imperial Attack (06:42)
3 The Moisture Farm (02:25)
4 The Hologram/Binary Sunset (04:08)
5 The Tractor Beam / Chasm Crossfire (05:18)
6 Ben Kenobi's Death/Tie Fighter Attack (03:51)
7 The Battle Of Yavin (09:06)
8 The Throne Room/End Title (05:36)
TESB
1 The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) (03:03)
2 The Imperial Probe/Aboard The Executor (04:24)
3 The Battle Of Hoth (14:48)
4 The Asteroid Field (04:15)
5 Han Solo And The Princess (03:26)
6 Yoda And The Force (04:02)
7 Lando's Palace (03:53)
8 Carbon Freeze/Darth Vader's Trap/Departure Of Boba Fett (11:50)
9 The Clash Of Lightsabers (04:17)
10 Rescue From Cloud City/Hyperspace (09:08)
11 The Rebel Fleet/End Title (06:27)

ROTJ

1 Han Solo Returns (04:01)
2 The Pit Of Carkoon / Sail Barge Assault (06:02)
3 Alliance Assembly (02:10)
4 Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor (04:06)
5 Parade Of The Ewoks (03:28)
6 The Battle Of Endor I (Into The Trap / Forest Ambush / Scout Walker Scramble / Prime Weapon Fires) (11:50)
7 The Lightsaber / Ewok Battle (04:31)
8 The Battle Of Endor II (Leia Is Wounded / The Duel Begins / Overtaking The Bunker / The Dark Side Beckons / The Emperor's Death) (10:02)
9 The Battle Of Endor III (Superstructure Chase / Darth Vader's Death / The Main Reactor) (06:03)
10 Leia's News / Light Of The Force (03:21)
11 Victory Celebration / End Title (08:33)

Worry about the prequels later

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There's also this playlist (hey, I'm the playlist man!) that I love very much. It's from http://www.senscritique.com.



Less conventional than the "Star Wars: A musical Journey" playlist.



The Ultimate Star Wars Playlist



The Phantom Menace (1999)



1. Main Title and Ambush on Coruscant

2. Duel Of The Fates

3. Anakin’s Theme

4. The Droid Invasion and The Appearance of Darth Maul

5. Qui-Gon’s Noble End

Attack of the Clones (2002)

6. Across The Stars

7. Yoda And The Younglings

Revenge of the Sith (2005)

8. Anakin vs. Obi-Wan

9. Enter Lord Vader

A New Hope (1977)

10. Main Title / Rebel Blockade Runner

11. The Moisture Farm

12. The Hologram/Binary Sunset

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

13. The Asteroid Field

14. Han Solo And The Princess

15. Yoda And The Force

16. Lando’s Palace

Return of the Jedi (1983)

17. Alliance Assembly

18. Emperor’s Throne Room

19. Leia’s News / Light of the Force

20. Victory Celebration / End Title

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Shit. Too many to name.

 

Here are my favourites.

 

STAR WARS:

 

 

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK:

 

 

RETURN OF THE JEDI:

 

 

THE PHANTOM MENACE:

 

 

THE ATTACK OF THE CLONES:

 

 

THE REVENGE OF THE SITH:

 


Hi natedog,

If you seek for a great highlight of the six movies, you can start with the programme of the 2005 Bonus DVD "Star Wars: A Musical Journey".

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_A_Musical_Journey

  1. A Long Time Ago -
    "20th Century Fox Fanfare" / "Star Wars Main Title" (from all of the films) - Showing several clips from the first 5 Star Wars Films
  2. Dark Forces Conspire -
    "Duel of the Fates" (from Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) - The Battle of Naboo and Geonosis
  3. A Hero Rises -
    "Anakin's Theme" (from The Phantom Menace) - Anakin's journey in Episode I
  4. A Fateful Love -
    "Across the Stars" (from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones) - Anakin and Padme faling in love
  5. A Hero Falls -
    "Battle of the Heroes" (from Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith) - The end of the Clones Wars and the fall of Anakin Skywalker
  6. An Empire Is Forged -
    "The Imperial March" (from Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back) - All scenes of the Empire
  7. A Planet That Is Farthest From -
    "The Dune Sea Of Tatooine" / "Jawa Sandcrawler" (from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope) - All Tatooine Scenes
  8. An Unlikely Alliance -
    "Binary Sunset" / "Cantina Band" (from A New Hope) - Luke's journey in Episode IV
  9. A Defender Emerges -
    "Princess Leia's Theme" (from A New Hope) - Princess Leia Scenes
  10. A Daring Rescue -
    "Ben's Death" / "Tie Fighter Attack" (from A New Hope) - Rescue Missions
  11. A Jedi Is Trained -
    "Yoda's Theme" (from The Empire Strikes Back) - Luke's Training on Dagobah
  12. A Narrow Escape -
    "The Asteroid Field" (from The Empire Strikes Back) - Hot Pursuits and Escapes
  13. A Bond Unbroken -
    "Luke And Leia" (from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi) - Luke and Leia being Brother and Sister
  14. A Sanctuary Moon -
    "In The Forest (Concert Suite)" (from Return of the Jedi) - The Battle of Endor and Naboo
  15. A Life Redeemed -
    "Light Of The Force" (from Return of the Jedi) - The Fall of Darth Vader and Redemption of Anakin Skywalker
  16. A New Day Dawns -
    "The Throne Room" / "Finale" (from A New Hope) - The end of the Empire and the return of the Jedi

In 1990, John Williams digitally re-recorded some of his best titles taken from the first Trilogy, it's also a good start!

http://www.discogs.com/John-Williams-John-Williams-Conducts-John-Williams-The-Star-Wars-Trilogy/release/619617

That misses all the really good stuff.

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I think this might be more useful if we each pick...less? Like maybe one from each album. Otherwise by the time this thread is done natedog will end up having to listen to Episodes 1-6 from beginning to end!

Ep1:

The Tide Turns - The Death of Darth Maul

Ep2:

Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale

Ep3:

Anakin vs. Obi-Wan

Ep4:

Imperial Attack

Ep5:

The Rebel Fleet/End Title

Ep6:

Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor

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Palpatine talks about Darth Plagueis. Palpatine comes to Anakin on Mustafar. Obi-wan talks about the Force for the first time. Luke calls Leia for help at the end of TESB. Yoda dies. NEVER!

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Main Title

Princess Leia's Theme

The Little People Work

Cantina Band

Here They Come!

The Last Battle

Throne Room And End Title

The Imperial March

Yoda's Theme

Han Solo And The Princess

The Asteroid Field

The Battle In The Snow

Parade Of The Ewoks

Luke And Leia

Jabba The Hutt

The Forest Battle

Ewok Celebration and End Title

Duel Of The Fates

Anakin's Theme

The Flag Parade

Across The Stars

Battle Of The Heroes

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I have so many favorites. It is almost easier to find a least favorite. Part of my challenge is the dynamic and structural build is so satisfying. For example, how the ideas in Star Wars emerge but are fully developed in act 3. The payoff in the later cues is because they were so well set up early on. If you choose the later cues, you loose the development over time that is so lacking today but the oldies did so well.

With that said, I have to say I need to revisit Return of the Jedi more because in Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back, I adore each track so much (even the rejected or incidental ones). In Return of the Jedi I start to skip over tracks. By the time of the 2nd trilogy, I began to feel there were many fillers.

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