Tydirium

There's a moment in They Will Come you'll appreciate.
 
This is a pretty lovely album. I had two immediate impressions. After finishing, I realize that TFA is 100% the score of the trilogy. TLJ and ROS help give it all a bit more hype and flavor, and feature the best versions of its themes, but as a fresh narrative and overall listening experience, TFA is the anchor.
 
The other was while listening to the wondrous title track "The Rise of Skywalker," it occurred to me that this score and the trilogy overall...it's really for the softies! I've spent four years now reading comments putting down these scores as "weak", lacking a new Imperial March or Duel of the Fates, waiting for that badass First Order March (the biggest adrenaline junkies will probably be disappointed with The Final Saber Duel and Anthem of Evil) but that's not the tone of these movies or these scores. 
 
The way I see it, the music of the OT evokes heroism, spirited adventure, above all classicism in structure and craftsmanship. The prequels are all fire and brimstone, passion, war, aggression, tragedy. The sequels -- summed up in my mind by Rey's Theme, Jedi Steps, Rose's Theme, and now The Rise of Skywalker -- this is a musical trilogy of wistfulness and whimsy, nostalgia, loneliness, and magic.
 
Altogether that is Star Wars by John Williams. 

Joker had music?

Including 'Falcon Flight' would have helped that...

Oh MAN, the opening of "Journey to Exegol" is amazing!

Makes sense, though, that he wants an arrangement to play in symphony concerts without choir.

Overall, my first impression of the soundtrack was extremely positive.  I'd say I liked it MUCH more on first listen than I did the Force Awakens or Last Jedi OST albums.  I grew to love the Force Awakens OST album, but my first listen was not an instant love, as it was so different from my expectations.  The Last Jedi I l liked fine and still do, but was not blown away by anything.
 
But this album blew me away.  You can hear passion and excitement in this work.  The Rise of Skywalker and The Speeder Chase are instant classics!  The album overall has a nice flow and pace to it.  The strengths of this work are the new themes (especially The Rise of Skywalker theme and the trio theme), the great new renditions of the other sequel trilogy themes (he continues to find ways to make Rey's, Poe's, and the Resistance's themes stray fresh), and the fact we finally got a proper John Williams action set piece track in a Star Wars score again.  The weaknesses are the straight-up renditions of Original Trilogy themes towards the end of the album, and an overall unsatisfying end credits medley.
 
I am thrilled we have a nice FYC with lots of additional music, and can't wait to see the film to hear what else it has is store for us.

It really hits the OT feels for me—some of the broad romanticism of the ESB Finale, but mated perfectly to Williams' recent string writing since War Horse and Lincoln. A beautiful continuation of the direction he started on with his reworked Han Solo and the Princess.

The "Rise of Skywalker" and trio themes are by far the two highlights of this score, for me. Really beautiful stuff, and thankfully the OST features them a lot more than the FYC; I was beginning to get worried.

I don't understand what it is you are trying to show us

The Speeder chase theme! 

I can't believe "Parents" and "Coming Together" seem to be not on the OST at all.

It does have something of the pastoral to it.
 
 

It's gorgeous! Reminds me of THE BFG.

Isn't "Anthem of Evil" a new theme? It's not the classic Emperor theme.

It's gorgeous! Reminds me of THE BFG.

I'm so glad to be here with y'all during this. 
 
'The Rise of Skywalker' is so beautiful. 

01 Fanfare and Prologue at 2:41 !!
 
The Palpatine's Seduction little evil motif that we can hear in Revenge of the Sith is back!!
 
 
This is an amazing connection!

Anthem of Evil is rather stunning.  

Isn't "Anthem of Evil" a new theme? It's not the classic Emperor theme.

No question, Johnny is still at the top of his game.  Just incredible.

"Rise of Skywalker".... WOW

Yes. So beautiful. Amazing.

New recording of the Main Title!

Rise of Skywalker is a very nice concert arrangement... I think this will be a concert staple for a while.
 
Towards the ending of the concert arrangement is very similar passage to the ending of FYC Farewell, which is followed by a super fun concert-y ending.

This track is GREAT!!!  I like it much more than the concert arrangements of Luke and Leia or Across the Stars

I'm so happy!