What is "The Empire Strikes Back"?

[Sandor 459]

ESB won a Grammy for best score.

It also won the award for Best Instrumental Composition for a piece called "The Empire Strikes Back". This piece was nominated alongside Yoda's Theme and The Imperial March from the same score.

I always wondered: what was "The Empire Strikes Back" piece for which Williams won? Anyone know?

[Docteur Qui 1,248]

Maybe it was the End Titles suite? It's definitely up there with the best he's ever written.

[Jonesy 55]

Or maybe it was Han Solo And The Princess. It's a great composition.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

It is, but as far as is known John Williams never performed or recorded it. I only know of 3 recordings of it.

It's the red-headed stepchild of Star Wars themes.

[MrJosh 440]

It is, but as far as is known John Williams never performed or recorded it. I only know of 3 recordings of it.

It's the red-headed stepchild of Star Wars themes.

Stefan, of the three recordings you know of, what do you recommend? I actually have never heard the concert arrangement.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

I heard the City Of Prague recording once or twice years ago, and I seem to remember it was pretty good.

The LSO also recorded it for an obscure Williams compilation called STAR WARS: A SYMPHONIC EXPLOSION.

It's not bad, but for me the definitive version is the Charles Gerhardt/National Philharmonic Orchestra rendition.

[King Mark 2,924]

It's not bad, but for me the definitive version is the Charles Gerhardt/National Philharmonic Orchestra rendition.

Yes, and the first time I heard the concert version it was an OMG this is beautiful moment. It's really really good

[Quintus 5,391]

Not heard it, I don't think. Is it on YouTube?

[King Mark 2,924]

Not sure if they're the same performance .Anyways one of the greatest themes Williams has ever written

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLLvvF3j7Fk

[Luke Skywalker 1,285]

I cant beleive there are people here that have not still heard it....

BTW i would like to hear that LSO rendition...

[Jay 27,216]

Yea the fact that there is an LSO rendition is news to me

I have 2 versions - the Gerhardt, and the one on this CD

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

While I think Empire is slightly overrated around here in that I don't consider it the be-all end-all of John Williams, I still concede it is a top notch 2 hours or so of music and quite high on a list of greatest movie scores ever. Film scoring 101. Future generations please take note. Particularly around 3:30-6:00. Oh God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4vj6k747LY

[Romão 1,931]

That also is my favorite portion of the ESB score, great choice

The entire last half hour roughly is incredibly good

[Datameister 1,394]

I wasn't on much of an ESB kick for a while there...but then I started listening to it again, and it hit me just how enormously good the score is. I wouldn't call it the be-all-end-all Williams score, either...but that's just because he's written way too much good stuff, and not all of it in that vein. There IS no be-all-end-all Williams score.

[pixie_twinkle 44]

There is. It's ESB.