Music Album Review: 'Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Ultimate Edition: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'

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(C) 2000 Sony Classical and Lucasfilm Ltd.

Although the 1999 single CD recording of music from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was fairly adequate, for listeners spoiled by the Special Edition soundtracks it was a disappointment. Yes, the music is good, but there is a certain wrongness to the album's arrangements; like its 1977 predecessor, the 1999 soundtrack album takes cues from different scenes and "cuts-and-pastes" them to make nice yet inaccurate arrangements.

For instance, Track 1 on the single CD version is called Star Wars (Main Theme) AND The Arrival at Tatooine. The so-called "Arrival at Tatooine" is really heard when the Queen's starship lands on the Coruscant landing platform.

On November 14, 2000, fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your level of cynicism regarding Star Wars and merchandising practices), Sony Classical released Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace: The Ultimate Edition: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. 

Star Wars Main Title

Beautifully presented in two CDs, this recording is the definitive Phantom Menace soundtrack album. From the Alfred Newman 20th Century Fox Fanfare to the End Credits, every note John Williams composed for the first prequel film is there.

The two discs present the music in sequence, with each cue in its proper place in the movie. As always, the London Symphony Orchestra (joined by the London Voices and The New London Children's Choir) plays Williams' score with its usual top-notch level of performance. And Williams once again manages to prove the malleability of the Star Wars scores.

The Arrival on Tatooine

For here there are none of the familiar themes for Princess Leia or Han Solo, and Darth Vader's Theme (which made the scores for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi so memorable) is only hinted at. Williams, however, still has the themes for the Force, Darth Sidious/Palpatine, and Yoda to play with; these he melds with new themes for Qui-Gon, Jar Jar Binks, and Anakin Skywalker.

Padme Meets Anakin

Of the new themes, two are significant. The first is Anakin's Theme. It reflects the innocence and goodness of the slave-turned-into-hero, but it has hints of the Imperial March, too, particularly at the coda of the End Credits (where this theme is heard in its entirety). The other new theme worth noting is the now-famous Duel of the Fates, Episode I's equivalent of the Imperial March.

 Because this 2-CD set has a total playing time of two hours, some casual listeners may want to stick to the 1999 version instead. Serious Williams collectors will probably enjoy this album more.

I do have one quibble: the packaging is nice and the booklet with stills from Episode I is okay....but no liner notes?

Duel of the Fates (Dialogue Version) 

Disc 1: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - The Ultimate Edition

1.         Fox Fanfare     0:23
2.         Star Wars Main Title   1:24
3.         Boarding the Federation Battleship    2:31
4.         Death Warrant for Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan     1:19
5.         Fighting the Destroyer Droids            1:45
6.         Queen Amidala Warns the Federation           2:23
7.         The Droid Invasion     1:01
8.         Swimming to Otoh Gunga      0:57
9.         Inside the Bubble City            3:05
10.       Attack of the Giant Fish          1:38
11.       Darth Sidious  1:05
12.       The Giant Squid and the Attack on Theed     1:18
13.       Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Rescue the Queen     2:09
14.       Fighting the Guards    1:43
15.       Escape from Naboo    2:04
16.       Enter Darth Maul        1:08
17.       The Arrival at Tatooine          2:28
18.       Street Band of Mos Espa        1:17
19.       Padme Meets Anakin  1:12
20.       Desert Winds  1:28
21.       Jar Jar's Run In with Sebulba  1:18
22.       Anakin's Home and the Introduction to Threepio       2:42
23.       Darth Sidious and Darth Maul            1:12
24.       Talk of PodRacing      3:00
25.       Watto's Deal - Shmi and Qui-Gon Talk          2:24
26.       Anakin, Podracer Mechanic    1:38
27.       The Racer Roars to Life - Anakin's Midi-Chlorian Count     1:24
28.       Darth Maul and The Sith Spacecraft  1:00
29.       Mos Espa Arena Band            0:53
30.       Watto's Roll of the Die           1:59
31.       The Flag Parade          1:14
32.       Sebulba's Dirty Hand - Qui-Gon's Pep Talk   1:38
33.       Anakin Defeats Sebulba         2:18
34.       Hail to the Winner, Anakin Skywalker          1:14
35.       The Street Singer        1:14
            
Disc Time:       57:26

Disc 2: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - The Ultimate Edition

1.         Anakin is Free 5:04
2.         Qui-Gon and Darth Maul Meet          1:48
3.         Anakin and Group to Coruscant         4:11
4.         The Queen and Palpatine        0:43
5.         High Council Meeting            2:36
6.         The Senate      1:12
7.         Anakin's Test  3:42
8.         Qui-Gon's Mission - Obi-Wan's Warning       3:48
9.         Nute and Rune Confer with Darth Sidious     0:29
10.       The Queen and Group Land at Naboo            2:20
11.       Jar Jar Leads Group to the Gungans   2:26
12.       War Plans        2:31
13.       Darth Sidious Receives News of the Gungan Army  0:25
14.       The Gungans March   0:57
15.       The Queen and Her Group Sneak Back to the Palace            0:19
16.       The Battle Begins       0:24
17.       The Republic Pilots Take Off Into Space       1:26
18.       Activate the Droids     0:44
19.       The Gungans Fight Back        0:24
20.       The Duel Begins         0:51
21.       Anakin Takes Off In Spaceship          0:48
22.       The Duel Continues    1:00
23.       The Battle Rages On   1:59
24.       Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Darth Maul Continue Battle 1:22
25.       Qui-Gon, Darth Maul, and the Invisible Wall            0:14
26.       The Gungans Retreat and the Queen Surrenders        2:18
27.       The Death of Qui-Gon and the Surrender of the Gungans     2:29
28.       The Tide Turns - The Death of Darth Maul   3:24
29.       The Queen Confronts Nute and Rune 1:48
30.       The Funeral of Qui-Gon         1:18
31.       The Parade      1:24
32.       End Credits     8:15
33.       Duel of the Fates (Dialogue Version) 4:21
           
Disc Time:       67:00
           
Total Album Time:      124:26

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