Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released two weeks before the film of the same name

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, as the first of a three-part prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as the first film in the saga in terms...

 in May 1999, and was composed by John Williams

John Williams

John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...

. In anticipation of the long-awaited film, the soundtrack was certified Platinum in the US and Gold in the UK (where it entered the UK album charts at no.8).

Three formats were available:

• The original album released on compact disc to accompany the film (May 4, 1999). This release is a single disc containing 17 tracks from the score. Each track is edited by Williams to present the score as one would hear it in a concert suite.

• This album was also available on a two disc vinyl LP set through specialized retailers such as Star Wars Insider
  Star Wars Insider
  Star Wars Insider is the official Star Wars magazine. Its contents include stories, articles relating to the Star Wars universe, letters, and the fan newsletter "Bantha Tracks". It began in 1987 as the official magazine of The Lucasfilm Fan Club...
  
  .

• The Two Disc Ultimate Edition released by popular demand (November 14, 2000). This set presents the score predominately as heard in the film (with most of the edits, loops
  Tape loop
  In music, tape loops are loops of prerecorded magnetic tape used to create repetitive, rhythmic musical patterns or dense layers of sound. Contemporary composers such as Steve Reich and Karlheinz Stockhausen used tape loops to create phase patterns and rhythms...
  
  , tracked music, and post-production changes in place). Although not exactly what is heard in the film, this set was meant to be listened to as one would hear the score in the film, but is not the complete score (although it is falsely stated on the back of the set as being 'every note recorded.')

None of the releases contain the entire score. Currently, no complete release has been made. The Ultimate Edition contains music not on the Album, but the Album also has music not heard on the Ultimate Edition. Both sets contain alternate takes of cues, while neither present some of the alternate takes only heard in the film.

Score Information

Recorded in Abbey Road studios over a week, starting on February 10, 1999 performed by the London Voices

London Voices

London Voices is a London-based choral ensemble led by Terry Edwards, who founded the ensemble in 1973...

 and London Symphony Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra

The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...

, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, as the first of a three-part prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as the first film in the saga in terms...

was the first Star Wars

Star Wars

Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...

score Williams had composed in over 16 years. John Williams produced the recording sessions himself with Shawn Murphy recording and mixing the score. Kenneth Wannberg returned as music editor, having fulfilled this task on the previous three Star Wars scores.

The scores of the following two films would rely heavily upon tracking from this score, a decision that Williams and George Lucas

George Lucas

George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...

 had decided upon early into production of the film.

No complete score has ever been released, but the majority of unreleased pieces can be heard in various LucasArts

LucasArts

LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...

 video games.

After the release of the album, the popularity of a more complete bootleg version of the score began to steal profits. In response, Sony released the Ultimate Edition, presenting the score nearly as it is heard in the film while falsely marketing itself as "every note ever recorded."

A fragmentary list of all known slate numbers and original track titles follows:

1. 1m? Star Wars (Main Title)
2. 1m? The Arrival
3. 1m? Gas Leak
4. 1m? Droid Fight
5. 1m? Queen Amidala
6. 1m? The Droid Invasion
7. 1m7 Introducing Jar Jar
8. 1m? Bubble World
9. 1m? Gone Fishin'
10. 2m? Darth Sidious
11. 2m? Tentacles
12. 2m? Theed Palace Arrival
13. 2m? You're Under Arrest
14. 2m? Escape from Naboo
15. 2m? Intro Darth Maul
16. 2m? Arrival at Tatooine
17. 2m? I'm a Pilot You Know
18. 2m? Stealing Food
19. 2m? [Title Unknown]
20. 3m? Running Out of Time
21. 3m? [Title Unknown]
22. 3m? [Title Unknown]
23. 3m? Watto's Deal
24. 3m? Kids at Play
25. 3m? It's Working
26. 3m? The Sith Spacecraft
27. 3m? [Title Unknown]
28. 3m? Flag Parade
29. 3m10 Jabba Introduction
30. 3m11 The Race Begins
31. 4m? [Title Unknown]
32. 4m2 Anakin Defeats Sebulba
33. 4m? Anakin's Great Victory
34. 4m? Anakin Is Free
35. 4m? Darth and Qui-Gon
36. 4m? Coruscant Arrival
37. 4m? Queen and Palpatine
38. 5m? High Council Meeting
39. 5m? The Senate
40. 5m? Anakin's Test
41. 5m4 The Chosen One
42. 5m5 The Chosen One
43. 5m? [Title Unknown]
44. 5m? Moving Forward
45. 5m? The Gungans
46. 5m? With Boss Nass
47. 5m? Promoting Jar-Jar
48. 5m? War Plans
49. 6m? Forest Mist
50. 6m? Drums Insert
51. 6m? The Armies Face Off
52. 6m? Battle Part II C
53. 6m? Laser Fight March
54. 6m? Take To Your Ships
55. 6m? The Big Army
56. 6m? String Cluster
57. 6m5 The Droid Battle
58. 6m? Up the Wire
59. 6m7 The Great Duel
60. 6M7p2 Duel Continues/Crash Landing
61. 6m? Qui-Gon's Noble End
62. 6m? Battleship Destroyed
63. 6m? The End of Darth Maul
64. 7m? [Title Unknown]
65. 7m? Qui-Gon's Funeral
66. 7m? Augie's Great Municipal Band
67. 7m? End Title
68. 7m? End Title Part II

Differences between versions

In the recording studio, Williams records cues multiple times. The film and album versions of a track can be drastically different. One cue can be made up of several takes, putting together the best moments of each, replacing flubbed notes.

Since each track is run several times, each performance differs slightly. Occasionally, Williams will change orchestrations right on the spot. The score also makes use of several insert pieces which usually replace certain sections within a cue.

Examples of Different Takes:

• Track 4 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. Video Games: The version used in the film cut out the end of the cue, which features a snare roll, followed by a cymbal crash, a three-note horn blast followed by a final horn blast/snare hit. The final chord was used instead at the end of the Droid Invasion. This ending was used in Attack of the Clones as Mace Windu
  Mace Windu
  Mace Windu is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, most famously portrayed by actor Samuel L. Jackson in the prequel films. However, Windu has also been voiced by other actors in assorted video game and animated projects....
  
   enters the Geonosian arena.

• Track 31 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. DVD vs. Track 7 of the 1-disc album vs video games: the film features loops and extended segments of the Flag Parade not featured in the UE. The Album also features a similar loop, as do the video games.

• Track 32 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. Film: The track segues straight into the ending moments of the Flag Parade, whereas in the film, there is a considerable gap in between. Also, an abridged version of the ending measures of the cue have been retained despite not appearing in the film.

• "Take to Your Ships": Take to Your Ships has many different orchestrations heard throughout the UE, the album, earlier and later LucasArts games.

• "Duel of the Fates
  Duel of the Fates
  "Duel of the Fates" is a musical theme recurring in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the Expanded Universe. It was composed by John Williams and recorded for the film soundtrack by the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices. This symphonic piece is played with both a full orchestra and a...
  
  " many versions: Duel of the Fates has several different orchestrations heard in the games, Album, and Ultimate Edition.

• "Anakin's Theme" vs. Alternate Take: The Alternate take heard in the games has a loud bang in the middle of the track (possibly from an instrumentalist hitting their stand). It also is shorter and eliminates the return to the descending middle segment.

Several source cues composed by Williams' son, Joseph. Alternates of cues and alternate recordings of "Duel of the Fates" have unknown slate numbers and for the most part are unreleased.

Original release

The original release of the soundtrack only contained one disc.

• Released on May 4, 1999.

1. Star Wars Main Title and The Arrival at Naboo – 2:55
2. Duel of the Fates
   Duel of the Fates
   "Duel of the Fates" is a musical theme recurring in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the Expanded Universe. It was composed by John Williams and recorded for the film soundtrack by the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices. This symphonic piece is played with both a full orchestra and a...
   
     – 4:14
3. Anakin's Theme – 3:05
4. Jar Jar's Introduction and The Swim to Otoh Gunga – 5:07
5. The Sith Spacecraft and The Droid Battle – 2:37
6. The Trip to the Naboo Temple and The Audience with Boss Nass – 4:07
7. The Arrival at Tatooine and The Flag Parade – 4:04
8. He Is the Chosen One – 3:53
9. Anakin Defeats Sebulba – 4:24
10. Passage Through the Planet Core – 4:40
11. Watto's Deal and Kids at Play – 4:57
12. Panaka and the Queen's Protectors – 3:24
13. Queen Amidala and The Naboo Palace – 4:51
14. The Droid Invasion and The Appearance of Darth Maul – 5:14
15. Qui-Gon's Noble End – 3:48
16. The High Council Meeting and Qui-Gon's Funeral – 3:09
17. Augie's Great Municipal Band and End Credits – 9:37

Total Time: 74:23

Ultimate Edition

Due to the Ultimate Edition portrayal of the score as a film version, and to alleviate long tracks, certain tracks may be several minutes long, but are broken up into segments. When being played, the individual segments are separate tracks. The main track names are in bold and their separate portions follow.

• Released on November 14, 2000.

Disc 1

1. Fox Fanfare – 0:23

   Treachery Within the Federation - The Invasion of Naboo:

2. Star Wars Main Title – 1:24
3. Boarding The Federation Battleship – 2:31
4. Death Warrant For Qui-Gon And Obi-Wan – 1:18
5. Fighting The Destroyer Droids – 1:44
6. Queen Amidala Warns The Federation – 2:23
7. The Droid Invasion – 1:00

   Underwater Adventure:

8. Swimming To Otoh Gunga – 0:56
9. Inside the Bubble City – 3:05
10. Attack Of The Giant Fish – 1:37

    Darth Sidious:

11. Darth Sidious and the Passage Through the Planet Core – 1:04

    On to Naboo and the Rescue of the Queen:

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 – 1:42
15. Escape From Naboo – 2:04
16. Enter Darth Maul – 1:07

    Destination Tatooine, Home of Anakin Skywalker:

17. The Arrival At Tatooine – 2:28
18. Street Band Of Mos Espa – 1:16
19. Padme Meets Anakin – 1:12
20. Desert Winds [deleted from the film] – 1:28
21. Jar Jar’s Run-In With Sebulba – 1:18
22. Anakin’s Home And The Introduction To Threepio – 2:22

    The Dark Forces Plot:

23. Darth Sidious And Darth Maul – 1:12

    Qui-Gon Bets on Anakin:

24. Talk Of Podracing – 2:58

    Anakin Closes In On His Destiny:

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 – 1:37

    Anakin's Victory:

33. Anakin Defeats Sebulba – 2:17

    The Cheering Crowd:

34. Hail To The Winner, Anakin Skywalker) – 1:13

    Mos Espa Folk Song:

35. The Street Singer – 1:13

Total Time: 57:27

Disc 2

To Coruscant and to Palpatine and the Senate:

1. Anakin Is Free – 5:04
2. Qui-Gon And Darth Maul Meet – 1:48
3. Anakin And Group To Coruscant – 4:11

   Palpatine's Treachery:

4. The Queen And Palpatine – 0:41

   Qui-Gon Goes Before Yoda:

5. High Council Meeting – 2:37

   War Clouds and an Alliance with Boss Nass and the Gungans:

6. The Senate – 1:12
7. Anakin’s Test – 3:41
8. Qui-Gon’s Mission/Obi-Wan’s Warning – 3:47
9. Nute And Rune Confer With Darth Sidious – 0:29
10. The Queen And Group Land On Naboo – 2:19
11. Jar Jar Leads Group To The Gungans – 2:25
12. War Plans – 2:31

    Prelude to War:

13. Darth Sidious Receives News Of The Gungan Army – 0:25
14. The Gungans March – 0:57

    The Great Battle Begins:

15. The Queen And Her Group Sneak Back To The Palace – 0:18
16. The Battle Begins – 0:24
17. The Republic Pilots Take Off Into Space – 1:26

    The Battle Continues:

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 – 0:47
22. The Duel Continues – 0:59
23. The Battle Rages On – 1:59
24. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan And Darth Maul Continue Battle – 1:22

    The War At Its Darkest:

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 – 2:28

    Good Triumphs Over Evil:

28. The Tide Turns/The Death Of Darth Maul – 3:24

    The Wrap-Up:

29. The Queen Confronts Nute And Rune – 1:47
30. The Funeral Of Qui-Gon – 1:18

    Victory Parade:

31. The Parade – 1:24

    Titles

32. End Credits – 8:14
33. Duel of the Fates (Dialogue Version) - BONUS TRACK – 4:21

Total Time: 67:04

External links

• Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Soundtrack at Amazon.com
  Amazon.com
  Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...