The Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace score was composed and conducted by John Williams and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. It was released in three formats:
The original album was released by Sony Classical to accompany the film (May 4, 1999). This release is a single CD containing 17 tracks from selections of the score, meant to stand alone as a separate listening experience and not as one hears the score in the film. John Williams edited each track to present the score as one would hear it in a concert suite.
This album was also available on a two-LP set through specialized retailers such as Star Wars Insider.
Sony released a two-CD Ultimate Edition was released due to popular demand (November 14, 2000). This set presents the score predominantly as heard in the film (with most of the edits, loops, 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.
A remastered version of the soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records on May 4, 2018. supervised by Shawn Murphy and Skywalker Sound, this version was transferred to a new hi-resolution (24/192). This remaster was newly assembled from the highest-quality tapes available, rather than sourced from the existing 1999 album masters.
None of the releases contain the entire score (although the back cover of the Ultimate Edition falsely claims that it contains "every note recorded"). Currently, no complete release has been made.
John Williams directs the LSO in February 1999.
Recorded in Abbey Road studios over a week, starting on February 10, 1999 performed by the London Voices and London Symphony Orchestra, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace was the first Star Wars score Williams had composed in over 16 years.
The scores of the following two films would rely heavily upon tracking from this score, a decision that Williams and George Lucas had made early into production of the film.
No complete score has ever been released, but missing bits and pieces can be heard in various LucasArts video games.
After the release of the album, the popularity of a more complete bootleg version of the score began to steal profits. 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 list of all known slate numbers and original cue titles follows:
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 on the spot.
Examples of different takes:
- Track 4 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. games: The Ultimate Edition version of the cue "Gas Leak" omits one of the final hits in favor of a loop, and it also omits an ending that can be heard in games such as Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
- Track 7 on Disc 2 of the Ultimate Edition vs. film: The film version has an obvious cough at the very end of the cue not heard on the Ultimate Edition.
- Track 6 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. game: During the conversation with Queen Padmé Amidala, the music that plays has alternate wind parts not heard in the Ultimate Edition.
- Track 31 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. DVD: The film features loops and extended segments of the Flag Parade not featured in the Ultimate Edition.
- 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 cue "Start Your Engine" has been retained despite not appearing in the film.
- Track 27 on Disc 2 of the Ultimate Edition vs. film: The whispers heard during the fight between Darth Maul and Qui-Gon are different in the film from those on the Ultimate Edition.
- "Anakin's Theme": The alternate take heard in the games has a loud bang in the middle of the track (possibly from an instrumentalist hitting his or her stand). It also is shorter and eliminates the return to the descending middle segment.
- "Take to Your Ships" has many different orchestrations heard throughout the Ultimate Edition, the album, the early Phantom Menace games (Jedi Power Battles and Starfighter) and later LucasArts games (Battlefront II, Revenge of the Sith, and The Force Unleashed).
- "Duel Continues," released as part of track 16 on Disc 2 of the Ultimate Edition, was originally scored with piccolo jabs underlying the opening timpani. These piccolo jabs were removed from the cue and instead placed over the following cue, "Qui-Gon's Noble End".
- "Duel of the Fates" has several different orchestrations heard in the games, album, and Ultimate Edition.
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.
- G. Nikolitch (Leader)
- J. Graham (Assistant Leader)
- L. Mackenzie (Sub-Leader)
- M. Yang
- M. Humphrey
- A. Adlam
- R. Brightman *
- N. Broadbent
- G. Decuyper
- C. Lauri
- C. Parfitt
- E. Pigram
- L. Quenelle
- H. Rayfield
- C. Renwick
- R. Retallick
- I. Rhodes
- M. Spencer
- S. Vasseur
- E. Grach (Principal)
- W. Hill (Co-Principal) *
- R. Blayden
- N. Clarke
- M. Gardner
- D. Goodall
- I. McDonough
- B. McFarlane
- J. Nixon
- T. Noriss
- A. Pollock
- S. Quinn
- P. Robson
- S. Rowlinson
- E. Vanderspar (Principal)
- A. Viytovych (Co-Principal)
- P. Norriss (Sub-Principal) *
- B. Clarke
- D. Burns
- G. Haddow
- R. Holttum
- M. Johnston
- P. Sulski
- R. Turner
- E. Varlow
- J. Welch
- G. Zagni
- K. Bradley
- M. Welsh (Principal)
- R. Adams (Sub-Principal) *
- J. Brown
- M. Bergin
- A. Blayden
- N. Bradshaw
- N. Gethin
- K. Glossop *
- H. Jones
- F. Saunders *
- R. Ibragimov (Principal)
- C. Paris (Co-Principal)
- N. Worters
- P. Laurence
- G. Newson *
- M. Gibson
- J. Vaughan
- A. Bouchaux
- K. Knussen
- P. Dawson
- P. Edmund-Davies (Principal)
- M. Parry
- S. McIlwham
- R. Carter (Principal)
- J. Lawley
- C. Pendrill
- T. Jones (Principal)
- D. Pyatt (Principal)
- R. Clews
- W. Haskins
- J. Lipton
- N. Evans
- R. Clarke
- H. Jenkins
- I. Bousfield (Principal)
- E. Crees (Co-Principal) *
- J. Maynard
- R. Hughes
- K. H. Goedicke (Principal) *
- N. Percy (Principal)
- S. Carrington (Co-Principal)
- D. Jackson
- R. Northcott *
- C. Thomas
- C. Malabar
- J. Comes
- S. Hall
- R. Gough (Principal)
- N. Hunka
- D. Morgan
- A. Marriner (Principal)
- C. Mo
- J. Stenhouse
- N. Rodwell
- M. Murphy (Principal) *
- R. Franks (Principal)
- G. Ruddock
- N. Gomm
- A. McAneney
- N. Burfeindt
- P. Harrild (Principal)
- J. Alley (Principal)
- B. Lewis (Principal)
- K. Vaughan
- A. Findon
- T. Hinnigan
- H. Keen
- R. Kerber
- J. Williams
- Administrator: S. Mallet *
- Concerts Manager: S. Wales
- Librarian: G. Chambers
- Managing Director: C. Gillinson *
- Personnel Managers: T. Morton *, M. Lindop
- Stage Manager: N. Graham
* Performed on the original Star Wars soundtrack recording (March 1977)
- London Voices
- New London Children's Choir
- Album Mastered by Patricia Sullivan Fourstar at A & M Mastering, Hollywood, CA
- Assistant Engineers: Jonathan Allen, Andrew Dudman, Dave Forty
- Music Editor: Ken Wannberg
- Music Preparation by Dakota Music Service
- Music Recorded and Mixed by Shawn Murphy at Abbey Road Studios
- Additional Mixing at Todd-AO Scoring Stage and Skywalker Scoring Stage
- Producer: John Williams