The musical score for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, orchestrated and led by John Williams and played by the London Symphony Orchestra, was distributed in three distinct formats.
Sony Classical initially put out the original album alongside the film's release (May 4, 1999). This initial release included a single CD featuring 17 selected tracks, an 8-track cassette, and a MiniDisc version. These were intended as standalone listening experiences, differing from the score's use in the movie itself. John Williams personally edited each track to create a concert-suite presentation.
A two-LP version of this album was also made available through specialized vendors, including Star Wars Insider.
Due to high demand, Sony later issued a two-CD Ultimate Edition (November 14, 2000). This edition aimed to replicate the score's presentation in the film, incorporating most edits, loops, tracked music, and post-production alterations. While not a perfect match, it sought to offer a listening experience closer to the film version.
To coincide with the 3D re-release of the film on February 6, 2012, a special re-issue of the original album was created. This version included the bonus track "Duel of the Fates (Dialogue Version)" from the Ultimate Edition.
Walt Disney Records released a remastered version of the soundtrack on May 4, 2018. Shawn Murphy and Skywalker Sound oversaw the process, transferring the music to a new hi-resolution format (24/192). This remaster was created using the highest-quality tapes, rather than the original 1999 album masters.
Despite these releases, a complete version of the score has never been made available, even though the Ultimate Edition's back cover incorrectly claimed to include "every note recorded."
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios over a week, starting on February 10, 1999 with performances by the London Voices and London Symphony Orchestra, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace marked Williams' return to composing Star Wars scores after more than 16 years.
Williams and George Lucas decided early in the film's production that the scores for the subsequent two films would heavily utilize tracking from this score.
While a complete score release is absent, fragments can be found in various LucasArts video games.
After the album's release, the popularity of unofficial, more complete versions of the score started to impact sales. Consequently, Sony released the Ultimate Edition, which presented the score in a manner closer to its use in the film, while falsely advertising it as containing "every note ever recorded."
Below is a list of known slate numbers and original cue titles:
John Williams typically records multiple takes of cues in the studio. The versions appearing in the film and on the album can differ significantly. A single cue might be assembled from various takes, combining the best moments and correcting errors.
Due to multiple takes, slight variations exist in each performance. Williams sometimes adjusts orchestrations during the recording sessions.
Examples of different takes include:
- Track 4 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition compared to games: The "Gas Leak" cue on the Ultimate Edition omits a final hit and an ending present in games like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
- Track 7 on Disc 2 of the Ultimate Edition compared to the film: A noticeable cough at the end of the film version is absent from the Ultimate Edition.
- Track 6 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition compared to the game: The music during Queen Padmé Amidala's conversation features alternate wind parts not found on the Ultimate Edition.
- Track 31 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition compared to the DVD: The film includes loops and extended segments of the Flag Parade not present on the Ultimate Edition.
- Track 32 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition compared to the film: The track transitions directly into the Flag Parade's ending, whereas the film has a noticeable gap. Additionally, an abridged version of "Start Your Engine" remains despite its absence in the film.
- Track 27 on Disc 2 of the Ultimate Edition compared to the film: The whispers during the Darth Maul vs. Qui-Gon fight differ between the film and the Ultimate Edition.
- "Anakin's Theme": The alternate take in the games features a loud bang (possibly from an instrument stand) and is shorter, omitting the descending middle segment's return.
- "Take to Your Ships" exhibits diverse orchestrations across the Ultimate Edition, the album, 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, originally included piccolo jabs under the opening timpani. These were removed and placed over the subsequent cue, "Qui-Gon's Noble End".
- "Duel of the Fates" has several different orchestrations in the games, album, and Ultimate Edition.
Several source cues were composed by Williams' son, Joseph. Alternates of cues and alternate recordings of "Duel of the Fates" lack known slate numbers and are mostly unreleased.
- 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 Director: Terry Edwards
- New London Children's Choir Director: Ronald Corp
- 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
- " Around the Galaxy " — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 7
- Episode I Snapshot: Phantom Conduction on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace soundtrack on Wikipedia
- The Phantom Menace Soundtrack in the StarWars.com Cargo Bay (content now obsolete; backup link)
- The Ultimate Edition -- Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace on Sony Classical (content now obsolete; archived from the original on November 24, 2006) (Flash required)
- Official Site on Sony Classical (content now obsolete; archived from the original on bad argument #2 to 'formatDate' (not a valid timestamp))
- Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace Soundtrack at Discogs
- The Ultimate Edition at Discogs