The musical score for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, crafted by John Williams, was performed by the renowned London Symphony Orchestra under his direction. It saw release in three distinct formats:
The initial album, distributed by Sony Classical in conjunction with the film's release (May 4, 1999), appeared as a single CD showcasing 17 selected tracks, an audio cassette featuring 8 tracks, and on Sony's MiniDisc. These releases were envisioned as independent listening experiences, differing from the score's presentation in the movie itself. Williams himself curated and edited each track, transforming the score into concert suite arrangements.
Additionally, this album was made available as a two-LP vinyl record set through specialized retailers, including Star Wars Insider.
Due to significant fan demand, Sony issued a two-CD Ultimate Edition (November 14, 2000). This collection aimed to mirror the score's presentation in the film as closely as possible, incorporating most edits, loops, tracked music, and post-production alterations. While not an exact replica of the cinematic experience, it was designed to offer a similar listening experience.
To commemorate the movie's 3D re-release on February 6, 2012, a special re-issue of the original album was produced. This version included the "Duel of the Fates (Dialogue Version)" bonus track that had originally been featured on the Ultimate Edition. A freshly remastered version of the soundtrack was launched by Walt Disney Records on May 4, 2018. This version, supervised by Shawn Murphy and Skywalker Sound, underwent a new hi-resolution transfer (24/192). This remaster was created using the highest-quality tapes available, rather than relying on the existing 1999 album masters.
Despite these releases, the complete score remains unavailable (even though the Ultimate Edition's back cover erroneously claims to contain "every note recorded"). As of now, a fully comprehensive release has not been made.
Recorded over the course of a week at Abbey Road Studios, beginning on February 10, 1999, with performances by the London Voices and the London Symphony Orchestra, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace marked Williams' return to composing Star Wars scores after more than 16 years.
The musical scores for the subsequent two films relied significantly on tracked music from this particular score, a decision made early in the film's production by Williams and George Lucas.
While a complete score release is still unavailable, fragments and pieces can be found within various LucasArts video games.
Following the album's release, the popularity of a more comprehensive bootleg version of the score began to impact profits. In response, Sony released the Ultimate Edition, presenting the score in a manner closely resembling its use in the film, while inaccurately advertising it as containing "every note ever recorded."
Presented below is a compilation of all known slate numbers and original cue titles:
During studio recordings, Williams typically records multiple takes of each cue. The versions found in the film and on the album can vary significantly. A single cue might be assembled from several takes, combining the best moments from each and correcting any errors.
Given that each track is performed multiple times, slight variations arise in each rendition. On occasion, Williams will make orchestration changes spontaneously.
Examples of different takes:
- Track 4 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. games: The Ultimate Edition version of the cue "Gas Leak" excludes one of the final musical 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 contains an audible cough at the very end of the cue, which is absent from the Ultimate Edition.
- Track 6 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. game: During the conversation with Queen Padmé Amidala, the music features alternative wind instrument parts not present in the Ultimate Edition.
- Track 31 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. DVD: The film incorporates loops and extended segments of the Flag Parade that are not included in the Ultimate Edition.
- Track 32 on Disc 1 of the Ultimate Edition vs. film: The track transitions directly into the final moments of the Flag Parade, whereas the film features a noticeable gap in between. Additionally, an abbreviated 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 differ between the film and the Ultimate Edition.
- "Anakin's Theme": The alternate take heard in the games includes a loud bang in the middle of the track (possibly caused by an instrumentalist accidentally hitting their stand). It is also shorter and omits the return to the descending middle section.
- "Take to Your Ships" features numerous different orchestrations that can be heard across 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," which was 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 placed over the following cue, "Qui-Gon's Noble End" instead.
- "Duel of the Fates" showcases several different orchestrations in the games, album, and Ultimate Edition.
Several source cues were composed by Williams' son, Joseph. Alternate takes of cues and alternate recordings of "Duel of the Fates" have unknown slate numbers and remain largely 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