AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS!

John Williams as the keeper of the Star Wars musical flame...

Bringing back the traditional orchestral movie soundtrack in a big way that no one truly expected, John Williams' score for the original Star Wars was an unmitigated triumph, of which the its 1977 released double album soundtrack (from Fox Records) was a must-have purchase for worldwide fans and the general public alike. Hearing Williams's music for the film was just as perfect as seeing it for the umpteenth time on the big screen, being so evocative, exciting and memorable, especially rich in character themes that would become iconic over nearly fifty years. 

Williams with friends Ken Wannberg and Lionel Newman, plus director Irvin Kershner, at a lively spotting session for Empire's score.

Going through a scene and timing it for the creation of his music, Williams with Wannberg in California, late 1979.

Empire’s complex, beautiful score would once more be recorded in the UK, with Williams conducting the 129 musicians in the London Symphony Orchestra. Recording for the December 1979/ January 1980 sessions are handled in three batches, split between Anvil Studios, where the Star Wars score had been recorded, and EMI studios at Abbey Road. Williams is supported by his regular team of friends - engineer Eric Tomlinson, orchestrator Herbert Spencer, music editor Kenneth Wannberg, and supervisor Lionel Newman, the Head of 20th Century Fox's music department. Gary Kurtz, Lucas and Kershner, plus Robert Watts, are on hand to watch the recordings. It is estimated that the score will cost a quarter of a million dollars to record (taking into account the fees of the arrangers, the musicians, the copyists, and the sound-recording crew), but the money will later be re-couped by sales of the film's soon-beloved RSO two-disc record, to be released by May, 1980.

Recording music for the film's fateful finale duel with the LSO.

Lucas, Kershner, Kurtz and Robert Watts attend the music recordings in London.

For The Empire Strikes Back, Williams had the then rare and genuinely exciting opportunity to revisit the George Lucas fantasy universe that had so enamoured itself to audiences, adding further new unforgettable themes to its saga, alongside incredible musical accomplishments with the stalwart LSO.

 

Japanese edition of the classic 2-LP soundtrack.