With each Star Wars film, composer John Williams has selected a particular composition to stand apart. It's removed from the context of the film, and generally has its start or end reworked so that it becomes a standalone musical piece. In the past, these have become singles on the soundtrack, concert suites or music videos. Examples include "Main Title," "Darth Vader's Theme (Imperial March)," "The Forest Battle," "Duel of the Fates," and "Across the Stars."

For Episode III, a dramatic cue from the sixth reel gets that treatment. Called "Revenge of the Sith" -- or less colorfully, 6M9 -- it appears in the film during the thick of the duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker. The first half of the second day of scoring sessions consists of capturing this piece for both inclusion in the film, and as a modified version for the soundtrack release.

In the end, it will include moments of heavy percussion, as well as the emotional sweep provided by a choir. These elements will be layered in later -- today, it's the orchestral foundation that's recorded. The music carries a nine-note sentence that is a new theme that carries throughout the duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan, memorable enough that I find myself whistling it later in the day.

On that note, how about somehow incorporating choir into Empire/Vader's theme?

Given how completely bad Phantom Menace & Clones were as films and how so-so the Williams scores for them were as well, it would be a MIRACLE if Episode 3 turned out to be either a watchable film or a listenable experience.

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it would be a MIRACLE if Episode 3 turned out to be either a watchable film or a listenable experience.

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Honestly, new themes is not what I'm looking forward to. I'm just hoping he'll have cool remake of old themes: the force and vader's themes.

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Originally posted by Dinko:
True enough. But Across the Stars is still one of the most gorgeous works of music I've ever heard. Its five minutes more than make up for the rest of the underscore.

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Originally posted by Dinko:
But Across the Stars is still one of the most gorgeous works of music I've ever heard. Its five minutes more than make up for the rest of the underscore.

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Yes. The other highlight for me is the (re)entry of the full Empire theme. Despite being very familiar, that theme still packs a punch.

Press Release

Sony Classical Releases New Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith Soundtrack That Includes A 70-Minute Bonus Collector's DVD

Bonus DVD Takes Viewers on a Musical and Visual Journey Through All Six Films
From the Most Popular Movie Saga of All Time and Features Scores From
Five-Time Oscar Winner John Williams

SOUNDTRACK RELEASED ON MAY 3, 2005

Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
Opens in Theaters Worldwide on May 19, 2005

NEW YORK, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, May 3, 2005, Sony Classical will release the original motion picture soundtrack of the last episode of the massively popular Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.
It features a new score by five-time Oscar winner John Williams, who is also the composer and conductor of the score for each film in the six-chapter Star Wars saga, and an exclusive collector's DVD -- Star Wars: A Musical Journey -- an unprecedented bonus at no additional cost.

Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, written and directed by George Lucas, is the most anticipated movie of the year and opens worldwide on Thursday, May 19, 2005.

Created especially to accompany the CD release, the thrilling 70-minute DVD features 16 brand-new music videos set to selections from all six of John Williams' unforgettable Star Wars film scores and has been designed around a timeline that will take the viewer chronologically through the entire saga.
Each movement is introduced by actor Ian McDiarmid (who plays Senator Palpatine in the films) and features a spectacular montage of images, complete with excerpts of the original dialogue and sound effects, set to Williams' legendary music which has been newly remixed and remastered in 5.1 surround sound. Williams' principal theme from the new score, entitled "Battle of the Heroes," will be featured in a music video created by Lucasfilm.

The soundtrack packaging will also include liner notes from George Lucas plus an exclusive fold-out poster featuring a montage of images from the film.

In Revenge of the Sith, the final and most dramatic chapter of the Star Wars saga, the Clone Wars rage as the rift widens between Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) and the Jedi Council. Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), the young Jedi Knight with an allegiance to Chancellor Palpatine, struggles to keep his marriage to Padme' Amidala (Natalie Portman) a secret amid the turmoil. Seduced by promises of power and temptations of the dark side, he pledges himself to the evil Darth Sidious and becomes Darth Vader. Together, Sidious and Vader set in motion a plot of revenge against the Jedi, leading to a climatic lightsaber battle between Vader and his former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), that will decide the fate of the galaxy.

With 43 Oscar nominations to his credit, Williams has composed a new score for the film, utilizing the themes and musical motives that link it with his earlier scores for the Star Wars films. The London Symphony Orchestra (L.S.O), with the composer conducting, performs the original score. The L.S.O. is the same orchestra that recorded Williams' original Star Wars score 28 years ago and has continued to perform the score for each successive chapter of the saga.

In 1999, Sony Classical released the Grammy-nominated original soundtrack recording of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace(TM), which was a platinum-selling album in the U.S. and sold more than two million copies worldwide, in addition to a specially packaged Ultimate Edition that featured Williams' entire score for that film. In 2002, the label released the original soundtrack recording of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones(TM). Both are currently available.

In September 2004, Sony Classical became the home of all the Star Wars soundtracks with the release of newly remastered editions of the soundtrack recordings of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope(TM), Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back(TM) and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi(TM). The recordings are available individually and in a special boxed set with a deluxe slipcover case.

The Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith soundtrack also continues Sony Classical's long association with John Williams, who has recorded a number of non-film projects for the label. Williams won the third of his five Academy Awards for his score for the original Star Wars (1977) and received nominations for his scores for The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). The soundtrack albums for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back also won Grammy(R) Awards for Williams in 1977 and 1980, and he was a nominee for Return of the Jedi in 1983 and Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 2000.

Information about the original motion picture soundtrack of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith is featured at http://starwars.sonyclassical.com. Sony Classical is the trademark of Sony Corporation. All rights reserved.

Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith are trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Originally posted by rkeaveney:
So TheForce.net says the centerpiece of the score will be "Revenge of The Sith", then it prints a press release from Sony Classical that says the score's centerpiece is "Battle of The Heroes". Why can't these sites get their **** right?

Ryan

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Originally posted by Jeff78:
MAJOR SPOLIERS!!!

*****this movie will suck like the previous two*****

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Oh go to hell.

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Originally posted by Jeff78:
MAJOR SPOLIERS!!!

*****this movie will suck like the previous two*****

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No, I am a fan of the original trilogy. I love them. When I first saw the trailer for The Phantam Menace it looked great, but after I saw it, it was a big let down.
Then when Attack of the Clones came out I was like I hope it is better that PM. Nope, wrong. Wrose then PM. So to me that's two strikes.
Now Sith could be good, Hell I don't know. I'm just going on my facts from the first two. To me the first two films were not good.
Yes the trailer for Sith looks fantastic. But so did the first two.
Don't get your panties in a twist just because I don't think the movie will be good.
Telling someone to "go to hell" just because they dont think a movie will be good is very childish. Leave that crap to Ford.

I know now who the Star Wars geeks who will be camping in front of the theaters dressed up as some characters slapping their platisc light sabers at eachother are.

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Originally posted by BigT1981:
Oh please. As I said I hate "fans" like you because you're to damn strung up on the theratical editions of the OT and don't like change. If you were a true fan you would like the prequels. Ass-hat.

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So you HAVE to the new the new films if your a true fan or the original?
Then your sir are a ****ing idiot. Anyone can love an original trilogy and hate the new ones. If they are terrible films I will say they are, I won't bend over and kiss Goerge Lucas' ass and praise him like he is god like I'm sure you do.

You sound like one of those christains who goes around saying "If you don't go to church youwill BURN in enternal hell fire!!!!"
So what about those christains who do not go around saying that to people? Are they true christians?

I bet you one of those **** faces who does not listen to anyones opinion except your own, huh? Like you want people to hear your opinion but as soon as someone says their opinion about something your going to go ape **** .

Well I'm glad your a "fan" of the whole series. Please take it and shove it up your ass.

[Message edited by BigT1981 on 03-17-2005]<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gave it a chance to redeem itself. I figured, that can't be that stupid to **** it up even more in the next one. I was wrong.
And don;t say you never said anythign bad about a film before it came out. EVERYONE has. I bet if you heard a new Friday the 13th part XXXIIII was coming out, you would say "Oh hell thats going to suck" It is my OPINION. Your just one of those bastards who does not like anyones opinions except your own. You ****ing hypocrite.

It's really funny to see Star Wars dorks get wired up over **** like this. It makes my day. I wish I could take a picture of their faces when they get angry.

[Message edited by Jeff78 on 03-17-2005]

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Originally posted by BigT1981:
*rolls his eyes*

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Originally posted by sean:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by Jeff78:
[b]MAJOR SPOLIERS!!!

*****this movie will suck like the previous two*****<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jeff, you're pretty much the worst critic of all time and you obviously have no love for Star Wars, so buzz off! [/B]

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