Customer Reviews

American Journey - Winter Olympics 2002

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Most CD's have a few very good pieces with the remainder of the pieces being rather unmemorable. As I began listening to the first track--the new Olympic Theme--I found it to be an equal to Williams' earlier Olympic works, which is no small feat. But as each succeeding track unfolded, I found each one to be an extraordinary work--there was no letdown--just incredible Williams' magic. This is not the soft melodic Williams of Schindler's List, this is the rousing Williams of the Star Wars Trilogy. Threads of his other works like The Patriot, Far and Away, The Phantom Menace, and Home Alone can be discerned entertwining with his new themes. Even the oft-recorded Mission Theme and Summon the Heroes are not out of place, but rather add a touch of the familiar to spectacular new recordings. If you like John Williams, you won't be disappointed with American Journey.

WOW! This is a great CD! I think this will go down as one of Williams best. Some (and this is just some) of the hightlights are Calling of the Champions, which has a beautiful theme with Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing on it, American Journey: Civil Rights and Women's Movement which is probably the best song on the whole CD, and Summon the Heroes. As I said these are just some of the highlights of the CD. If you're a Williams fan pick up this CD, you won't be disappointed.

John Williams' lofty and soaring American Journey provided the perfect backdrop to the Winter 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City -- Olympics that many in the world wondered would ever be held in the wake of the September 11 events.

The most powerful piece of this CD is the anthem "Call of the Champions". This powerful composition clearly transcends mere Olympic grandeur. The ethereal orchestral score -- with the powerful contrapunctal use of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir -- calls to mind the overwhelming rush of emotions many in the world have felt in recent months. It is a celebration of the indominatability of the human spirit. Some few pieces exceed its triumphal grandeur -- Ode to Joy comes to mind -- but very few indeed.

Everyone is familiar with John Williams, composer of great film scores, and most Americans probably know that he did a stint as conductor of the Boston Pops, but how many are aware that he is also a composer of classical-style music? In the liner notes to this CD we are told that he has "a profound sense of purpose" as a composer, and tries to write "uplifting compositions." At last I know why his music has always thrilled me so, ever since STAR WARS!

I bought this CD because I saw the bonus track, "Summon the Heroes" (the theme for the '96 Atlanta Olympics), listed on the back. But the rest of the contents are equally as fine. "Call of the Champions," the theme for the 2002 Winter Games, features a soaring chorus by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, repeating the motto of the founder of the modern Olympics, "Citius! Altius! Fortius! [Swifter! Higher! Stronger!]" The next six tracks, "American Journey," are a musical overview of the social and technological advances of 20th Century America, with a distinctly Grofean mood to them. "For New York" is recognizably what its subtitle says, "Variations on Themes of Leonard Bernstein." "Celebrate Discovery" echoes with brasses and definitely sounds celebratory. Even the "Song for World Peace" (Track 8) ends on a distinctly non-wimpy note. Then there's the "Mission Theme," whose first few notes sound every night on NBC Nightly News--it's nice to finally hear the whole thing!

If you want your spirits lifted, if you need to get into the mood to write something triumphant, or if you have some particularly great accomplishment in your family to celebrate, this is definitely the CD to put on the turntable.

The first song is all you need to hear to know this is Americana and that we are the greatest nation in the world. Well at least that is the sense I get from it. This will become as much a classic as the theme he wrote for the 1984 Summer Games in LA, you know the one of which I speak. The one that NBC now likes to use during every olympics. I am no Mormon either, but they have one heck of a choir.

That marvelous maestro of melodious masterpieces, John Williams, has done it again! Triumphant, rousing, majestic and inspirational are just a sample of the words that come to mind when describing this splendid piece of music, a piece of music that matches--if not transcends--the glory of the Olympic Games.

While the entire CD is truly magnificent, I found the title piece, "Call of the Champions"(The Official Theme of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games) to be the most awesome of the 15 tracks. In "Call of the Champions", John Williams' composing/conducting prowess is perfectly complemented by the Utah Symphony Orchestra and a choral arrangement for the venerable and world renowned Morman Tabernacle Choir. Listening to this almost ethereal harmony of orchestra and chorus is nothing less than sonic ecstacy. The 14 other tracks (including Williams' "Summon the Heroes", a piece originally written for the '96 summer games) are like a delightful bonus!

"American Jouney" is the perfect ode to the Olympic games, as well as a tribute to the American spirit. I am reminded of the three words sung by the Morman Tabernicle Choir in "Call of the Champions" when describing this classical triumph: Citius, Altius, Fortius--swifter, higher, stronger!

Having skied, hiked and traveled about the Mountain Ranges around Salt Lake in my youth, "Call of the Champions" musically reflects and recreates that exuberant, free soaring feeling had in the majesty of the mountains! The addition of the MTC lifts and soars as the rugged peaks jut in and out of one's view. The Latin motto is magnificent!

Williams truly is our American composer, and this CD delivers more of what we have come to expect and demand of this maestro.

The Mission Theme and Sound the Bells will become magnificent pieces in time, with their dynamic, uplifting expression of syncopation and alternate swelling and receeding. What demonstration of his craft at weaving soft ascending and descending strings along with magnificent bursts of horns, tempered with winds throughout! How skillfully here he weaves East with West on the bells piece. I become more attached to this sound with each playing.

You can hear many of Williams's previous themes from films re-appearing as different pieces on this CD. However, the themes are so wonderfully melodic and soaring that you just don't mind. Go out and add this one to your collection!

This really was one of William's best compositions and the performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was inspired as well. I think when people recall these Olympics, the sounds of "Call of the Champions" provides a very memorable musical image of the games. The Boston Pops Orchestra does an impressive job as well in this very attractive CD. Wonderful music from a memorable Olympic experience.

John Williams scores again, proving he can do more than compose music for Superman and Star Wars. This disk is filled with simply wonderful patriotic music, upbeat, small-scale at times, always suited to the title.

It's a wonderful listen for anyone...just as fun to listen to as any other John Williams tunes like Superman and Star Wars; and this time it isn't specifically related to a movie!