Close Encounters Of The Third Kind/Star Wars (John Williams Classic Film Scores) [Soundtrack]

John Williams (Composer), Charles Gerhardt (Conductor), National Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Charles Gerhardt
• Composer: John Williams
• Audio CD (June 11, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: RCA Records
• ASIN: B000003EMP
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,580 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Star Wars: Main Title From 'Star Wars'

2. Star Wars: Little People Work

3. Star Wars: Here They Come!

4. Star Wars: Princess Leia

5. Star Wars: Final Battle

6. Star Wars: The Throne Room And End Title - The National Philharmonic Orchestra/Gerhardt

7. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: Barnstorming/Arrival Of The Mother Ship/The Pilots Return/The Vi - The National Philharmonic Orchestra/Gerhardt

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best concert version, June 13, 2007

By 

Presbyteros "This Is the Record of John" (Glassboro, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Close Encounters Of The Third Kind/Star Wars (John Williams Classic Film Scores) (Audio CD)

This was released about the same time as the Mehta/LA Philharmonic recording. Charles Gerhardt was an American working in London for many years as a conductor/producer. The "National Philharmonic" was his "pick-up" orchestra. Under the British system of free-lancers, I wouldn't be surprised if there were London Symphony veterans who played the on the soundtrack and on these sessions as well.
The standard is as high as Gerhardt's "Classic Film Scores". If fact, I think the original intention was to place "Star Wars" right with "The Adventures of Robin Hood", etc, and the classic scores of Max Steiner, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, etc.

It succeeds on every level. Wonderfully played and recorded, it offers a fine alternative to the soundtracks, and even John Williams' own "concert versions". I believe that this is John Williams' own arrangement, but with his original big orchestration restored for the recording. This recording is the proof that this is great music. We all know what it looks like on the screen, but the music absolutely stands on its own. Knowing the story isn't a bad thing. It worked for Richard Strauss.

If you sometimes just don't feel like listening to every little cue, and want the big sweep of sound, this is the one for you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, February 17, 2009

By 

Todd Phillips (League City, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Close Encounters Of The Third Kind/Star Wars (John Williams Classic Film Scores) (Audio CD)

I agree with the review from Presbyteros, and I find this recording more satisfying than anything conducted by Williams. Both the performance and recording are flawless in my impression. Perhaps I am somewhat influenced by nostalgia since we had this recording when I was a kid, but returning to it as an adult, I find I enjoy it much more than the soundtracks and other Williams recordings that I have.