The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music [Box set, Soundtrack]

John [Film Composer] Williams (Composer), Mario Klemens (Conductor), Paul Bateman (Conductor), Nic Raine (Conductor), City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Jaroslav Klepac (Performer), Charlotte Kinder (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Jaroslav Klepac, Charlotte Kinder
• Orchestra: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Mario Klemens, Paul Bateman, Nic Raine
• Composer: John [Film Composer] Williams
• Audio CD (October 7, 2003)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Soundtrack
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Silva America
• ASIN: B0000C6K09
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,797 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #1 in Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Czech Republic
  • #38 in Music > Pop > Easy Listening > Orchestral Pop
  • #76 in Music > Box Sets

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Can't compare to the originals, March 14, 2005

By 

J. Reiner "JMReiner83" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music (Audio CD)

While this 4-CD set does offer one of the most comprehensive collections of film music by the 20th century's greatest composer, I was very disappointed that they didn't have Williams himself conduct, or use original tracks from the movie scores. [...]

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing, September 26, 2004

By 

JWfan42 (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music (Audio CD)

While I'm as big a fan of John Williams' music as anyone, I was *highly* disappointed by this collection for one simple fact--the quality of the orchestra playing his scores here is simply appalling. For those used to hearing Mr. Williams' music being played by only the finest of ensembles, this recording will be an extreme let-down. I was especially looking forward to this recording for its concert arrangements of songs such as "Flag Parade" that are unavailable elsewhere ... but I can't even bring myself to listen to it, the musicianship is so poor. My advice: skip this over-priced, substandard recording and stick with the original, official soundtracks.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the greatest movie themes ever-almost, November 25, 2003

By 

Mr R. J. MAY "trickydicky85" (Bath, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music (Audio CD)

This collection has intended to bring together some of the best work from this centurys greatest composer! And it achieves this just.

On the four disc that you get for your money, you are bombarded by william's talent for creating mood in the music that brings you so close to the film itself, you almost no longer need the pictures or the actors to see the film. His scores help to set the mood of the film and every note played every chord struck fits the action of the film exactly. Great examples are the raiders march, duel of the fates or hedwig's theme.

However, there is one very big drawback to this CD boxset, and that is the attention given to one of his greatest soundtracks. I'm talking about superman. This was a soundtrack that actually sounded as incredible as the film itself was. There was no sense of O.T.T about and neither was it underplayed and shadowed by the film, but it made the film as much what it was as christopher reeve playing the man of steel himself. The superman score makes you want to put a red bedspread round your neck and fly off the building. But here in the box set of his greatest work, john william's superman score is reduced to having just one track on one of the discs. At the very least it should have had fortress of solitude on there aswell!!!

But apart from that this is a truely a value for money CD collection.