Looking for a good start to your “Star Wars Day?” Meet your recommended daily allowance of John Williams’ music by joining me for no less than 12 selections from the principal feature films of the “Star Wars” saga.
The original “Star Wars” actually opened on May 25, 1977. But why let historical accuracy get in the way of a good pun? May the Fourth be with you!
Strap yourselves in – we’re ready to make the jump to “Sweetness and Light” speed, this Saturday morning at 11:00 EDT/8:00 EDT, exclusively on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!
Personally, I can’t believe that the designation was made on account of a Dad-worthy pun. The first “Star Wars” opened on May 25, 1977, surely a more appropriate anniversary? But any excuse to celebrate “Star Wars” is fine by me, I suppose, as long as I don’t have to celebrate anything released after 1983.
Until yesterday, I was completely unaware of artist Christopher Shy, but he is one extraordinarily talented individual. Pictured are just a few of his “Star Wars” paintings. The one that employs the original Ralph McQuarrie designs is a hoot!
Check out his Facebook page for further original interpretations of Godzilla, “Ghostbusters,” Superman, “Star Trek,” “The Thing,” “The Creature from the Black Lagoon,” and many more. Also, make it a point to visit his website, artofronin.com. This will take you directly to a gallery of his work:
While you’re at it, why not also spin some of John Williams’ “Star Wars” music? Williams’ original score is a postmodern masterpiece, with echoes of Korngold, Holst, Stravinsky, and William Walton, bound together, permeated, and propelled into delirious transcendence by his stirring, soulful, indelible themes.
Generally speaking, I enjoy listening to the soundtrack albums in the form they were originally released. It’s nice to have the music note-complete, as has become the fashion on CD , but there was a certain artistry to the arrangements, layouts, and development of commercially-issued soundtracks of the LP era that made them special experiences unto themselves.
That said, “The Empire Strikes Back” is one of the few note-complete film music recordings that I can listen to straight-through without getting fatigued. In that regard, it must be my favorite of the “Star Wars” scores.
The original “Star Wars” soundtrack, from 1977, holds great nostalgic significance for me. I spent countless hours writing, drawing, and dreaming to that music. “Star Wars,” to great extent, introduced me to orchestral music, and it changed my life. But, also for me, “The Empire Strikes Back” is the standalone masterpiece, if taken on a purely musical level.
Here’s how it was originally heard on LP, back in 1980:
Here it is, note-complete, as on CD – unfortunately with the tracks posted separately, allowing plenty of opportunities for interpolated YouTube ads:
May the Fourth be with you, indeed!
Certainly, I wouldn’t want to be without the music for either of the first two films. And by “first two,” I’m speaking in terms of release dates, NOT the geek-pedantic episode numbers. The title “A New Hope” is, quite simply, not in my vocabulary.
Whatever your bliss, I wish you a happy Star Wars Day. Just keep your midichlorians off this page!
