Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Joel McNeely
" Star Wars sounds brilliant, even if John Williams has nothing to do with it "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
"If one can repeat the majesty of Star Wars, even if its for a game, would you ignore it?" This was probably the main question to Joel McNeely, ultimately becoming the composer of Shadows of the Empire, the game of 1996. Joel McNeely received orchestra and choir to do simply what others have been dreaming of all their lives, namely write a score for characters like Luke Skywalker & Princess Leia.
Unfortunately (or not) Joel could not compose everything exactly the way he would probably have done it, in movie music you must use the themes when they have to represent the characters, and Star Wars is a shade of memory without the illustrious well known fanfare and its themes for Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo and Princess Leia. So McNeely does use them, while everything else is his own imagination at work, making Shadows of the Empire an interesting listen for fans of all genres.
This story takes some known elements and twists them further in an unknown world, making the new enemy one Xizor, the dark prince of the Black Sun. Obvious from the spectrum of film music, Joel McNeely can compose his own bad villain motif now and this one is a striking yet slightly less sparkling version than Williams' super known villain theme. The pride of the theme is witnessed in "Xizor's Theme" and together with Darth Vader and Luke's theme in "Night Skies".
The begin of the score of course starts with the world known main theme of John Williams and the love theme for Han Solo and Leia, but it is the second track that brings more originality to the fore with "The Battle of Gall", introducing some excellent scherzo's. One of the impressive choral /orchestral pallets of majesty is "Imperial City", with a powerful orchestral fanfare in the middle and an overwhelming choral one at the end. I find this one the highlight of the soundtrack.
We have scherzo's abound in "Beggar's Canyon Chase" and Williams well known underscore is found in "The Southern Underground" and "Into the Sewers". The last 10 minute track brings choral and orchestral ravage together into an impressive delight of color and rage.
While no one could deny that Williams' entries into the genre will maintain the ultimate winners, McNeely's own style is equally impressive, simply through his own voice of musical material. I truly adore the extensive use of the chorus, adding that spectacular edge to Star Wars scores. The amazing insert notes and detailed paintings only improve the purchase for true movie music fans. McNeely may as any composer have a certain style towards another classic movie composer, but don't see it as simply a way to be noticed into the Hollywood branch. You would do Joel McNeely and his impressive score for Shadows of the Empire injustice. I doesn't reach the original Star Wars scores, but what does? No, Shadows of the Empire is an impressive effort, coming from a composer the movie world is missing more and more.
Tracklisting
1. Main Theme from Star Wars * / Leia's Nightmare (3.46) Excellent track
2. The Battle of Gall (8.01)
3. Imperial City (8.04) Excellent track
4. Beggar's Canyon (2.58) Excellent track
5. The Southern Underground (1.50)
6. Xizor's Theme (4.36) Excellent track
7. The Seduction of Princess Leia (3.40)
8. Night Skies ** (4.19)
9. Into the Sewers (2.57)
10. The Destruction of Xizor's Palace (10.46) Excellent track
* Composed by John Williams
** Includes The Imperial March by John Williams
Total Length: 51.30
Unfortunately (or not) Joel could not compose everything exactly the way he would probably have done it, in movie music you must use the themes when they have to represent the characters, and Star Wars is a shade of memory without the illustrious well known fanfare and its themes for Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo and Princess Leia. So McNeely does use them, while everything else is his own imagination at work, making Shadows of the Empire an interesting listen for fans of all genres.
This story takes some known elements and twists them further in an unknown world, making the new enemy one Xizor, the dark prince of the Black Sun. Obvious from the spectrum of film music, Joel McNeely can compose his own bad villain motif now and this one is a striking yet slightly less sparkling version than Williams' super known villain theme. The pride of the theme is witnessed in "Xizor's Theme" and together with Darth Vader and Luke's theme in "Night Skies".
The begin of the score of course starts with the world known main theme of John Williams and the love theme for Han Solo and Leia, but it is the second track that brings more originality to the fore with "The Battle of Gall", introducing some excellent scherzo's. One of the impressive choral /orchestral pallets of majesty is "Imperial City", with a powerful orchestral fanfare in the middle and an overwhelming choral one at the end. I find this one the highlight of the soundtrack.
We have scherzo's abound in "Beggar's Canyon Chase" and Williams well known underscore is found in "The Southern Underground" and "Into the Sewers". The last 10 minute track brings choral and orchestral ravage together into an impressive delight of color and rage.
While no one could deny that Williams' entries into the genre will maintain the ultimate winners, McNeely's own style is equally impressive, simply through his own voice of musical material. I truly adore the extensive use of the chorus, adding that spectacular edge to Star Wars scores. The amazing insert notes and detailed paintings only improve the purchase for true movie music fans. McNeely may as any composer have a certain style towards another classic movie composer, but don't see it as simply a way to be noticed into the Hollywood branch. You would do Joel McNeely and his impressive score for Shadows of the Empire injustice. I doesn't reach the original Star Wars scores, but what does? No, Shadows of the Empire is an impressive effort, coming from a composer the movie world is missing more and more.
Tracklisting
1. Main Theme from Star Wars * / Leia's Nightmare (3.46) Excellent track
2. The Battle of Gall (8.01)
3. Imperial City (8.04) Excellent track
4. Beggar's Canyon (2.58) Excellent track
5. The Southern Underground (1.50)
6. Xizor's Theme (4.36) Excellent track
7. The Seduction of Princess Leia (3.40)
8. Night Skies ** (4.19)
9. Into the Sewers (2.57)
10. The Destruction of Xizor's Palace (10.46) Excellent track
* Composed by John Williams
** Includes The Imperial March by John Williams
Total Length: 51.30