So, its no surprise that the vast majority of peeps here love ESB (I should know, I'm one of them), and I was wondering, what parts are your favourite?
For the record, mine are:
The Asteroid Chase (duh)
The Battle of Hoth (duh again)
The Version of the Imeperial March just before the battle of Hoth -- the massive one with all the little drums in the background; it makes it sound military and impressive and sinister all at the same time.
The version of the Imperial March in Track 7 of the 1997 release (in the movie, just before the guy sees that back of Vader's head w/o helmet) that has the military-sounding string flourishes at the end.
And one of the best bits that nobody seems to mention: The City In The Clouds theme that accompanies the Falcon as it flies into Cloud City. The soaring strings and horns and that soprano chorus remind me a bit of the theme for the first Star Trek. By the way, does anyone know if JW used an actual singer in the piece, or some kind of synthesizer?

Well, I think I've said enough. Love to hear what your favourites are...

> So, its no surprise that the vast majority of peeps here love ESB (I
> should know, I'm one of them), and I was wondering, what parts are your
> favourite?
For the record, mine are:
The Asteroid Chase (duh)
>
The Battle of Hoth (duh again)
The Version of the Imeperial March
> just before the battle of Hoth -- the massive one with all the little
> drums in the background; it makes it sound military and impressive and
> sinister all at the same time.
The version of the Imperial March in
> Track 7 of the 1997 release (in the movie, just before the guy sees that
> back of Vader's head w/o helmet) that has the military-sounding string
> flourishes at the end.
And one of the best bits that nobody seems to
> mention: The City In The Clouds theme that accompanies the Falcon as it
> flies into Cloud City. The soaring strings and horns and that soprano
> chorus remind me a bit of the theme for the first Star Trek. By the way,
> does anyone know if JW used an actual singer in the piece, or some kind of
> synthesizer?

> Well, I think I've said enough. Love to hear what your favourites are...

There are some both fantastic and dull moments on ESB score. My favorite is the montage of last 4 tracks - from "Carbon Freeze" to "End Title", fantastic Williams full of lively, full-orchestral statements of all themes, especially in cue "Clash of the Lightsabers". I adore like You "The Asteroid Field" track, Yoda's theme is a treasure, but I prefer its performances in the finale of the album over quiet and subtle ones in Dagobath section of the score, I don't know I just love when Yoda's theme is performed glorious. Besides that Boba Fett's theme is great, played by fast strings is one of the highlights (and Yoda's theme over it! ) of the album. Han-Leia theme is remarkable as well, especially in "Carbon Freeze" cue.

And there is also brief, mentioned by You, probably (although I'm not sure) synthesized choir in track "Cloud City", kind of reminds me of wonder-and-awe of Close Encounters soundatrck.

I'm tired by Battle of Hoth, respectively. Much noise and atonal music that works in film but on album I can hardly stand. Of course there are numerous powerful statements of Imperial March, but since I heard it so many times, I prefer other moments/thematic statements in The Empire Strikes Back

Tomek

Well a part from the great themes you mentionned, I particularly like the part of "clash of lightsaber" when R2 tries to open the door, beggining from the trombone solo to the escape of the Falcon. Specially the part where the door is open, yoiu can hear the love theme but with horns and trumpets and it makes it really diferent. Also the part where Han Solo in carbonite is carried by imperial officers and escorted by Boba Fett, it feels so dark. Finally the "Rescue from cloud city" part where they are chased by tie fighters, followed by the conversation between Darth Vader and Luke, "Ben, why didn't you tell me...": we hear the Imperial March but the strings in the back make it sound like psychedellic, we can almost feel the confusion in Luke's head. That is that.

The entire Empire Strikes Back score is probably my favorite movie score of all time. More specifically I love the 20-minute-ish segment for The Battle of Hoth through The Asteroid Field.

But most specifically, my favorite part would probably have to be "The Imperial Walkers" which used to be "The Battle of Hoth" in the old recordings. The fact that Williams has a battery of 8 percussion, 2 grand pianos and 3 harps is amazing. And that 3 minute segment is scored like nothing else in the entire movie. It's metallic, haunting, and stands out from the rest of the score.

I am hoping to be able to rent the score and parts for that entire 20 minute segment "The Battle of Hoth through The Asteroid Field" to perform with my orchestra. Doubtful that it will happen, but it won't hurt to try.

Chances are you'll never read this, but go for the orchestra thing, Jason! I've been trying to get my band director to do Star Wars music for quite a while.
The apprx. three and a half minute long "The Imperial Walkers" is my favorite track; it's fascinating to listen to all of the intricate parts in the chaotic score. After the first minute of that (ending with a few notes on a mallet instrument), there are two rithmic "slaps" heard. Does anyone know what that is? Is it percussion or the violinists slapping their legs or something?
Anyway, I also like the "Cloud City" part with the choir as well as the rythmic pulse used as the Millinneum Falcon escapes from Bespin.
The theme used as the snowspeeders search for Luke and Han (most of it, I believe, was cut from the movie) is a nice little peice, and I love the churning, raucous theme that is heard twice while Han, Chewie, Lea, C-3P0, and R2-D2 are inside the giant space slug.
The Imperial March is great, too.

The Empire Strikes Back is the first score I loved and still is my most favorite of all soundtracks!
I don't seem to be able to get enough of that powerfull Empire theme. It's such a brilliant piece of work.

I can admire Yoda's Theme (especially the funny, faster bit played on flutes) but I really love the loud, heroic music like The Asteroid Field.
It just keeps coming and keeps amazing me.

Then there's also Attacking A Star Destroyer, starts softly and then bursts into beautifull fast chasing heroics.

The moment Han is being put into carbonite, is very emotional.

And how about Yoda And The Force. When Yoda shows his wonderfull powers and amazes Luke with it. Very majestical I think.

And Imperial Starfleet Deployed when the falcon detaches from the Imperial Stardestroyer and Boba Fett following them.

City In The Clouds is also a piece that I like.

And when I hear Lando's Palace I can see threepio walking by...before he gets shot.

Well...I must say I almost like the whole cd! Just not The Battle Of Hoth.

Forgot to mention Rescue From Cloud City and Hyperspace! It has that funny droid theme in it played faster.

There is so much in it that I like. Up to the very end with The Rebel Fleet and End Title wich makes me wish the adventure was never over and visits all the major themes again.

It's a brilliant score as is the film.

> So, its no surprise that the vast majority of peeps here love ESB (I
> should know, I'm one of them), and I was wondering, what parts are your
> favourite?
For the record, mine are:
The Asteroid Chase (duh)
>
The Battle of Hoth (duh again)
The Version of the Imeperial March
> just before the battle of Hoth -- the massive one with all the little
> drums in the background; it makes it sound military and impressive and
> sinister all at the same time.
The version of the Imperial March in
> Track 7 of the 1997 release (in the movie, just before the guy sees that
> back of Vader's head w/o helmet) that has the military-sounding string
> flourishes at the end.
And one of the best bits that nobody seems to
> mention: The City In The Clouds theme that accompanies the Falcon as it
> flies into Cloud City. The soaring strings and horns and that soprano
> chorus remind me a bit of the theme for the first Star Trek. By the way,
> does anyone know if JW used an actual singer in the piece, or some kind of
> synthesizer?

> Well, I think I've said enough. Love to hear what your favourites are...

My favorite parts in ESB would have to be The Imperial Probe, Battle of Hoth, Asteroid Field, Attacking a Star Destroyer, Lando's Palace, Betrayal at Bespin, and End titles. It is interesting that a lot of these tracks (or parts of them) were used extensively in the earlier Lucasarts Star Wars games. Like for example in Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight, I would sit for hours just listening to the music and attempting to figure out where they were on the soundtracks, as I didn't have the soundtracks at the time.

Also what is with the people in hear using the names of ex-Rogue Squardon pilots? In that case I'll be Tycho Celchu; he's a better pilot than Wedge and Hobbie, and is probably the best A-Wing, TIE Interceptor pilot aside from Baron Soontir Fel