John Williams’ soundtrack for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was briefly posted online and then taken down before the film’s theatrical release. That movie marks the culmination for the Skywalker saga that began in 1977. Not only was Williams there at the beginning but has now provided music for all of the nine core Star Wars films; the legendary composer and his music are a distinctive aspect of a story that began over 40 years ago.
Disney has been notoriously tip-lipped about any plot details surrounding Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in order to preserve the story's biggest revelations. Their marketing strategy has relied heavily on the use of nostalgia to tease fans. That being said, Williams' score for the movie will no doubt carry a similar level of sentimentality. Much in the same way that the film’s writers and director were tasked with bringing an end to various storylines, Williams aims to bring a satisfying conclusion to a certain thematic rhythm. While visiting the Academy of Scoring Arts earlier this year, Williams’ brother, Don said that every musical theme featured in the Skywalker saga can be heard in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. However, those distinctive orchestral sounds will be hidden and you’ll have to listen closely. Nevertheless, the score being closely intertwined with the narrative of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, establishes it as a source of spoilers in and of itself.
As reported by SWNN, 23 tracks from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s soundtrack were available to stream Tuesday on Walt Disney Studios Awards website. While the site did not provide any titles for the tracks (they were labeled numerically), the overall mood of the later tracks could easily elicit some spoiler-esque emotions from fans. In addition to this, any (returning) character-related themes from previous entries in the franchise, could also be seen as a spoiler. Many found the timing of the soundtrack’s (partial) release questionable— it's unclear whether or not it was even supposed to be available to the public. If you visit the site at this time, those tracks are no longer accessible. Disney has yet to comment on the possible hiccup/technical error.
The “For Your Consideration” page submits Williams' work for a Best Original Score nomination; Williams has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for five of the eight released Star Wars films in the Skywalker Saga (winning for 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope). His work on the Star Wars franchise is one of the many reasons he is widely considered to be one of the greatest American film composers of all time; the Library of Congress has even entered Star Wars: A New Hope’s soundtrack into the National Recording Registry for its cultural significance. Williams, now 87, has said that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker could be his last time working on a Star Wars movie. It seems unlikely that Disney would want what could be Williams' last Star Wars project available to the public so early.
Ever since the “Main Title” theme of Star Wars: A New Hope’s in 1977, Williams as had a knack for elevating scenes with his iconic scores. From Star Wars and Indiana Jones to Jurassic Park and Harry Potter, his soundtrack are as memorable as the narratives themselves. The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker soundtrack will exist as a magnum opus of sorts for the composer—a culmination of a galaxy far, far away and all of the sounds in it. Whether Disney meant to post the soundtrack online or not, experiencing John Williams' final outing fresh, tied to its respective moments and emotions, is probably wiser than streaming it ahead of time.
Source: SWNN
