Jurassic Park (John Williams)

(1993)

Of all the single best years for a film composer in Hollywood history, John Williams in 1993 was arguably the most impressive of them all.  Whilst his score for Schindler’s List would overshadow Jurassic Park and earn Williams practically every possible film music award, both scores were a monumental success, to the point that Williams spent 1994 conducting themes from them both in concerts and taking a break from composing scores.

The score for Jurassic Park is an unquestioned classic and easily one of the best scores written during the 90’s.  There are two primary themes, and the album includes excellent concert arrangements of both in the tracks “Theme From Jurassic Park” and “End Credits”.

Whilst the memorable, sweeping themes are the main highlights, there’s some great action music here too, with the two most notable instances being the frantic music of “Incident at Isla Nublar” and the harsh, relentless “The Raptor Attack”.  “Dennis Steals the Embryos” is the only real upset, not only being near-identical to the theme from the conspirators from Williams’ earlier score to JFK (perhaps Dennis was also conspiring to murder Kennedy…?), but it just totally inappropriate when compared to the rest of the score.

Choirs are used very sparingly in the score, but when they are, the effect they have is stunning, most notably in the beautifully ethereal piece “Hatching Baby Raptor”.

Probably Williams’ finest achievement since his Oscar winning score for E.T. in 1982, Jurassic Park remains a highlight both of the composer’s career and of fantasy film scores.  Regardless of whether it didn’t have the success it should have or not because of Schindler’s List, the score ranks amongst Williams’ very best, and is one that should be included in any collection of his music.

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Track Listing

1 – Opening Titles

2 – Theme From Jurassic Park

3 – Incident at Isla Nublar

4 – Journey To The Island

5 – The Raptor Attack

6 – Hatching Baby Raptor

7 – Welcome To Jurassic Park

8 – My Friend, The Brachiosaurus

9 – Dennis Steals The Embryo

10 – A Tree For My Bed

11 – High-Wire Stunts

12 – Remembering Petticoat Lane

13 – Jurassic Park Gate

14 – Eye To Eye

15 – T-Rex Rescue & Finale

16 – End Credits

Total Time: 70:20

Credits

Music Composed, Conducted & Produced by John Williams

Orchestrations by John Neufeld & Alexander Courage

Awards

Grammy Award (nominated)

Insert Notes

Contains the usual note from director Steven Spielberg.

All artwork and images are Copyright © MCA Records