The best bit about having the Olympics in America, at least for film music fans, is the guarantee of a rousing new John Williams concert work and accompanying album. For the 2002 Olympic Winter Games we have Call of the Champions which sees the first inclusion of a choir in a Williams ceremonial work. It comes across as a kind of upbeat version of Duel of the Fates with swirling orchestra and interjections of the mainly wordless choir. However an exception is made for the intonation of Citius, Altius, Fortius, literally swifter, higher, strong - a good Olympic motto. It is of course fairly memorable, but doesn't have the instant pleasure and simplicity of his earlier ones, but then nor does it have the sophistication of Summon the Heroes, the recording of which is included as a bonus track.

American Journey itself was a "multimedia presentation" chiefly made in collaboration with Steven Spielberg as a celebration of America's last century for the turn of the millennium. The six movement work breaks down history into broad categories with an appropriate musical backdrop for each provided by Williams. After several listens, I'm still somewhat undecided as to its success. It plays as a kind of extended Williams Olympic fanfare, but without any hugely memorable melodies to tie it all together. There are a couple of quite familiar passages such as Immigration and Building which has echoes of the Land Race from Far and Away. On the other hand, some of the occasional piano writing interwoven into the orchestra during Popular Arts and Sports and the slightly Carl Davis styled Civil Rights section is splendid and an interesting change in direction. It's an enjoyable work with some great moments, but to drag out an old cliché, isn't really more than the sum of its parts.

The rest of the album is a treat for Williams fans who've yearned for an album of miscellaneous concert works as this represents some of his best previously unavailable ones. Jubilee 350 was written for the anniversary of one of my favourite cities, Boston where of course Williams conducted (and still does on occasion) the Pops Orchestra. Hymn to New England, a tribute to the rest of that part of America is an absolute delight with its little fanfares in fives and wonderful pastoral, noble and expansive main melody; one of my favourite of Williams' concert efforts. Song for World Peace is dedicated to Boston Symphony conductor Seiji Ozawa and is lyrical, very gentle but very beautiful. Sound the Bells was written for a marriage in the Japanese Royal Family and is a very catchy little fanfare that was originally written for bells, but is re-arranged here for orchestra. Celebrate Discovery is a fairly standard Williams ceremonial, but few composers these days have quite the sense of occasion as Williams.

Rounded out by the aforementioned Summon the Heroes - still his best Olympic theme to date for my money - American Journey is probably destined to become a Williams fan favourite. It still seems a shame that the other film composers who've contributed to the Olympic spirit musically aren't represented. However any Williams fan is liable to enjoy every minute and since the opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympiad is on Williams' 70th birthday, it's going to be a very special day indeed.

Rating ~

  1. Call of the Champions (5:00)

    American Journey

  2. Immigration and Building (5:39)
  3. The Country at War (3:22)
  4. Popular Entertainment (2:30)
  5. Arts and Sports (2:37)
  6. Civil Rights and the Women's Movement (3:27)
  7. Flight and Technology (7:10)

  8. Song for World Peace (4:42)
  9. Jubilee 350 (3:44)
  10. The Mission Theme (3:30)
  11. For New York (3:03)
    Variations on Themes of Leonard Bernstein
  12. Sound the Bells (2:50)
  13. Hymn to New England (3:11)
  14. Celebrate Discovery (3:49)
  15. Summon the Heroes (6:16)

Total Time ~ 60:50