Award-winning score has viewers humming along with the movie

Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia . . . John Williams?

Just try to imagine a silent Star Wars. Picture Luke going into the Death Star with nothing but silence to accompany him. Would Darth Vader's power have been half as frightening without the constant accompaniment of tubas and bassoons?

To go along with the re-release of the Star Wars epic, RCA Records has issued extended limited editions of the Academy and Grammy award winning scores. The two-disc editions include music that was previously unavailable with a beefy booklet detailing information about the recording of the music.

Williams is probably best known as the conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, but he has written music for more than 75 films, including not only the Star Wars trilogy but also the Indiana Jones and Jaws films.

"Williams is incredibly effective at joining sound with the emotional action of the movie," said Dick Bundy, associate professor of music and director of the Penn State Blue Band.

Fortunately for space-age super heroes, renegade archaeologists and killer sharks, John Williams added a much needed musical dimension to their lives.

"It is music that is intended to create an emotional reaction -- and that reaction is usually very clear to the listener because of the movie association," Bundy said.

Other music aficionados see the importance of Williams' music.

Most music majors have played a Williams piece at some point in their academic careers, he said.

"Personally, I've played music from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Jurassic Park, E.T., Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back."

Although Williams has earned respect in the music world since the 1950s, he is now finding new acclaim with a new generation of Star Wars fans.

"I think John Williams is the one name, outside of all the directors and producers, that most people would associate with a movie," Maddas said.

Assistant Music Buyer for Mike's Movies and Music, John Chaya, said he feels the Star Wars Soundtrack introduced John Williams to a new audience.

"I think John Williams' name was made on this music," Chaya said. "The subsequent popularity of his other soundtracks is because of his Star Wars music."

Chaya also added that Mike's has completely sold out of the Star Wars limited edition soundtrack, but RCA Records will continue to market the other new two-disc set.

William's scoring is an integral part of the Star Wars experience, said Jaime Jamison, staff member at Pattee.

"When something good is going to happen, there's this rising affirmation," said Jamison. He also said he feels the classically based music underlies the morality of the story.

Bundy reinforces Jamison's claim.

"Themes for the characters are reminiscent of Wagner's leitmotif," Bundy said.

Prestige aside, people still relate best to the emotion Williams' music produces.

"The music owes a lot to romanticism," Jamison said. "The emotional content of the music is important."