LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:
2025 began with two long-awaited archival reissues of John Williams’ scores: The Reivers (from La-La Land Records) and The Patriot (from Intrada). Both are presented in fully remastered and expanded presentations by GRAMMY-nominated soundtrack producer Mike Matessino, finally giving fans of Maestro Williams the chance to rediscover two masterworks from the composer’s catalogue. The scores also offer the occasion to observe the evolution of Williams’ unique voice when writing music for American-themed subjects, a recurring motif in his career.
The Reivers is a film from 1969 directed by Mark Rydell based upon the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by the great American novelist William Faulkner. It’s a coming of age story set at the turn of the century in rural Mississippi about a young boy named Lucius (Mitch Vogel) who goes off for an adventure with a rascal named Boon Haggenback (Steve McQueen) and his friend Ned (Rupert Crosse), on board of a brand-new transportation vehicle: the automobile, here a dodgy yellow Winton Flyer. The story is narrated by an older Lucius (with the voice of Burgess Meredith), reflecting on his growth and reminiscing with nostalgia about old days of his youth. It’s a really charming, enjoyable film that is accompanied by John Williams with a joyous score brimming with lyrical tunes, steeped into American music of the late-19th and early-20th century, from folksongs to early jazz and bluegrass, but also expanding into riveting orchestral Aaron Copland-like Americana. The composer augments the traditional orchestral palette with jaunty writing for solo guitar, harmonica, banjo and country fiddle, providing indelible colors to reflect the story and its vivid setting. The music garnered John Williams his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score (he previously collected two for Best Adaptation,Valley of the Dolls and Goodbye Mr. Chips) and is notoriously famous for being the score that grabbed the attention of a then young up-and-coming director named Steven Spielberg. The Reivers is considered the first of many jewels in the crown of John Williams, who over the years showed a particular fondness for this score and also gave it a new life in the concert hall when it was adapted as a suite for narrator and orchestra, which he premiered during his debut concert as music director of the Boston Pops in 1980 (with Burgess Meredith reprising his role as narrator) and that has been performed over the years by Williams with prestigious narrators such as Morgan Freeman and James Taylor.
La-La Land Records’ new 2-CD limited edition presents the remastered and expanded original soundtrack with the complete film score program on Disc 1 (featuring previously unreleased material and bonus alternate tracks), edited and remastered by Mike Matessino from newly discovered 3-track elements courtesy of Sony Music’s vaults, finally giving the music a new sonic life. Disc 2 presents the remastered original soundtrack album assembly, featuring unique performances and edits, also an important historical document in the composer’s discography. Williams’ aforementioned concert suite, as recorded for the 1994 Boston Pops album Music for Stage and Screen, concludes the presentation: Here the composer revisits and expands upon his 1969 score, which features the film’s original narrator, Burgess Meredith. In-depth liner notes by John Takis and colorful artwork by Jim Titus complete the package, another unmissable item for the collection of John Williams’ enthusiasts.
The Patriot (2000) is an historical epic set during the American Revolutionary War. Directed by Roland Emmerich and produced by his cinematic partner Dean Devlin (the duo behind such blockbuster hits as Stargate and Independence Day), the film stars Mel Gibson as fictional war hero Benjamin Martin, who reluctantly decides to fight for the country’s independence after the life of his family is threatened by the sinister soldiers of the British Empire. The Academy Award-nominated score by John Williams is an ambitious work running over 100 minutes, featuring multiple themes and setpieces: a sonorous, noble Americana theme and fanfare-like material for main hero Benjamin Martin; a gorgeous folk-like love theme for the characters of Anne and Gabriel; a haunting trumpet solo echoing Benjamin’s traumatic war memories; plus a handful of secondary motifs. Williams also addresses the period in which the film takes place with authentic fife-and-drum music and harmonic modalities harkening back to the 18th century traditional American music.
Intrada’s new 3-disc release is mastered, edited and produced by Mike Matessino and includes the complete film presentation of Williams’ score on Disc 1 and 2, adding a solid selection of alternate cues and a generous selection of source music tracks (including several composed by John Williams) at the end of the main program. Disc 3 includes a remastered presentation of the original Hollywood Records soundtrack album, featuring unique performance takes and edit points. The 3-CD set features a colorful booklet with film stills and in-depth liner notes by John Takis.
Producer Mike Matessino returns on The Legacy of John Williams podcast together with film music writer John Takis to discuss these two milestone releases from John Williams’ catalogue, offering commentary and reflections about how the two scores sit in the composer’s canon and their specific nature as part of Williams’ exploration of the American sound. A special tribute to Intrada’s late founder and producer Douglass Fake is included at the end of the episode.
Special Thanks to Roger Feigelson, Jeff Johnson (Intrada) and MV Gerhard, Matt Verboys (La-La Land Records).
In Memoriam Douglass Fake (1952-2024)
THE REIVERS: REMASTERED & EXPANDED LIMITED EDITION (2CD Set)
Music Composed and Conducted by John Williams
Available from La-La Land Records
DISC 1 • SCORE PRESENTATION • 52:55
1. Logo And Main Title (The Reivers) 3:53
2. The Winton Flyer 1:46
3. First Instruction 1:21
4. Ned Tries It Out 1:54
5. Family Funeral / Lucius’ First Drive (Film Version) 2:39
6. A Tall Tale / To Memphis / That Ole Mud Hole 1:48
7. The Road To Memphis (Film Version) 1:44
8. Memphis (Film Version) 1:32
9. Corrie’s Entrance / The Picture (Extended Version) 2:56
10. Lucius And Corrie 1:37
11. The Bad News :35
12. Ned’s Trade (Extended Version) 2:49
13. The Sheriff Departs 2:34
14. Ned’s Secret / The People Protest 2:08
15. Prayers At Bedtime (Extended Version) 2:42
16. Lucius Runs To Corrie 2:11
17. The Prize 1:33
18. Moment Of Glory 1:35
19. Back Home 1:35
20. Boss’s Collar 1:15
21. Camptown Races And End Credits† 1:14
Total Score Time: 41:51
ADDITIONAL MUSIC
22. Stephen Foster Medley‡ 4:06
23. The Winton Flyer (Film Version) 1:47
24. Family Funeral 1:04
25. The Road To Memphis (Alternate) 1:38
26. Boss’s Collar (Alternate) 1:04
27. Camptown Races And End Credits (Alternate) † 1:14
Total Additional Music: 11:10
DISC 2 • 49:07
REMASTERED ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
1. Main Title / First Instruction / The Winton Flyer 5:11
2. Family Funeral / Lucius’ First Drive 2:31
3. The Road To Memphis 1:44
4. Corrie’s Entrance / The Picture 2:12
5. The Sheriff Departs / The Bad News / Ned’s Secret 3:34
6. Memphis 1:23
7. Ned’s Trade 2:05
8. The People Protest 1:07
9. Prayers At Bedtime 2:28
10. Lucius Runs To Corrie / Back Home 3:33
11. Finale† 4:12
Total Soundtrack Album Time: 30:20
ADDITIONAL MUSIC
12. The Reivers (Concert Suite) 18:43
† Includes “Camptown Races” composed by Stephen Foster (P.D.)
‡ Contains “Oh! Susanna,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” “Massa’s In De Cold Ground” (P.D.)
THE PATRIOT – ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
Music Composed and Conducted by John Williams
Available at Intrada.com: https://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12982/.f
CD 1 SCORE PRESENTATION
- The Family Farm (The Patriot Main Title) • 3:03
- The North Star • 1:58
- To Charleston • 2:14
- Addressing The Assembly • 2:45
- The Defeat At Charleston • 3:08
- Walking Among The Fallen • 1:21
- Redcoats In The Cornfield • 1:22
- The Death Of Thomas • 4:14
- The First Ambush • 3:17
- Martin Leaves The Family • 3:11
- Reading The War Map • 1:35
- Colonel And Corporal • 1:52
- Ann Recruits The Parishioners • 3:08
- Rough Fighter Recruited • 1:41
- Villeneuve’s Training • 1:33
- Ann And Gabriel (Extended Version) • 4:45
- Tavington’s Ambush And Remembering The Wilderness • 4:11
- Martin To The Stockade • 1:31
- Tavington Vs. Martin • 1:54
- The Burning Of The Plantation (Film Version) • 5:06
- To Gullah Maroon • 1:46
- Burnt-Out House / Susan And Father • 2:27
- The Wedding • 1:33
- Susan Speaks • 3:15
- The Parisians Return • 1:34
- The Parish Church Aflame (Film Version) • 3:10
- The Burnt-Out Church • 1:21
- Gabriel’s Last Fight • 2:33
- Mortally Wounded • 2:30
CD 1 Total Time: 75:24
CD 2 SCORE PRESENTATION (Continued)
- Death Of Gabriel • 4:18
- Martin Rejoins The Troops • 1:13
- Preparing For Battle (Film Version) • 3:48
- Tavington’s Premature Charge • 0:50
- Martin Sets The Trap • 2:14
- The British Counter-Attack • 3:01
- Martin Vs. Tavington (Film Version) • 3:22
- Yorktown And The Return Home (Film Version) • 5:24
- The Patriot (End Titles) • 7:43
Total Time: 32:20
Total Score Presentation: 107:44
THE EXTRAS - The Family Farm (Alternate) • 3:02
- Redcoats In The Cornfield (Alternate) • 1:24
- The Death Of Thomas (Alternate) • 4:21
- Rough Fighter Recruited (Alternate) • 1:47
- To Gullah Maroon (Alternate) • 1:17
- The Wedding (Alternate) • 1:32
- The Patriot Returns • 1:07
- Martin Sets The Trap (Alternate) • 2:11
- Martin Vs. Tavington (Alternate Segment) • 1:02
- Yorktown And The Return Home (Alternate Segment) • 2:20
- The Patriot (Alternate) • 6:30
SOURCE MUSIC - The British Grenadiers • 2:51
- Prince Eugene’s March • 1:01
- Yankee Doodle • 0:56
- Tavern Tune No. 1 • 0:58
- Tavern Tune No. 2 • 1:49
- Colonial Camp Tune • 2:56
- Violin Concerto In E Major (Allegro Assai) (J.S. Bach) • 2:49
- Ann’s Wedding Celebration • 1:57
- The British Grenadiers And Battlefield Drums • 1:33
Total Extras and Source Music Time: 44:11
CD 2 Total Time: 76:36
CD 3 REMASTERED ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
- The Patriot • 6:40
- The Family Farm • 3:03
- To Charleston • 2:14
- The Colonial Cause • 3:16
- Redcoats At The Farm And The Death Of Thomas • 4:58
- Ann Recruits The Parishioners • 3:09
- Preparing For Battle • 5:50
- Ann And Gabriel • 4:36
- The First Ambush And Remembering The Wilderness • 4:00
- Tavington’s Trap • 4:10
- The Burning Of The Plantation • 4:56
- Facing The British Lines • 3:05
- The Parish Church Aflame • 3:04
- Susan Speaks • 3:17
- Martin Vs. Tavington • 3:07
- Yorktown And The Return Home • 5:20
- The Patriot Reprise • 7:47
CD 3 Total Time: 72:39
The Legacy of John Williams 