Of the first three Star Wars films, The Empire Strikes Back is often viewed as the best. That judgment pertains to the John Williams music score, as well, even though it draws on themes from the trilogy's opener. It offers the famous Star Wars title theme, of course one of Williams' best-known melodies, and also the brilliant, menacing theme in The Imperial March, which permeates much of the score, and even more brilliant writing throughout. Williams fashions a witty, playful theme for Yoda by reworking the Force's melody from Star Wars. He also crafts a soaring, beautiful melody from Leia's theme in the original film to depict her growing love for Han Solo. Its use is quite moving in the cue near the end, Carbon Freeze. Following the main title is the atmospheric and desolate-sounding music in the Ice Planet Hoth. A few scenes later comes the thrilling Battle of Hoth, which seethes with tension, offering perhaps the most exciting music in the score, music as inventive as the special effects on the screen, which feature the mechanical Imperial Walkers crushing the rebel forces. The music in succeeding cues—The Asteroid Field, Arrival on Dagobah, and Han Solo and the Princess—is also brilliantly imagined and deftly atmospheric. The latter part of the Clash of Lightsabers features colorfully heroic music to accompany the thrilling escape from Bespin by Princess Leia, Lando, and Chewbacca. The Rebel Fleet and end title music close out this highly imaginative score.

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