View source for Call of the Champions

{{Infobox song
| name       = Call of the Champions
| cover      =
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[John Williams]]
| album      = [[American Journey]]
| released   = 2002
| recorded   = The Great Salt Lake Tabernacle, [[Salt Lake City]], [[United States of America|US]]
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Classical music|Classical]]
| length     = 4:54
| label      = {{hlist|[[Sony Records]]|Olympic Studios}}
| writer     = {{hlist|John Williams}}
| producer   = John Williams
| chronology = [[John Williams]]
| prev_title = [[Summon the Heroes]]
| prev_year  = 1996
| next_title = [[Catch Me If You Can (soundtrack)|Catch Me If You Can]]
| next_year  = 2002
}}
{{listen
 | filename = Call of the champions sample.ogg
 | title = "Call of the Champions"
 | description = composed by [[John Williams]] for the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] in Salt Lake City
 | format = [[Ogg]]
}}
'''''Call of the Champions''''' is a fanfare for orchestra and choir composed by [[John Williams]] for the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] in [[Salt Lake City, Utah]].<ref name="Filmtracks">{{cite web |first=Christian |last=Clemmensen |title=John Williams: American Journey |url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/american_journey.html |publisher=[[Filmtracks.com]] |accessdate=January 30, 2015}}</ref> Premiering at the Opening Ceremony on February 8, 2002, it began with the call by the [[Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square]] of "Citius! Altius! Fortius!" (Faster, Higher, Stronger), which is the Olympic Motto chosen by the founder of the modern Games, Baron [[Pierre de Coubertin]]. Williams added another Latin word as well: "Clarius," meaning "clearer."

The recording of this theme heard during the 2002 Winter Games was made November 27, 2001 in Maurice [[Abravanel Hall]] in Salt Lake City, with the composer conducting the [[Utah Symphony Orchestra]] and the 360-voice Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.<ref name="Filmtracks" />

Because of differing opinions on the pronunciation of the Latin text, the Choir actually recorded several versions, leaving the final decision to be made by the producers. The issue was whether to use a Classical pronunciation of the Olympic Motto ({{lang|la|kitty-us, alty-us, forty-us}}), a liturgical one ({{lang|la|cheetsy-oos, ahltsy-oos, fortsy-oos}}), or a hybrid of the two ({{lang|la|chitty-us}}, etc.). {{citation needed|date=February 2022}} 

In addition to the text variations, the choir and orchestra also recorded two versions of the theme for timing purposes. The full-length, five-minute version appears on the John Williams CD ''[[American Journey]]'' and in the Tabernacle Choir's own recording on ''Spirit of America'' (with the Orchestra at Temple Square) and is the one performed by the [[Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square]] and [[the Orchestra at Temple Square]] in their concerts.<ref name="Filmtracks" /> A shorter version, about half the length of the original, was recorded for the Opening Ceremony of the Games. In addition, the theme was repeated throughout the games.  A common occurrence was during medal ceremonies where the theme played during the presentation portion of the ceremony.

The work is Williams' fourth composition for the Olympics, after 1984's "Olympic Fanfare and Theme," 1988's "The Olympic Spirit," and 1996's "Summon the Heroes."

This song was used at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in [[Athens]], Greece as the torch was brought into the stadium during the [[2004 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]].

==See also==
*[[List of compositions by John Williams]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Italic title}}
{{John Williams}}
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[[Category:2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Compositions by John Williams]]
[[Category:Compositions for symphony orchestra]]
[[Category:Choral compositions]]
[[Category:Concert band pieces]]
[[Category:Olympic theme songs]]
[[Category:2002 compositions]]
[[Category:Fanfares]]


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