 Steven Spielberg and John Williams had worked together on fifteen films before Saving Private Ryan ( 1998 ) . The score was recorded at Symphony Hall in Boston , Massachusetts with the assistance of the Boston Symphony Orchestra . After having recorded the re @-@ edited version Close Encounters of the Third Kind ( 1977 ) and some Schindler 's List ( 1993 ) at Symphony Hall previously , this was the third time Spielberg and Williams worked on a soundtrack at this location . Spielberg chose Symphony Hall as the site for the recording because the hall gives " rich , warm sound off the walls and ceiling " and allows you to " hear the air , " which some soundstages do not allow you to do . Spielberg stated he chose to work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra because the film deals with a " company of soldiers " and the orchestra was an " experienced company of musicians . " Over the course of a three @-@ day period in February 1998 , the score for the film was recorded at a rate of around $ 100 @,@ 000 an hour . 
