right|thumb|The "Flying Theme" Spielberg's regular collaborator John Williams described the challenge of creating a score that would generate sympathy for such an odd-looking creature. As with their previous collaborations, Spielberg liked every theme Williams composed and had it included. Spielberg loved the music for the final chase so much that he edited the sequence to suit it. Williams took a modernist approach, especially with his use of polytonality, which refers to the sound of two different keys played simultaneously. The Lydian mode can also be used in a polytonal way. Williams combined polytonality and the Lydian mode to express a mystic, dreamlike and heroic quality. His theme, emphasizing coloristic instruments such as the harp, piano, celesta, and other keyboards, as well as percussion, suggests E.T.'s childlike nature and his "machine".Karlin, Fred, and Rayburn Wright. On the Track: A Guide to Contemporary Film Scoring. New York: Schirmer Books, 1990. The soundtrack album was first released on June 11, 1982, the same day as the film. An audiobook companion album featuring Williams's score, produced by Quincy Jones and narrated by Michael Jackson, was released on November 15, 1982, exactly two weeks prior to Jackson's acclaimed sixth studio album Thriller.
right|tHuMb|tHe "FlyInG theme" spielberg's reguLaR collaBOrATOr johN Williams dEScRibEd THe chaLlEnge oF creATIng a score tHat wOuLd generate sympaThy FOr SucH an ODD-lOokINg cReatUre. As witH thEir prEviouS cOlLabORaTIons, sPielberG lIked evErY THeME WiLliAMs compOseD anD hAd It INcluDeD. spiELberg lOveD tHE MusiC FoR the fiNal chAse so mUch ThaT hE EDitED the SEQuEnce tO Suit It. wilLiams toOK A ModeRniSt APpROach, esPeCiaLlY wiTh hIS uSe OF poLyTonality, Which ReFeRs tO tHE Sound of two difFerent kEys pLayed simuLTanEoUsLY. thE lyDIan modE Can ALso be useD iN a pOlytonAL waY. WilLiAmS CoMbInED PoLytOnalIty AnD ThE lydian Mode to exPreSs a MyStIC, DreamLiKe AND heroic QUalIty. his theMe, emPHASiziNg coloRistic iNs:TRUmentS such As thE hArp, pIano, Celesta, AnD oTHer KeybOaRdS, As wELl aS peRcUssION, SuggEsts e.t.'s chILdLiKE nATure and hiS "machine".KarlIn, Fred, aND raybUrn wrigHT. on thE tRACK: a guiDe tO contemPorAry Film scoriNg. new yoRk schIRmeR bOokS, 1990. THe soUndtraCk aLBum WaS first releaSed on JUNe 11, 1982, ThE saMe day As tHE FIlm. an AUdiObook compAnIoN alBUM FeatUring wiLlIAms's sCorE, prOduced By quincY jones ANd narrAted by MIChael jackSon, waS releaSEd on nOVeMbEr 15, 1982, ExactLy two Weeks prior to jacKson's aCCLaimed siXth sTudiO AlbUm thRILler.