John Williams Star Wars Flashcards
When was star wars released?
1977
What is a leitmotif?
Musical ideas associated with a character, object or event that are transformed to become grander, sadder, more romantic or whatever else the dramatic situation demands
Give the first leitmotif in star wars
The motif starting on the upbeat to bar 4 of the set work is used to portray heroism and adventure, it soon becomes associated with the hero Luke Skywalker
How does Luke’s leitmotif get a heroic quality?
Loud dynamics
.Scoring for trumpets
.Focus on the tonic and dominant of Bb major (Bb and F)
.Strong rising intervals
.The triplet in bar 5, instead of continuing down to Bb leaps a 7th to Bb
How do the triplets add to the first leitmotif?
.Often a feature of heroic music
.Add to the march-like quality
What does the syncopated accompaniment do with the first leitmotif?
Add excitement
Whats the second leitmotif?
Rebel Blockade Runner, introduced in the final ten bars, used whenever the rebel alliance is trying to outrun the Empire, it is essentially just an interval of a minor third
Who is the music scored for?
A full symphony orchestra
How big is a full symphony orchestra and who is in it?
90 people: .10 woodwind .11 brass .6 persussion .Harp .60 strings - (first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, double basses)
What is tutti and give an example where
All, or everyone, plays - for example, bar 21
What is tremolo and give an example where
On strings, it is small very rapid movements of the bow against the strings - for example, bars 1 - 6
What is there no use of?
electric guitars, synthesizers or electronic effects
Describe the structure
An introductory fanfare in the first 29 bars followed by an ABA ternary form, the second part after the first 29 bars sets the scene for this particular film
What happens in A?
4 bar theme on trumpets, immediately repeated with a different accompaniment
What happens in B?
8 bar contrasting theme on violin plus a link
What happens in A1?
A repeat of A, more fully scored with small changes and a link
What happens in the 3 sections after the ABA section
.Shortened fanfare, crescendo and diminuendo
.Piccolo solo and mysterious harmony
.Sudden orchestral outburst followed by Rebel Blockade Runner leitmotif
Describe the tonality up till bar 29 (end of ABA) and how it is enforced
.Bb major
.enforced by an inverted tonic pedal on Bb in bars 1-6
.Dominant pedal on F in bars 11-14
.Phrases that end with a dominant chord of F, creating imperfect cadences
The tonality of the second half
.Increasingly atonal
.Dissonant chords
.Sense of bitonality in the last 10 bars
.Chords in Ab minor clash with a rhythmic ostinato on a pedal C
Harmony in the first 7 bars
.Quartal harmony, chords built from 4ths
.Chords in root position with some added notes
.Some chromaticism like the parallel triads in bar 7
Why do bars 33-35 have little sense of key?
Unrelated keys
How is a mystic tone created through harmony?
Interval of an augmented 5th between Ab and E natural through bars 32-39
Harmony at the end?
.Chords becoming increasingly dissonant
.Ab clashing with triads of C major
.Note clusters of C-Db-F-G are hammered out bars 46-50
.Parralel triads return in the last 4 bars over a pedal C
How does the opening fanfare link to the melody of section A?
.Intervals of 4th and 7th
.Triplet quaver rhythms
How does the main theme of Section B differ to that of section A
.For violins in octaves
.Less forceful dynamics
.more stepwise
How is the main theme of Section B similar to that of section A
.Intervals of 4ths and 7ths
.Quaver triplet rhythms
How is a march-like military mood created?
.Brisk tempo
.4/4 time
What does the syncopated accompaniment do?
Add excitement
How does the rhythm change throughout the piece?
.Pulse less obvious from bar 33
.Time changes to triple meter at bar 44
.Music gradually slows from 47 to 50
.The last 10 bars are at a faster tempo
What is the texture mainly?
Homophonic (melody and accompaniment, often with the melody doubled in octaves)
Give an example of an imitative point
Trumpets and trombones in the opening fanfare
Where is there a homorhythmic texture present?
Block chords in bars 44-50
Give an example of a pedal
A rhythmic ostinato on a pedal C in bars 51 to end
