Main title of star wars

Question 1

When was this piece composed?

Answer 1

The late 1970s

Question 2

Who composed this piece?

Answer 2

John Williams
Born in New York in 1932

Question 3

What key does this piece start in ?

Answer 3

B flat major

Question 4

What instruments play in this piece?

Answer 4

trumpet
trombone
horn
timpani
harp
violins
strings
flute

Question 5

What dynamics are used and how do they create an important role?

Answer 5

The opening fanfare is ff-emphasises the call for attention.
The main theme continues ff-gives a strong military feel.
The contrasting b section is played mf by the string section- suggests the film will feature other themes.
Piccolo melody played at p

Question 6

How is the fanfare like piece created?

Answer 6

Lots of accents in the horns-for anticipation
Rapid repeated notes develop quickly into staccato triplets figures with free imitation.
Snare drum emphasises it.
There are punctuating syncopated chords in the brass, lower strings AND bassoon.
Used as an accompaniment for the leitmotif- shows there is a hero

Question 6

What is the structure of the piece?

Answer 6

Introduction
A-B-A-A
linking section-3 bars
codetta

Question 7

What is the importance of the piccolo melody?

Answer 7

played at p
Played at a very high pitch-conveys the sense of mystery of the planets and the stars.

Question 7

What are the key features of the leitmotif?

Answer 7

Represents the hero, Luke Skywalker.
Played by the high trumpets and brass.
There are leaping intervals (disjunct), triplets, inverted tonic pedal and a ff dynamic.
This all shows he is confident.

Question 8

What do the violins do in bars 7-11?

Answer 8

They play demi semi quavers which add excitement and brilliance.
There is tremolo chords in the violin and inverted tonic pedal.

Question 9

What changes in the B section?

Answer 9

Violins- have a different melody with conjunct rise and fall.
The section is contrasting-more lyrical, softer and more legato.
There is a counter melody in brass along with a D flat major chord in bar 15.
There are no triplets (associated with Lukes leitmotif)
There are dotted quaver/semiquavers in rhythmic unison-only used once so catch our attention.

Question 10

What happens in bar 18-19?

Answer 10

The trumpets and horns play in contrary motion.
There is a dominant pedal on a long f.
Tempo slows with a rit.

Question 11

What changes in bar 21?

Answer 11

Changes to section A1.
Interval of perfect 5th.
Back to Lukes leitmotif.
French horns and strings play the tune.

Question 12

What is the metre/rhythm of the piece?

Answer 12

The metre is 4/4 and a tempo of 100 bpm- This gives a military and marching feel.
Syncopated block chords accompany the main melody and there are many triplet
pedal ostinatos-such as bars 30 and 51.
The piccolo link in bars 36 to 38 has longer notes, which gives the illusion of a slower
tempo- however, the original pulse is actually maintained.

Question 13

In bar 30, what does the key change to ?

Answer 13

F minor

Question 14

How is space show in bars 31-33?

Answer 14

chaotic.
fanfare like-similar to intro.
There is a rapid ascending sequence-creates a sensation of panic.
Sextuplets played staccato and crescendo- create a sense of urgency.

Question 15

What happens in the link passage (bars 33-42)-IMPORTANT SECTION?

Answer 15

Switches to treble clef-shows gravity in space is gentle.
Strings play a rapid arpeggio.
There are strange,unstable harmonies.
Piccolo sounds disjointed and floating-different from main theme.
Harp plays an ostinato (short melodic repeated phrase).
There are scurrying upward figures in the violin-create tension, urgency and panic.
There is no clear key-uncertainty.
It is highly chromatic.

Question 16

What key is bar 42 in?

Answer 16

c minor- creates some dissonance

Question 17

what time signature is it?

Answer 17

3/4 which is weird for a march

Question 18

What are the key features like in bar 44-end?

Answer 18

dissonance is used alot.
Homophony across all parts.
Dissonant chords in rhythmic unison- across the orchestra.

Question 19

What kind of things does the timpani play at the end?

Answer 19

Hammers out an ominous, foreboding, threatening rhythm.

Question 20

What type of harmony is used throughout this piece?

Answer 20

Quartal harmony. This means that the harmony is built on a fourth instead of the usual interval of a third-This creates a distinctive unresolved sound that adds to the drama and tension of the music.

Question 21

What is the pitch range in this piece?

Answer 21

The very top of the brass pitch range is exploited with many accents written for emphasis and power.