Main title/Rebel blockade runner

Question 1

What is a FILM SCORE?

Answer 1

An original piece of music written to accompany a specific film

Question 2

What is a FANFARE?

Answer 2

Celebratory piece of music for brass instruments, marking an opening
Short, loud, consists of arpeggios

Question 3

What is meant by QUARTAL HARMONY?

Answer 3

Chords built on superimposed fourths for build up

Question 4

Describe how Williams creates a sense of power and might in the opening main titles music.

Answer 4

Fan-fare in the first 3 bars
Interval from B flat to F in bar 4
Triplet feature being used in every bar from bars 5-11
Dramatic stop on the final beat of bar 50, followed by 3 bar ritartando

Question 5

How does background music (UNDERSCORE) enhance the moving pictures on screen? Give TWO contrasting examples from the score to illustrate your ideas

Answer 5

Acts like a link:
Bars 33-41 (Rebel blockade runner)
Bars 42-50 (March)

Question 6

Compare this music with the title music to RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, also by John Williams. What are the similarities and differences of these two films?

Answer 6

Similarities:
Brass fanfare + March
Repetetive motifs

Differences:
Star wars is immediate, Indiana Jones is built up
Stars wars has inconsistent tempo, Indiana Jones has the same tempo throughout

Question 7

Compare this music with the title music to SUPERMAN, also by John Williams. What are the similarities and differences of these two films?

Answer 7

Similarities:
Brass fanfare
Changes in tempo
Built-up chords and ostinatos

Differences:
Stars wars is immediate, Superman is built up

Question 8

How many bars long is the fanfare introduction?

Answer 8

3 bars (bars 1-3)

Question 9

Identify TWO features that allow the introduction to be described as a FANFARE

Answer 9

It’s played by brass instruments
It’s very loud (ff)

Question 10

What does TUTTI mean in the score?

Answer 10

Played all together

Question 11

What does PIZZ mean in the score?

Answer 11

Pizzicato (for stringed instruments like the violin) – Where musicians should use their fingers to pluck the strings, instead of using a bow

Question 12

What does 8VA mean in the score?

Answer 12

That the notes should be played one octave above

Question 13

Describe the texture in bars 44-50

Answer 13

It is thin as the entire orchestra is playing the same idea/chord at once, with only small and slight changes within the chords

Question 14

Which TWO words describe the rhythm of the accompaniment in bars 21-24?

Answer 14

Off-beat
Triplets