Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner from 'Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope' - John Williams

Question 1

which bars is the main theme- introduction comprised of?

Answer 1

• bars 1-3

Question 2

describe the tonality, time signature, tempo, timbre, melody, dynamics and rhythm of the introduction.

Answer 2

• tonality : key of Bb major
• time signature : 4/4
• tempo : starts fast at 100 BPM - exciting action movie; poco rall in bar 3
• timbre : trumpet, horn, trombone (brass) ; tuba and timpani added in bar 3
• melody : dominated by fanfare-like figures (feeling of expectation), rapid repeating notes develop into staccato triplet figures ; free imitation between trombones and trumpets
• dynamics : fortissimo
• rhythm : triplets

Question 3

state an example of anacrusis in the introduction.

Answer 3

• bar 3

Question 4

which bars is section A comprised of?

Answer 4

• bar 4-7

Question 5

describe the rhythm/pulse of section A.

Answer 5

• strong quadruple pulse -> march style - reflects ‘military’ style of war between rebels and imperial forces

Question 6

describe the timbre, melody and texture of section A.

Answer 6

• timbre: tutti (all orchestra) ; brass, strings, bassoon playing accompaniment (punctuating syncopated chords) with rhythm emphasised by snare drum
• melody : leitmotif -> heroic main theme played by high trumpets -> introduces protagonist luke skywalker
• texture : mostly melody-based homophony ; accompaniment of punctuating syncopated chords

Question 7

define leitmotif.

Answer 7

-recurring musical idea associated with a particular idea, character or place -> luke skywalker (hero)

Question 8

what does syncopated mean?

Answer 8

• off-beat

Question 9

which bars is section A repeated comprised of?

Answer 9

• bars 8-11

Question 10

describe the timbre, melody, texture and rhythm of section A repeated.

Answer 10

• flutes/violins play demi-semi quaver runs (bar 7) -> soaring flourishes add brilliance and excitement ; whilst trumpets play main theme, violins play tremolando chords and continue inverted tonic pedal from intro
• percussion play grace notes (bar 7)

Question 11

which bars is section B (contrasting section) comprised of?

Answer 11

• bars 12-20

Question 12

describe the melody, dynamics and texture of section B.

Answer 12

• contrasting melody played by all strings apart from double basses - doubled across 3 octaves -> softer (mf), lyrical and more legato compared to section A
• bars 15, 16 + 17 - counter melody
• bar 18 - contrary motion -> treble part descends and bass ascends

Question 13

describe the timbre and harmony of section B.

Answer 13

• lower brass and lower woodwind play accompanying block chords
• double basses, bassoons and lower woodwind play dominant pedal on F in bass - bars 12-14
• glockenspiel - plays notes from melody
• bar 15 - Db maj chord - foreign, builds climax
• counter melody in bars 15,16 + 17 played by brass and accompanying block chords played by horns /LH piano/oboe - builds climax
• bars 18-20 - rit and resolution from chord V to chord I is held back -> dramatic effect

Question 14

describe rhythm of section B.

Answer 14

• bar 18 - dotted quaver. semiquaver in rhythmic unison

Question 15

what bars is main theme section A played twice comprised of?

Answer 15

• bars 21-29

Question 16

describe the timbre, melody, harmony/rhythm, texture in main theme section A played twice.

Answer 16

• timbre : tutti, theme played by french horn and strings, accompaniment by lower brass/strings and bassoons and emphasised by percussion like timpani (bar 27), harp glissando as link to next section (bar 29)
• melody : bar 21 intervals of perfect fifth and minor 7th - heroic feel ; rebel blockade runner transition begins bar 28-29
• harmony : accompanying chords staccato and accented, punctuated and syncopated and triplets ; tonality - in Bb major and tonal , but from bar 30 - tonality is less clear through more unstable harmonies and progressions
• texture - melody dominated homophony

Question 17

what bars is the link section comprised of?

Answer 17

• bars 30-32

Question 18

describe the melody, harmony and rhythm of the link section.

Answer 18

• fanfare-like material, related to intro, building up a chord using repeated quaver/triplet semiquaver rhythm
• rapid ascending sequential figures create sensation of panic
• sequence of sextuplets played staccato with crescendo and accompanied by timpani roll reinforces sense of urgency

Question 19

what are the rapid sequential figures played by in the link section?

Answer 19

• violins and woodwind -> strings/bassoons/flutes

Question 20

which bars is the transition section comprised of?

Answer 20

• bars 33-35

Question 21

describe the transition section.

Answer 21

• rapid arpeggio figures in strings
• harmony - strange, unstable harmonies sustained by brass and woodwind
• dynamics - general diminuendo
• no clear melody

Question 22

which bars is the star filled sky section comprised of?

Answer 22

• bars 36-68

Question 23

describe the melody in the star filled sky section.

Answer 23

• brief piccolo melody
• v.different from main theme
• no repetition, sounds awkward and disjointed
• harp plays ostinato figure

Question 24

describe the texture and timbre in the star filled sky section.

Answer 24

• much lighter texture compared to main theme
• main theme : melody dominated homophony with doubled octaves supported by block chords and a full orchestra
• tuned additional percussion used - vibraphone and celeste for an ethereal feel

Question 25

define ostinato.

Answer 25

- a short melodic or rhythmic phrase that's repeated

Question 26

describe the tonality in the star filled sky section.

Answer 26

- c minor chord inflected by notes from c minor - Ab and Bb in piccolo -> rich, vibrant effect

Question 27

which bars is the appearance of planets and increase in tension section comprised of?

Answer 27

- bars 39-41

Question 28

describe the melody, harmony, timbre and texture/dynamics of the appearance of plants and increase in tension section.

Answer 28

- strings play scurrying upward figures -> urgency, tension and panic - harmony: highly chromatic, becoming more atonal in contrast to main theme in Bb major - atonality creates a sense of uncertainty - texture/dynamics : block chords build up and crescendo in trombones and horns - texture thickens as more instruments are added

Question 29

which bars is the spaceship appearing section comprised of?

Answer 29

- bars 42-43

Question 30

describe harmony, melody and texture of the spaceship appearing section.

Answer 30

- key of C minor - complex chords and dissonance make some of the passage at bars 41-60 almost atonal at times - 2 chordal figures represent the imperial forces

Question 31

which bars is the larger spaceship in pursuit firing at the first section comprised of?

Answer 31

- bars 44-50

Question 32

describe the timbre, texture, harmony, dynamics and tempo of the larger spaceship in pursuit firing at the first section.

Answer 32

- gong-like instrument plays a low C pedal played fortissimo by bass instruments and accompanied by huge Tam-tam (gong) stroke - harmony is dissonant - Db clashing with the C and the Db-G tritone interval - timpani and bass instruments play tonic pedal of C - C minor - bar 50 - dissonant chords played in rhythmic unison, across the orchestra, fortissimo and accented with rit and pause emphasising effect and heightening tension - timpani hammers out an ominous and threatening rhythm - similar to Mars from the 'Planets'

Question 33

which bars is the battle continues + action switches to inside rebel craft section comprised of?

Answer 33

- bars 51-60

Question 34

describe the tempo, harmony, timbre and texture of the battle continues + action switches to inside rebel craft section.

Answer 34

- bar 51 - tempo speeds up to 160BPM - dissonant chords played in rhythmic unison -> entire orchestra playing same rhythm together - strings/lower brass and woodwind play an ostinato figure on the note C - Db major chord - bar 53 - Db major chord over note C in bass - semitone interval and clashes with C