Star Wars

Question 1

Key of intro

Answer 1

Bb major

Question 2

Time sig of intro

Answer 2

4/4 giving a March and military feel

Question 3

What is the intro known as

Answer 3

Fanfare - heavy use of brass and percussion to give a heroic and martial theme

Question 4

Intro dynamic

Answer 4

Ff to signify grand epic movement
Accents to create typical fanfare idea

Question 5

Intro instruments

Answer 5

Trumpets, horn, trombone, violin octave higher and timpani drums

Question 6

Intro harmony

Answer 6

Quartal harmony with use of F Bb Eb Ab

Question 7

Intro rhythm

Answer 7

Use of triplets to add interest and marching battle

Question 8

Intro Interval

Answer 8

F to Eb which is minor 7th

Question 9

Thème À structure

Answer 9

Ternary form ABA

Question 10

Sing the hero leitmotif

Answer 10

B F EDC G F EDC G F EDEC

Question 11

Orchestrally how is the theme A played

Answer 11

Tutti full orchestra as this was Williams forte

Question 12

Accompaniment of theme A rhythms

Answer 12

Played syncopated rhythm with triplets

Question 13

Harmonic device of theme A

Answer 13

Inverted tonic pedalling

Question 14

Texture of theme A

Answer 14

MDH with block chords, arpeggios, and rhythmic articulation

Question 15

Bar 7 of EDEC harmony

Answer 15

Ends on imperfect cadence 6-5 where F major goes back to Bb Major as dominant

Question 16

Bass part of bar 7

Answer 16

Grace notes in percussion instruments - still inverted tonic pedalling varied on semiquavers lower auxiliary on alternate beats

Question 17

What do flûte ans violin do to go back into theme A

Answer 17

Play Demi semi quavers adding to brilliance and excitement

Question 18

How does theme A play again in section A (BA)

Answer 18

Plays same melody with less syncopation and dif harmony

Question 19

How does harmony of theme A again chnage

Answer 19

Use of subdominant (iv) chords creating quartal harmony

Question 20

How does section B start

Answer 20

On an anacrusis

Question 21

How does Section B differ from A

Answer 21

• legato
• accompaniment bass changed to walking bass
• quieter
• played by violins
• more reflective and melancholy

Question 22

Harmony of theme B

Answer 22

• played in octaves giving warm feel
• bass plays dominant pedal note of F = warm feeling

Question 23

Intervals of theme B melody

Answer 23

G- E = 6th
F-C = 4th -> played with Dd in bass = quartal harmony

Question 24

How is section B similar to A

Answer 24

Back to using triplets as it reverts to military March

Question 25

Texture of section B

Answer 25

MDH

Question 26

How does theme B return to A

Answer 26

- use of triplets introduced - tonic held back to draw tension and slows down

Question 27

How is theme A back

Answer 27

- played in octaves giving grand and epic feel - syncopated like before - similar chords

Question 28

Transition/link key sig

Answer 28

Could be Eb or C minor and adds to unique and unusual

Question 29

How does transition create ambiguity

Answer 29

Plays repeated F in bass along side Eb or C minor built from 4th

Question 30

In transition link what do violins and flute play

Answer 30

Play ostinato of demisemiquaver sextuplets in a descending/ ascending pattern = contrary

Question 31

Light airy part of link

Answer 31

- e natural and c play augmented 5th creating unstable/ tension - f minor chord - d in bass pedal creating ambiguity in key - ADD TO PANIC AND URGENCY

Question 32

Light airy part 2 harmony

Answer 32

- a natural - Ab chord - c augmented - unclear key

Question 33

Transition progresses into.., by

Answer 33

Piccolo solo: - diminuendo - arpeggios giving sense of calmness - tremolo to add tension

Question 34

Why is a piccolo used

Answer 34

Gives a light airy and outer space and magical feel - quieter as well

Question 35

Piccolo solo harmony

Answer 35

Use of c major chords with Ab bass - key - modulates to C Major with added Ab

Question 36

Piccolo solo - chromatic sequence

Answer 36

- strings and brass play in a different key making it atonal harmony - active bass and add excitement/ panic on stage

Question 37

End of piccolo solo

Answer 37

- block chords from horn (texture changes as more instruments introduced) - crescendo

Question 38

Section C final fanfare begin

Answer 38

* when spaceship introduced* - reintroduces triplets and accents from theme A - Grace notes played by timpani and C but accompanied by tam tam gong

Question 39

Rhythm of section C

Answer 39

Ominous rhythm but changes after 2 bars into 34 portraying the inconsistency and rhythmic interest and orchestral layering

Question 40

Section C harmony

Answer 40

Dissonant clashing chords of C Db G as harmony changes - tritonal with D and G

Question 41

Section C brass

Answer 41

Brass plays two chordal figures to represent imperial forces

Question 42

End of section C

Answer 42

- rit… - slows down and pauses (fermenta) to emphasise effect - texture also changes as they become homophonic - playing the same chords and rhythm - octave chords for romantic

Question 43

Coda key sig

Answer 43

Key of Eb major chord - uses bitonality and atonal

Question 44

Coda harmony

Answer 44

Melody plays Db chords with semitonal dissonance

Question 45

Coda bass rhythm

Answer 45

- Repetitive rhythm while still in metric shift - played by strings, lower brass and timpani - ostinato

Question 46

End of piece

Answer 46

- sustained Eb major chord with dissonance and clashing -> portraying conflict and tension - low c in brass - continues repetitive rhythm - fermenta and quiet ending of pianissimo

Question 47

End of piece Eb chord creates

Answer 47

Parallel harmony

Question 48

What is a leitmotif

Answer 48

Reoccurring musical idea that is associated with a mood, character, theme or place

Question 49

When was Star Wars made

Answer 49

1977 as a space opera film