star wars Flashcards
name woodwind instruments used
flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon
brass instruments used
french horn, trumpet, tuba, trombone
percussion instruments used
timpani, triangle, tam-tam(gong), vibraphone, glockenspiel, cymbals, piano, celeste
string instruments used
violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp
when was star wars written
1977
what is it used for
creates heroic leitmotif for luke skywalker
describe tempo of star wars
fast tempo reflects mood of film
time signature
4/4
how is a heroic feel created
march like feel, dominant brass creates heroic feel, fanfare
how is the main theme accompanied
using syncopated chords
what happens when the spaceship appears
time signature changed to 3/4
what is the main texture
homophonic
describe the texture
homophonic, uses pedal textures like inverted tonic + dominant pedal
describe the melody in the opening bars
begins with fanfare - rapid notes
creates heroic feel
who plays the leitmotif
brass (trumpet)
who plays the b section
the strings and it is scalic
what creates the heroic feel in theme A
brass fanfare and rising perfect 5ths
which musical devices create excitement and tension
triplets and minims
describe the structure in star wars
uses AABA structure, after this it ‘follows the screen’
describe dynamics in main theme
fortissimo
describe the dynamics during section B (strings)
mezzo forte
describe dynamics during piccolo section
piano, creates twinkly space-like feel
describe tonality throughout piece
main theme is diatonic - accompanied with major and minor chords then becomes atonal and dissonant
what key is it in
Bb major
how does the music make it feel like space
use of instruments such as celeste and piccolo
high trills from the flute adds to eerieness
lengthening of the notes makes it feel ‘spacy’
constant rhythmic interest gives the feel of constantly moving
describe melody during main theme
ostinato, ornamentation, conjunct and disjunct
