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GCSE Edexcel Music > Star Wars - John Williams > Flashcards

Star Wars - John Williams Flashcards

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1
Q

Who writes catchy, memorable melodies for film scores?

A

John Williams writes catchy, memorable melodies, which is one reason why his film scores have been so popular.

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2
Q

What is the initial musical element in the piece?

A

The piece starts with a fanfare (grand and heroic).

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3
Q

Which instruments play the leitmotif?

A

The leitmotif is played by trumpets and other brass.

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4
Q

What intervals are used in the leitmotif?

A

It uses intervals of 4ths and 5ths and lots of 7ths.

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5
Q

How is the B theme characterized?

A

The B theme is scalic and played by the violins and other strings.

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6
Q

What concludes the B theme?

A

There is a full descending scale to end the B theme.

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7
Q

What happens to the A theme upon its return?

A

The A theme returns but with small changes.

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8
Q

What melody appears in the ‘rebel blockade runner’ section?

A

There are not many main melody ideas—just a short piccolo melody during the ‘star filled sky’ section.

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9
Q

What is notable about the fanfare-like intro?

A

The fanfare-like intro uses rapid repeated notes using tonic (Bb) triplets, which are used throughout the main theme.

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10
Q

What technique is used in the fanfare?

A

It also uses imitation (the melody ideas are repeated by different brass instruments).

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11
Q

What is the structure of the main theme?

A

The main theme consists of a 4 bar idea which balances stepwise motion and leaps.

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12
Q

What rhythmic elements create excitement in the main theme?

A

There are repeated use of triplets and long minims to create excitement and tension.

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13
Q

How does the B theme contrast with the A theme?

A

The B theme is contrasting to the A theme—it feels less forceful.

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14
Q

What does the B theme include?

A

It uses scalic patterns, but does contain some leaps and triplets to remind us of theme A.

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15
Q

What is featured at the end of the B theme?

A

At the end of the B theme there is a descending Bb minor melodic scale.

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16
Q

What rhythmic feature do both themes use?

A

Both themes use an anacrusis.

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17
Q

What is the tonality of the main theme?

A

The main theme is in Bb major.

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18
Q

How does the tonality change during the ‘rebel blockade runner’ section?

A

During the rebel blockade runner section, the tonality is less clear, using more unstable harmonies.

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19
Q

What harmonic characteristic is present when the spaceships appear?

A

There is lots of use of dissonance.

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20
Q

What is the harmonic quality of the piece at times?

A

The piece is almost atonal at times.

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21
Q

What key does the piece switch to when the planets are revealed?

A

The piece switches to C major (with an added Ab) for a short while.

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22
Q

What note is emphasized when the spaceships appear?

A

The music is more based around the note C, which is heard as a bass pedal.

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23
Q

What is the harmony of the main theme primarily based on?

A

The harmony of the main theme is mostly diatonic (uses chords and notes that fit with the key signature).

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24
Q

What type of chords accompany the melody?

A

The melody is accompanied by mostly major and minor chords.

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25
Q

What is notable about the cadences in the piece?

A

There are not many perfect cadences, which we normally expect in this kind of music.

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26
Q

How does the harmony change after the main theme?

A

After the main theme, the harmony is complicated and often feels dissonant and atonal.

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27
Q

What type of harmony is used in the fanfare and A theme?

A

The harmony in the fanfare and A theme uses quartal harmony—chords made up of notes that are 4 steps apart.

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28
Q

How are the chords in the main theme characterized?

A

In the main theme the chords are syncopated.

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29
Q

What happens when the A theme repeats?

A

When the A theme repeats, it is slightly changed to create a descending bassline.

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30
Q

What kind of chords are used when the larger spaceship appears?

A

The ‘Mars’ like hammered unison chords are dissonant (clashing).

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31
Q

What interval is featured in the dissonant chords?

A

This also uses a tritone (an augmented 4th.. the devil’s interval!).

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32
Q

What chords are used that are not in the key of Bb major?

A

The theme does use some chords not in the key of Bb major, such as the Ab major at the end of the first A theme and the Db major in the B section.

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33
Q

What is played tremolo in the intro and A theme?

A

In the intro and A theme there is an inverted tonic pedal played tremolo in the violins.

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34
Q

What pedal is played by the brass instruments in the B theme?

A

In the B theme there is a dominant pedal played by the brass instruments.

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35
Q

What is notable about the harmonies during the ‘star filled sky’ section?

A

During the ‘star filled sky’ section, the harmonies mix unrelated chords together (like Db major and C major) to create strange, unstable effects.

36
Q

What happens when we see the two planets?

A

The strings and the brass are playing in two different keys.

37
Q

What type of orchestra is used in Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner?

A

Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner uses a full symphony orchestra — Strings, percussion, woodwind and brass.

38
Q

What wind instruments are included in the orchestra?

A

Wind: flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon.

39
Q

What brass instruments are included in the orchestra?

A

Brass: Horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba.

40
Q

What percussion instruments are included in the orchestra?

A

Percussion: Timpani, triangle, tam tam (gong), vibraphone, glockenspiel, cymbals.

41
Q

What additional instruments are used in the orchestra?

A

Plus a piano, celeste and harp.

42
Q

How is the orchestra styled?

A

The orchestra is used in the style of a traditional romantic-era orchestra, with much doubling of parts an octave or more apart.

43
Q

What is the texture of the piece primarily composed of?

A

The piece is mainly made up of homophonic textures.

44
Q

What accompanies the main theme?

A

The main theme is mostly accompanied by block chords or arpeggios.

45
Q

What types of pedal textures are used?

A

The piece uses pedal textures, such as the inverted tonic pedal during the introduction and A theme, and the dominant pedal in the B section.

46
Q

What happens at the end of the rebel blockade runner?

A

At the end of the rebel blockade runner, when the action intensifies.

47
Q

What is the background information about the piece?

A

This is a piece of music written for the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977.

48
Q

What does the main theme represent?

A

It uses a main theme (which is a leitmotif for Luke Skywalker).

49
Q

What does the ‘Rebel Blockade Runner’ section do?

A

The ‘Rebel Blockade Runner’ section uses music to support the action.

50
Q

What is the tempo of the piece?

A

The fast tempo matches the mood and feel of the film—an exciting action movie!

51
Q

What is the time signature of the piece?

A

The 4/4 metre, steady tempo and use of brass give it a ‘march’ like feel.

52
Q

What rhythmic element is frequently used in the melody lines?

A

There is repeated use of triplets in the melody lines.

53
Q

How does the pulse change after the main theme?

A

After the main theme, the pulse becomes harder to follow.

54
Q

What rhythmic feature do both themes share?

A

Both themes use an anacrusis.

55
Q

How is the main theme (A) accompanied?

A

The main theme (A) is accompanied by syncopated block chords which create excitement.

56
Q

What happens to the time signature when the large spaceship appears?

A

When the large spaceship appears, the time signature changes to 3/4.

57
Q

How does the tempo change during the ‘rebel blockade runner’ section?

A

The tempo changes during the ‘rebel blockade runner’ section of the piece to emphasize the action on screen.

58
Q

What rhythmic quality do the ‘Mars’ like chords have?

A

The ‘Mars’ like chords when the large spaceship appears are homorhythmic (all playing the same rhythm).

59
Q

What structure does the main theme use?

A

The main theme uses an AABA structure.

60
Q

What follows the main theme in the music?

A

After this, the music follows the action on the screen.

61
Q

What is the full structure of the rebel blockade runner section?

A

The full structure is: Star filled sky, camera pans down to show planets, spaceship appears, larger spaceship attacks, action continues.

62
Q

How are hero melodies characterized?

A

Hero melodies use wide disjunct leaps to show power and courage.

63
Q

How are villainous melodies characterized?

A

Villainous melodies use conjunct, often chromatic steps to show sinister qualities.

64
Q

What do characters represent through musical motifs?

A

Characters are represented through musical leitmotifs which evolve with the characters.

65
Q

What is the expressive quality of the music?

A

Very expressive!

66
Q

What is used to mark powerful melodies?

A

Lots of accents to mark powerful melodies.

67
Q

What is used to emphasize romance in the music?

A

Lots of legato slurs to emphasize romance.

68
Q

What dynamic extremes are often used?

A

Often uses dynamic extremes (piano to forte… and even wider).

69
Q

What is notable about the dynamics in the piece?

A

Frequent and sudden changes of dynamics.

70
Q

How is tension and drama built in the music?

A

Tension and drama built up through epic crescendos.

71
Q

How are faster and slower tempos used?

A

Faster tempos used to show drama and action, slower tempos used for more reflective moments.

72
Q

How do tempos change in the music?

A

Tempos often change quickly to represent sudden changes in mood.

73
Q

What technique is used to help melodies fit with the images on screen?

A

Rubato is used to help melodies fit with the images on the screen.

74
Q

How is the structure of the music described?

A

Very flexible and irregular musical structures to follow the story unfolding on screen.

75
Q

What often starts a film’s music?

A

Films often start with a musical overture of sorts over the opening credits.

76
Q

What dictates the structure of the music?

A

The structure of the music is dictated by the editing of the film.

77
Q

How is harmony often characterized in film music?

A

Harmony is often descriptive rather than functional and has no strict ‘rules’.

78
Q

How does harmony adapt in film music?

A

Adapts to suit the images on screen which it is trying to depict.

79
Q

What is used freely to build tension in the music?

A

Dissonance is used freely to build tension.

80
Q

What type of instrumentation is often used in film music?

A

Very often for full orchestra, utilizing the different instrumental colours.

81
Q

What is commonly used in sci-fi films instead of real instruments?

A

Sci-fi films often use electronic instruments rather than real ones.

82
Q

What do different instruments represent in film music?

A

Brass = heroics; Strings and Woodwinds = romance; Percussion = aggression.

83
Q

What is the rhythmic quality of film music often like?

A

Often bold and dramatic.

84
Q

How do rhythms represent characters on screen?

A

Used to represent the characters on screen (i.e. strong rhythms such as fanfares or marches represent strong characters, more delicate rhythms used for romantic scenes).

85
Q

What is the texture of film music usually like?

A

Usually either homophonic (chords), or Melody Dominated Homophony (accompaniment with a leitmotif melody over the top).

86
Q

What is created by combining different parts of the orchestra?

A

Lots of interesting textural colours created by combining different parts of the orchestra.

GCSE Edexcel Music (7 decks)

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