Star Wars - John Williams Flashcards
Who writes catchy, memorable melodies for film scores?
John Williams writes catchy, memorable melodies, which is one reason why his film scores have been so popular.
What is the initial musical element in the piece?
The piece starts with a fanfare (grand and heroic).
Which instruments play the leitmotif?
The leitmotif is played by trumpets and other brass.
What intervals are used in the leitmotif?
It uses intervals of 4ths and 5ths and lots of 7ths.
How is the B theme characterized?
The B theme is scalic and played by the violins and other strings.
What concludes the B theme?
There is a full descending scale to end the B theme.
What happens to the A theme upon its return?
The A theme returns but with small changes.
What melody appears in the ‘rebel blockade runner’ section?
There are not many main melody ideas—just a short piccolo melody during the ‘star filled sky’ section.
What is notable about the fanfare-like intro?
The fanfare-like intro uses rapid repeated notes using tonic (Bb) triplets, which are used throughout the main theme.
What technique is used in the fanfare?
It also uses imitation (the melody ideas are repeated by different brass instruments).
What is the structure of the main theme?
The main theme consists of a 4 bar idea which balances stepwise motion and leaps.
What rhythmic elements create excitement in the main theme?
There are repeated use of triplets and long minims to create excitement and tension.
How does the B theme contrast with the A theme?
The B theme is contrasting to the A theme—it feels less forceful.
What does the B theme include?
It uses scalic patterns, but does contain some leaps and triplets to remind us of theme A.
What is featured at the end of the B theme?
At the end of the B theme there is a descending Bb minor melodic scale.
What rhythmic feature do both themes use?
Both themes use an anacrusis.
What is the tonality of the main theme?
The main theme is in Bb major.
How does the tonality change during the ‘rebel blockade runner’ section?
During the rebel blockade runner section, the tonality is less clear, using more unstable harmonies.
What harmonic characteristic is present when the spaceships appear?
There is lots of use of dissonance.
What is the harmonic quality of the piece at times?
The piece is almost atonal at times.
What key does the piece switch to when the planets are revealed?
The piece switches to C major (with an added Ab) for a short while.
What note is emphasized when the spaceships appear?
The music is more based around the note C, which is heard as a bass pedal.
What is the harmony of the main theme primarily based on?
The harmony of the main theme is mostly diatonic (uses chords and notes that fit with the key signature).
What type of chords accompany the melody?
The melody is accompanied by mostly major and minor chords.
What is notable about the cadences in the piece?
There are not many perfect cadences, which we normally expect in this kind of music.
How does the harmony change after the main theme?
After the main theme, the harmony is complicated and often feels dissonant and atonal.
What type of harmony is used in the fanfare and A theme?
The harmony in the fanfare and A theme uses quartal harmony—chords made up of notes that are 4 steps apart.
How are the chords in the main theme characterized?
In the main theme the chords are syncopated.
What happens when the A theme repeats?
When the A theme repeats, it is slightly changed to create a descending bassline.
What kind of chords are used when the larger spaceship appears?
The ‘Mars’ like hammered unison chords are dissonant (clashing).
What interval is featured in the dissonant chords?
This also uses a tritone (an augmented 4th.. the devil’s interval!).
What chords are used that are not in the key of Bb major?
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.
What is played tremolo in the intro and A theme?
In the intro and A theme there is an inverted tonic pedal played tremolo in the violins.
What pedal is played by the brass instruments in the B theme?
In the B theme there is a dominant pedal played by the brass instruments.
What is notable about the harmonies during the ‘star filled sky’ section?
During the ‘star filled sky’ section, the harmonies mix unrelated chords together (like Db major and C major) to create strange, unstable effects.
What happens when we see the two planets?
The strings and the brass are playing in two different keys.
What type of orchestra is used in Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner?
Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner uses a full symphony orchestra — Strings, percussion, woodwind and brass.
What wind instruments are included in the orchestra?
Wind: flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon.
What brass instruments are included in the orchestra?
Brass: Horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba.
What percussion instruments are included in the orchestra?
Percussion: Timpani, triangle, tam tam (gong), vibraphone, glockenspiel, cymbals.
What additional instruments are used in the orchestra?
Plus a piano, celeste and harp.
How is the orchestra styled?
The orchestra is used in the style of a traditional romantic-era orchestra, with much doubling of parts an octave or more apart.
What is the texture of the piece primarily composed of?
The piece is mainly made up of homophonic textures.
What accompanies the main theme?
The main theme is mostly accompanied by block chords or arpeggios.
What types of pedal textures are used?
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.
What happens at the end of the rebel blockade runner?
At the end of the rebel blockade runner, when the action intensifies.
What is the background information about the piece?
This is a piece of music written for the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977.
What does the main theme represent?
It uses a main theme (which is a leitmotif for Luke Skywalker).
What does the ‘Rebel Blockade Runner’ section do?
The ‘Rebel Blockade Runner’ section uses music to support the action.
What is the tempo of the piece?
The fast tempo matches the mood and feel of the film—an exciting action movie!
What is the time signature of the piece?
The 4/4 metre, steady tempo and use of brass give it a ‘march’ like feel.
What rhythmic element is frequently used in the melody lines?
There is repeated use of triplets in the melody lines.
How does the pulse change after the main theme?
After the main theme, the pulse becomes harder to follow.
What rhythmic feature do both themes share?
Both themes use an anacrusis.
How is the main theme (A) accompanied?
The main theme (A) is accompanied by syncopated block chords which create excitement.
What happens to the time signature when the large spaceship appears?
When the large spaceship appears, the time signature changes to 3/4.
How does the tempo change during the ‘rebel blockade runner’ section?
The tempo changes during the ‘rebel blockade runner’ section of the piece to emphasize the action on screen.
What rhythmic quality do the ‘Mars’ like chords have?
The ‘Mars’ like chords when the large spaceship appears are homorhythmic (all playing the same rhythm).
What structure does the main theme use?
The main theme uses an AABA structure.
What follows the main theme in the music?
After this, the music follows the action on the screen.
What is the full structure of the rebel blockade runner section?
The full structure is: Star filled sky, camera pans down to show planets, spaceship appears, larger spaceship attacks, action continues.
How are hero melodies characterized?
Hero melodies use wide disjunct leaps to show power and courage.
How are villainous melodies characterized?
Villainous melodies use conjunct, often chromatic steps to show sinister qualities.
What do characters represent through musical motifs?
Characters are represented through musical leitmotifs which evolve with the characters.
What is the expressive quality of the music?
Very expressive!
What is used to mark powerful melodies?
Lots of accents to mark powerful melodies.
What is used to emphasize romance in the music?
Lots of legato slurs to emphasize romance.
What dynamic extremes are often used?
Often uses dynamic extremes (piano to forte… and even wider).
What is notable about the dynamics in the piece?
Frequent and sudden changes of dynamics.
How is tension and drama built in the music?
Tension and drama built up through epic crescendos.
How are faster and slower tempos used?
Faster tempos used to show drama and action, slower tempos used for more reflective moments.
How do tempos change in the music?
Tempos often change quickly to represent sudden changes in mood.
What technique is used to help melodies fit with the images on screen?
Rubato is used to help melodies fit with the images on the screen.
How is the structure of the music described?
Very flexible and irregular musical structures to follow the story unfolding on screen.
What often starts a film’s music?
Films often start with a musical overture of sorts over the opening credits.
What dictates the structure of the music?
The structure of the music is dictated by the editing of the film.
How is harmony often characterized in film music?
Harmony is often descriptive rather than functional and has no strict ‘rules’.
How does harmony adapt in film music?
Adapts to suit the images on screen which it is trying to depict.
What is used freely to build tension in the music?
Dissonance is used freely to build tension.
What type of instrumentation is often used in film music?
Very often for full orchestra, utilizing the different instrumental colours.
What is commonly used in sci-fi films instead of real instruments?
Sci-fi films often use electronic instruments rather than real ones.
What do different instruments represent in film music?
Brass = heroics; Strings and Woodwinds = romance; Percussion = aggression.
What is the rhythmic quality of film music often like?
Often bold and dramatic.
How do rhythms represent characters on screen?
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).
What is the texture of film music usually like?
Usually either homophonic (chords), or Melody Dominated Homophony (accompaniment with a leitmotif melody over the top).
What is created by combining different parts of the orchestra?
Lots of interesting textural colours created by combining different parts of the orchestra.
