Star Wars (Main Theme) - John Williams

Question 1

What ensemble of instruments is used?

Answer 1

full symphony

Question 2

What is the dynamic marking at the beginning?

Answer 2

ff - fortissimo

Question 3

What is the time signature at the opening and main theme and what does it change to in the final section?

Answer 3

4/4 to 3/4

Question 4

At what bar does the main theme first begin?

Answer 4

(end of) bar 3

Question 5

What is the structure of the main theme?

Answer 5

ternary

Question 6

What kind of figures to the brass play in the intro?

Answer 6

fan-fare like (playing triplet rhythms)

Question 7

What is the texture at the beginning?

Answer 7

polyphonic

Question 8

What interval does the main theme start with?

Answer 8

rising 5th (tonic to dominant)

Question 9

What does the interval of a rising 5th signify?

Answer 9

strong, heroic

Question 10

Who does leitmotif of the rising 5th represent?

Answer 10

Luke Skywalker

Question 11

List 4 rhythmic features in the piece

Answer 11

triplets, dotted, off-beat chords , obstinate rhythms

Question 12

What is meant by a quarter harmony? (in the intro)

Answer 12

chords based on intervals of a 4th

Question 13

When can off-beat chords be heard?

Answer 13

accompaniment of main theme (emphasised by snare drum)

Question 14

What changes in the accompaniment the second time the leitmotif is played?

Answer 14

on-beat chords with some dotted rhythms

Question 15

What cadence is heard at the end of the theme each time?

Answer 15

imperfect

Question 16

What is meant by an inverted tonic pedal?

Answer 16

high pitch repeated or held note

Question 17

What instrument plays the inverted tonic pedal in the intro?

Answer 17

violins (tremolo)

Question 18

Give two ways in which the B section of the main theme contrasts with the A section

Answer 18

mf, new melody played by strings in octaves

Question 19

What is meant by an anacrusis?

Answer 19

up beat notes before the first main beat of the melody

Question 20

Give one rhythmic and one melodic feature of the B section melody

Answer 20

triplets, mixture of leaps and step-wise movement

Question 21

Describe the chords played by the horns and piano to accompany the melody in the B section

Answer 21

block

Question 22

When the A section returns, how does it end?

Answer 22

harp glissando link

Question 23

What do the brass do during the link&transition?

Answer 23

fanfare-like chords that build up

Question 24

What kind of sequence do the strings do during the link&transition?

Answer 24

rising sequence

Question 25

State 2 characteristics of the star-filled sky section

Answer 25

p, lighter texture,

Question 26

What instrument plays the melody in the star filled sky section?

Answer 26

piccolo (‘stars’)

Question 27

Give two ways in which the tension increases in the star filled sky section (planets appear)?

Answer 27

crescendo, ascending sequence(violins)

Question 28

In the ‘spaceship appears’ section, what do all the instruments play

Answer 28

low pedal note (on C)

Question 29

What does the timpani play in the ‘spaceship appears’ section?

Answer 29

rhythm on C (ominous sounding)

Question 30

What do the brass chords represent?

Answer 30

imperial forces

Question 31

Describe the texture of the ‘larger spaceship appears’ section

Answer 31

homorhythmic

Question 32

Describe the harmony of the ‘larger space ship appears’ section

Answer 32

dissonant

Question 33

What change in tempo occurs at the beginning of the final section

Answer 33

much faster

Question 34

Describe the music played by the triangle at the beginning

Answer 34

tremolo

Question 35

What instrument plays the main theme?

Answer 35

trumpet