Star Wars

• Who composed the Star Wars main title?

  John Williams
• What is one reason why John Williams' film scores are popular?

  He writes catchy, memorable melodies
• What type of introduction does the piece start with?

  A fanfare
• Which instruments play the leitmotif in the piece?

  Trumpets and other brass
• What intervals are prominently used in the leitmotif?

  Intervals of 4ths and 5ths and lots of 7ths
• How is the B theme characterized in terms of instrumentation?

  It is scalic and played by the violins and other strings
• How does the B theme conclude?

  With a full descending scale
• What happens to the A theme when it returns?

  It has small changes
• What is featured in the “rebel blockade runner” section?

  A short piccolo melody
• What type of notes are used in the fanfare-like intro?

  Rapid repeated notes using tonic (Bb) triplets
• What compositional technique is used in the fanfare with the melody ideas?

  Imitation
• What intervals are present in the fanfare?

  7th intervals
• How is the main theme structured in terms of bars?

  It consists of a 4 bar idea
• What elements create excitement and tension in the main theme?

  Repeated use of triplets and long minims
• How does the B theme contrast with the A theme?

  The B theme feels less forceful
• What type of patterns does the B theme use?

  Scalic patterns
• What is at the end of the B theme?

  A descending Bb minor melodic scale
• What do both themes utilize?

  Anacrusis
• How can the main A theme be broken down in terms of its first bar?

  It contains a rising perfect 5th (tonic to dominant)
• What effect does the rising perfect 5th create?

  A heroic feel
• What is the tonality of the main theme?

  Bb major
• How does the tonality change during the rebel blockade runner section?

  It becomes less clear with unstable harmonies
• What happens to the harmony when the spaceships appear?

  There is lots of use of dissonance
• What is the harmonic quality of the piece at times?

  It is almost atonal
• What key does the piece switch to when the planets are revealed?

  C major (with an added Ab)
• What note is the music based around when the spaceships appear?

  The note C
• What is the harmony of the main theme mostly characterized as?

  Diatonic
• What type of chords accompany the melody in the main theme?

  Mostly major and minor chords
• What is notable about the cadences in the main theme?

  There are not many perfect cadences
• What type of harmony is used in the fanfare and A theme?

  Quartal harmony
• How does the harmony change when the A theme repeats?

  It is slightly changed to create a descending bassline
• What type of chords are used when the larger spaceship appears?

  Dissonant chords
• What interval is referred to as the "devil's interval"?

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

  Ab major and Db major
• What type of pedal is played tremolo in the violins during the intro and A theme?

  An inverted tonic pedal
• What type of pedal is played by the brass instruments in the B theme?

  A dominant pedal
• How do the harmonies behave during the “star filled sky” section?

  They mix unrelated chords together
• What is the instrumentation of the Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner piece?

  A full symphony orchestra
• Which woodwind instruments are included in the orchestra?

  Flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon
• Which brass instruments are included in the orchestra?

  Horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba