Musical description
Instrumentation
Star Wars has a very large orchestra of 86 players. Instrument names are often abbreviated in music scoreSheet music that includes all the instrument and voice parts. . Abbreviations often used are:
- \(trp.\) - trumpet
- \(trb.\) - trombone
- \(hrn.\) - horn
- \(timp.\) - timpani
- \(hrp.\) - harp
- \(vln.\) - violins
- \(str.\) - strings
- \(fl.\) - flute
Instrumental features include violin tremoloA trembling sound created by fast repetition of the same note. in the opening bar, pizzicatoA playing technique in which the strings of an instrument are plucked. strings in bar 33 and flute trillTwo adjacent notes that are played rapidly one after the other. in bar 36.
Form and structure
The film begins with the Star Wars logo and the music reflects the dramatic visual with a four-bar fanfareShort brass feature, usually including leaps and dotted rhythms.. This section is the introduction.
The opening fanfare is performed by an orchestrated brass section
The scrolling text tells the story up to the start of the film, which is when the main leitmotifA short melody used to represent a specific character, object or emotion. is introduced. The violin plays a contrasting B theme melody before the A theme returns. This section is in ternary formA musical form in which the opening section returns after a central contrasting section. - A-B-A. The opening leitmotif is repeated for emphasis and consists of strong, ascending intervalDistance between two notes. which are often fourths or fifths. It is scored for brass, which helps give the melody power and excitement. The tonicThe first degree of a scale and the central key of music. In Roman numerals this is I. note is emphasised by pitch - as it is the highest note of the melody - and rhythm. The melody is articulated with accents, which gives the music further power. The shorter tripletA group of three equal length notes played in the space of two, eg three quavers played in the space of two quavers. figure acts as a decoration to the main theme.
As the camera pans down towards a planet and its moon, a small Rebel Alliance spacecraft is fired upon by an enormous Galactic Empire starship. In the music there is a short fanfare, a flourishing melody on the piccolo and new short Rebel Blockade Runner leitmotifs in the full orchestra. This section is a link and codettaA short coda used to end a section of music. before the film begins.
Overall the structure is:
introduction - A-B-A - link - codetta.
- introduction
- A-B-A-A
- linking section
- codetta
Dynamics
dynamicsRefers to the softness or loudness of a piece of music. play a very important role in this piece. The opening fanfare is fortissimoShortened to ff when written in the score. It means to play the music very loud. (ff), emphasising the call for attention. The main theme continues at ff helping to give a strong military feel supported by marching rhythms in the percussion. The contrasting B section is played at mezzo forteA dynamic level meaning to play moderately loud - can be shortened to mf. (mf) and by the string section, which suggests that the film will feature other themes.
The piccolo melody link is played at a piano (p) and at a very high pitch, which conveys the sense of mystery of the stars and planets.
During the codetta, the Rebel Blockade Runner leitmotif is again ff, as shots are fired between the spaceships.
Melody
The main melody of Star Wars is an ascending leitmotif which represents the hero, Luke Skywalker, and is heard after the opening fanfare in bars 4 to 7.
This leitmotif sounds heroic as it is performed with leaping intervals, triplets and at a ff dynamics in the brass section.
At the very end of the work in bar 53, a fragment of the Rebel Blockade Runner leitmotif is played. The interval between the two notes is a minor third.
Audio of bars 56 to 59
Texture
There is a clear melody with the entire orchestra playing homophonicA texture based on chords. accompaniment for the majority of the piece. This overall texture is known as melody-dominated homophonyA musical texture which features a melody with accompaniment.. The opening fanfare includes imitationWhere one musical part copies another. between the lower and upper brass.
Metre and rhythm
The metre is 4/4 and a tempo of 100 bpmBeats per minute.. This gives a military and marching feel. syncopationRhythm patterns where stressed notes are placed off the beat. block chords accompany the main melody and there are many triplet pedalHeld or repeating note on the same pitch, while the chords change above it. ostinatoA musical phrase which repeats., such as in bars 30 and 51.
The piccolo link in bars 36 to 38 has longer notes, which gives the illusion of a slower tempoThe speed or pace of performance in speech, dance or music. - however, the original pulse is actually maintained.
Harmony and tonality
The introduction and subsequent A-A-B-A section of the work is in the tonic key of B♭ major. The key of B♭ is reinforced by an inverted pedalA pedal played in the highest part of the texture instead of the lowest. in the violins and a dominantThe fifth tone or degree of any of the major or minor scales. pedal in the lowest instrumental parts in bar 11. Phrases will end with imperfect cadenceA type of cadence where the chords played are chord I then V. The sound of this cadence makes the phrase sound unfinished. in the key of B♭.
quartal harmonyHarmony built on an interval of a fourth. is a feature of the piece. This means that the harmony is built on a fourth instead of the usual interval of a third. The notes in bar 5 include F, B♭, E♭ and A♭, which all have an interval of a fourth between them. This creates a distinctive unresolved sound that adds to the drama and tension of the music.
chromaticChromatic harmony uses notes from outside the key to colour the chords. feature in bar 7 - as parallel chordsChords that move up and down in pitch maintaining the same shape. are performed. cluster chordA chord that has notes that are next to each other. are used in bar 46.
The link section from bar 30 has no clear key, which means the tonality can be described as ambiguous. The Rebel Blockade Runner leitmotif is then heard in the key of A♭ but with a C pedal.
Timbre
The very top of the brass pitch range is exploited with many accents written for emphasis and power.