Star Wars Episode IV Main TitleRebel Blockade GCSE

Star Wars: Episode IV – Main Title/Rebel Blockade GCSE Set Works https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=v 3_Dopwe 1 Ls&list=PL 1 RN_p 4 uej. OIRIMc 9 uek. In 1 f. G 1 ui 5 WA 9&index=3

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Who is the Composer John Williams? § https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=p 9 ujt 4 ze. EGw § John Williams composed some of the most popular and recognizable film scores ever:

John Williams Film Music q John Williams (born 1932) – American composer; his film scores have won many Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Grammy Awards for his music. q He writes films directed by Steven Spielberg including ‘Jaws’, Close Encounters of the 3 rd Kind’, ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘ET’, ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Saving Private Ryan’. q He wrote the music for all the ‘Star Wars’ films, ‘Superman’ and the first 3 ‘Harry Potter’ films. q https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=t 9 eqx. E-n. Ttc q He can write for dramatic action films, tense thrillers, sci-fi films and war films. q His music is frequently written for a large orchestra – which instruments is ‘Star Wars’ written for? Which sections of the orchestra are used?

Star Wars: Episode IV was Released in 1977. q ‘Episode IV’ was actually the 1 st ‘Star Wars’ film to be made. q Episodes IV-VI were released between 1977 and 1983, followed by a prequel trilogy (episodes I-III) from 1999 -2005. q There’s a third trilogy being made – Episode VII was released at the end of 2015. q The epic saga is a combination of sci-fi and fantasy. q The films tell the story of the Rebel Alliance’s battle against the evil Galactic Empire. q In Episode IV, you meet Luke Skywalker and follow his journey as he learns about ‘the Force’ and becomes part of the Rebel Alliance.

Star Wars: Episode IV was Released in 1977. q The set work is played over the opening credits of the film. q The music accompanies scrolling text that sets the scene and explains what’s happening. q The rebel blockade runner is Princess Leia’s spaceship, which you see after the credits have finished. q https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=y. Hf. Ly. MAHr. QE&t=147 s

Film Themes by John Williams – Leitmotifs ü The ‘Indiana Jones’ Leitmotif https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=nt. XJJw. Ek 1 NA ü The ‘Harry Potter’ Leitmotif https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=GTXBLyp 7_Dw ü The ‘Star Wars’ Leitmotif https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Qu. A 61 m. RMBOY ü The ‘Star Wars Imperial Death March’ Leitmotif https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=h. Nv 5 s. Pu 0 C 1 E üThe ‘Jurassic Park’ Leitmotif https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=c. R 7 er. Ym. O 0 m 8

Use of Leitmotifs q A leitmotif is a phrase of music that represents a particular character or place. q Leitmotifs were used a lot in the operas of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. Romantic period (1820 -1900). q A strong leitmotif for a character is important so that the listener can recognise it straight away. q ‘Star Wars’ uses many different leitmotifs throughout the soundtrack. q Darth Vader, ‘the Force’ and Princess Leia have their own leitmotifs. q https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ok. Td. Bj. Bto. J 8

Rebel Blockade starts with a Fanfare – bars 1 -3 q The piece starts in a steady 4/4 q Tempo marking is ‘maestoso’ which means ‘majestically’. q It starts with a fanfare played by the brass and percussion – this grabs the audience’s attention and establishes an optimistic feel and builds excitement. q The fanfare is loud – the first note is marked ‘sfz’ (sforzando – strongly accented) and the rest of the fanfare is ‘marcato’ (accented). q The rhythm of the fanfare is mainly triplets energetic. - they make the music sound q The melody of the fanfare moves in 4 ths and 5 ths which sounds heroic. q The trombones and trumpets play in canon in the fanfare – the trombones start, then the trumpets echo them one beat later. q The fanfare is in a polyphonic texture.

The Rebel Blockade Main Theme is a March – bars 4 -29 q There is a regular pulse, the accents are on the 1 st beat of the bar, the music is in a major key, the mood is bright and optimistic and full of ‘hope’ – these are all musical features of a March. q This section (bars 4 -29) is in ternary form – ABA: q Section A – Bars 4 -11 - Main theme is dominated by brass instruments q Section B – Bars 12 -20 – gentle string section q Section A – Bars 21 - 29 - Main theme is dominated by brass instruments q Section A (bars 4 -11 & bars 21 -29): q Trumpets play the main tune, which moves by leap (disjunct motion) q Driving triplets in low brass, strings and percussion q Woodwind and violins play soaring high notes – like ‘flying through space’

The Rebel Blockade Main Theme is a March – bars 4 -29 q Section B (bars 12 -20): q Strings play the main melody in unison q Driving triplets in low woodwind parts q Strings melody moves by step in conjunct motion q The overall texture is homophonic – the main trumpet/string melody accompanied by the rest of the orchestra. q The size of the orchestra means that the texture is very thick and the music is loud. q This section of the music (bars 4 -29) accompanies the scrolling text. is

There’s a Slower Quieter Section – bars 30 -41 q As the scrolling disappears, the music slows down and diminuendos as the screen goes blank. q This moment of peace only lasts a few seconds (bars 30 -38) q As a pair of moons come into view, the music builds up again with a dramatic crescendo and booming percussion (bars 39 -41)

Final Climax – bars 42 -end q Two spaceships come on screen, locked in battle – low, minor chords with a driving triplet rhythm. q The music is tense – it slows down and builds to an intensity as the huge Imperial spaceship fills the screen. q You then hear the leitmotif that represents the Empire in pursuit (from bar 51). q As the piece finishes there are long, low ominous sounding notes – a sign of things to come.