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Another note about the Leia theme: If I understand it correctly, in this recent interview by Jim Svejda with John Williams, Williams thought of Leia's theme as also being a *love* theme for Luke and Leia. Williams didn't know at the time that they were brother and sister, but this puts an interesting spin on the subtext and how Williams used Leia's theme in the movie. (www.kusc.org/radio/programs/evening-program-movies-week-interviews-on-demand/, 14:08)
Great analysis! That one joke around 9:13 came completely out of the blue for me since it had such a deadpan delivery. I love the effort and thought you have put into your score reductions and these kinds of videos. God bless you and keep up the amazing work!
This was wonderful. I always noted the use of character themes in Star Wars when the they are not on screen or even in a scene. In The Empire Strikes Back, during the Cloud City escape (specifically when Leia shoots the Stormtrooper before ducking into the elevator, then discovering the security code had been changed) we hear Yoda’s theme before cutting quickly to Lando’s theme as R2 unsuccessfully interfaces with the power socket. I always thought that Mr. Williams was trying to connect Luke’s training with Yoda and the visions he saw of his friends in trouble. Fast forward to Cloud City and our hero’s trying to escape, having lost Han to Boba Fett and Luke currently fighting Vader elsewhere in the city with his new Jedi training. It was saying a lot by using Yoda’s theme for that brief moment.
I think you hit the nail on the head calling the Rebel Fanfare a "rallying cry", I think that nails its original intended use. It's a call to action in times of peril. It invokes heroes in the thick of battle, narrowly avoiding destruction. I personally have never seen it as a rebel theme, and more of an action motif. I think the reason it's been so associated with the rebels over time is because of the "Tie Fighter Attack" cue, and it becoming one of the most popular tracks. Williams also reinforced this thinking in Return of the Jedi, with how he used the fanfare in the "Sail Barge Assault" as more of a heroic theme. As a result of all this, it's by now become synonymous with heroic feats, often specifically tied with the Millennium Falcon.
Hi David Could you try to analyse the KING´S ROW Theme by Korngold, i heard that it was where JW took his inspiration for the main theme from SW. I love ur work!
I’m working on a project about John William’s music, could you tell where you got those quotes and maybe inform me of some other resources I could use?
Can you explain what 'planing' triads are? From the phrase looks like out of key triads used sequentially, perhaps just keeping to the mode (major/minor/etc).
When I was a kid I thought the "Rebel fanfare" was the Imperial march, since it was pretty much always played when the Imperials were attacking (and mostly winning). It wasn't until I got the CD boxed set (in my twenties) that I realized it was supposed to be for the rebels. It still to me sounds more imperious (especially at the tail end) and not particularly heroic.
Then you did not pay attention to the Imperial theme playing directly after the Rebel Fanfare when Darth Vader first appears, clearly indicating that those two themes are for two different parties in the story. The Rebel Fanfare is far more dynamic and swashbuckling and played in a major key, fitting of heroes fighting a fierce and desperate battle and a heavy contrast to the Imperial themes, which are imposing and lumbering and played in a minor key. If the former "sounds more imperious and not particularly heroic," you must think that about any piece of music that's even remotely brassy and militaristic.
The music and dialogue are way too quiet compared to your voice. This goes across all your videos I have watched this morning. Every time the music starts I have to turn my speakers way up and then you voice explodes, sending me clamouring for my volume knob. Try to normalize the levels better in future videos. :)
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