Star Wars: "Yoda and the Force” by John Williams (Score Reduction and Analysis) A full score reduction of the scene in which Yoda lifts the X-Wing from The Empire Strikes Back. I own nothing. Enjoy!
We all know JW to be a master at big thematic writing and his action-scenes are popular too. But a scene-score like this really shows how brilliant he is at writing incidental music. This scene might honestly be his best underscore for the entire SW series.
2:21 😍 That celesta entrance gives me chills every time. And that entire section through 3:26 is so brilliant! This is one of my favorite tracks from JW.
One of the most satisfying dissonances and resolutions in movie cinematic history, and one of my favorites throughout music history. For me, it ranks up there with some of the great resolutions in the masterworks from the composers of old. Maestro Williams knows his music history, theory, and knows how to evoke certain emotions and images that show that he is being very deliberate, and is proof of his mastery. Who is more talented, the artist or the forger? I think Maestro Williams is both. I understand the detractors and naysayers, especially as a classically trained musician myself, but I've only found to adore Maestro Williams even more through furthering my musical studies. He is standing on the shoulders of giants, and he knows it, and honors them with his works. Watch and listen to his interviews: he's very open about this. Anyway, this is one of my favorite passages of his. His ability to compose soaring and inspirational passages that have incredibly satisfying climaxes and following denouement, yet also being able to contrast that with bewildering and jarring atonality during the tense and battle sequences is astounding and speaks to his child-like enthusiasim and depth of character. An all time great composer, an unparalled genius, and a magician behind the podium. When I had the privelege of seeing him in concert at the Hollywood Bowl, you could hear a pin drop in the quiet sections because we were all so captivated and the audience gave him 5 standing ovations. 5! We wanted more, but he was tired and had to get sleep. Such a sweet man! So many movies would be radically different without his scores. Thank you so much for sharing these videos! They're always a delight to watch, read, and listen to!
Not sure if you noticed, but the melody is actually misspelled in the force theme right around 1:36. First bar on this page, last note should be an Eb ;)
Excellent channel and work. I just don't understand the climax, when we resolve in Emaj7 (3:16 when the score turns triumphant). There aren't two 4/4 bars playing, there is one bar 4/4 and another 2/4, and then directly to G major. Summing up, the motif playing the brass section in the climax (Emaj7) is just one and a half 4/4 bars long (one 4/4 bar and one 2/4 bar), not two 4/4 bars.
One of JJ's nostalgia traps when Luke does the same as a force ghost to raise his X-wing from the sea on Anch-to. Beautiful, but blatantly copied from this scene
