Star Wars

Question 1

Who was Williams’ works inspired by?

Answer 1

Korngold and Steiner

Question 2

What forces are involved in this piece?

get it? cuz like forces in music and forces in star wars?? … no…..?

Answer 2

full symphony orchestra

Question 3

Introduction

Answer 3

• fanfaric brass
• imitation between trombones and trumptes
• tremolando violins play inverted tonic pedal
• ff
• rapid repeated notes develop into staccato triplet figures

Question 4

What is the metre of the piece?

Answer 4

4/4

Question 5

When does the metre change and what does it change to?

Answer 5

3/4 when the larger spaceship pursuing a smaller spaceship fires at it

Question 6

Main theme (A)

Answer 6

• heroic leitmotif theme by high trumpets
• syncopated chords in brass and lower strings
• upper woodwind and violins play tremolando chords with continued inverted tonic pedal
• ff

Question 7

Main theme slightly altered (A’)

Answer 7

• trumpets play melody again
• inverted tonic idea with semiquaver lower auxiliary figure on alternate beats
• descending bass in accompaniment

Question 8

Contrasting section (B)

Answer 8

• melody played by strings (doubled across three octaves)
• glockenspiel plays important notes of the melody
• accompanying block chords in LH piano, horns and oboe
• harmony reinforced by triplet figures in RH piano, harp, flute and clarinet
• mf
• dominant pedal in bass for first 3 bars

Question 9

Main theme (A) repeated

Answer 9

• melody doubled across three octaves
• ascending scale-like passages in woodwind
• syncopated chords on alternate beats
• ff
• harp glissando into next section

Question 10

Transition

Answer 10

• diminuendo
• rapid arpeggio figures in strings
• unstable / strange harmony in brass / woodwind

Question 11

Star-filled sky

Answer 11

• lighter texture
• pp at first
• piccolo melody accompanied by held chords in woodwind, vibraphone, harp, celeste and violin

Question 12

appearance of planets / increase in tension

Answer 12

• rapid upward figures in strings
• block chords build up
• trombones and horns crescendo

Question 13

Texture

Answer 13

MDH

Question 14

Spaceship appears

Answer 14

• low C pedal played ff by bass and tam-tam strokes
• timpani plays ominous rhythm
• brass play two chordal figures

Question 15

Larger spaceship in pursuit firing at the first

Answer 15

• dissonant chords
• ff
• ritardando
• change to 3/4

Question 16

Battle continues and action switches to inside the rebel aircraft

Answer 16

• fast tempo
• strings, lower brass and woodwing play ostinato on C
• brass and upper woodwind play dramatic triads

Question 17

Name two percussion instruments heard after the descending dotted brass octaves.

DUM - de - DUM - de - DUM - de - DUM - DUUUUUUM

Answer 17

• timpani
• cymbals
• snare / side drum

Question 18

Does the melody have a dotted rhythm?

Answer 18

no, it’s triplets

Question 19

What interval does the melody start with?

Answer 19

perfect 5th

Question 20

Is the melody played in octaves?

Answer 20

yes

Question 21

Identify the harp playing technique at the end of the repeated A theme.

Answer 21

gliss(ando)

Question 22

Describe how John Williams establishes an exciting and heroic atmosphere between the start of the repeated A section and the transition by referring to dynamics. (2)

Answer 22

• ff
• accents
• crescendo

Question 23

Describe how John Williams establishes an exciting and heroic atmosphere between the start of the repeated A section and the transition by referring to harmony. (4)

Answer 23

• 7ths
• quartal
• pedal
• dissonant

Question 24

Describe how John Williams establishes an exciting and heroic atmosphere between the start of the repeated A section and the transition by referring to rhythm. (3)

Answer 24

• triplets
• syncopation
• cross rhythms
• sextuplets

Question 25

Identify three percussion instruments playing when the large spaceship starts firing at the smaller one.

Answer 25

- cymbals - triangle - timpani

Question 26

Describe the texture right at the start of the piece.

Answer 26

- polyphonic - imitation - layers

Question 27

Describe the texture when the large spaceship pursues the first spaceship and fires at it.

Answer 27

- homophonic - chordal

Question 28

How does Williams use harmony to establish a battle-like atmosphere when the large spaceship starts firing at the first? (5)

Answer 28

- quartal - chromatic - dissonant - pedal - cluster chord

Question 29

How does Williams use tempo to establish a battle-like atmosphere when the large spaceship starts firing at the first?

Answer 29

- ritardando - pause - tempo change

Question 30

Describe three features of harmony in the B section.

Answer 30

- added / extended chords - dissonant - chromaticism - pedal

Question 31

Describe how John Williams uses instrumentation to establish a thrilling atmosphere in the main theme. (5)

Answer 31

- flutes / piccolo - brass - strings - full orchestra / tutti - percussion

Question 32

Describe how John Williams uses melody to establish a thrilling atmosphere in the main theme.

Answer 32

- leaps - leitmotif - repeated melody - varied articulation - octaves - 5ths / 7ths - emphasises tonic and dominant

Question 33

Describe the articulation of the piccolo passage.

Answer 33

legato

Question 34

Explain how the composer establishes a sense of outer space when the piccolo plays by referring to the accompaniment. (5)

Answer 34

- celesta - harp - vibraphone - violins - sustained chord - high - ostinato - arpeggio / triadic figures

Question 35

Explain how the composer establishes a sense of outer space when the piccolo plays by referring to the melody. (5)

Answer 35

- chromatic - high (pitch) - leitmotif / theme - hexatonic

Question 36

Explain how the the composer uses rhythm to create tension when the brass instruments enter as the first spaceship appears. (3)

Answer 36

- cross rhythms - dotted - ostinato - triplets / sextuplets