star wars

Question 1

what resources does the song use?

Answer 1

• full symphony orchestra of nearly 90 players

Question 2

what woodwind instruments are used?

Answer 2

• flutes
• piccolos
• oboes
• clarinets
• bass clarinet
• bassoon

Question 3

which brass instruments are used?

Answer 3

• horns
• trumpets
• trombones
• tuba

Question 4

which percussion instruments are used?

Answer 4

• timpani
• triangle
• snare drum
• tam-tam
• glockenspiel
• vibraphone
• cymbals

Question 5

what string instruments are used?

Answer 5

• piano/celeste
• harp
• violins
• violas
• cellos
• double basses

Question 6

how is the orchestra used which is traditional of symphonic/romantic music?

Answer 6

uses lots of doubling of parts

Question 7

is the texture thick or thin?

Answer 7

mostly thick, relatively few uses of solo timbres or lighter textures

Question 8

does Williams use any electronic effects or synthesisers?

Answer 8

no

Question 9

how does the song start?

Answer 9

with the introductory fanfare

Question 10

what are some features of the introductory fanfare?

Answer 10

• dominated by fanfare like figures in the bass
• staccato triplet figures
• imitation between trombone and trumpets
• inverted tonic pedal played tremolando in the violins
• quadruple time
• fortissimo

Question 11

what follows the fanfare?

Answer 11

the main section then the contrasting section

Question 12

what are some features of the main theme A?

Answer 12

• leitmotif played by high trumpets
• syncopated chords in brass/lower strings/bassoon
• rhythms emphasised by the snare drums
• upper woodwind and violins play tremolando chords and continue inverted pedal
• fortissimo

Question 13

which instruments play the melody in the repetition of the main theme A?

Answer 13

trumpets

Question 14

what changes when the main theme is repeated?

Answer 14

• inverted tonic pedal varied by semiquaver lower auxiliary figure on alternate beats
• accompaniment changed slightly to allow a descending bass

Question 15

what are the dynamics of the main theme B?

Answer 15

mf

Question 16

which instruments play the melody in the main theme B?

Answer 16

• contrasting melody played by all strings apart from double basses (doubling across three octaves)
• important notes of the melody picked out in the glockenspiel

Question 17

which instruments play the accompaniment in main theme B/what is the accompaniment like?

Answer 17

• accompanying block chords in the horns/piano (LH)/oboe
• harmony reinforced by triplet figures in piano (RH)/harp/flute/clarinet
• dominant pedal in bass instruments

Question 18

what instruments play the melody of main theme A after main theme B was played?

Answer 18

doubled across three octaves in the violin/viola/cello/horn/trumpet

Question 19

what do the woodwind play in the repetition of main theme A after main theme B?

Answer 19

rushing upward scale-like passages

Question 20

what technique is used in the harp to provide a link to the next section after the repetition of main theme A?

Answer 20

glissando

Question 21

what are some features of the link and transition to the star theme?

Answer 21

• fanfare-like again
• building up a chord with repeated quaver/triplet semiquaver rhythm
• rapid ascending sequential figures in the string/bassoons/flutes
• strange, unstable harmonies sustained by brass and woodwind
• rapid arpeggio figures in the strings
• general diminuendo (after a crescendo)

Question 22

what volume is the star theme?

Answer 22

pianissimo

Question 23

what instrument plays the melody of the star theme?

Answer 23

piccolo

Question 24

what is the accompaniment like in the star theme?

Answer 24

held by chords/arpeggios in woodwind/vibraphone/harp//celeste/violin

Question 25

what are the features of the texture?

Answer 25

- various types of homophonic - variety of pedal textures - ostinato

Question 26

when is the ostinato played?

Answer 26

at the end, on the note C, played by strings/lower brass/woodwind

Question 27

what key is the song at the start? (for the first halfish)

Answer 27

Bb major

Question 28

what is the tonality like in the second half of the song?

Answer 28

- tonality becomes less clear, more unstable harmonies and progressions - modulates to C major - more based around C (heard in bass pedal) - complex chords and dissonance make some of the passage atonal at times - sense of bitonality in the last 10 bars, clashing Ab minor chords with ostinato on C

Question 29

what is the harmony like in the fanfare section?

Answer 29

it uses quartal harmony (building chords on fourths instead of thirds)

Question 30

what leaps is the fanfare based around?

Answer 30

leaps of fourths

Question 31

what is the melody like in the main theme A?

Answer 31

- uses rising perfect fifths - uses minor 7th leaps - balance of conjunct and leaps

Question 32

what is the melody like of main theme B?

Answer 32

- begins with an anacrusis - more stepwise - has a rising 6th - triplet figures and fourths to link to A - outer parts move in contrary motion towards the end

Question 33

what are some melodic features of the second half of the song?

Answer 33

- rising and falling minor thirds - use of sequence

Question 34

what is the metre of the piece?

Answer 34

starts in 4/4 then changes to 3/4

Question 35

what is the rhythm like in main theme A?

Answer 35

- syncopated block chords - mixes offbeat quaver and triplet quavers with frequent rests

Question 36

what is the rhythm like towards the end?

Answer 36

uses homorhythmic chords, mixes quavers, triplet quavers, crotchets and rests