Star Wars Flashcards
(5 cards)
Texture
Overall texture is melody dominated homophony
Pedal texture is used to emphasise the tonic key - 4
The piccolo solo has a sparse texture to represent the simpler stillness of space
Chordal homophony -47
Ostinato texture - 51 onwards
Harmony & Tonality
The theme begins in the key of Bb major to create a positive mood to reflect the idea of hope
In the fanfare, quartal harmonies are used with 4th intervals to build on the bright mood - 2,6
The key is atonal with polytonal chords as it creates eeriness - 33,35
Piccolo solo is also atonal to create an ethereal sound and vastness of space - 36,38
A Neapolitan on chord used to add extra excitement - 55
Instrumentation
In the opening fanfare, the brass plays with the percussion to create a heroic and positive opening - 1,3
The brass uses a technique called triple-tonguing to allow to play notes quickly
Piccolo plays a solo in the space theme to represent the emptiness - 36,38
The Celeste and glockenspiel represent the shimmering of the stars
The notation ‘tutti’shows that the orchestra needs to play together to create loud moods and represent strength - 24
Rhythm, Metre & Tempo
In the opening fanfare, there are many triplets used to reflect war-like marches - 2,3
Fast, scalic run to build excitement - 7
Scurrying sextuplet semiquavers used to add energy and drive the music forward - 31,32
Dissonant cluster chords and are used to show the gradual slowing of tempos
There is a driven ostinato to represent, war and conflict - 51 to the end
Melody
Opening melody is somewhat conjuct with a few large leaps between notes
In the skywalker theme, Williams uses a 5th intervals like many heroic themes to create a powerful feel - 4
7th intervals to create tension and surprise, contrasting with 5th -5
Hexatonic melody in the piccolo solo, which creates mystery - 37
Ascending sequence of semiquavers with rising pitch to build towards a climax - 40
