Star Wars Basics

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

• Released 1977
• Overture=music played at the start of a film
• Leitmotif=musical idea associated with a character

Question 2

Leitmotifs

Answer 2

• The first is at bar 4 associated with the hero Luke Skywalker
• Second leitmotif is known as the Rebel Blockade Runner in bar 36

Question 3

Instrumental Features

Answer 3

• Full symphony orchestra of 90 players
• Varied characteristics and timbres
• In the first three bars there is overlapping of brass, trumpet, trombone along with horns and tubas
• Trumpets have a bright and grand sound
• violins take the more sweeping stepwise melody and bar 11
• “tutti”= all instruments play; bar 21, 42
• High-pitched piccolo at bar 36 to give a different atmosphere to the heavy brass sections