Star Wars Cheat Sheet:

Melody:

1.) The piece starts with a fanfare which is used to symbolise the grand and heroic meanings behind
the piece, it is made up of rapid, repeating triplets

2.) The leitmotif is played by trumpets and brass

3.) The B theme is scalic

4.) There is a full descending scale to end the B section

5.) The piccolo helps to represent the star filled sky

6.) There is imitation and 7th intervals in the fanfare

7.) The main melody consists of a 4-bar idea which balances stepwise motion and leaps

8.) Repeated use triplets and long minims to create excitement and tension

Rhythm, Tempo and Metre:

1.) Fast tempo matches the mood and feel of the film – an exciting action movie

2.) 4/4 metre and steady brass tempo gives it a march like feel

3.) Repeated use of triplets

4.) After the main theme, the pulse becomes harder to follow

5.) Both themes use an anacrusis

6.) Near the end, the time signature changes to 3/4

7.) The Mars like chords are homorhythmic (all playing the same rhythm)

Tonality:

1.) The main theme is in Bb major

2.) After the main theme finishes the tonality becomes less clear

3.) Lots of dissonance when the spaceship appears

4.) The piece is almost atonal at times

5.) When the planets are revealed, the piece switches to C major

6.) There is a C bass pedal

Instruments and Sonority:

1.) The piece uses a full symphony orchestra

2.) Wind: Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet and Bassoon

3.) Brass: Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba

4.) Percussion: Timpani, Triangle, Tam Tam (gong), vibraphone, glockenspiel, cymbals

5.) Other instruments: Piano, Celeste, Harp

6.) Parts are normally doubled an octave or more apart

Texture:

1.) The piece is made up of homophonic texture

2.) Main theme is accompanied by block chords or arpeggios

3.) At times, the tune is doubled in different octaves

4.) Use of inverted tonic pedals and regular dominant pedals

5.) Near the end of the piece there are ostinato textures

Harmony:

1.) Main theme is mostly diatonic and the accompaniment is mostly major and minor chords

2.) After main theme, harmony is very dissonant and atonal

3.) Heavy use of quartal harmony (chords made up of 4ths and 5ths)

4.) In the main theme, the chords are syncopated

5.) Descending basslines

Structure:

1.) Main theme follows an AABA structure but after mainly follows what is taking place on screen.