Studied by 2 people
Bars 1 - 3 (0:00-0:07)
What section is this?
What instrument family dominates this section?
What are the dynamics?
What is the metre?
What technique does the violin play?
Which instruments imitate each-other?
How does the rhythm in this section develop?
this section is the introduction
brass dominates by fanfare-like figures
dynamics are fortissimo
in quadruple time
the violin plays an inverted tonic pedal + tremolando
imitation of trombones and trumpets
rhythm goes from rapid repeated notes and they develop quickly into staccato triplet figures
Bars 4 - 7 (0:07-0:16)
What section is this?
What is played by high trumpets?
Describe the lower chords heard.
Describe what the woodwind and violins do in this section.
What are the dynamics?
this section is the main theme (A)
the high trumpets play heroic leitmotif/main theme
the chords are punctuating, syncopated and are played by the brass/lower strings/bassoons with the rhythm emphasized by a snare drum
upper woodwind and violins play tremolando chords and continue inverted tonic pedal from introduction
dynamics are fortissimo
Bars 8 - 11 (3rd beat) (0:16-0:26)
What section is this?
What do the trumpets play?
What happens to the inverted tonic pedal idea?
How does the accompaniment and bass change?
this section is the main theme (A) repeated
the trumpets play the melody again
the inverted tonic pedal idea varies by semiquaver lower auxiliary (stepwise below note) figure on alternate beats
the accompaniment changes slightly to allow a descending bass.
Bars 11 (4th beat) - 20 (0:26-0:48)
What section is this?
What is the melody played by and what is the texture like?
What instrument also plays part of the melody line?
Describe the accompanying chords in this section?
What is the harmony reinforced by?
What technique is used by the bass instruments in bars 12-15?
What are the dynamics like?
this section is the contrasting section (B)
the contrasting melody is played by all the strings apart from double basses - it is doubled across three octaves
the glockenspiel plays part of the melody
the chords are block chords and are played by the horns/piano(LH)/oboe
the harmony is reinforced by triplet figures in the piano(RH)/harp/flute/clarinet
in bars 12-15, a dominant pedal is played by the bass instruments
the dynamics are mezzoforte
Bars 21 - 29 (0:48-1:06)
What section is this?
Describe the texture of the melody.
Describe the woodwind in this section.
What are the chords like here?
What technique is played by the harp at bar 29 (0:37)?
What are the dynamics like?
this section is the main theme (A) played twice
the melody texture is thick - doubled across three octaves and is played by Violin/Viola/Cello/Horn/Trumpet
The woodwind plays ‘rushing’ upwards scale-like passages
the chords are punctuated and syncopated similar to those in bars 4-7
The harp plays a glissando at bar 29 and provides an effective link to the next section
the dynamics are fortissimo
Bars 30 - 32 (1:06-1:16)
What section is this?
What section does this piece relate to?
How does a chord build up?
Describe the strings/bassoons/flutes in this section.
this section is the link
this section links to the introduction and is fanfare-like
it builds up a chord using repeated quaver/triplet semiquaver rhythm
the strings/bassoons/flutes play rapid ascending (rising) sequential figures
Bars 33 - 35 (1:16-1:25)
What section is this?
Describe the harmonies played by the brass and woodwind.
Describe the strings in this section.
What happens to the dynamics?
this section is the transition
strange, unstable harmonies are sustained by the brass and woodwind instruments
the strings play a rapid arpeggio (broken chord)
the dynamics - general diminuendo
Bars 36 - 38 (1:25-1:31)
What section is this?
What happens to the texture?
What happens to the dynamics?
What instrument is playing the melody?
Describe the accompaniment.
What is the effect of the Celeste?
this section is the star-filled sky
it has a much lighter texture
the dynamics are pianissimo
the melody is played by the piccolo
the accompaniment is played by held chords/arpeggios in the woodwind/vibraphone/harp/Celeste/violin
the effect of the Celeste mimics the twinkling stars
Bars 39 - 41 (1:31-1:35)
What section is this?
Describe the strings in this section?
Describe the chords in this section?
What happens to the dynamics?
this section is the appearance of planets and there is an increase in tension.
the strings in this section play scurrying upwards figures
the chords are block chords and they build up
the dynamics - a crescendo in the trombones and horns
Bars 42 - 43 (1:35-1:41)
What section is this?
What are the dynamics like?
What technique do the bass instruments use in this section?
What percussion instruments are used?
Describe the brass instruments in this section.
this section is when the space ship appears
the dynamics are fortissimo
the bass instruments play a low C pedal note
percussion instruments are played such as a huge Tam-tam (gong) stroke, and timpani hammer out an ominous rhythm
the brass instruments in this section play two chordal figures which represent the imperial forces
Bars 44 - 50 (1:41-1:56)
What section is this?
Describe the chords in this section?
What are the dynamics like?
What happens to the tempo?
What happens to the metre?
this section is when a larger spaceship starts firing at the first
the chords in this section are dissonant (clashing) and are played in rhythmic unison by the whole orchestra
the dynamics are fortissimo
the tempo slows down (ritardando) and there is a pause for effect here
the metre changes to triple time
Bars 51 - 60 (1:56-end)
What section is this?
What happens to the tempo?
What do the strings/lower brass and woodwind play?
What do the brass and upper woodwind play?
What happens to the C note as the music ends?
this section is when the battle continues and then the action switches to inside the rebel aircraft
the tempo becomes fast
the strings/lower bass and woodwind play an ostinato figure on the note C
Brass and upper woodwind play dramatic triads, similar to those heard in 42/43, to accompany shots of the imperial forces
The sustained low C note fades away in cello/bass/bass clarinet as the music ends.
Note 
Flashcard (35)