Star Wars Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner (Appraising) - Key Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering orchestration, harmony, form, and thematic elements from the Star Wars Main Title analysis.

Identify a key feature of John Williams's compositional style, and name two of his notable film scores.

John Williams is known for his revival of late-Romantic orchestral scoring. Notable scores include Star Wars, Jaws, Indiana Jones, and Schindler’s List.

Explain the purpose of a leitmotif in film music.

A leitmotif is a recurring musical idea associated with a specific character, place, or concept, used to represent them whenever they appear or are referenced in the film.

Describe two musical features heard in the 'Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner' cue from Star Wars Episode IV.

This opening cue introduces the main themes, uses a full symphony orchestra, and features fanfare-like brass figures.

Identify the main performing forces typically used in a John Williams film score, such as Star Wars.

John Williams typically uses a full symphony orchestra, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion, often augmented by instruments like piano/celeste and harp, with frequent doubling of parts.

What is a fanfare, and for what purpose might a composer use it in film music?

A fanfare consists of bold, short brass gestures. Composers use fanfares to announce a scene, signify heroism, or mark the arrival of action or an important character.

Explain what is meant by 'quadruple time' in music.

Quadruple time refers to a meter with four beats per bar, commonly notated as 4/4.

Describe an 'inverted tonic pedal'. How is it used in the Star Wars extract?

An inverted tonic pedal is a sustained tonic note that occurs in an upper voice, while the harmonies below it change. In the Star Wars extract, it is realized by sustained upper strings with tremolo.

How is 'tremolando' created, and what musical effect does it typically produce?

Tremolando is created by the rapid repetition of a single note or the rapid alternation between two notes. It produces a trembling or shimmering effect, often used to create tension or excitement.

Identify the piccolo and describe its typical role in orchestral scores like Star Wars.

The piccolo is a small, high-pitched flute. In orchestral scores like Star Wars, it often doubles the flute at the octave or plays bright, piercing melodic lines to add sparkle and prominence to the upper register.

Describe the melodic character and structure of the opening four-bar idea (Main Theme A) of the Star Wars main theme.

The Main Theme (A) is the first four-bar idea of the Star Wars main theme. It rises with a heroic character and is repeated to form an eight-bar phrase.

How does the 'Main Theme (B)' section contrast with 'Main Theme (A)' in the Star Wars main theme?

The Main Theme (B) is a contrasting four-bar idea that provides a different character from 'A'. It typically begins with an anacrusis.

Define 'anacrusis' and explain its function in a musical phrase.

An anacrusis is an upbeat note or partial bar that leads into the first full bar of a melody or phrase. Its function is to create forward momentum and establish the rhythm before the main downbeat.

What is an 'ostinato', and where can an example be found in the Star Wars extract?

An ostinato is a continually repeated musical figure that underpins a section of music. In the Star Wars extract, an example can be found in bars 51–60.

Describe an imperfect cadence and its musical effect.

An imperfect cadence is a cadence that ends on the dominant chord (V), typically preceded by the tonic (I) or subdominant (IV). It creates a sense of unfinished musical sentence, often leading to further musical development.

Explain what is meant by 'quartal harmony' and describe its characteristic sound.

Quartal harmony refers to chords built primarily in intervals of fourths rather than the more common thirds. It produces an open, often modern, and sometimes suspended or ambiguous sound.

How does 'bitonality' contribute to the musical texture and mood of a piece?

Bitonality is the simultaneous use of two different keys. It creates a rich, dissonant texture and can contribute to a sense of tension, complexity, or a specific 'color' in the music.

What does it mean for music to be 'atonal', and what is its typical effect on the listener?

Atonal music lacks a clear tonal center or key. It often sounds unsettled, unstable, or dissonant to the listener, as there is no central 'home' note for harmonies to resolve to.

Define a 'cluster' chord and describe its harmonic quality.

A cluster chord consists of dissonant, closely spaced notes, often played simultaneously. Its harmonic quality is typically very dense, harsh, and unsettling due to the tight packing of notes, such as C/Db or F/G.

Explain the interval of a 'tritone' and its common use in creating tension in music.

A tritone is an interval of an augmented fourth or diminished fifth (e.g., G–Db). It is highly dissonant and was historically avoided. Composers frequently use it to create heightened tension and drama in music.

What is 'modulation', and how can it impact the listener's perception of tonality?

Modulation is a change of key center within a piece of music. It can impact the listener's perception by creating variety, moving to new emotional states, or building tension towards a final resolution in a new key.

Identify the tonal center for the opening 29 bars of the Star Wars extract.

The tonal center of the opening 29 bars of the extract is B-flat major (Blat major).

Regarding bar 36 of the extract, describe the effect of using 'C major with Ab'.

In bar 36, the use of 'C major with A-flat (Alat)' creates a chromatic inflection, adding a richer, more complex color and a sense of momentary deviation from a simple C major harmony.

Outline the typical structure of an 'AABA' musical form.

AABA structure is a common musical form where section 'A' is presented twice (sometimes with slight variation), followed by a contrasting section 'B', and then a return to the initial 'A' idea, creating a familiar and balanced shape.

Explain 'homophony' and how it is demonstrated in the Star Wars extract from bar 4.

Homophony is a musical texture where a prominent melody is supported by accompanying harmony. In the Star Wars extract from bar 4 onward, this is demonstrated as melody-dominated homophony, with a clear main tune and subordinate accompaniment.