Star Wars

Handling of Forces

• (Bars 1-6) Tremolo on strings.

• Avoiding use of electronic sounds and solo sections.

• Full symphony orchestra.

• (Bars 4-6) Doubling of parts.

• (Bar 29) Harp Glissando (slide).

• (Bar 33) Pizzicato

Introduction (1-3)

• Fanfare like figures played in the brass

• Staccato triplet figures

• Free imitation between trombone and tuba

• Quadruple time

• Fortissimo

• Inverted tonic pedal and tremolando - violins

Main theme A (4-7)

• High trumpets play heroic leitmotif

• Syncopation in lower range instruments (bassoon, low strings) emphasises by snare drum

• Woodwind and upper strings continue inverted tonic pedal and tremolando

• Fortissimo

Main theme repeated (8-11)

• Melody repeated on trumpet

• Descending bass on accompaniment

• Semi quaver lower auxiliary figure on alternate beats

Contrasting section B (11-20)

• Melody played in strings in octaves

• Glockenspiel plays important parts of melody

• Horns, piano, oboe play accompanying block chords

• Harmony reinforced by triplet figures on piano/flute/harp/clarinet

• dominant pedal

• mezzo forte

Main theme A played twice (21-9)

• Melody doubles across 3 octaves

• Ascending scale like passages in woodwind

• Syncopated chords

• Glissando in harp links to next section

• fortissimo

Link (30-32)

• fanfare-like material

• Rapid ascending sequences in bassoon/flutes/strings

• chord is built using repeated triplet/semiquaver rhythms

Transition (33-35)

• Brass and woodwind sustain strange/unstable harmonies

• Rapid arpeggio phrases