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