Solo 15: Do You Like It? (Minutes 71-75 with Christina Ward)

Composer Christina Ward joins Xanthe for a detailed listen and analysis of minutes 71-75 of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which starts with the crew landing on Kessel and ends with L3 liberating a droid.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Hello there!
• 05:39 - All roads lead back to the Empire.
• 11:15 - Where the music abruptly changes, Baroque vibes, Enigma Variations, Britten, large interval leaps, unified instrument sections
• 22:02 - Qi'ra and the gang walk out to greet the Pykes. Music leaves space for dialogue.
• 24:53 - Jaws-esque half steps.
• 27:49 - Sparkly Main Theme for chance cubes shot.
• 29:30 - Rooting (but not rooting) for Han and Qi'ra.
• 33:48 - Buildup before they break their disguises. Contrary motion.
• 42:38 - The droid that steals the show!
• 47:35 - Composers conveying instructions to performers. How would we notate this droid sound?
• 55:02 - Humor, Qi'ra, "murder complete."
• 1:00:35 - The beginning of "Mine Mission" is curious, hopeful.
• 1:07:48 - Listeners with good droid ears, what do you think the droid is saying?
• 1:08:40 - Liberation, liberation, liberation, liberation!
• 1:10:45 - Final thoughts about minutes 71-75 of Solo.
• 1:14:49 - SWMM Questionnaire

Things to Check Out:

• Benjamin Britten - The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra | Saraste | WDR Symphony Orchestra - https://youtu.be/4vbvhU22uAM
• Elgar: Enigma Variations / Boian Videnoff - Mannheimer Philharmoniker - https://youtu.be/6bkCEKD_Hhg
• Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Musical Themes:

• 5. The Gang
• 9. Fakery
• 1a. Main Theme (A Section)
• 1. Young Han Solo (Heroic, comp. JW)
• 8. L3-37

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

• "Oksana Floren, yadda yadda yadda (4M30A)" - pretty much the whole track
• "Mine Mission" - first 40 seconds
• "Extra Deluxe Mine Mission (4M30B-5M30C-31)"

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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

• Heartfelt. Direct. Dramatic.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

• What are the thematic relationships that tie the dark side with Imperialism, musically speaking? Similarly, what musical relationships tie the light side with rebellion and goodness?

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

• Dune (music composed by Hans Zimmer, sound team led by Mark Mangini and Theo Green)

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Guest: Christina Ward

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtnaaastina/
• Kyvi the Water Nymph: https://www.instagram.com/kyvi_waternymph/

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