Star Wars Music Minute
Celebrating the music and sound of Star Wars 5 cinematic minutes at a time!
Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
I just saw John Williams live for the first time! Here are some of the highlights, footage excerpts, and my analysis.
Concert Details:
John Williams: Maestro of the Movies
Saturday, September 4, 2021 at the Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles, CA)
David Newman and John Williams conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of film music selections
Event link: https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/1276/2021-09-05/john-williams-maestro-of-the-movies
References:
"Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (John Williams) - https://youtu.be/1IFmRniWa0U
"Scherzo for X-Wings" from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (John Williams) - https://youtu.be/xJzuanMUuS4
"Throne Room and End Title" from Star Wars Suite for Orchestra (John Williams) - https://youtu.be/_3AiYIxBwD0 (from Silfimur's channel)
An even more dramatic tempo comparison: "Williams: The Throne Room - End Credits" - https://youtu.be/LH57BIdwMLg (from LA Phil's channel)
"The Throne Room/End Title" from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (John Williams) - https://youtu.be/m1dXRe0Z1hw
Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars - https://franklehman.com/starwars
Star Wars Music Minute:
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Merch: coming soon
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Friday Sep 03, 2021
Friday Sep 03, 2021
We've reached the end of The Last Jedi! Today's episode is a fun roundtable discussion with Jay Cooper and John Bellizzi, in which we listen to the rest of the end credits music and do a play-by-play commentary together. We also reflect on the season and film as a whole, share our personal music and sound effects highlights from The Last Jedi, and speculate on the future of Star Wars music.
Guests: John Bellizzi and Jay Cooper
Timestamps:
00:00 - Hello there!
02:00 - End credits music + play by play commentary
17:37 - What were our first impressions of the music in The Last Jedi?
27:13 - Open-ended question: What makes some musical themes more memorable than others?
42:28 - Things we've learned, SWMM season highlights, shoutouts to specific Star Wars Music Minute guests, episodes, and concepts that stretched us as TLJ music and sound fans.
51:45 - Topics about Star Wars music we still don't understand or would like more context around
54:40 - Our thoughts and speculation on the future of Star Wars music
56:53 - What is the "John Williams soundtrack" style?
1:09:06 - Our favorite sound effects in The Last Jedi
1:09:45 - Our favorite music things in The Last Jedi
1:15:35 - If you could encourage people to revisit one particular spot in The Last Jedi, where the music and sound design are working in "perfect symbiosis," where would that be and what should they pay attention to?
References:
Steele Saunders/Steele Wars: https://www.youtube.com/c/SteeleWars
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/
Luke Skywalker vs. Kylo Ren 16 Bit Scenes (Mr Sunday Movies) - https://youtu.be/oFfMN6lPnlA
SWMM Episodes Mentioned:
SWMM - TLJ #10: Colors of the Wind (with Justin Leo Kennedy): https://youtu.be/joH88DBjFFY
SWMM - TLJ #11: Steel Pans of Canto Bight (with Tyler Hunt): https://youtu.be/JWTWFCUw5pc
SWMM - TLJ #1: From a Cellist's POV (with Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick): https://youtu.be/nHrblao5iWk
SWMM - TLJ #14: Chromatic Fathiers (with Matt Burkey): https://youtu.be/rBcMV_RYqWc
SWMM.- TLJ #20: Palpatine's Musical Legacy (with Justin Scheid): https://youtu.be/AeSB3oNtbo8
SWMM - TLJ #23: Holdo's Resolve: https://youtu.be/qmJDyfQrQjM
SWMM - TLJ #5: Luke's Music Video: https://youtu.be/H-up7wksfDY
Star Wars Music Minute:
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Friday Aug 27, 2021
Friday Aug 27, 2021
Frank Lehman is a music theorist, film musicologist, and John Williams scholar who created the Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars. Today, he's here to help us understand the end credits and music of The Last Jedi overall. We talk about wild theorizing, erotic themes, and the technical and philosophical ideals that make up the musical vocabulary of Star Wars.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro and welcome to Frank Lehman, music theorist and film musicologist
02:50 - Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars
talking about music with non-musicians
pet peeves, hot takes, justifications
crafting theories based on music
18:55 - What's going on in this end credits music?
20:48 - Is the music in these end credits "successful"?
26:35 - "Luke in Exile" themes
32:00 - violin demonstration overlaying Luke in Exile, Jedi Steps, Rey's themes
37:15 - mythically intentional way of writing open-ended music
46:xx - pre-existing expectations, idea that meaning comes from incongruity
48:26 - underscore, benefits of focusing on 5 cinematic minutes at a time, setting up moods
50:24 - "Mirror Cave" (TLJ) in conversation with "Magic Tree" (ESB) example
51:48 - about the "Battle of the Heroes" (ROTS) quote in the opening of this film
52:40 - rarity of perfect authentic cadences in this style of Hollywood score
57:02 - thoughts on Rose's theme, lydian themes in John Williams' history in general
1:03:41 - "wonderment" as a musical aesthetic
1:07:03 - explicit eroticism in music, Leia, Han and Leia, Q'ira, Jyn, etc...
1:10:19 - Rey's theme as a complete departure
1:15:27 - more playback of the end credits music
1:19:04 - leitmotif vs. incidental motif vs. nonspecific byproduct of a writing style, Ahch-To Arpeggios, Kamino Mystery motif
1:22:03 - Kamino callback in The Bad Batch, John Williams's musical fixations and shorthands
1:27:04 - visionary aspects of the screenwriting and directing as a possible inspiration for John Williams
1:32:54 - Goodbyes
References:
Things by Frank Lehman
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars: https://franklehman.com/starwars/
"Thematic Transformation and the Limits of Leitmotivic Analysis" - Talk by Frank Lehman given at Society for Music Theory, 2019 - https://youtu.be/4ZBCNK0PYrk
"Hollywood Cadences: Music and the Structure of Cinematic Expectation" (paper) https://mtosmt.org/issues/mto.13.19.4/mto.13.19.4.lehman.php
Hollywood Harmony: Musical Wonder and the Sound of Cinema (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Harmony-Musical-Wonder-Cinema/dp/0190606401
Music:
"A New Home" (The Rise of Skywalker) - by John Williams https://youtu.be/68jxhJYmo7o
"The Cave" (The Last Jedi) by John Williams - https://youtu.be/nFzuvgyqyCE
"The Magic Tree" (The Empire Strikes Back) by John Williams - https://youtu.be/RW5Fpv7X-4Q
"Far From Home/E.T. Alone" (E.T.) by John Williams - https://youtu.be/P312yGJGZgg
"Main Titles" (from Space Camp) by John Williams - https://youtu.be/eeq2Vy31t6E
"Back to the Future" by Alan Silvestri - https://youtu.be/cgBvhmxun5M
"Romeo and Juliet Overture" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - https://youtu.be/_Od7gx3Dc-U
"Tristan and Isolde" leitmotifs by Richard Wagner - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL78TsyiiZjhGGJhndz_P-8EbshbYcFDxB
Symphony No 9 "New World" by Antonin Dvorak - https://youtu.be/Qut5e3OfCvg
"The Firebird Suite" by Igor Stravinsky - https://youtu.be/6wbkKWrUD-A
"Marion's Theme/The Crate" (Raiders of the Lost Ark) by John Williams - https://youtu.be/Mp9InE4oDAw
"Princess Leia's Theme" by John Williams - https://youtu.be/eyHOUMWw5_M
"Han Solo and the Princess" by John Williams - https://youtu.be/zIQLjKJ2Yto
"Jyn Erso and Hope Suite" by Michael Giacchino (from Rogue One) - https://youtu.be/w42CTq5QZtI
"Lando's Closet" (Solo: A Star Wars Story) (Han and Q'ira's theme) - https://youtu.be/wummwZCt5s0
"Hera Syndulla's theme" (compilation from Star Wars Rebels) by Kevin Kiner - https://youtu.be/x7LNzBjCFrA
"Finding Kamino" (Attack of the Clones) by John Williams - https://youtu.be/uthJxkZo9vM
The Bad Batch land on Kamino (Star Wars: The Bad Batch) music by Kevin Kiner - https://youtu.be/ro0lutauUpU
Other:
Things John Williams: Music for Films, Television, and the Concert Stage by Emilio Audissino - http://www.brepols.net/Pages/ShowProduct.aspx?prod_id=IS-9782503580340-1
Carolyn Abbate - https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691026084/unsung-voices
the "Tristan chord" - https://youtu.be/yT47eZ5LUhY
Relevant Star Wars Music Minute episodes
SWMM 16: Mirror Cave vs. Magic Tree - https://youtu.be/-ztVED0Dos0
SWMM 23: Holdo's Resolve - https://youtu.be/qmJDyfQrQjM
Frank Lehman Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fmlehman
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLwccpA85GCgdjAQB53OQXQ
Star Wars Music Minute:
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Merch: to come one day...?
Chrysanthe Tan (Xanthe):
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Friday Aug 20, 2021
With a final swell of the Force theme, the orchestra pulls us into the credits. Today, I am pleased to speak with Lorenz Gamma, violinist on The Last Jedi score. We talk nitty gritty details -- including what it was like working with John Williams, what the orchestra spent the most time rehearsing, the importance of inaccuracies, and how The Last Jedi score is like "a rich wine that goes with a rich meal."
Timestamps:
00:00 - intros01:43 - Lorenz's history with Star Wars04:41 - What's the difference working for John Williams versus other Hollywood composers?07:00 - craft, intricacy, painting11:18 - orchestration, synthesizers, nitty gritty details in string writing16:49 - dynamics: are they performed live or mixed later?20:43 - touching quotes from John Williams about the Los Angeles recording orchestra26:20 - no click track29:10 - descending bass line + ascending melody33:57 - difficulty of John Williams music (to play)35:10 - funny anecdote about the Harry Potter score36:35 - "wash of sound," how inaccuracies are part of a desired effect, patina42:33 - advice to young composers43:08 - how Star Wars is like a Wagner opera45:00 - delaying the perfect authentic cadence48:46 - classical music recommendations for listeners who like Star Wars scores51:18 - Richard Strauss, programmatic music, Alpine Symphony56:37 - rundown of the motifs from these 5 minutes, where we are in the soundtrack
Musical Themes/Motifs (in order of appearance, using Frank Lehman's names):
3. Force with descending lament bassline
41a. Kylo Ren 1 (Aggressive) with march snares as Kylo is walking out, overhead shot
42. Kylo Ren 2 (Hesitant) after Rey shuts the door on him and the dice disappear
50. Poe when Rey and Poe meet
45a. Rey 1 (Theme) mixed with 3. Force
2. Rebel Fanfare
1a. Main Theme (A Section) on celeste
3. Force when broom boy looks up at stars
1a. Main Theme (A Section) in credits
55a. Rose (A Section)
Soundtrack: "Peace and Purpose" and "Finale"
Other episodes with musicians from The Last Jedi soundtrack:
#1: From a Cellist's POV (with Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick): https://youtu.be/nHrblao5iWk
#11: Steel Pans of Canto Bight (with Tyler Hunt): https://youtu.be/JWTWFCUw5pc
Additional References:
Musical terms/concepts: Romantic tradition, ascending melodies, descending basslines, passacaglia, virtual instruments, just intonation, equal temperament, cadence, perfect authentic cadence, melody, program(matic) music, tone poem
J.S. Bach, master of descending basslines.
Tristan and Isolde (opera) by Richard Wagner
Lohengrin Prelude by Richard Wagner - https://youtu.be/lqk4bcnBqls
(full opera) Lohengrin by Richard Wagner
"The Planets" - Mars, Jupiter, etc - by Gustav Holst - https://youtu.be/Isic2Z2e2xs
The Flying Dutchman "Overture" by Richard Wagner - https://youtu.be/Dv0OqRKrmH8
(full opera) The Flying Dutchman by Richard Wagner - https://youtu.be/_6_jS9dhtkc
"Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks" by Richard Strauss - https://youtu.be/QV5r9KG1eyc
"Symphonie Fantastique" by Hector Berlioz - https://youtu.be/5HgqPpjIH5c
"Alpine Symphony" by Richard Strauss - https://youtu.be/Tzr2Fw_0nY8
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/
Lorenz Gamma is a violin soloist, chamber musician, faculty member, Artistic Director of the Borromeo Music Festival in Switzerland, and Hollywood recording veteran who played on The Last Jedi score, as well as The Rise of Skywalker, Solo, Rogue One, and 70+ other films.
Star Wars Music Minute:
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Merch: to come one day...?
Chrysanthe Tan (Xanthe):
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Friday Aug 13, 2021
Friday Aug 13, 2021
Behind every legend is a person. In this episode of Star Wars Music Minute, Darth Choco joins me in a heartfelt discussion of the music, lore, and legacy surrounding Luke Skywalker's final act.
00:00:00 - Intro + In this set of minutes, Luke and Kylo face off, Rey uses the Force to lift the heavy rocks obstructing their path, and Luke says "See you around, kid."
00:01:44 - How the cinematography and music complement each other during the face-off.
00:03:55 - Luke and Kylo's contrasting combat styles, lightsaber sounds, and motivations
00:05:25 - How the Force theme escalates throughout Luke's "I will not be the last Jedi" speech
00:10:00 - The wordless choir and ascending strings when Rey lifts the rocks
00:12:50 - How Star Wars (including The Last Jedi) plays with our scale perception
00:15:00 - Do or do not.
00:16:32 - Minor perfect authentic cadence (PAC)
00:23:02 - Villain mental health
00:26:47 - How Rey telegraphs Kylo Ren's lightsaber moves!!!???
00:29:35 - Kylo's super rage-y music followed by furious, futile arpeggios
00:32:54 - Luke's built different
00:35:02 - "I thiiiink I'm eeeevil"
00:42:48 - Legacy vs. blood
00:46:23 - "I am a Jedi, like my father."
00:51:20 - What it means to be a Jedi and to divest from one's attachments
00:56:40 - Luke dies, and the Force theme sends him off
00:57:47 - How Luke impacts the galaxy, Rey impacts Luke, and Luke gives Rey permission to be human
🎵 THEMES: Force, Rey's Power (incidental motif), Kylo Ren
🎵 SOUNDTRACK: "The Last Jedi" and "Peace and Purpose"
Darth Choco's links:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@darthchoco
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DarthChoco
The High Ground podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-ground-star-wars-podcast-for-people-who-actually/id1525044964
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarthChoco7
Connect with Star Wars Music Minute:
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Merch: to come one day...?
Connect with Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Friday Aug 06, 2021
Friday Aug 06, 2021
"More! More! More!" Kylo yells, ordering every gun to fire on his uncle. Chaos, fashion, and Force angst ensue while Luke remains standing stronger than ever. Joining me today is Mollie Damon (Star Wars Explained, A Certain Point of View), and together, we nerd out on the music and sound of minutes 131-135 of The Last Jedi.
Discussion Highlights:
The silhouettes on Crait
Kylo Ren = the boss's jerk son
Our first reactions to watching The Last Jedi in theaters
Leia's proud smile and the editor (Bob Ducsay) who made that shot happen
Kylo Ren's hesitant leitmotifs
Poe's leadership and journey, guided by Leia and Holdo
Comparison of lightsaber sounds
Rey's various leitmotifs and what we can read in her themes (basically anything)
Our wishes for Finn's journey
Mollie's favorite musical moments in Star Wars
How being a Star Wars content creator affects the experience of viewing Star Wars films
Movie Trivia Shmoedowns
Themes Referenced (in order of appearance):
103) Luke's Last Stand
96) Catastrophe
42. Kylo Ren 2 (Hesitant)
43a. Kylo Ren 3/First Order 1 (Menacing)
50. Poe
48a. March of the Resistance (A Section)
46. Rey 2 (Chimes)
45a. Rey 1 (Theme)
Where we are in the soundtrack album: "The Spark"
Other Things:
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/
Mollie Damon Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MollieDamon
YouTube: Star Wars Explained
YouTube: A Certain Point of View
Star Wars Music Minute:
YouTube: /starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: @StarWarsMusicMinute
Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Merch: to come one day...?
Xanthe:
Twitter: @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @chrysanthetan
Spotify Artist Page: Chrysanthe Tan
Website: chrysanthetan.com
Patreon: patreon.com/chrysanthetan
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Luke and Leia reunite, and their musical themes pull at our heartstrings. Camila, also known as BoricuaWookiee, is here with me to navigate through these emotional minutes (126-130) of The Last Jedi.
Discussion topics/Highlights:
Is Finn's impending sacrifice selfish? Thoughts on his role and actions in the Resistance.
Dies Irae when Finn is about to sacrifice himself.
Leia's uncharacteristic loss of hope, which only Luke can reignite.
The smooth progression of themes, from Force --> Luke & Leia --> Han & Leia
The melodic and harmonic connections between all of Leia's three themes.
Is the beginning of the Star Wars Main Theme outlined at the beginning of Luke & Leia's theme? (Both begin with a perfect 4th to perfect 5th)
Does Leia know that Luke is a Force projection?
How our Star Wars feelings/opinions are constantly adjusting based on new information and more conversations.
"Luke & Leia" reminiscent of "Make Our Garden Grow" from Leonard Bernstein's Candide (operetta).
Rose as a future Resistance leader.
Leia, the bedrock of Star Wars. The rock of the Rebellion. The rock of the Skywalker family.
The repetitive F minor chord that makes us feel like we're waiting for something to happen.
Themes Referenced (in order of appearance):
13) Dies Irae
55a. Rose (A Section) in Db
3. Force in Em
21. Luke & Leia in E
11a. Han & Leia (A Section) in F
103) Luke's Last Stand in Fm
Where we are in the soundtrack: "Battle of Crait" and "The Spark"
References:
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars
"Candide, Act II: Finale - Make Our Garden Grow" by Leonard Bernstein: https://youtu.be/WwPNnqi7ogs
Darth Choco's High Ground show: Music of Star Wars: https://youtu.be/mI4Fqh_SdTE
Camila's Links:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@boricuawookiee
Beings of the Galaxy podcast: https://beingsofthegalaxypod.buzzsprout.com/
Instagram (Beings of the Galaxy): https://www.instagram.com/beingsofthegalaxypod/
Connect with Star Wars Music Minute:
Watch us on YouTube: youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin and @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute and @chrysanthetan
Email podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Want more? Check out Chrysanthe's Patreon for weekly practice/composing/music analysis livestreams.
Friday Jul 23, 2021
Friday Jul 23, 2021
How many motifs can you spot during the Battle of the Crait? Hint: there are more than 10! Alex Damon from Star Wars Explained is here with me today to break down the music and action in Minutes 121-125 of The Last Jedi.
Discussion topics/Highlights:
Alex finally figures out the theme he's had stuck in his head.
Finn's musical fake-out. Music as a manipulator, extra narrator.
The scoring process for this film.
What goes into making a balanced sound mix. The music + dialogue + sound design can't compete for the same crowded frequency ranges.
How the Battle of Crait "rhymes" with the Battle of Hoth, Empire Strikes Back, and the bomber run from the beginning of The Last Jedi.
Set-piece themes, like the Asteroid Field, and their role in Star Wars.
Chat about the past, present, and future of the rebellion.
Brief round of Star Wars music trivia (in which Alex wins)
Motifs (in order of appearance). I've included the numbers/names in case you want to follow along in Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of Star Wars Themes.
48a. March of the Resistance (A Section)
55a. Rose (A Section)
95) Resistance Deployed
41a. Kylo Ren 1 (Aggressive)
102) Whirling Octatonicism
52a. Tension (Generic)
2. Rebel Fanfare
45a. Rey 1 (Theme)
52b. Tension (Resistance in Trouble)
96) Catastrophe
8. TIE Fighter Attack
maybe 42. Kylo Ren 2 (Hesitant)
Where we are in the soundtrack: "Battle of Crait"
References:
Complete Catalogue of the Themes of Star Wars by Frank Lehman: https://franklehman.com/starwars/
Every TIE Fighter Type and Variant in Star Wars Canon (2020): https://youtu.be/dwE82PnVptw
TIE Fighter Sounds: https://youtu.be/TDDDgpLW2Ms
Star Wars Explained:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/starwarsexplained
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsExplain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starwarsexplained/
Connect with Star Wars Music Minute:
Watch us on YouTube: youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin and @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute and @chrysanthetan
Email podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Friday Jul 16, 2021
Friday Jul 16, 2021
Long live the Supreme Leader! After Snoke's dramatic (and loud) fall, Hux tempts fate, Kylo indulges in a Force choke, and the Resistance starts setting up on Crait. Chris Radtke is here with me to discuss Adam Driver's vocal gravitas, the space Bugs Bunny (Poe), and how the sound design of Crait's atmosphere reflects the desolation of the former Rebel base.
Discussion topics/Highlights:
The finality of Snoke's dense "thud" as his lower body hits the floor.
Adam Driver's voice and gravitas. Reminiscent of James Earl Jones?
Poe Dameron as Bugs Bunny (space guy from Brooklyn)
How the music and sound introduce us to Ahch-To and Crait in totally different ways.
Crait as a symbol of desperation, isolation, abandonment, desolate.
Jingle-jangle "wind chime" sound that the vulptices make, a credit to foley artists Margie O'Malley and Ronni Brown.
Crait vs. Hoth (and the various abandoned Rebel bases scattered across the galaxy)
Compliments to Poe.
"It all rhymes, man." --Radtke
Themes Referenced (in order of appearance): 41a. Kylo Ren 1 (Aggressive), 55a. Rose (A Section), 48a. March of the Resistance (A Section)3. Force
Where we are in the soundtrack: beginning of "Battle of Crait"
Links Mentioned:
Watch Dee Bradley Baker voice all the Star Wars: The Bad Batch clones: https://ew.com/tv/star-wars-bad-batch-dee-bradley-baker-voices-all-the-clones/
Radtke Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/radtke327
Connect with Star Wars Music Minute:
Watch us on YouTube: youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin and @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute and @chrysanthetan
Email podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Want more? Check out Chrysanthe's Patreon for weekly practice/composing/music analysis livestreams.
Friday Jul 09, 2021
Friday Jul 09, 2021
You won't find it on the commercial soundtrack, but the music leading up to Holdo's sacrifice represents the culmination of profound thematic transformation rarely heard in all of Star Wars. Let's talk about why.
Highlights:
How the Desperation motif spawned from the Tension motif (after various iterations).
Desperation motif is heard in its final form as the three subplots come to a head and finishes right as Holdo rams into the Supremacy.
Frank Lehman's "Thematic Transformation and the Limits of Leitmotivic Analysis"
Basic vs. advanced ways that leitmotifs tend to undergo transformation in Star Wars
The shelf-stable analogy of preserving precious leitmotifs for future use... and how that isn't the case here
Teleological genesis: when a theme develops from a motivic fragment and culminates in a final instance, never to reoccur.
Speculation, philosophical questions, and who cares about thematic transformation anyway?
Also in these minutes: silence!
Where we are in the soundtrack: "Holdo's Resolve" -- it's not on the commercial soundtrack. https://youtu.be/3rIBFn3oU7c
Sources and References:
Buhler, James. 2000. "Star Wars, Music and Myth." In Music and Cinema. Wesleyan University Press. https://academic.csuohio.edu/kneuendorf/c49415/Buhler00.pdf
Darcy, Warren. 2001. "Rotational Form, Teleological Genesis, and Fantasy-Projection in the Slow Movement of Mahler's Sixth Symphony." University of California Press https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/ncm.2001.25.1.49
Lehman, Frank. 2019. "Thematic Transformation and the Limits of Leitmotivic Analysis." Talk given at Society for Music Theory, 2019 https://youtu.be/4ZBCNK0PYrk
-- 2021. Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars: https://franklehman.com/starwars/
Schneller, Tom. 2014. "Sweet Fulfillment: Allusion and Teleological Genesis in John Williams’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind." https://www.academia.edu/6928980/Sweet_Fulfillment_Allusion_and_Teleological_Genesis_in_John_Williams_s_Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind
Svejda, Jim. 2018. "John Williams Discusses “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and “The Post.” KUSC Interviews. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/john-williams-discusses-star-wars-the-last-jedi-and-the-post/id616808075?i=1000403320805
Connect with Star Wars Music Minute:
Watch us on YouTube: youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute
Twitter: @StarWarsMusMin and @chrysanthetan
Instagram: @starwarsmusicminute and @chrysanthetan
Email podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com
Want more? Check out Chrysanthe's Patreon for weekly practice/composing/music analysis livestreams.