Episode 9: Star Wars - Part 3
/In our third and final Star Wars episode, we take a look at some of the lesser known cues that round out this incredible score. We discuss the giant bantha in the room: the musical influences that inspired Williams and the temp music that helped to shape some of his artistic choices. Finally, we take a whirlwind tour of the action music, explore the groovy Cantina Band tunes and debate whether Star Wars is in fact the greatest film score of all time. Is it?
Episode notes:
3:20 – the music for the Jawas
5:40 – finding the downbeat in “The Little People”
7:28 – is this the highest Tuba line ever?
11:03 – the music for the Sand People
14:39 – Williams’ family relations and a link to Toto
15:28 – use of the Timpani
18:08 – a comparison with Jerry Goldsmith’s Planet of the Apes
20:26 – discussing the Bantha in the room: the musical influences on Star Wars
26:05 – The Dune Sea of Tatooine vs Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring
30:17 – The Rebel Blockade Runner vs Holst’s The Planets
32:02 – Some Bernard Herrmann references in Star Wars
36:56 – The Throne Room vs Dvorak and Elgar
42:21 – The Throne Room’s reappearance in Return of the Jedi
44:55 – rude trumpets and the performance/recording of the score
47:03 – the musicians who made contributions to Star Wars
48:53 – the action music of Star Wars and Williams’ hip grooves
53:11 – Dan’s dissapointment in Star Wars’ lack of musical numbers
56:15 – The Battle of Yavin vs The Battle of Britain
1:02:35 – The Cantina Band, is it jazz or jizz?
1:06:20 –Sing Sing Sing as temp music
1:08:48 – the 2nd Cantina Band song
1:11:18 – the original Star Wars trailer music and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
1:15:46 – the studio’s woeful attempt at marketing Star Wars
1:17:42 – is Star Wars the greatest film score of all time?
We love to hear from our listeners – get in touch via Twitter, and if you like The Art of the Score, please take a moment to subscribe, rate and comment
