ANH 6: Binary Sunset Breakdown (Minutes 26-30)

A thorough analysis of the Force theme with music theorist/film musicologist Frank Lehman. We discuss form, structure, harmony, orchestration, and John Williams's alternate "Binary Sunset" cue that didn't make it to the film. Discussion Guide: 0:00:00 - Hello there. 0:04:33 - Luke at the Lars kitchen table. Like father, like son. 0:06:46 - Beginning of the "Binary Sunset" breakdown. 0:09:00 - Frisson and which elements are in place to nearly "guarantee" the aesthetic shivers in Binary Sunset. 0:15:28 - Unsustainability of sustained notes. 0:18:54 - Tactile quality of the London Symphony Orchestra recording, Imperfection in the film and recording. 0:25:22 - Do you think this is the Force theme, Ben Kenobi theme, or Luke Skywalker theme in this moment? 0:30:00 - Structural analysis. 0:35:18 - Variety in the Force theme. 0:37:55 - French horn associations: solo, tenderness, hunting instrument, quiet nobility, Siegfried, chorales, funeral themes, etc 0:44:26 - Listening to the cello part. 0:46:00 - The Last Jedi mirroring this part. 0:47:33 - We start talking about "Binary Sunset (Alternate)" version. 0:57:25 - Signs of Shostakovich all over these scores. 1:01:04 - Listening to Binary Sunset alternate again. "Dies Irae," the retained cadence, etc. 1:05:54 - Listening to the baby "Rebel Fanfare" and the flutes not playing together. 1:09:19 - In the garage with Luke and Threepio. 1:10:15 - Listening to the magical chimes and the cadence. "Thicket of sonority." Evasion of the perfect authentic cadence. 1:14:23 - Who orchestrated this cue? Frank thinks it might be Angela Morley (but Herb Spencer and Morton also worked on orchestration) 1:16:10 - Lars homestead, Aunt Beru's food processor. 1:17:15 - Landspeeder motif and why Dr. Lehman included it in the catalogue. 1:20:58 - Sandpeople motif, instrumental textures 1:28:13 - The limitations of harmonic framing (or any reductionist analysis) when it comes to representing motifs/music. 1:32:30 - Crait dragon call, special edition sound design changes. 1:37:19 - The Obi-Wan twinkle. 1:42:43 - SWMM Questionnaire Musical Themes: 3. Force 10) Landspeeder 11) Sandpeople Note: I'm using the theme names and numbers established in Frank Lehman's Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars. You can download it free at his website: https://franklehman.com/starwars/. Where we are in the soundtrack album: "The Hologram/Binary Sunset" "Landspeeder Search/Attack of the Sandpeople" "Binary Sunset (Alternate)" Things Mentioned: Frank Lehman's other episode on this show: Musical DNA of The Last Jedi - https://youtu.be/NZwIpV3igBo Angela Morley, composer and orchestrator - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Morley Ravel: "Pavane for a Dead Princess" - https://youtu.be/GKkeDqJBlK8 Richard Wagner: Siegfried leitmotifs - https://opera-inside.com/richard-wagners-leitmotivs-opera-guide/#Siegfried Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8, 4th movement - https://youtu.be/xqP_PhzVKV0 Gustav Holst: Uranus - https://youtu.be/aDFGmiXnLjU Jerry Goldsmith's Planet of the Apes score. "The Clothes Snatchers" - https://youtu.be/iaeqnu7TikE Obi-Wan's Grunt Call Scene Comparison 1977-2006 - https://youtu.be/_O-Fdf2-8Z4 John Williams: "The Hologram/Binary Sunset" - https://youtu.be/_dr3W3QuVCs John Williams: "Binary Sunset" (Alternate) - https://youtu.be/ARhQWV1ZkNs John Williams: "The Princess Appears" - https://youtu.be/r6Qbbyc1eLc John Williams: "The Land of the Sand People" - https://youtu.be/WyDhshJUoac John Williams: "Landspeeder Search/Attack of the Sandpeople" - https://youtu.be/Fl2JvJ9Gzz4 -------------- STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE 1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like? Dissonant pedal notes. Minor planing triads. 2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about? What we're musically in store for as Star Wars moves onto the next chapters of its development. Also: What was the actual score to Episode IX supposed to be (before changes