The music from Star Wars IV seems to resort back to the classic Hollywood film score traits. The first thing noticed is the use of full orchestra again. The opening/Title scene begins with the "typical/well known" Star Wars theme. It uses a full orchestra, and much unlike the music from film noir films, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, the music very loud, harmonious, euphonious, and colorful. Throughout the movie, much like classical Hollywood film scores, there is basically wall to wall music and the music is typically very noticeable. The scenes without underscoring seem to stand out, such as when Darth Vader and Obi-wan Kenobi are fighting, or when the Jetti's first go in to destroy the Death Star. The music in the movie also seems to fit the mood of the scene. If there is a dramatic scene, the music helps build intensity with sequences or with repetition. And when there are "evil" characters, like Darth Vader, the music becomes dark and scary, portraying the characters as villains.
Many of the classic Hollywood techniques are used. Mickey mouse-ing for example, is used to match the Storm Troopers steps in one scene on the Death Star, and used to match Princess Lei running in another. And the use of leitmotif, or a repetitive theme used throughout the movie, is also used. There seem to be two major themes that stick out to me...the Star Wars theme and the "Jetti/the Force" theme. The Star Wars theme is usually heard in heroic or dramatic situation. For example, when princess Lei is rescued, the Star Wars theme is played, and when Luke is about to blow up the Death Star. The other theme is used whenever the force, or the idea of the Jetti's are used. When Ben's voice tells Luke to use the force when he is attacking the Death Star, the force leitmotif can be heard. When Ben first appears the theme is heard, and when Ben is talking to Luke about his father and the idea of the Force, it is also heard. These are just a few examples of the theme being used as a leitmofic for the Force. There was also very little use of diagetic music. The only time it is heard is during the "bar" scene in the begining when the band of weird creatures are playing exotic sounding music.
The movie's music takes a step back from where music has been heading, back to more classic Hollywood traits.
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2 comments:
I'm glad you noticed the classical Hollywood traits, even the Mickey Mouse-ing. (By the way, it's "Jedi" not "Jetti"
The use of classical film scoring was not a step backwards. It was an advancement for the use of film music. During the film noir period, film music was severely limited, but now film scoring is heading once again into a time when the music can completely fill the movie and create a masterpiece, whereas in film noir, the music was few and far between and could not create a great atmosphere between the picture and the sound. The classical score is an advancement not a detriment.
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