Rebel Blockade Runner

• Bold, clearly defined melodies 
• Opening fanfare and main theme (A)
  • Intervals of a 4th and a 7th
  • Triplet quaver rhythms
  • Played by the brass (ff)
• The main theme is a heroic leitmotif
• The contrasting section (B) still has intervals of a 4th and a 7th with triplets
• However it is scored for violins and is quiter (mf)
• Use of contrary motion scales

• Military mood created by the fast tempo and 4/4 time
• Triplet figures in the opening bars and typical of fanfares
• Also use of rapid repeated nots to create a feeling of expectation
• In the main theme, there is a strong quadruple pulse 
• The main theme is often accompanied with syncopated block chords
• Use of cross rhythms (e.g. bar 2)
• From bar 33 onwards, the rhythmic feel changes. The pulse is less obvious.
• Bar 44 - changes to 3/4 time
• 44- 50 - homorhythmic chords create drama
  • Mix of - quavers, triplet quavers, crotchets and rests. 
  • Slower pulse increases this effect

• Dominated by homophonic texture
• Mainly melody-dominated homophony where the tune is supported by block or articulated chords
• Use of pedal textures
  • Inverted pedal in the intro
  • 12-15 - Dominant pedal
• Use of ostinato figures 
• Imitative points (such as the opening fanfare)
• Homorhythmic texture of block chords  (bars 44-50) 

• Written for a full symphony orchestra
• 90 musicians across the four sections
  • Strings
  • Percussion
  • Woodwind
  • Brass
• No electronic effects or synthesisers  
• Quite thickly scored

• Written for Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope
• Released in 1977
• Film music - space opera
• Underscoring 

• Use of quartal harmony (chords built from 4ths) 
• In the first section, there is use of chords in root position 
• There is chromaticism in the parallel triads of bar 7 
• Bars 33-35 - unreleated chords that create little sense of key
• Chrods becoming increasingly dissonant 
• Bars 46-50 - note clusters are used
  • Clusters - a dissonant chord that includes several adjacent notes
• Parallel triads return in the last four bars (heard over a pedal C)
  • Parallel harmonies - a succession of similar chords whose notes all move in the same direction 

• Bars 1-29 are in  B♭ major
• This is reinforced by the use of tonic and dominant pedals
• In the second half, it becomes atonal
• This is achieved with dissonant chords
• It is based around the note C (often as a bass pedal)
• There is a sense of bitonality in the last ten bars - chords in A♭ major clash with an ostinato on a pedal C 

• First section- first 29 bars
  • Opening fanfare
  • Ternary structure (ABA1)
• Second section is used to set the scene of the particular film

1. Fanfare (1-3)

2. Main Theme A (3-11)

3. Contrasting section B (11-20)

4. Main theme A (21-29)

5. Shortened fanfare (29-38)

6. Piccolo solo (36-39)

7. Rebel Blockade Runner leitmotif (39-60)