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

Star Wars Music Minute

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

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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)?

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

• Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) (composed by Jerry Goldsmith)

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FOLLOW DR. FRANK LEHMAN AND HIS WORK!

• Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/
• Hollywood Harmony: Musical Wonder and the Sound of Cinema (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Harmony-Musical-Wonder-Cinema/dp/0190606401
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/fmlehman

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