Page 38 - Star Wars Insider #177

JOHN WILLIAMS

interrupted by C-3PO, however, the backdrop of the Ewok village, stays true to the character of Leia
and then musically destroyed reveals their true bond. we have already come to know,
altogether as we cut to the As with Leia’s original theme, saying: “Williams takes the main
Imperial fleet.” In this sequence, Williams chose to highlight title and turns it into a more

Williams again opts to build the this new music with a concert lyrical theme. Then he takes it on
melody by starting with a solo arrangement for the album a rollercoaster ride through
French horn. release. Titled “Luke and Leia,” all kinds of dark emotions by
In the wake of Han’s capture, this arrangement once again putting his dramatic emphasis
the love theme follows Leia and introduces the melody with on the softest part of the main
her friends as they try to stop a solo French horn. In the cue title’s melody.

Boba Fett’s escape on Cloud City’s from the film, the melody is “In the main title, the big
east platform and then, having instead given to the strings on notes that are accented are

failed, as they make their way to its first instance, then the oboe perfect intervals—neither major
the Millennium Falcon. Finally, when it is repeated. nor minor—and the passing
the theme crescendos at the fi lm’s However, Collins notes, unlike tones that tell us the theme is in
conclusion, as Leia, Luke, and the Leia’s earlier themes, “‘Luke and major happen very quickly. With

droids watch the Falcon depart, Leia’ is in a flatted key, which ‘Luke and Leia’, Williams pulls
with Lando and Chewbacca now gives it a mellow, muted, even 07 The mellow those tones out, transforming it
tone of “Luke
at the ship’s controls. With Han sorrowful sound. There’s no and Leia” into something that mixes
Solo imprisoned, the theme takes opening major-sixth interval, hints at the tragedy and hope together,
complex
on a new meaning, representing which had been so identifi able without ever quite giving you
nature of
Leia’s longing for her lost love. “It with Leia. Instead, it’s a totally siblings’ resolution. We hear it in the part
is a bittersweet ending,” Kendall different melodic shape. relationship. of the movie where they’re
writes, “hopeful but unresolved.” “It’s actually an offshoot of facing their biggest obstacles and
08 A shaken Han
Luke’s theme. The fi rst fi ve notes and Chewie, everything seems desperate.”
Return of the Jedi: are the same.” Given that this following In his analysis for Jedi’s Special
Solo’s brutal
“Luke and Leia” theme is introduced as Leia interrogation. Edition soundtrack, Matessino
Return of the Jedi introduces learns that she is a Skywalker, writes, “Unlike the innocent
09 Reunited for
a third motif for Leia, this time he adds, “It’s important that the ‘Princess Leia’s Theme’ from
the final
underscoring her shared lineage theme be a Skywalker theme, and time. Leia A New Hope and the wildly
with Luke. This “Brother and that a Skywalker theme becomes and Han’s fanciful ‘Han Solo and the
embrace
Sister” cue makes its fi rst Leia’s, as well.” Princess’ from Empire, ‘Luke and
later takes on
appearance when Luke, against Collins argues that this change a tragic air. Leia’ is infused with a maturity
07

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