Forty years ago today, in 1977, the film universe was turned upside down by a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars may have changed the film industry forever, but John Williams’ score might just be as influential for the film music landscape. In this episode, our first of three on Star Wars, we take a look at the influence of John Williams’ music, and two of its major themes: the Main Theme (or Luke’s Theme) and Princess Leia’s theme.

Episode notes:

2:30 – The influence of Star Wars, the music, the film4:30 – How Star Wars changed film history and the film school generation8:00 – Star Wars and nostalgia11:20 – Was there anticipation for Star Wars?13:40 – This was not what films were supposed to sound like at the time15:00 – Before the main titles: the 20th Century Fox fanfare16:20 – The main Star Wars theme (Luke’s theme)18:50 – The orchestration of the main theme20:45 – The jazz-inspired harmony of the main theme23:33 – “War drums in space”25:03 – Development of Luke’s theme – first playing26:55 – Luke’s theme begins to mature with the hero’s journey32:00 – Luke’s theme on the Death Star34:44 – The shootout on the Death Star, Luke’s “boy’s own adventure” moment39:15 – Influences on Luke’s theme: Ivanhoe and King’s Row50:06 – The uses of Luke’s theme in the final Death Star dogfight53:15 – The (mis)uses of the main theme (?) in Rogue One54:45 – Leia’s theme and the development of ‘concert versions’1:01:10 – John Williams and the romantic major sixth1:03:14 – The first time we hear Leia’s theme1:05:18 – Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope1:07:38 – The full Leia’s message1:10:10 – Luke meets Leia for the first time1:11:30 – The Death of Obi-Wan and the abandonment of leitmotif1:15:30 – High romance in the Leia concert suite1:17:45 – The Star Wars NPR Radio Serials

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