"The Force Awakens" Soundtrack Analysis: 6. Rey's Theme

The biggest new musical contribution of Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens is "Rey's Theme", the sixth track of the soundtrack.

The theme consists of five intermingled snippets, listed here in order of appearance on the track:

This modal motive is repetitive and sneaky, so I've dubbed it the tip-toe motive. ​​

---

Less active than the tip-toe motive, this snippet is bell-like and thus dubbed the chime motive.

---

This is the main melody of Rey's Theme, and it's sweeping, ultra-romantic tune is classic John Williams.

---

The extroverted and royal character of this passage contrasts with the more shy and introverted character of the tip-toe and chime motives. I've dubbed it the regal motive.

---

And lastly, this tune is strongly related to the primary melody (same i-IV modal harmonies), but is heard just once in the track (as opposed to the melody, which is heard three times). Its secondary importance earns it the term counter melody.

With those five musical morsels in mind, here's a thematic analysis of the track:
Time      Music        Instrument(s)     Tonality
0:00      tip-toe       flute                        A minor
0:14       chime         celesta                   A minor
0:23       tip-toe       violins                   A minor
0:33       melody      horn, strings      A minor
1:00       chime         horns                    A minor
1:10        chime         flutes                    B-flat minor
1:15         chime         flutes                    B minor
1:21        counter      horns                   D minor
1:40       melody      strings                  D minor
1:56        regal           horns                   D minor
2:13       melody      strings                 E-flat minor
2:24      regal           strings, trumpets     E-flat minor
2:39      chimes       flutes                    E-flat minor
2:49      tip-toe       celesta                  E-flat minor