Foreshadowing "The Imperial March" in "Anakin's Theme"

4/25/2014

The four notes that conclude "Anakin's Theme" are nearly identical to the opening few notes of "The Imperial March", sharing pitches, intervals, and contour, and differing only in rhythm (and only slightly at that) and character ("Anakin's Theme", of course, doesn't have the ominous power that "The Imperial March" has).

This connection is made very clear during the end credits of The Phantom Menace, in which John Williams repeats those last few notes several times in a row, as if to say, "In case you missed the foreshadowing, here it is again!" This can be heard in the YouTube video below around 7:45.

6 Comments

Andrew

5/14/2015 08:46:24 am

There are several things I enjoy about this piece. It constantly moves between major and minor tonality, which is quite effective for contrasting the innocence of Anakin as a boy with the foreshadowed life as a Sith Lord. As well, the piece ultimately resolves to the instruments playing a perfect fifth, so no major or minor harmony is implied, which is quite intriguing.

11/3/2017 02:51:40 pm

Exactly. I too love John William and his use of motifs and theory clues and noticed the Imperial March subtly suggested in end piece of Anakin's Theme. Im dissappointed such a horrible film had such great piece of music.

Btw, in the 2nd trailer for The Last Jedi, when the island overshot plays it again is Williams at his best: The Imperial March but he speeds up/changes tempo--a clue re: Luke? Love it. :-)

Just my last 2c: fav pieces of Williams music in SW saga: The Battle of Endor beginning (when wings are calling in), and also the unmasking of Anakin in ROTJ--the pizzicato Imperial March played by a single lead violin I assume is beautiful--futility of the Empire and so subdued.

Id love to hear from others or the poster about other things he's noticed in SW Score--I think JW is a genius, and the music is 50% or MORE of the Star Wars epic, imagining the films without the score wouldnt be the same.

11/3/2017 02:55:27 pm

Oh and Yoda's theme. Another beautiful piece of music. Listening to the full pieces that aren't always featured in the films is amazing. I admit Im total SW nerd but also music theory nerd/classical guitar and love the analysis of his music so nice to find this site.

I heard a rumor that Rey's theme is Luke's melody reversed in diff tempo--dont know if true but sort of attempt at a Bach crab canon type deal (of course not played same time) but I wonder again, if it IS true maybe its a musical clue too. :-)

Olivia

9/7/2018 10:20:56 am

I absolutely love Princess Leia's theme. I love how it grows and soars with the french horn. Not to mention how important the lower end of the orchestra almost pulses with it and they all just have a really full sound and amazing orchestra. It is really one of my favorites in the whole series.
I really also like the Forest Battle from Return of the Jedi as it is almost like a ballet. near the end it sounds very much like Tchaikovsky and I can really visualize someone doing a bunch of pirouettes. Not that I'm really into ballet at all but I really love the music.
I love the suspense of Qui-Gon's Noble End. This one is a whirlwind of emotions: strength, suspense, devastation, and victory.

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Foreshadowing "The Imperial March" in "Anakin's Theme"

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