Symphonic Score as Narrative: Star Wars
This critique will focus on Obi Wan's theme to show how effective the use of symphonic score is to narrative and how it adds to the ideology of star wars. Footnotes at end. Note briefness of critique due to word limit.
The first time we hear Obi-Wan's (Ben's) theme
(1) is just as Leia is about to enter the disc into R2-D2. It is
only a snippet - but directly following it is Leia's theme. The
link to narrative being that Lea is sending R2-D2 out to find
Ben. The music tells us this at least ten minutes before we
actually hear it in the spoken narrative. This foreshadowing is
also significant in that it links to the powers of "the
force" - not coincidentally, "the force" is also
equated with Ben's theme.
Yet another example occurs when Luke looks at the setting suns.
Ben's theme is played by a French Horn (2) followed by a full
orchestra (sounding like those old epic/biblical films). Again,
the score foresees; this time that Luke will meet Ben.
The light saber scene between Ben and Darth Vader has no score
music to it, highlighting the sound of the saber. But Obi's theme
replays just before his death, followed by Leia's theme. This
musical and visual sequence sets up the link between Luke, Leia
and "the force". Thus, a new reading is brought into
the Obi-Wan/Leia theme combo at the beginning of the film (4).
Finally, as Luke laments Obi, the theme plays in a more
melancholy manner - summing up Luke's grief. The theme allows us
to reminisce without a flashback. When we watch the film again,
the earlier sunset scene takes on new resonance as well (5). The
written narrative and film action is allowed to follow a
continuity because of this complex forward/backward relationship
the score sets up and explores (6).
Therefore, the symphonic score of Star Wars in so much as it
foresees narrative possibilities and assists in continuity
becomes a force unto itself (7).
FOOTNOTES:
1 The theme that is most obviously exposed in the Sunset scene
(the bit were Luke looks at the setting suns.
2 An instrument that has become equated with nobility (the
instruments history goes back to royal times).
3 The theme starts when he looks at Luke - as if passing on the
force - theme equated with force's power.
4 The musical narrative looks both forwards and backwards. So,
next time we watch the film, we know that from the beginning a
link between Luke, Obi-Wan and Leia is formed, not just that Leia
is sending Obi-Wan a message.
5 It sums up the reminiscing or melancholy that Luke will feel
when he sees his master die.
6 As well as a relationship with the music the next time we see
the film.
7 Like Obi Wan and later Yoda, it is able to "foresee"
events. This helps prepare us for what is to come, even though we
don't know it (just like shapes or colours are used to help
maintain continuity even though we may not notice it).