Star Wars Music Minute

This episode is a deep dive into the Dies Irae musical motif and its evolution through film music. Here to talk about it is Dies Irae guru Alex Ludwig, who has just written a book about it! Hearing Death at the Movies: Film Music and the Long History of the Dies Irae will be out on June 11th, 2025.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Hello there!

1:52 - The seeds of Alex's Dies Irae scholarship.

4:40 - Hector Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, transforming a sacred melody into a secular one.

12:09 - Wendy Carlos and The Shining.

29:05 - Silent films, Dimitri Tiomkin, vampire films.

30:31 - Metropolis.

34:59 - How was the music for silent films done?

39:55 - Dies Irae Typology and the "master list"

40:32 - Dies Irae Type 1: Prelude to Evil

43:55 - The Screaming Skull.

46:35 - Dies Irae Type 2: Ominous Echo

47:39 - "The Burning Homestead" from Star Wars: A New Hope.

51:58 - Jyn's theme (Rogue One) and subtypes.

1:00:12 - Columbia Pictures logo.

1:03:51 - Dies Irae Type 3: Tension Engine

1:04:54 - Mars Attacks (Type - "ostinato")

1:06:04 - Jurassic Park examples (Type 3 - "fortspinnung")

1:10:07 - Predator example.

1:13:01 - Morricone examples: Escalation, Fists in the Pocket, Le Trio infernal

1:22:10 - "The Master Switch" from Rogue One.

1:27:02 - Dies Irae as musical trope, meme.

1:34:48 - Are certain types of Dies Irae more prevalent in certain genres or eras?

1:41:00 - Vampire movies.

1:42:42 - If a composer uses Dies Irae accidentally, do you still count it?

1:44:52 - How to use this book.

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Alex Ludwig:

Website: https://alex-ludwig.net

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/celexo.bsky.social

Film Music Tropes (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@celexo22

Hearing Death at the Movies: Film Music and the Long History of the Dies Irae - https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-78795-9

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We've reached the end of the The Rise of Skywalker (minutes 141-142)! In this season finale, Xanthe goes through the music and sound credits and explains how each role contributed to the production. We also compare the "transition to end credits" music across all 9 Skywalker Saga films and discuss how The Rise of Skywalker's version fits into a larger trend. 

Timestamps:

0:00 - Hello there!

1:20 - Question about season/film order

3:06 - Going through every music and sound credit

3:54 - Supervising Music Editor

6:50 - Supervising Sound Editors, Re-Recording Mixers

10:53 - ADR

13:20 - Production Sound Mixer, Sound Assistants

20:56 - Post Production Sound Services by Skywalker Sound

25:22 - Music Conductor, Music Preparation, Music Librarian

30:31 - Orchestrations

47:34 - Scoring Engineer

48:30 - Music Contractor

52:45 - Score Recorded at Streisand Scoring Stage

55:30 - Why aren't the individual musicians credited?

1:01:10 - Second Unit sound

1:03:05 - Source music credits

1:04:18 - Comparing "transition to End Credits" music across the Skywalker Saga films.

1:21:01 - Podcast intro/outro theme (Anthem of Evil cover)

1:27:26 - What does Star Wars sound like according to this season's guests?

1:33:47 - Tips for using the SWMM website

1:41:57 - Acknowledgements

Things to Check Out:

The Sound of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | 2020 Oscars® | Dolby Institute Podcast - https://youtu.be/_ENrGVzr0bs?si=bbKZCO6u6diK9hLQ

May the Fourth Spotlight on Joann Kane Music - https://www.finalemusic.com/blog/may-the-fourth-spotlight-on-joann-kane-music/

Sandy DeCrescent’s Impact on the Motion Pictures Industry - https://www.impactmania.com/im/sandy-decrescents-impact-on-the-motion-pictures-industry/

Legacy Conversations: Sandy DeCrescent - https://thelegacyofjohnwilliams.com/2019/12/17/sandy-decrescent-podcast/

‘The Rise of Skywalker’ Editor Maryann Brandon Talks Production Challenges, Carrie Fisher’s Death, and ‘The Last Jedi’ - https://www.awardsdaily.com/2019/12/13/maryann-brandon-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-editor-interview/

Sony Pictures Dedicates Music Building to John Williams on Historic Lot - https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/john-williams-dedicated-music-building-sony-pictures-lot-1235877118/

Hollywood Exec Sounds the Alarm on State of Screen Music in L.A.: “I See the Infrastructure of the Recording Industry About to Fail” - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/save-screen-music-los-angeles-executive-call-to-action-1236112859/

Star Wars Live Table Reads: https://swliveread.com

Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/

Musical Themes:

1b. Main Theme (B Section)

2. Rebel Fanfare

18) Descending Heroic Tetrachords

9. Throne Room

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

OST 19. "Finale"

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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

TROS answer: Genius and craftsmanship.

ESB answer: Filigree, fanfares, flow.

SOLO answer: Intricate orchestral storytelling.

ANH answer: The Cosmic Force.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

TROS answer: I want to see (or hear) what John Williams's very first drafts and seeds of ideas sound like, and then I want to see how he refines the music until he's satisfied with it. 

ESB answer: Is there an internal "sonic style guide" at Lucasfilm or Skywalker Sound that's specific to Star Wars? I mean even things like relative loudness of music and dialogue, a specific protocol for mic'ing or looping in aliens, etc. Especially curious if there's anything in the Star Wars style guide that goes against current industry norms.

SOLO answer: The working relationship between the composer and music editor.

ANH answer: I'm curious about how other people experience and engage with the music of Star Wars, on both a macro and micro level. I want to know how other people are making sense of it or analyzing it with frameworks different than mine. Basically, I'm interested in doing what this podcast already gives me the excuse to do -- talk to people about Star Wars music.

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

TROS answer: Babygirl (Cristobal Tapia De Veer)

ESB answer: E.T. (John Williams)

SOLO answer: Moonrise Kingdom

ANH answer: There Will Be Blood (Jonny Greenwood)

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⭐️ Join the Discord server by becoming a patron at any level! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan

Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show...   https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink

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Music theorist and film musicologist Dr. Frank Lehman returns to the show to discuss the final scene of the film (minutes 131-135)--which includes his favorite cue from The Rise of Skywalker score! We cover a ton of ground in this episode--including the growing-up of Rey's theme, the final cue as a strategic open text, the encoding of Darth Vader's theme throughout the Skywalker saga, mythic unity, dark religious imagery, and the semantic vs. emotional meanings of leitmotifs. Frank also reads us an exclusive preview of his upcoming book, The Skywalker Symphonies: Musical Storytelling in Star Wars!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Hello there!

1:48 - How Frank's opinion of the movie has evolved since 2019.

11:32 - This music sustains and rewards independent listening.

15:35 - Listening to "A New Home" (a remarkably austere little cue)

17:39 - Strategic open text, sparse but not devoid of motivic connections.

23:30 - A cynical read and a charitable read.

26:44 - Darth Vader's melodic contour encoded in the arpeggio.

29:16 - Mythic unity, wholeness, unendingness. Poetic ending vs. narrative ending.

37:41 - Rey's theme grown-up.

45:26 - Chills (frisson) moment.

56:53 - Motivic echoes with Shmi's Funeral.

1:13:45 - Disappointing reuse of the Force theme leading into the credits.

1:23:29 - Friendship theme as in the concert arrangement.

1:29:34 - Anthem of Evil: The A-theme is a "bargain-basement Imperial March," but the B-theme is a gothic, Dracula-esque banger that got cut from the film.

1:41:45 - Wishing for more overt dark religious imagery in the film.

1:50:57 - Why is the Imperial March here?

2:07:29 - What used to be called the "Rebel Fanfare" is now called the "Millennium Falcon" theme on the cue sheets.

1:59:41 - What does Frank think of the use of Luke & Leia + Yoda's themes during the Celebration scene? Exclusive preview from his upcoming "Skywalker Symphonies" book.

2:18:01 - In what way is the Skywalker Saga "symphonically-scored?"

2:31:04 - SWMM Questionnaire

Things to Check Out:

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Suite for Orchestra) - John Williams Signature Edition Orchestra Score - https://www.halleonard.com/product/4492547/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-suite-for-orchestra

"Rey's Theme" performed by Anne-Sophie Mutter - https://youtu.be/bmBE6_gCTww?si=Y1gcUtRyoSLb6SpU

Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker - Piano Solo Songbook Softcover - https://www.halleonard.com/product/329240/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker

Ludlow's Demise (From "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" Soundtrack) - https://youtu.be/iYeEIWhI7SU?si=WOJ3bf-REtwFn1Ie

Anakin’s Theme and the Musical Aftermath of The Phantom Menace (article by Frank Lehman)- https://thelegacyofjohnwilliams.com/2024/07/30/anakins-theme-essay/

Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/

Musical Themes:

45b. Rey A (Theme B-Phrase)

46a. Rey B (Chimes)

3. Force

1a. Main Theme (A Section)

2. Rebel Fanfare

18) Descending Heroic Tetrachords

17) Heroic Determination

57. Friendship

59a. Psalm of the Sith (A Section)

10a. Imperial March (Theme)

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

FYC 23. "A New Home"

OST 18. "A New Home"

OST 19. "Finale"

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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

TROS season: Never Ending Endings.

ESB season: My lifelong obsession.

Solo season: Vaguely remembered music.

ANH season: Dissonant pedal notes. Minor planing triads.

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

TROS season: The future of the mainline films.

ESB season: What was going on in the scoring of Obi-Wan Kenobi?

Solo season: Who will be main composer for the Kenobi series?

ANH season: What are we musically in store for as Star Wars moves onto the next chapters of its development? What was the actual score to Episode IX supposed to be (before changes)?

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

TROS season: The Rings of Power, Seasons 1 and 2 (composed by Bear McCreary)

ESB season: White Lotus (series) (composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer)

Solo season: Severance (series) (composed by Theodore Shapiro)

ANH season: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) (composed by Jerry Goldsmith)

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Guest: Frank Lehman

Website: https://franklehman.com/

Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars: https://franklehman.com/starwars/

A Guide to the Musical Themes of Indiana Jones: https://franklehman.com/indiana-jones-themes/

Book: Hollywood Harmony: Musical Wonder and the Sound of Cinema - https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Harmony-Musical-Wonder-Cinema/dp/0190606401

Book: Music Analysis and Film: Studying the Score (edited by Frank Lehman) - https://www.amazon.com/Film-Music-Analysis-Studying-Routledge/dp/0367430762

Look out for his upcoming book The Skywalker Symphonies: Musical Storytelling in Star Wars

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/franklehman.bsky.social

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⭐️ Join the Discord server by becoming a patron at any level! https://patreon.com/chrysanthetan

Leave a voice message, and I might play it on the show...   https://starwarsmusicminute.com/comlink

Where else to find SWMM:

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chrysanthetan.bsky.social and https://bsky.app/profile/starwarsmusmin.bsky.social

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/652WVfMTLwJpVZ82i8uhFA

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-music-minute/id1552988763

YouTube: https://youtube.com/starwarsmusicminute

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starwarsmusicminute?

Instagram: https://instagram.com/starwarsmusicminute

Email: podcast@starwarsmusicminute.com

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/starwarsmusmin

In minutes 126-130 of The Rise of Skywalker, Ben and Leia become one with the Force and beings across the galaxy celebrate their victory against the Sith Eternal. Joining me today is Nathan Fontyn (from the ["Music By John Williams"](https://x.com/JWilliams_Fan) Twitter). We discuss John Williams's sentimental themes, his use of choir, and the "greatest hits" of Star Wars themes present in the "Reunion" cue.