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Chapter 59
John Williams
Star Wars
Chapter at a Glance
Listen to This First
Melody: Less Is More
Harmony: Sparse and Dissonant
Timbre
Connect Your Playlist: Film Music
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter and listening to the work, students should be able to:
59.2 Distinguish diegetic music and non-diegetic music.
from Star Wars.
59.7 Discuss how music is synchronized with a filmed scene.
Key Concepts
diegetic music, non-diegetic music
Chapter Highlight
screen in ways that are sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle. Timbre plays an
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Chapter Summary
A film score can serve different purposes. In this scene from Star Wars, one might not
notice the music at all. This is not a problem because the music is there to support the
non-diegetic. Music that a character sings is diegetic.
Star Wars relies on Leitmotifs as described in
Listening Guide
light and color when the droids are at work. Throughout much of this scene the music is
harmonically ambiguous, although occasionally it is definitely in a minor mode. The
MyMusicLab Resources
Automated Listening Guide Star Wars
Chapter Audio: Chapter 59
Discussion Topics and Critical Thinking Questions
1. If John Williams uses Leitmotifs throughout much of Star Wars, why are they not
present here? What Leitmotifs might be appropriate? What features of classical music
are present in this scene?
Activities and Exercises
1. Ask students to talk about music they remember from movies they have seen recently.
Lead the discussion to diegetic/non-diegetic and ask students to categorize the music
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they remember and why they chose each classification. Is either more apparent?
Journaling Prompt
Film composers have to make some of