In our third and final Star Wars episode, we take a look at some of the lesser known cues that round out this incredible score. We discuss the giant bantha in the room: the musical influences that inspired Williams and the temp music that helped to shape some of his artistic choices. Finally, we take a whirlwind tour of the action music, explore the groovy Cantina Band tunes and debate whether Star Wars is in fact the greatest film score of all time. Is it?

Show notes:

3:20 – the music for the Jawas

5:40 – finding the downbeat in “The Little People”

7:28 – is this the highest Tuba line ever?

11:03 – the music for the Sand People

14:39 – Williams’ family relations and a link to Toto

15:28 – use of the Timpani

18:08 – a comparison with Jerry Goldsmith’s Planet of the Apes

20:26 – discussing the Bantha in the room: the musical influences on Star Wars

26:05 – The Dune Sea of Tatooine vs Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring

30:17 – The Rebel Blockade Runner vs Holst’s The Planets

32:02 – Some Bernard Herrmann references in Star Wars

36:56 – The Throne Room vs Dvorak and Elgar

42:21 – The Throne Room’s reappearance in Return of the Jedi

44:55 – rude trumpets and the performance/recording of the score

47:03 – the musicians who made contributions to Star Wars

48:53 – the action music of Star Wars and Williams’ hip grooves

53:11 – Dan’s dissapointment in Star Wars’ lack of musical numbers

56:15 – The Battle of Yavin vs The Battle of Britain

1:02:35 – The Cantina Band, is it jazz or jizz?

1:06:20 –Sing Sing Sing as temp music

1:08:48 – the 2nd Cantina Band song

1:11:18 – the original Star Wars trailer music and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

1:15:46 – the studio’s woeful attempt at marketing Star Wars

1:17:42 – is Star Wars the greatest film score of all time?

We love to hear from our listeners – get in touch via Twitter, and if you like The Art of the Score, please take a moment to subscribe, rate and comment.