Star Wars revision quiz (hard)

What atmosphere does the music in John Williams' Main Theme in Star Wars enhance?

• Romantic and melancholic

• Eerie and suspenseful

• Urgent and uplifting

• Calm and soothing

What musical elements contribute to the sense of strength and stability in the melody?

• Perfect fifths and octave leaps

• Key of B-flat major

• Minor chords and diminished intervals

• Dissonant harmonies and irregular rhythms

What can be said about John Williams' use of the main theme in the opening title sequence of Star Wars?

• Melancholic

• Eerie

• Heroic

• Mysterious

What name is given to the type of chord heard in bars 52 – 55?

• Neapolitan chord

• Major 6th chord

• Harmonised 7th chord

• Relative minor chord

Answer explanation

A Neapolitan chord is simply a major triad that is built on a special note. This note is the lowered second degree (the supertonic) of a major or minor scale.

The chords in bar 44 and 45 contain a tritone. What does this mean?

• A tritone is an interval where two notes are six half steps apart, creating a dissonant and tense sound

• A tritone refers to two notes that are five half steps apart, producing a stable interval.

• • A tritone is an interval where two notes are six whole steps apart, resulting in a very wide sound.

• • A tritone means the interval between two notes is three whole steps apart, creating a pleasant sound.

Answer explanation

A tritone is an interval where two notes are six half steps apart, creating a dissonant and tense sound

How does John Williams contribute to the feeling of wide, unbounded space in the Star Wars opening title sequence?

• By using closed intervals and dense chord voicings

• By incorporating fast-paced rhythms and complex instrumentation

• By employing open intervals and sparse chord voicings

• By focusing on dissonant harmonies and heavy instrumentation

How does the texture change as the orchestration lightens?

• It becomes more opaque

• It becomes more transparent

• It becomes more colorful

• It becomes more dense

How does the use of longer note values and sustained harmonic tones in the Star Wars opening title sequence affect the overall atmosphere?

• It creates a sense of urgency and tension

• It evokes the vastness of space

• It enhances the rhythm and tempo

• It introduces dissonance and instability

How does John Williams create a feeling of space in bars 36-38 of the Star Wars opening title sequence?

• Through melody, tempo, and dynamics

• Through texture, harmony, rhythm, and instrumentation

• Through lyrics and vocal performance

• Through choreography and lighting effects