RESONANCES, Chapter 3

The composer who wrote the scores for the original Star Wars trilogy (among the best-known musical works created for the big screen) is _______.

• Stephen Sondheim

• James Williams

• Stephen Spielberg

• John Williams

The composer of the music for Star Wars had never participated in any recording sessions for television and film, so it is a wonder that he was successful at all.

• True

• False

The theme that represents Darth Vader (the “Imperial March”) shares many of the same characteristics as the main theme, but it is in the major mode and uses simple harmonies.

• True

• False

In the European tradition, opera is a staged work of music theater that features:

• All of the above

• props

• dramatic plots

• sets

• costumes

It is possible that Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883) has had a greater impact on the development of Western art music than any other composer.

• True

• False

Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelungs derives from ______ mythology.

• Greek

• Native American

• Norse

• All of the above

• Egyptian

Wagner shrunk the size of the orchestra for The Ring of the Nibelungs in order to highlight characters with single instruments.

• True

• False

Similarly to Star Wars, Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelungs makes heavy use of themes that represent specific characters or ideas.

• True

• False

Wagner used leitmotifs to communicate information to an audience that is not included in the libretto or onstage action.

• True

• False

“Wotan’s Farewell” features one of the most significant powers of the leitmotif:

• The ability to depict death and destruction

• The ability to herald the downfall of an empire

• All of the above

• The ability to foreshadow events yet to come

• The ability to provide music for the curtain to close