TROS 4: Handful of Ostinato
Palpatine has returned, and author Katharine Coldiron joins me to discuss minutes 16-20 of The Rise of Skywalker. We talk about the logic of leitmotifs, songs vs. performances, Bugs, the storytelling matrix, conveying information through image vs. sound, and more.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hello there!
4:51 - Microphone speculation.
13:55 - "Somehow, Palpatine returned."
21:34 - The logic of leitmotifs. Number of leitmotif statements in TLJ vs TROS.
29:09 - It's not just about leitmotifs.
33:30 - Song vs. performance.
35:42 - Do the generations of film composers after John Williams still listen to Tchaikovsky, Wagner, etc?
41:11 - Ostinato not on the soundtrack (was it added in a later cut of the film?). Bugs Bunny flourish.
47:14 - Force theme moment (1st time in these minutes) that Katharine isn't a fan of.
55:19 - Rey's theme and the storytelling matrix.
1:07:40 - Concert suites.
1:12:48 - Is this reminiscent of a Berlioz opera?
1:18:52 - "We Go Together" and the Friendship motif.
1:31:47 - Funny choir moment.
1:36:09 - Force theme moment that Katharine is a fan of.
1:40:14 - "70% of information is conveyed through image, whereas 30% is conveyed through sound. 70% of emotion is conveyed through sound and 30% through image."
1:46:39 - When leitmotifs do heavy information-lifting.
1:54:36 - Distributing the music, dialogue, and sound effects across the frequency spectrum.
1:55:52 - Knights of Ren theme (and why we like it).
2:06:51 - The grammar of Star Wars landing shots.
2:10:30 - J.J. Abrams, old-school film directing, camerawork trends, composer parallels.
2:26:15 - SWMM Questionnaire
Things to Check Out:
Sideways video: https://youtu.be/L_8-dWSLDWI?si=hA80Yu-67aI23AZ8
Les Troyens (opera by Hector Berlioz): https://youtu.be/JVuj-b0zXVE?si=tU7YPcEZpz8GEO7h
Another Happy Landing: https://youtu.be/RAWYMxygeBk?si=roWNQk3qjjTGylf5
Star Wars Holiday Special (opening music): https://youtu.be/6hH8rxarVG8?si=uFXqoEg7EYnvEcg7&t=201
Hollywood Harmony (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/hollywood-harmony/
ESB 11: Free-Floating Motivic Particles (with Frank Lehman): https://youtu.be/N_jXuEWiaLY?si=d-JV7XH2e2X0-Gm5
My review of Pauline García Viardot's chamber opera: https://www.sfcv.org/articles/review/last-sorcerer-enchanting-fairy-tale-opera-resurrected
Bizarre Albums Lapti Nek episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/bizarre-singles-lapti-nek-from-return-of-the-jedi/id1471679636?i=1000473552119
Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/
Musical Themes:
Sith Seduction
Emperor
Force
Rey A (Theme A-Phrase)
Friendship
Knights of Ren (Slow Form)
Where are we in the soundtrack?:
FYC 3. "We Go Together"
OST 9. "We Go Together"
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STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?
Adventure. Heart. Saga.
2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?
Is John Williams more of a genius or a craftsman?
3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?
Gone Girl composed (by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor). The Truman Show soundtrack. Fight Club (by the Dust Brothers).
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Guest: Katharine Coldiron
Landing shots video: https://youtu.be/nbAcX60dSNs
Website: https://kcoldiron.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/ferrifrigida
Look at all the books she's written! https://kcoldiron.com/books-chapbooks/
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