IS the Imperial March Canon?

Crossroads Inc. · Post by **Crossroads Inc.** » 2007-01-02 01:18am

Seriously, is the tune we all know and love actually a part of the StarWars universe?

RThurmont · Post by **RThurmont** » 2007-01-02 01:20am

It IS an official part of the films, but since we never actually saw an in-universe orchestra perform it, it might not be a canon part of the actual SW universe. Of course, there's nothing preventing it from becoming one, so if an author of an official tie-in novel decides to add an Imperial marching band and they perform it, then it would be.

Feil · Post by **Feil** » 2007-01-02 01:49am

Unless it's described as "a martial march in a minor key, opening at a fast clip to snares and kettle drums backed with dark brass, then swelling into a crechendo before fading back before a brittle interlude of flutes into which the main theme fades once again..." there's no way for us to conclude it's anything like the song we heard in TESB.

The only mention of an Imperial band playing theme music that I know of is at the end of the first Han Solo novel. For all we know, however, they could have been playing 'Stars and Stripes Forever'.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2007-01-02 02:10am

In the game Star Wars Racer Anakin skywalker hums the Imperial March from the movies. Take that as you will; it's not gameplay and not contradicted by the films or other literature, so I don't see how it should be discarded.

afaik, the Imperial March is also heard to be used in Academy promotional material in the ANH NPR radio drama, but it's been hella days since I've listened to that shit so I dunno for sure.

Post by **Vympel** » 2007-01-02 04:50am

The spelling is canon. Why is that so hard to get right?

Crossroads Inc. · Post by **Crossroads Inc.** » 2007-01-02 09:52am

Vympel wrote:The spelling is canon. Why is that so hard to get right?

*bows head in shame*
I fail,

Pax Britannia · Post by **Pax Britannia** » 2007-01-02 12:36pm

It should be the national anthem of the Empire, that would be cool.

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2007-01-02 03:39pm

I haven't played the games in a long time, but isn't there an Imperial propoganda film shown during one of the Rogue Squadron series, complete with a (albiet upbeat) variation of the march? IIRC, it was a cut scene, and the music could be considered an actual part of the film, rather than an out-of-universe thematic addition, so it might validate the piece canonically.

Gustav32Vasa · Post by **Gustav32Vasa** » 2007-01-02 04:50pm

Vympel wrote:The spelling is canon. Why is that so hard to get right?

I though it was the Imperial March Cannon.

spongyblue · Post by **spongyblue** » 2007-01-04 12:29pm

Robert Treder wrote:In the game Star Wars Racer Anakin skywalker hums the Imperial March from the movies. Take that as you will; it's not gameplay and not contradicted by the films or other literature, so I don't see how it should be discarded.

afaik, the Imperial March is also heard to be used in Academy promotional material in the ANH NPR radio drama, but it's been hella days since I've listened to that shit so I dunno for sure.

You're right. The promo tape Luke is listening to from the Academy is playing the Imperial March.

Tychu · Post by **Tychu** » 2007-01-12 06:08pm

Noble Ire wrote:I haven't played the games in a long time, but isn't there an Imperial propoganda film shown during one of the Rogue Squadron series, complete with a (albiet upbeat) variation of the march? IIRC, it was a cut scene, and the music could be considered an actual part of the film, rather than an out-of-universe thematic addition, so it might validate the piece canonically.

being a Nintendo fanboy and having all the Rouge Squadron games and play them till the end of time until i became a Supreme Allied Commander in all of them.... No there is no propaganda film in the game

the only games i remember that take place in that era that can have a propaganda would be Bounty Hunter or one of the X-Wing games or Jedi Academy

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2007-01-12 10:19pm

Tychu wrote:
Noble Ire wrote:I haven't played the games in a long time, but isn't there an Imperial propoganda film shown during one of the Rogue Squadron series, complete with a (albiet upbeat) variation of the march? IIRC, it was a cut scene, and the music could be considered an actual part of the film, rather than an out-of-universe thematic addition, so it might validate the piece canonically.
being a Nintendo fanboy and having all the Rouge Squadron games and play them till the end of time until i became a Supreme Allied Commander in all of them.... No there is no propaganda film in the game

the only games i remember that take place in that era that can have a propaganda would be Bounty Hunter or one of the X-Wing games or Jedi Academy

That's odd; I'm certain I remember a propoganda piece of some sort. It could have been from a different series, though, I suppose.

Anguirus · Post by **Anguirus** » 2007-01-13 12:58am

In Rogue Squadron III: Tatooine Training, there is a brief cutscene before the AT-ST sequence that's narrated by an Imperial, propaganda-style. It's not really a "film."