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Imperial March in the first "Dance of the Star Destroyers" scene in TESB.

The combination of score and scene made me think that if I ever had to do a movie of the Battle of Jutland, I'd use the IM in the scene where the Grand Fleet Battle Squadrons began to deploy in line, or even where Beatty's BCF deploys.

The Throne Room/award ceremony score at the end of ANH. I bet Leni Riefenstahl would have used it if she had to re-do Triumph of the Will.

The score (what's the name?) during the lightsabre duel between Luke and Vader in ROTJ when Luke gives his old man the full gun.

TPM: I know I'm in the minority here, but Duel of the Fates was completely overdone. I'm sick of hearing choirs so much in movies.

AOTC:"Across the Stars" reminds me of Nino Rota's score to Romeo & Juliet. Not so much the music, but the way it's arranged.

ROTS: I liked the music that started when Padme landed on Mustafar and continued through the duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan. "Anakin's Dream" is one of the prettiest pieces of music I've ever heard. Not since Max Steiner has someone written such great tearjerker music.

ANH: The throne room music was the best part of the score, though the music played when Luke watched the sunset brings out the daydreaming 7-year-old.

TESB: Vader's theme is what you'd get if Wagner had written "Hail to the Chief". My favorites are "The Duel" and the theme when Leia and Chewie arrive too late to save Han. Real tearjerker stuff. This theme wasn't included in the movie (though it was on the soundtrack) until the Special Editions. I keep this in mind whenever someone starts whining about the SEs.

ROTJ: My least favorite soundtrack. It's mostly a half-hearted rehashing of themes from the two previous movies. The Yub-Yub song and the song in Jabba's palace are such embarassments that I thought they were left over from the Holiday Special. The new Jabba song is lame, but better by comparison. The new music at the end is very pretty and sounds like an outtake from the Amistad soundtrack, which would make sense because it appears that John Williams scored that movie about the time Lucas was putting together the Special Editions. Getting rid of the Yub-Yub song more than makes up for Greedo shooting first.

I really like "Duel of the Fates" and "Across the Stars", but as far as my favorites, that honor goes to...

The Rebel fanfare scene in ANH,
Order 66 in ROTS.

Imperial March from ROTJ and the ESB, that was just so awesome.

The cue when Vader arrives at the Death Star II in the very beginning of RotJ has always appealed to me. It's short, but it's a nice militaristic theme that hasn't appeared anywhere else. Plus, there's a snippet of scoring that features stacatto horns over strings which are somehow simulating a klaxon, which fits the scene (with Jerjerrod in the docking bay) rather well.

The Imperial March sifting down through the winds and ending in slow harp upon Vader's death is good, and it's sort of a pity that it's so soft on the soundtrack.

I'm surprised that the Force theme during the twin sunset scene in ANH hasn't been mentioned (unless I just failed to notice), as it is an iconic moment in the film and the score which consistently moves me.

"The Imperial March" for favourite score. But for favourite part of a score, the music accompanying the approach to the Death Star in ANH:

That's no moon. That's a space station."

TPM: Duel of the Fates is quite a thrilling work, although I prefer the ROTS rendition. The Trade Federation Army theme was also quite good (although I would have prefered a more military version), and I must admit to being a fan of Augie's Municipal Band, if only for its jovially festive nature.

AOTC: As has been mentioned, there wasn't as much in this film's score, although I did like Across the Stars quite a lot (I often find myself wishing that the actual love story behind it had matched up). Though it wasn't in the theatrical release, The Arena was also enjoyable, as was the point at the finale where the GAR gears up for deployment.

ROTS: Plenty of great music here, my favorites being, of course, Battle of the Heroes and the opening dogfight music. ROTS also really showed its strength in renditions, as with brassy Light of the Force piece used for Obi-Wan's depature for Utapau, and the end credit's orchestration of The Throne Room (perhaps my favorite piece of the entire saga).

ANH: I hadn't thought much of this at first, aside from the end theme, of course, but upon further review, ANH seems to have the best battle music of the series, very fast-paced and jaunty. Light of the Force is also a favorite, and the Cantina Themes are fun atmospheric pieces.

ESB: Of course, the Imperial March and most of its variations (especially the first reveal of the Executor) are masterpieces, and really take the linelight in this one. However, I also really enjoy the the Rebel end theme, and several parts of the Battle of Hoth, oft overlooked.

ROTJ: The Emperor's eerie theme takes the show in this film, esecially during the arrival scene, as do the final moments of the last duel, as Vader turns back to the light, and his subsequent unmasking. Into the Breach and the other Rebel arrangements are also very well executed, and although it may be seen as hearesy, I must admit that I don't really mind the new ending theme; rather catchy, and appropriately subdued (at least compared to the finales of TPM and ANH).

Elfdart wrote:TPM: I know I'm in the minority here, but Duel of the Fates was completely overdone. I'm sick of hearing choirs so much in movies.

You're not alone there, Duel of the Fates doesn't do anything for me now.

My kind of question, I'm a huge John Williams fan.

My top five favorite themes are:

1. Imperial March (ESB versions especially)
2. Force Theme
3. Dual of the Fates
4. Rebel Fanfare
5. Main Title

In regards to a previous post about TPM's ending scene, Augie's Municipal Band, I'm suprised no one has mentioned the subtle use of the Emperor's theme sung by the children's chorus. It is virtually identical to the Emperor's theme, but sung in a major key. Go an listen to it again, you'll hear it.

charben wrote:In regards to a previous post about TPM's ending scene, Augie's Municipal Band, I'm suprised no one has mentioned the subtle use of the Emperor's theme sung by the children's chorus. It is virtually identical to the Emperor's theme, but sung in a major key. Go an listen to it again, you'll hear it.

Interesting; maybe I'll check and see if I can hear it. I don't think I'll ever find that music anything but gratingly obnoxious, but if Palpatine's theme is in there then at least it's obnoxious with creepy overtones, similar to the sappy pop song played during a grisly murder in Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue.

Stofsk wrote:You're not alone there, Duel of the Fates doesn't do anything for me now.

I enjoy "Duel of the Fates", but I will say that among TPM's action music, I like "Qui-Gon's Noble End" a lot better.

There's also two wonderful parts of the ESB score I forgot to mention earlier: the moment when the Millennium Falcon detaches from the Avenger and escapes, and the approach to Cloud City. Those are both in the track "Imperial Starfleet Deployed / City in the Clouds" on the soundtrack.