'It's bigger than life:' Maestro Johannes Debus breaks down his favourite Star Wars scores

Originally published on Dec. 20, 2019. 

Can you think of the melody from the main theme of the Star Wars movies? How about The Imperial March?

Since the release of the first movie more than 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has become hugely popular. The final episode of the nine-part series, The Rise of Skywalker, came out in theatres Dec. 20.

Johannes Debus, music director for the Canadian Opera Company, says a large part of what makes those movies work is the music.

"It has a scope that I would call bigger than life," Debus told Day 6.

The scores by composer John Williams are "monumental music," Debus said, adding that it "is kind of a milestone in art history, in human history, in a way."

One of the most striking things that many don't realize, says Debus, is that the scores are through-composed, meaning the music goes through the movies from the very beginning to the end of the credits.

"I would almost say that it gives the films kind of a third dimension," said Debus.

Debus picked three favourite pieces to showcase what's happening musically that makes the scores so effective.

Star Wars main theme

If we're going to talk about Star Wars music, we have to talk about the main theme song that plays during the introduction of the movies.

"The music is, from the start, kind of heraldic and grand and victorious," said Debus. That's in part because of the fanfares from the trumpets and brass instruments that start off the piece.

But Debus says it's also because of the interval spectrum. The notes jump up and down, and there's a wide range, "so that we have the feeling of freedom, of hope, of optimism that drives us," said Debus.

Watch a performance of Main Title, the main theme song of Star Wars. 

The Imperial March

If the Star Wars main theme song represents "the good powers, or the bright side," said Debus, while The Imperial March represents the dark side.

This is the piece of music that introduces the villain, Darth Vader.

Debus says both themes are in a marching style, but "The Imperial March feels far more as if we are in a straitjacket."

The intervals in this piece are much more confined, smaller, and much of the piece is on one note.

"We are more oppressed and, melodically speaking, marching on the spot," said Debus.

Watch a performance of The Imperial March.

John Williams actually left a moment of allusion to future movies in this piece. He used the same notes from The Imperial March in the theme for Anakin Skywalker.

"By doing so, we're already foreshadowing Anakin's changed move from good to evil," said Debus.

Listen at 1:50 to hear the musical allusion.

Yoda's Theme

"There is this incredible creature in Star Wars that I think we all fall in love with, and that's Master Yoda," said Debus.

His theme moves away from the marches and from the brass instruments of the main theme and The Imperial March. Instead, it relies on woodwind instruments, stringed instruments and harps.

"His music, I find, comes with this profound calm, philosophical… ancient spirit," said Debus.

That ancient feel, Debus says, comes in part from the key in which Yoda's Theme was written. Debus says it's in C major but with one small difference. John Williams turned it into a Lydian mode, which only has one note different from the standard scale, but gives it "this more ancient quality."

"It's a very subtle change but it creates the maximum effect to characterize Yoda in the best way possible," said Debus.

Listen to Yoda's Theme here.