Top five musical moments from The Empire Strikes Back

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra will bring the music of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back to life at a concert on May 4. Here, accompanied by the film clips, conductor Nicholas Buc shares his top moments from the score.

Wednesday April 24, 2019

Print article

Han Solo and the Princess

This scene is one of the first major appearances of a new love theme written by John Williams for the blossoming relationship between Han Solo and Princess Leia. Starting on French Horn, the theme passes to the woodwinds and grows in intensity until they are rudely interrupted by C-3PO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7zXi4YXulU

The Asteroid Field

As Han and Chewie try to escape the Imperial fleet while simultaneously fixing the broken hyperdrive, Williams provides one of the best action cues of his career. An angular, Prokofiev-inspired string melody underscores the comedy, while the soaring brass theme that emerges towards the end is an inspired bit of character building for our favourite scoundrel Han.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVXWo_A38MU

Yoda Raises the Ship

Despite his diminutive stature, Yoda is given a reverent, noble theme that speaks to his immense sense of experience and wisdom. The music that accompanies the scene of him raising Luke’s X-Wing out of the swamp (using only the “Force”), is awe-inspiring as it builds to a triumphant brass fanfare that cements his place as the greatest Jedi master of them all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0a02Bpzi6s

Han Solo is Frozen

Darth Vader’s Imperial March opens this scene in the carbon freeze chamber, however it is the impassioned performance of Han and Leia’s love theme that steals the show. As the pair kiss and utter those immortal words (“I love you”…”I know”), the music swells to operatic proportions as Han is frozen in carbonite, underscored by pounding timpani and a final statement of Vader’s theme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUIY3H1jurw

Through the Window

After a long, unscored light-saber duel between Luke and Darth Vader, this scene sees Vader finally get the upper hand by using the Force to hurl objects at Luke. An eerie silence is broken by high, tense strings and Vader’s breath as he confronts the young Skywalker. This is followed by a powerful statement of the Imperial March as Vader overpowers Luke, eventually sending him flying out the window and onto the platform below, where he will await his father’s fateful announcement…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVFmnksTCnI

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert will be presented by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra on May 4 (known worldwide as Star Wars Day) at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena. The orchestra will perform John Williams’ score live as the film plays on a large screen behind them.

Make a comment View comment guidelines

Jump to next article

Support local arts journalism

Your support will help us continue the important work of InReview in publishing free professional journalism that celebrates, interrogates and amplifies arts and culture in South Australia.

Donate Here

. You are free to republish the text and graphics contained in this article online and in print, on the condition that you follow our republishing guidelines.

You must attribute the author and note prominently that the article was originally published by InReview. You must also inlude a link to InReview. Please note that images are not generally included in this creative commons licence as in most cases we are not the copyright owner. However, if the image has an InReview photographer credit or is marked as “supplied”, you are free to republish it with the appropriate credits.

We recommend you set the canonical link of this content to https://inreview.com.au/inreview/music/2019/04/24/top-five-musical-moments-from-the-empire-strikes-back/ to insure that your SEO is not penalised.

<h1>Top five musical moments from The Empire Strikes Back</h1>

<p><p>Adelaide Symphony Orchestra will bring the music of <em>Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back</em><em> </em>to life at a concert on May 4. Here, accompanied by the film clips, conductor Nicholas Buc shares his top moments from the score.</p>
</p>
					
							<h3><a href="#han-solo-and-the-princess" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="han-solo-and-the-princess"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="aal_svg" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a><strong>Han Solo and the Princess</strong></h3>
<p>This scene is one of the first major appearances of a new love theme written by John Williams for the blossoming relationship between Han Solo and Princess Leia. Starting on French Horn, the theme passes to the woodwinds and grows in intensity until they are rudely interrupted by C-3PO.</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7zXi4YXulU</p>
<h3><a href="#the-asteroid-field" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="the-asteroid-field"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="aal_svg" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a><strong>The Asteroid Field</strong></h3>
<p>As Han and Chewie try to escape the Imperial fleet while simultaneously fixing the broken hyperdrive, Williams provides one of the best action cues of his career. An angular, Prokofiev-inspired string melody underscores the comedy, while the soaring brass theme that emerges towards the end is an inspired bit of character building for our favourite scoundrel Han.</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVXWo_A38MU</p>
<h3><a href="#yoda-raises-the-ship" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="yoda-raises-the-ship"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="aal_svg" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a><strong>Yoda Raises the Ship</strong></h3>
<p>Despite his diminutive stature, Yoda is given a reverent, noble theme that speaks to his immense sense of experience and wisdom. The music that accompanies the scene of him raising Luke’s X-Wing out of the swamp (using only the “Force”), is awe-inspiring as it builds to a triumphant brass fanfare that cements his place as the greatest Jedi master of them all.</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0a02Bpzi6s</p>
<h3><a href="#han-solo-is-frozen" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="han-solo-is-frozen"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="aal_svg" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a><strong>Han Solo is Frozen</strong></h3>
<p>Darth Vader’s Imperial March opens this scene in the carbon freeze chamber, however it is the impassioned performance of Han and Leia’s love theme that steals the show. As the pair kiss and utter those immortal words (“I love you”…”I know”), the music swells to operatic proportions as Han is frozen in carbonite, underscored by pounding timpani and a final statement of Vader’s theme.</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUIY3H1jurw</p>
<h3><a href="#through-the-window" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="through-the-window"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="aal_svg" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a><strong>Through the Window</strong></h3>
<p>After a long, unscored light-saber duel between Luke and Darth Vader, this scene sees Vader finally get the upper hand by using the Force to hurl objects at Luke. An eerie silence is broken by high, tense strings and Vader’s breath as he confronts the young Skywalker. This is followed by a powerful statement of the Imperial March as Vader overpowers Luke, eventually sending him flying out the window and onto the platform below, where he will await his father’s fateful announcement…</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVFmnksTCnI</p>
<p><em>Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert will be presented by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra on May 4 (known worldwide as Star Wars Day) at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena. The orchestra will perform John Williams’ score live as the film plays on a large screen behind them. </em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
							<p>This article is republished from <a href="https://inreview.com.au" target=_blank  rel="canonical">InReview</a> under a Creative Commons licence. Read the <a href="https://inreview.com.au/inreview/music/2019/04/24/top-five-musical-moments-from-the-empire-strikes-back/" target=_blank  rel="canonical">original article</a>.</p>
							<link href="https://inreview.com.au/inreview/music/2019/04/24/top-five-musical-moments-from-the-empire-strikes-back/" rel="canonical">

<p><a href="https://inreview.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InReview</a> is an open access, non-profit arts and culture journalism project. Readers can <a href="https://artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2E9q0000008PVN/inreview-sa-20222023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">support our work with a donation</a>. Subscribe to InReview’s free weekly newsletter <a href="https://inreview.com.au/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>
							<img src="https://inreview.com.au/pixel2.png?cc_article=top-five-musical-moments-from-the-empire-strikes-back" width="1" height="1">

Copied to Clipboard

Han Solo and the Princess

The Asteroid Field

Yoda Raises the Ship

Han Solo is Frozen

Through the Window

Support local arts journalism

Chamber music proves heavenly for Townsville

Umberto Clerici puts down the baton ... to take up his cello

Wickety Wak brings mayhem back!

Have you ever, ever felt like this? Round the Twist is now a musical