
Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto influenced the score for some of the tender moments in the latest Star Wars film, "The Force Awakens."Ĭlick the audio player above to hear how Williams' compositions compared to the pieces that inspired him.The Swedish-born, L.A.-based composer came up with a novel solution: He would play many of the key instruments himself - unusual woodwinds, drums, guitars, piano, percussion - add a 70-piece orchestra for that “Star Wars” touch, then apply modern production techniques for an even more alien soundscape. Frederic Chopin's "Funeral March" also turns up in Williams' music for Darth Vader.
Holst's "The Planets" shows up in Williams' theme for archvillian Darth Vader. Appropriately, the Holst movement it titled "Mars, the Bringer of War.".
Lucas asked Williams to write a score that drew from films like "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "The Sea Hawk," which Korngold scored in the 1930s and 1940s. Korngold's music for the 1942 film "Kings Row" inspired the main Star Wars theme.
Related from Colorado Matters: Before 'Star Wars:' The Films And Lore That Inspired A Cinematic EmpireĬPR Classical's Karla Walker spoke with Colorado Matters about the classical music that helped create the "Star Wars" sound. The music that provided the soundtrack for adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Darth Vader grew from scores by composers like Erich Korngold and Gustav Holst. ASSOCIATED PRESS "Star Wars" characters, Darth Vader, left, and Chewbacca, right, pose with Boston Pops Orchestra Conductor John Williams, in July 1997.