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Ever hear the women singing on SWANH: Princess Leia?


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#1 InTheCity

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 07:31 AM

As far as I know there is no choir in ANH besides this.

I definitely hear some women singing - sounds like a very small group perhaps 3 in the build up to the big B major Chord.

Anyone have info on this?
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#2 Alexander

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 09:11 AM

I'll have a listen.

#3 Richard

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 12:53 PM

I'm sorry to say that there is no choir on "ANH". If there was, it would (probably) have been credited on the '77 release. A women's chior first appeared on "City In The Clouds".

#4 Stefancos

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 12:57 PM

That was a synth choir, supposedly...

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#5 Richard

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 01:08 PM

No way that is a synth choir! At that time, the only "synth" that could emulate the human voice was the mellotron, and after 35 years of listeng to prog rock, I can easily tell a mellotron from real voices. That's a choir.

#6 steb74

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 01:09 PM

Yes, the female voices in TESB are real, certainly not synth!

Regarding the OP, I think it's just a musical illusion due to Williams' high string writing in the concert version of Leia's theme, if that's what was being referred to.

#7 Richard

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 01:20 PM

Why the voices were not credited on the orginal trilogy is, of course, another matter...

#8 InTheCity

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 01:40 PM

It's a real choir - 100%. And by choir I mean perhaps two to three women. U
Just strange for some reason
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#9 MrJosh

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 02:08 PM

Is it the build-up to the chord that hits at 3:41? I think that's what you're talking about, and I think I hear what you are referring to, but I think it's a combination of woodwinds that I hear in there, that has this vocal quality. I would figure that if Williams wanted to use a choir on this piece, he'd have actually made them audible at that moment...that moment could be a grand choir moment! But I don't see why he would use a few woman's voices in there for that moment.

#10 Faleel

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 02:16 PM

wow, it does sound like it, but I am sure its not.

Among all the things I have done in my short and pitiful life, becoming an inside joke on JWFAN is the one I'm the least proud of.

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John Williams sucks, he doesn't write with a quill pen, there is no emotion in pencil music ! Purcell is the man !

#11 Joey

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 02:29 PM

As far as I know there is no choir in ANH besides this.

I definitely hear some women singing - sounds like a very small group perhaps 3 in the build up to the big B major Chord.

Anyone have info on this?

Just call it Star Wars, that is the films title. writing it as you did in the title of this thread is sick.
OH God, Joe is posting again, someone hand me my pills!

"You're not John Conner, I saw you die, said Kyle". "I was only injured, replied John". "No, your injuries were too severe, you died. Look at you, where are your injuries? You're, you're a Terminator." "Kyle, its still me, yes my body was beyond repair, but my essence is here." He points to his head. "No John". Kyle raised his pulse rifle and aimed it at John but before he could fire, John fired first. Knocked to the ground Kyle looked up at the Terminator in the form of the man he once idolized. All hope was lost. "If you kill me how will you ever be born?" "Thats a good question Kyle, all this time we've focus on Sarah, on John, when had we known the it was you we should have targeted all along." John pointed his rifle at Kyle's face. "The resistance is finished, the battle is won. We the machines are the victors, salvation is ours." Kyle never heard the second shot.

#12 Stefancos

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 02:32 PM

Some one over at FSM is also convinced that JW uses a synth for a few seconds in ANH's Land Of The Sandpeople

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#13 Wojo

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 02:47 PM

Just call it Star Wars, that is the films title. writing it as you did in the title of this thread is sick.


I think it's sick that everyone leaves out the mention that it's from the Journal of the Whills, but that's just me.


Some one over at FSM is also convinced that JW uses a synth for a few seconds in ANH's Land Of The Sandpeople


He's not the same putz that throws his CDs away instead of selling them to used CD shops, is he?

@Wojo: stop being facetious.


#14 Pasi Tiitinen

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 03:15 PM

Do you mean in built up somewhere 3:31 ,very short passage?

#15 InTheCity

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 07:04 PM

Yes it's like 8 bars but very noticeable. It's not woodwinds.

Joey sorry I will try to consult u before each post now on
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#16 Joey

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 07:05 PM

Yes it's like 8 bars but very noticeable. It's not woodwinds.

Joey sorry I will try to consult u before each post now on

just call it Star Wars, that is the name.

I'm pretty sure that Nick Winters the Lounge Lizard said

Star Wars, nothing but Star Wars, Give me those Star Wars, Don't let them end.

Nope nothing about A New Hope.
OH God, Joe is posting again, someone hand me my pills!

"You're not John Conner, I saw you die, said Kyle". "I was only injured, replied John". "No, your injuries were too severe, you died. Look at you, where are your injuries? You're, you're a Terminator." "Kyle, its still me, yes my body was beyond repair, but my essence is here." He points to his head. "No John". Kyle raised his pulse rifle and aimed it at John but before he could fire, John fired first. Knocked to the ground Kyle looked up at the Terminator in the form of the man he once idolized. All hope was lost. "If you kill me how will you ever be born?" "Thats a good question Kyle, all this time we've focus on Sarah, on John, when had we known the it was you we should have targeted all along." John pointed his rifle at Kyle's face. "The resistance is finished, the battle is won. We the machines are the victors, salvation is ours." Kyle never heard the second shot.

#17 InTheCity

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 07:25 PM

Petty earthling.
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#18 E.T. & Elliott

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 07:46 PM

This reminds me of a part in E.T. during the house invasion that at one point sort of sounds like there's a choir.
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#19 Faleel

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 07:57 PM

and in TOD, "Slave Children's Crusade" almost sounded like it.

Among all the things I have done in my short and pitiful life, becoming an inside joke on JWFAN is the one I'm the least proud of.

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John Williams sucks, he doesn't write with a quill pen, there is no emotion in pencil music ! Purcell is the man !

#20 Stefancos

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 07:59 PM

Why are people hearing imaginary choirs?

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#21 Score

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 08:02 PM

As far as I know there is no choir in ANH besides this.

I definitely hear some women singing - sounds like a very small group perhaps 3 in the build up to the big B major Chord.

Anyone have info on this?


The first times I had listened to Princess Leia's Theme, I had also noticed this strange sound feature, and also got the impression that there was a small ensemble of women singing. But I perfectly agree with steb74's interpretation:

Regarding the OP, I think it's just a musical illusion due to Williams' high string writing in the concert version of Leia's theme, if that's what was being referred to.


In fact, although I do not have the full score with me right now, I think I recall that this "vocal-quality" passage (E, F sharp, G and back) is played, among the others, by violas in their high register (the octave above that of the C3), while violins are busy with the main melody line. Strings can give this illusion sometimes. Personally, I hear an analogous effect, here and there, also in this beautiful piece by Morricone (where I am sure there is no choir - only strings, harpsichord, oboe and timpani at the beginning):



#22 russds

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 08:25 PM

and in TOD, "Slave Children's Crusade" almost sounded like it.

Where in slave children's crusade?
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#23 Faleel

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 08:27 PM


and in TOD, "Slave Children's Crusade" almost sounded like it.

Where in slave children's crusade?


1:30 to 1:34

Among all the things I have done in my short and pitiful life, becoming an inside joke on JWFAN is the one I'm the least proud of.

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John Williams sucks, he doesn't write with a quill pen, there is no emotion in pencil music ! Purcell is the man !

#24 russds

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 08:31 PM

Just listened to it, sounds to me like Oboe (s) in the high register.



and in TOD, "Slave Children's Crusade" almost sounded like it.

Where in slave children's crusade?


1:30 to 1:34


Ah, yeah that's a nice section. I like the sound of unison strings octaves apart doing the theme like that.
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#25 InTheCity

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 09:46 PM

Guys its not the strings nor winds - you need listen geographically. The choir is coming about 15 degrees to the right while the woodwinds are coming dead center. Now also listen to them closely - I can hear her singing a different sylable even.
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#26 pixie_twinkle

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 11:57 PM

Dude, it's the violas. When the rest of the orchestra stops at 3:48 you can clearly hear it was the violas all the time. It's one of those amazing aural illusions. Yes, it sounds like a few women singing, but it's really the violas.

If you want to hear a really freaky aural illusion listen to Ligeti's Lux Aeterna. It's for unaccompanied choir, but in places you'll be sure you can hear all sorts of other instruments in there!
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#27 Faleel

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Posted 18 May 2012 - 01:55 AM

Guys its not - otherwise it wouldnt be what I want it to be, so shut up and agree with me.


Among all the things I have done in my short and pitiful life, becoming an inside joke on JWFAN is the one I'm the least proud of.

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John Williams sucks, he doesn't write with a quill pen, there is no emotion in pencil music ! Purcell is the man !

#28 Prometheus

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Posted 18 May 2012 - 02:05 AM

Guys its not the strings nor winds - you need listen geographically. The choir is coming about 15 degrees to the right while the woodwinds are coming dead center.


You're aware of panning, right?

#29 E.T. & Elliott

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Posted 18 May 2012 - 03:03 AM

Dude, it's the violas. When the rest of the orchestra stops at 3:48 you can clearly hear it was the violas all the time. It's one of those amazing aural illusions. Yes, it sounds like a few women singing, but it's really the violas.

If you want to hear a really freaky aural illusion listen to Ligeti's Lux Aeterna. It's for unaccompanied choir, but in places you'll be sure you can hear all sorts of other instruments in there!

Maybe the singing is in harmony with the violas, like the vocals and trumpets in the Adam West Batman theme.
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#30 Augie

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Posted 20 May 2012 - 06:27 AM

Although being no stranger to conspiracy theories myself, I don't hear a choir
in the piece.

Or, wait! Listen to this:



That's what I call a helluva choir...

Honorable Mention to Angela Morley.


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#31 Omen II

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Posted 20 May 2012 - 09:46 AM

Another John Williams piece where I often 'hear' a choir that isn't actually there is towards the end of the main titles of The Poseidon Adventure (at about the 1:15 mark).
His mouth is full of bees!

#32 MissPadmé

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Posted 20 May 2012 - 11:40 AM

It is clearly the combination of the Oboe+English Horn and the Violas (just have a look at the printed score if you can) which let it sound like human voices - I can see why you would mistake it for female voices, but there simply isn't a choir in that piece.
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#33 Goldsmithfan

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Posted 20 May 2012 - 06:02 PM

Are we talking about a point before or after the Blaster Beam counterpoint ends?

#34 Wojo

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Posted 20 May 2012 - 06:12 PM

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!

@Wojo: stop being facetious.


#35 KK.

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Posted 20 May 2012 - 09:49 PM

i know I'm late in joining this party, but I agree that what you're hearing are the violas. It is one of the illusions of vocal quality. But you can hear the viola line clearly starting its ascent at around 3:25 to the part where it sounds "choir-like" in 3:31. It's a viola line (I think), not a choir. :)


Although being no stranger to conspiracy theories myself, I don't hear a choir
in the piece.

Or, wait! Listen to this:



That's what I call a helluva choir...


Now, that's awesome! :o

#36 GoodMusician

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Posted 21 May 2012 - 07:06 AM

I swear I have ALWAYS heard a low mens choir singing as Anakin and Padme are brought into the Arena in Episode II. Especially in the high shot over the geonosians and slowly moving in towards them in the arena...

at 1:28...the low cello line. like a mens choir singing the main melody as an "mmm" sound



PS: they need to SHOOT who ever's phone went off in that Leah video...wow...choir with that is more awesome than I realized!

It seems there are two rules of concerts: cough and sneeze only when it's aboslutely quiet, and leave your phone on RING, never vibrate!
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#37 pixie_twinkle

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Posted 21 May 2012 - 04:47 PM

That wasn't a phone ringing. It was actually the flutes. It does sound like a phone ringing though. ;)
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#38 Pasi Tiitinen

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Posted 21 May 2012 - 05:45 PM

At 1:01 in Leia, it's definitely not the flutes. It rings again in 1.05 but shorter, it was obviously shut down.

#39 Stefancos

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Posted 21 May 2012 - 07:09 PM

I'm sorry, but you so-called music experts can't seem to agree on shit!

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#40 MrJosh

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Posted 21 May 2012 - 11:01 PM

I always for some reason hear a bunch of choir in Duel of the Fates and Hymn to the Fallen. Stupid Audio-illusions!!




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