Anakin's Theme (2023 Revision)

[igger6 975]

This question got sidelined in the Tanglewood and "Story in Music" threads, so let's discuss!  I'm a sucker for the notion of JW stepping back into these concert suites after decades and tinkering.  Even if we can't always agree on the results, the originals are (usually) still sitting there on album somewhere, so I say bring it on.

 

From what I can tell, this revision adds a restatement of the rising intro melody that followed the A theme in the original arrangement (the one that's similar to the opening of "The Rebellion is Reborn").  The restatement occurs before the second playing of the A theme about halfway through the piece, and to my ear, it's a little heavier on woodwinds than in its first statement, and it adds a harmony line that gets very close to the intervals of Yoda's theme at one point.  (Probably unintentional, but who knows, and very cool!) 

 

In the final minute or so of the new piece, my low musical intelligence is failing me.  Is this the same music as on the OST arrangement, just played painfully slowly?  Is it the same basic shape with differences in harmony or orchestration?  Or are there changes to the melody that bridges the final, anguished reading of the A theme into the Vader noodling at end?  It sounds more pained and tragic this time around, but maybe I'm just used to the more subdued ending of the original.  The Vader noodling is definitely slower and more pronounced, which may not be to everyone's taste, but I like this bit that's confusing me a lot more in the new version.  Am I just responding to changes in the conducting and performance, or is there new music in the ending?

[BSOinsider 45]

Using the Hal Leonard Signature edition measure numbers, here are the changes between versions:

 

2 new measures added between m24 and 25. These 2 bars are an expanded orchestration of measures 5 and 6.

 

Measures 25 and 26 have slight alterations to texture, register, and rhythm. Measure 27 returns to HL as printed.

 

Measures 41 to 44 have been rewritten. What was previously 14 beats of music (4/4+4/4+4/4+2/4) is now 25 beats (5/4+6/4+6/4+4/4+4/4). The new version features altered meter and elongated note lengths, along with the addition of a flute to the Vln1 line and added harp. The new violin 1 part in m43 is entirely different, only vaguely similar to the contour of the older version. What has actually happened is an augmentation (lengthening) of all the notes in old measure 43. The ear is thrown by the inclusion of a G# which is new, but the rest of the melody is the same notes in a very lengthened form. The underlying harmony has also changed, but I'll leave that to a music theorist for explanation. 

 

Measure 45 to the end is unchanged. 

 

I hope this helps!

 

[Jay 40,305]

Amazing post!

[KittBash 298]

7 minutes ago, BSOinsider said:

Using the Hal Leonard Signature edition measure numbers, here are the changes between versions:

 

2 new measures added between m24 and 25. These 2 bars are an expanded orchestration of measures 5 and 6.

 

Measures 25 and 26 have slight alterations to texture, register, and rhythm. Measure 27 returns to HL as printed.

 

Measures 41 to 44 have been rewritten. What was previously 14 beats of music (4/4+4/4+4/4+2/4) is now 25 beats (5/4+6/4+6/4+4/4+4/4). The new version features altered meter and elongated note lengths, along with the addition of a flute to the Vln1 line and added harp. The new violin 1 part in m43 is entirely different, only vaguely similar to the contour of the older version. 

 

Measure 45 to the end is unchanged. 

 

I hope this helps!

 

 

ok.... @BSOinsider I had linked to your old post in the chronology project now you post this amazing piece of detail... drop the mike take a bow and walk off the stage sir! I must now go link to this post instead 

[Mikal Grigorowitsch 510]

If it matters for the chronology in any way, the corrections for Anakin's theme were submitted by Williams on 07/25/2023:

[Tom 5,231]

I don't always go for these revisions, but I liked what I heard.  It would be nice to have a proper recording.  The original was never a pure favorite of mine, so it is easier to enjoy the changes.  

 

I am a bit surprised, given his predilection for doing such things, that Rey's theme did not get a sizable extension or something.  He likes the theme, we like the theme, go two more minutes with it.  

[KittBash 298]

25 minutes ago, michael_grig said:

If it matters for the chronology in any way, the corrections for Anakin's theme were submitted by Williams on 07/25/2023:

 

If it has a date and Williams himself was involved it does indeed matter greatly to the Chronology! 

Thank You!

[igger6 975]

Brilliant, @BSOinsider!  Unconfirmed reports are pouring in of a middle-aged man seen counting measures while air-conducting in front of his computer monitor with a dopey grin on his face.

[rpvee 879]

Worth bumping this thread since this revision has been expanded upon to now be a new arrangement for Anne-Sophie Mutter, which premiered last night in Pittsburgh. It’s about another minute longer, and the new ending has the harp play a statement of the Imperial March that’s quite reminiscent of the end of the Vader’s Death cue in Return of the Jedi - chilling that a piece about the character’s childhood now directly references his ending. Hopefully this version gets recorded, it was quite lovely and felt generally more ominous than the original.

[Jay 40,305]

Can't wait to hear it!

[artguy360 1,941]

When will we get to hear this?! Sounds lovely.

[rpvee 879]

16 minutes ago, artguy360 said:

When will we get to hear this?! Sounds lovely.

Apparently the concert will be on a streaming service called Stage+ on the 30th.

 

https://www.stage-plus.com/video/live_concert_9HKNCPA3DTN66PBIEHFJAC1M?fbclid=PAAaahYHYn0jmZta7N56Nlxgv9cbjSOlBU9NSKEOxguuTDftD8xtBEn-PJN80_aem_ARqg0JMiooEj5-V7mhtCFMLARPUFEydlEpW-9CTIyK13Qrm0CBZL_xk0AOzc2Vb0dNU

[Tom 5,231]

Many of us hoped that Anakin's theme would get a heroic workout in II, before it transitioned into the Imperial March.  This sounds like the next best thing.  I hope he reworks the regular version one more time along the lines of this description.  It would make for a cool piece telling a full story.  

[Chen G. 4,779]

9 hours ago, Tom said:

Many of us hoped that Anakin's theme would get a heroic workout in II, before it transitioned into the Imperial March.

 

As far as I can tell, Williams always set out with that theme to portray the boy Anakin, not the adolescent and young adult we meet in the next two films. Its very much concieved of as a theme for a young boy, and its uses in the two sequels are always as reminiscences of that boy.

 

It does get a heroic variation during the space battle, I seem to remember.

[pete 1,025]

On 06/09/2023 at 4:52 AM, BSOinsider said:

 

I hope this helps!

 

 

It helps, it Helps!

 

So glad this has gotten a new arrangement. I remember thinking it must have felt left out and forgotten and sad and lonely after the other major romanticish Star Wars themes got the Mutter treatment. Can't wait to hear it! Please Santa, let there be a new album in the works. It doesn't have to be this year. 

[Falstaft 2,176]

In case anyone is curious, an article I've written on Anakin's Theme, with a focus on the concert arrangement(s), is now up on The Legacy of John Williams page. Thanks to @TownerFan for the chance to share this work as part of his Prequel Scores at 25 Years Retrospective!

 

Anakin’s Theme and the Musical Aftermath of The Phantom Menace:
(https://thelegacyofjohnwilliams.com/2024/07/30/anakins-theme-essay/)

 

 

I threw in some easter-eggs for old-school Williams fandom -- JWfan old-timers will hopefully appreciate the refernces to what the online community was up to back in 1999! Be sure to check out some of the hyperlinks. Archive.org is a miracle!

[DomSewell 23]

This is great Frank - really appreciate the plug as well! Phantom is one of THE great JW scores and Anakin's theme has the most amazing orchestrated divisi string writing in the whole saga.    

[Jofi_ 130]

On 05/09/2023 at 1:20 PM, michael_grig said:

If it matters for the chronology in any way, the corrections for Anakin's theme were submitted by Williams on 07/25/2023:

source of this image?

[Jurassic Shark 13,741]

JW's Facebook page?