The Imperial March


Main article: Star Wars music

"The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)"[1] is a musical theme present in the Star Wars franchise. It was composed by John Williams for the film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Together with Yoda's Theme, the Imperial March was premiered on April 29, 1980, "five days before the opening of the film, on the occasion of John Williams' first concert as official conductor-in-residence of the Boston Pops Orchestra."[2] One of the best known symphonic movie themes, it is a classic example of a leitmotif, a recurrent theme associated with characters or events in a drama.[3]

Contents

Use in Star Wars

"The Imperial March" is sometimes referred to simply as "Darth Vader's Theme", or very rarely as the "Imperial Death March".[4] In the movies (except for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope), the march is often played when Darth Vader appears. It is also played for the arrival of Emperor Palpatine on the Death Star in Return of the Jedi, though it does segue into the Emperor's own theme as he appears.

Original Trilogy

"The Imperial March" is first heard in The Empire Strikes Back in low piccolos as the Galactic Empire sends probe droids across the galaxy in search of Luke Skywalker. Its major opening occurs as Star Destroyers amass and Darth Vader is first presented in the film. The theme and related motifs are also incorporated into tracks such as "The Battle of Hoth" and The Asteroid Field. "Return of the Jedi" makes similar use of the theme, though its final statement is significantly different, making quiet use of a harp as a redeemed Anakin Skywalker dies in his son's arms.

Prequel Trilogy

"The Imperial March" appears on a few occasions in the prequel trilogy, most often used to hint at Anakin Skywalker's future as Darth Vader. An innocent theme for the ten-year-old Anakin in The Phantom Menace, is thematically based on the Imperial March. The March can also be heard towards the end, as Yoda acknowledges Anakin as Obi Wan's apprentice in saying "The chosen One, the boy may be. Nevertheless, grave danger I fear in his training." In the second prequel, Attack of the Clones, "The Imperial March" is sometimes played subtly when an event foreshadows Anakin's future: It is first played when Yoda senses Anakin slaughtering a tribe of Tusken Raiders to avenge his mother's death and later with more force when Anakin tells Padmé Amidala what he did. It is played most prominently during the final sequence when clone troopers assemble and depart Coruscant, foreshadowing that they are the predecessors of Imperial stormtroopers. Although Across the Stars is featured most prominently in the film's end credits, several notes from "The Imperial March" are heard beneath it near the end.

In the final film, Revenge of the Sith, the theme is played as Anakin rebukes the Jedi Council for not being given the rank of Jedi Master despite being appointed to the Council, when he reveals to Mace Windu that Palpatine is a Sith Lord, when Anakin receives his Sith name (Darth Vader), as Palpatine tells Vader to go to the Jedi Temple and kill all the Jedi, as the clone troopers on Kashyyyk search for Yoda after failing to kill him as per Order 66, as Darth Vader prepares to assassinate the Separatist leaders, when Padmé turns down Vader's offer to join him and rule the galaxy, during the duel between Yoda and Palpatine, and when the famous mask is first put on Darth Vader's disfigured head. In addition, a cue based on Qui-Gon Jinn's funeral dirge plays as Vader and Palpatine brood over the construction of the Death Star, and the first nine notes of "The Imperial March" can be heard in counterpoint.

Uses outside Star Wars

Outside of the Star Wars film universe, the march is often used as a musical illustration for various totalitarian or authoritarian political and religious figures. In one example, The Imperial March was played as a form of protest against Scientology during the Project Chanology protests by Anonymous.[5]

The music has been used as emblematic of sporting rivalries. Numerous high school and college marching bands have taken to playing the march during football games, particularly when a home team's defense is on the field or has made a big play. The first regular use of The Imperial March was in the 1980's, when John Thompson led the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team onto the floor with The Imperial March being played by the Georgetown band, perpetuating the sullen, intimidating persona of the Hoyas.

In January 2003, during Super Bowl XXXVII, ABC Sports took to using the Imperial March as a leitmotif for the Oakland Raiders.[6] Three-time and current World Professional Darts Champion John Part uses the theme as entrance for his matches.[7]. The Miami Hurricanes football program uses the Imperial March during games as part of its "evil empire" persona.[citation needed]

In 2007 US Open (tennis) tournament final, Darth Vader's theme was played as Roger Federer entered the stadium. This was done presumably because of the black outfit Federer wore at that tournament.

An elevator music version appears in the Family Guy episode "Blue Harvest", when Peter Griffin (as Han Solo) and Chris Griffin (as Luke Skywalker) escort Brian Griffin (as Chewbacca) dressed as Imperial stormtroopers. It acts as the Death Star's elevator's background song. The episode is a spoof of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which the Imperial March is not used.

In The Simpsons episode "Gump Roast", Montgomery Burns steps toward a lectern and the March plays. Other episodes also use the March as Mr. Burns appears (for example, "A Star Is Burns").

In the soundtrack to the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire saga, track 8--Night Skies--features a slow, melodic sample of the Imperial March, designed to reflect the thoughts of Darth Vader, who believes that his son, Luke Skywalker. is on Coruscant and attempts telepathic contact with him. The main theme plays twice in the track.

During New York Yankees games at Yankee Stadium, when the visiting team's lineup is announced, the Imperial March plays in the background. Ever since the Yankees obtained the "Evil Empire" nickname from Boston Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, this practice has taken on a certain irony to both Yankee fans and their detractors.

Jon Stewart, on The Daily Show in January 2009 began associating The Imperial March with former Vice President Dick Cheney after his appearance at President Barack Obama's inauguration in a wheelchair. This theme was carried across several episodes in the week following the Inauguration.

The Symphonic Metal band Epica performed a cover of The Imperial March on their 2009 live album The Classical Conspiracy.

Discography

The Imperial March appears on the original motion picture soundtrack for Empire Strikes Back, as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. John Williams has played it at several Boston Pops Orchestra concerts and thus it appears on some of the discs he has recorded with them, such as By Request: The Best Of John Williams And The Boston Pops Orchestra, The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music, and Pops in Space.

Media

Midi sample of The Imperial March - Imperial_March.MID Sample (help·info).

See also

References

  1. ^ Michael Matessino, booklet for original soundtrack recording for Empire Strikes Back, Special Edition, page 17. RCA ASIN B000003G8G. "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) is the now famous signature theme for Darth Vader."
  2. ^ Michael Matessino, booklet for original soundtrack recording for Empire Strikes Back, Special Edition, page 6. RCA ASIN B000003G8G.
  3. ^ Irena Paulus, "Williams versus Wagner or an Attempt at Linking Musical Epics" International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music 31 2 (2000): 153. "John Williams used leitmotifs in the genuine sense of the word. He has come very close to the practice of Wagner in the various procedures in which he varies and transforms his themes, and in using the idea of the thematic image (the arch-theme that is the unifying element of the musical material). However, the similarity of Williams's and Wagner's leitmotifs is greatest in the area of kinship of themes (a series of new themes or motifs derive from a single motif or theme) on the basis of which both of them create a web of mutually related leitmotifs. The closeness of the procedures of the two can also be found in the area of melody, rhythm, form, harmony, instrumentation, and even in the domain of the ratio of the old and the new in their music. The ultimate objective of Richard Wagner was to create the music drama, music for the stage based on the old roots of opera, in which all the musical elements were subordinated to the drama. The ultimate aim of John Williams was to take part in the creation of a film in which his music would serve to define the film's substance and help all the other elements of it to function property."
  4. ^ Scott N. Miller, A Theater for Interaction, Master of Architecture thesis at U. of Cincinnati, May 20, 2004, p. 52. "Examples of this run rampant in modern cinema. Music is used to manipulate audience reactions. Consider the Emporrial Death March played in Star Wars, which enhances and accompanies the strength and power of Darth Vader and his control. The sound of a certain instrument may even be used to represent specific characters or characteristics, such as the innocent yet inquisitive sound of a clarinet, or the sensual vibrations of a saxophone. Sound may even be removed from a picture so that viewers focus on the visual occurrences or seriousness of a situation."
  5. ^ Ramadge, Andrew (2008-03-18). "Second round of Anonymous v Scientology". Cnet. http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23389091-5014239,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-19. "One busker in the mall played Star Wars theme "The Imperial March" on a tuba as the protestors walked past." 
  6. ^ Urbanski, Heather (2007). Plagues, Apocalypses and Bug-Eyed Monsters: How Speculative Fiction Shapes Our Nightmares. New York: McFarland. pp. 132–133. 
  7. ^ "Professional Dart Players Walk on Music...". Darts501.com. http://www.darts501.com/Music.htm. Retrieved on 2008-03-21. 
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