In the lead-up to the release of the new blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I published a list of some classical compositions that seem to have influenced John Williams when writing his acclaimed score. One acute reader, BJ Hill of Worcester, Mass., subsequently wrote to point out another fascinating similarity.
"Malcolm Arnold's English Dances, Set 1 from 1951," noted Hill in an e-mail. "Check out 4:22 to 6:35 in the below version. Is it just me, or can you hear the strains of the Force Theme? I heard this song for the first time while I was driving around last week and it's left me scratching my head ever since."
Hmm! For comparison, here's that Force theme.
Whether Williams was actually inspired by this particular piece or not, the unmistakable similarity demonstrates how Williams drew heavily on the instrumental vocabulary of classical music when creating his Star Wars scores. He's now the most popular living composer — and he is, indeed, standing on the shoulders of giants.
Click here for more on the musical motifs of the Star Wars films.
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