Return of the Jedi: "Luke Vs. Vader” by John Williams (Score Reduction and Analysis)

[@lewisedmundscomposer]

I think the wailing male chorus from 01:29 to 02:00 is one of the most wonderful moments in John Williams history. I love it.

[@venomvevenom]

This. The way it's sort of "crying" gives me chills every time

[@pianoman9421]

1:28 on is the greatest music I've ever heard in film.

[@zoltan902]

1:29. This is has be one of my favourite musical moments in the entire SW series, because the (as you so aptly describe) 'mournful' music gives the duel such a more serious and impactful emotional weight then if it had been loud, busy action music - and it's an anti-cliché that I'm sure a less capable composer than JW might not have achieved. I also love how the 'Emporer Theme' is used in the later half, first with harmonised horn, and then with doubled trumpet. This renders the moment one about 'character' rather than about 'plot'. I'm so delighted you have gone to this much work for our entertainment and informative benefit. Thank you so much!!!

[@davidraiklen4521]

I thought a while before posting this...I love what you're doing. The term you and David, who's wonderful, may be searching for is Tragic. The situation in ROTJ is heroic tragedy, where an error in judgement by a hero leads to great suffering. Tragic music is slow, serious, minor mode, and traditionally sung by male chorus. There is a mournful quality, and the distinction can be seen in Darth Vader's Death. Both are sad but Luke Vs. Vader is grandiose and relentless. Until the catharsis. The catharsis in A New Hope is Anakin's transformation, swooping in classic deus ex machina style to set things right. Now the music has fast action strings and winds with brass playing the leading melody of the drama.

[@83auron]

Je pense exactement la même chose, merci à John Williams d'avoir composé ce passage...

[@codeviper8665]

Also, some of the chords seam to be in major key, but keep the tragic mood. This expresses the good in defeating Vader, without sacrificing the mournful mood of Luke being tempted to the Dark Side

[@jamietreacher8524]

Gorgeous! I was just analysing this orchestration the other day. Mournful - pretty good word. The direction in the score for this passage is 'Liturgically'.

[@Titios64]

Your comment is perfect and your pseudo is Zoltan so you sir, are a man of culture and worthy of my like 👍

[@Jedisage909]

At 1:28 I get chills and almost cried when I here that part. Hits me right in the feels man. John Williams is a God at directing music

[@SamVillano]

1:28 I used to rewind this part on the DVD to hear it over and over! Thank you so much!

[@gtorresval]

x2

[@jeradpaulson771]

@@gtorresval Well Don't do that

[@PuffyOne1898]

3:16 The whole-tone bit gets me every time.

[@sqweebel1]

This is UNBELIEVABLE. I never thought about how much the score of a film coincides with what happens visually.

[@JoefromNJ1]

i feel the music when luke goes berserk is a combination of the main star wars theme combined with the emperor's theme.

[@UnknownPersononGoogle]

JoefromNJ1 And then choir with their haunting voices in the background.

[@cwaller1151]

Goodness gracious, that G major chord @ 1:39 is insane, not to mention the entirety of the incredible statement of the Emperor theme @ 2:05. Thanks for making the reduction!

[@NoamLevyMusic]

Incredible work as always. Something very interesting here, IMO, is how Williams always manages to fit very "square" and accessible musical ideas into the timing of the film. The Emperor's theme obviously has to hit the picture marks at 4:08 and 4:55, when he starts and stops the lightning, but Williams also makes it hit 4:43, moving the music up a notch as Luke's plea to Vader goes unanswered, RIGHT as the music starts repeating the Emperor's theme with even more ominous orchestration. Some very fluid conducting makes this picture hit possible (it's more obvious if you listen at 2x speed). No way Williams could have hit that middle marker with a click track and a steady tempo for the whole cue.

[@FreakieFan]

@Gideon October I'm pretty sure I've heard Spielberg say that he cut the finale of the film around the Adventures on Earth score to make it fit (which is of course very rare in this industry), not the other way around.

[@qwertyuoip1234]

1:28 is very reminiscent of Across the Stars

[@coletalsma9072]

This is insane because Across the Stars wasnt scored until the prequels years later. But youre so right about the resemblance. John William’s genius is timeless

[@ashleythorpe7933]

​@@coletalsma9072Maybe Across the Stars was inspired by this

[@pabond008]

Your analysis accurately describes the music for the Luke-Vader duel as mournful, because Luke is giving into his fear and anger and going toward the dark side. It's just a shame so many "fans" think Luke is heroic for beating Vader, and that's why they were disappointed with his portrayal in The Last Jedi. But the music here is anything but heroic.

[@Elwrt455]

STAR WARRIOR thank you for this! As a screenwriter and songwriter these Star Wars scene orchestration by John Williams in invaluable

[@MrRbjunior83]

Absolutely overwhelming musical moment, perfect mastery of orchestration and harmony. Try to mute the sound, just write music for the moment. Whatever you try will sound ridiculous! John is a genius!

[@AugustoMazzoli]

Excellent as always! Thank you so much for the analysis!

[@lachied2126]

2:01 did you see the prop lightsaber fall off (his last swing)

[@jeradpaulson771]

Lucita: You've failed Victor I'm a Superhero like my friends before me! 2:56

[@tomreeve7156]

Great work as always! I hope we're also going to see the continuation of the battle, with the Death Star explosion? To be honest, analysis of the music until the end of the film would be incredible!

[@jeremywarmsley3526]

2:19 really reminds me of Neptune (from the Planets)

[@caseyfranco3959]

Great and beautiful Work as always! i love this cue so much!

[@cuddlebuff]

Thank you so much for all of your work. as an inspiring video game composer this is absolutely one of the most inspiring channels in all of KZbin

[@codeviper8665]

The zero dislikes are from all the imperials that escaped the Death Star

[@puffadder92]

5:49 the chorus line sounds so ghostly! Like the Emperor is gone, but not really

[@RSTAR2009]

Thank you STAR WARRIORS & David McCaulley! As a screenwriter/playwriter and songwriter THIS video is important in building EMOTION in the viewer. The LEITMOTIF and THEATER feel is what is missing from the prequels and most recent SW films. This is why the ORIGINAL trilogy particarly the Empire Strikes Back still remains the FAV sequels amongst STAR WARRIORS

[@consonaadversapars]

What a masterpiece of film scoring! Incredible.

[@optimisticwhovian1726]

Aw you cut off when Luke takes Vader's helmet and mask off you hear the notes of the Imperial march played softly on a harp when Vader dies and Luke has his head bowed in sadness, to indicate Vader's rule and menace is over and Luke has lost his father.

[@DavidMcCaulley]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aF6qmKl6gZV8b5I

[@patrickmonaghan9131]

Man this is exactly what I need thank you so much. Lately I've been finding channels that make great analyses, or however you say it, of the LOTR and Star Wars movies. I just found your channel and you did a great job outlining one of my favorite moments from the movies. Thank you so much! This is awesome!!! It's also really cool to see other people appreciating this work of art! (Both the ost and the video ofc!) Once again, thank you! If you';re need any suggestions, I'd like to cast my vote for the Cloud CIty soundtracks especially including the moment where the Slave 1 flies away in the original release. (IIRC they changed the ost that plays in that clip in the newer editions.)

[@iLikeTheUDK]

I'm really happy about how the music being turned up by you drowned out Vader's "Noooo.. NOOOOoOOOOOoOOooOoo". It really has no place here, especially with the particular way it was delivered. Anyway, for future Star Wars videos I suggest you use the despecialized editions and/or 4k77, 4k83 and (if it will be made) 4k80. And if you prefer the newer effects then the semi-specialized editions.

[@Fablins-kt9ti]

I wonder why are sound effects and dialogues in these videos at all...

[@fluffdragon6305]

Thankyou so much! I search for this a lot

[@ObsessiveCostumingDude]

Thank you for sharing these wonderful reductions and insightful commentary!

[@AugustoMazzoli]

The melody on measure 29 could also be considered a variation of the Force Theme as well, couldn't?

[@FrankieHchannel]

Amazing! Have you done a Duel of the Fates score reduction?

[@benjaminfalcone2074]

Yes, he has

[@DeadAbeVigoda]

I like to isolate on the male chorus in this piece. It's like the voice of the Dark Side, and it cries out "NO! No! No, no no...." as the Emperor plummets down the power shaft.

[@WolfikCZ]

From bar 16, tears gets to my eyes. Religioso feel. Fate.

[@ShiroiTengu]

Same for me. Ever since I was a child

[@genius2005]

TRULY EPIC!!!

[@thomasstopanio1634]

The genius is how u would think they would play lukes theme but no its sounds sad like lukes turning bad u can feel it sooooo goood

[@MisterAlumni]

Could you analyze "The Battle" from Gladiator or "Over Hill" from the Hobbit, if possible ? It would be great !

[@mitchellwiseman1774]

you should analyze “The Starkiller” from TFA

[@BlazinInfernape]

If you haven't seen yet, one of some newer channels that do score reductions did The Starkiller a while back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l33ZnYuhe92lgtUsi=trlA99cjwHZ9vSlY

[@SkrapProduction]

When listing the orchestration around 0:12 , what exactly is A.R.P.?

[@manuelojeda9341]

Duuude! Where can i get the Score?? Amazing!!

[@trainzz0436]

4:55 to 5:04 it gets me every time

[@christianjaredpintordelacruz]

1:26 1:29 1:41 1:42 1:52 1:55 1:58 2:02 2:03 2:06 2:13 4:08 4:44 5:29 5:32 5:33 5:35 5:42

[@stevenweiss4699]

I know I’ve been bugging you for music from Up, but can you also do music from “close encounters”? More specifically, the ending.

[@DavidMcCaulley]

I'll see what I can do. :)

[@mydogskips2]

There is a score transcription for the Close Encounters music, not the end, I think it was called "communication" or something, and I thought it was quite interesting. The way John develops complexity from a very simple "theme" is very interesting to see. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWnCaKVqatyfaNU

[@christianjaredpintordelacruz]

Please Upload The Music Of The Return Of The Jedi The Scene Of The Destruction Of Death Star 2 & Leia's News & Anakin Skywalker Funeral & Victory Celebration

[@lesmizzle]

Excellent work, however I must point out that the scales mentioned in bar 33 over the C#m chord are all incorrect. The most appropriate derivation would be the C# dorian #4 (4th mode of the G# harmonic minor scale).

[@jeradpaulson771]

Hey uh Can you do Scooby doo on Zombie island?

[@mackt6482]

It would be great if you could do some Wes Anderson. Maybe something from Grand Budapest Hotel?

[@mr.incredible6276]

Can you please do the incredits score reduction and analysis

[@starwarsgameplayvideo8088]

so Cool great

[@danielkonstantinovsky108]

where do you get the full score? is it leaked?

[@jackyagerline8922]

Where do you get the scores to make these reductions?

[@Shozb0t]

Why are the notes do freaking hard to read?

[@Spacemanfilms2002]

1:56

[@alexkarpenter2306]

Great! But why did you write "REVENGE of the Sith"? :)))))

[@bacondorito]

The movie was called Revenge of the Jedi in early drafts.

[@tomwheeler1082]

Try to do some super hero movie if you can pls!!