ACROSS THE STARS

STAR WARS

"Across the Stars" is the love theme composed by John Williams for the romance between Anakin and Padme, which starts developing in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. The theme starts off with a slow, emotional part in Dm performed by the violas, which play long notes, and the harp, which plays repeating triplets. As this strings continues, a solo oboe comes in, playing the main motif. After a transition in Cm, the strings join the harp in playing eleven sets of triplets before the violins commence with the main melody; this is backed by short flute riffs. The key is then transposed again, this time in Fm: the horns continue a short section of the melody before climaxing into an emotional and impactful part, played by the violins and horns; the melody ends on an harmonic minor. There now follows a transition where the melody is more dissonant and is built on a twelve tone scale: the violins go into two descending phrases, the second higher in pitch than the first. This transition ends with a march-like ostinato motif in F harmonic minor; the oboe then hints at the main melody while the low voices continue their phrases, followed by a horn phrase. I ran out of time, so in my remade score I conluded the piece with a subtle harp playing the Imperial March, foreshadowing the tragic destiny of Anakin Skywalker.