Star Wars: A Musical Journey
“There are certainly a lot of big kids here.” One woman’s reaction to the number of grown men, most of us in our 30s, a lot with kids of their own now. Perhaps the woman didn’t quite realise just what was going on here. For many of us Star Wars represents all of our childhood. It is special. It has lived with us for as far back as we can remember. Three new prequels didn’t dampen that enthusiasm, despite what some cynical critics may have thought.
I confess I also have a passion for movie soundtracks, owning as I do, nearly all of John Williams soundtrack albums amongst a whole CD collection of music. Fifteen of those CDs are Star Wars related. So when a concert of music from Star Wars was announced I had to be there. Star Wars: A Musical Journey was going to be a live version of the DVD that accompanied the Revenge Of The Sith soundtrack. Could one night be any better?
It was to be a day long remembered. The exhibition of costumes and props was a great chance to see some of the items that had been part of the bigger exhibition, with some new additions and some of John Williams’ original score, given great reverence by all who saw it.
As everyone slowly filled the O2 Arena (and I do mean slow, the concert starting nearly 20 minutes late) the sound effects we knew and loved were heard. Ben Burtt was clearly not forgotten in amongst the music and video. A soft rumble was punctuated with pod racers, TIE fighters, speeder bikes, lightsabers and certain Wookies, Hutts, Jawas and droids. It felt reminiscent of a pre-Pink Floyd concert effects tape.
The lights dimmed, the strains of the THX trailer filled the arena, closely followed by the 20th Century Fox fanfare. The curtain parted (upwards and downwards a la Vader’s meditation chamber) and the single most famous piece of music in the world was greeted by a rapturous audience.
The night was to follow a similar pattern to the RotS DVD of A Musical Journey with some additions and alterations. Anthony Daniels provided narration as our MC for the night. Granted he doesn’t have the gravitas that Ian McDiarmid has but Daniels brought humour to the night. The light show with occasional lasers added to the mood.
During the Star Wars opening titles we were given a montage of the 6 Star Wars movies mixed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and their conductor for the night, Dirk Brosse. Anthony Daniels then led us through the night’s musical treat and tribute with the music we all knew and loved. Video was being brought to us by the latest in $4m televisual technology possibly best described as very high definition cinema screen. Screens either side and above the main one would show characters or the RPO, particularly during solos.
Although the music roughly followed a chronological pattern the video would show montages sometimes including any number of clips from any of the 6 movies. Duel Of The Fates, with full choir, perhaps lacked a certain something of the recorded version but then live shows never quite match a fully mixed recording and listening to an orchestra through a PA system sometimes feels marginally insulting.
Anakin’s Theme and the excellent Flag Parade followed. John Williams had re-worked some of the suites to add a little or shorten certain areas and the video had also been changed to include a little more video from Revenge of the Sith. Across The Stars and Battle Of The Heroes expertly took us through the rest of the prequel trilogy. The Imperial March (or Darth Vader’s Theme) ended part 1 of the night. An intermission and more of Ben Burtt’s sound effects.
It was prior to the Dune Sea of Tatooine (with a video tribute to the droids) that Daniels got his first piece of humour in. Naturally describing C-3PO as the marvel of engineering and the finest robot around before Dirk Brosse scowled at him.
A change of shirt for Daniels for the second half of the show, from white to black. From Republic to Empire.
As much as I love all the music from Star Wars there is a certain something that makes the music from A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi better. Maybe it’s just age. Maybe it’s because I’ve heard it so much more.
We were introduced to Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, the RPO expertly getting the clarinet as moving as it should be in Across The Stars and Leia’s Theme. The ending solo violin in Leia’s Theme was also perfect. Daniels went all Threepio to introduce the Asteroid Field, reminding us all of the odds of successfully navigating an asteroid field (you know it as well as the rest of us) and also revealing his golden waistcoat.
Binary Sunset launched into the Cantina Band, which although didn’t sound quite right, had everyone enjoying themselves. Great space battles were remembered with Here They Come. A divided and re-united family were given the due reverence with the excellent Luke And Leia piece from Return of the Jedi and Light Of The Force provided Anakin’s redemption.
Yoda’s Theme is a favourite of mine (I still laugh when I hear it in the ET soundtrack). Our little green friend is a reminder of all that is good.
When the Forest Battle finished and the rebellion had won Daniels ended his work with the now immortal words – Remember, the force will be with you. Always. The music ended with the Throne Room piece from the end of A New Hope but best heard in the end titles of the Revenge of the Sith soundtrack, and the final rendition of the Star Wars theme.
A much deserved standing ovation followed. It was a superb concert. We just wanted to know why, when the movie posters were shown on screen during the finale, was RotS missed out?
Links: Excellent Flickr set of photos
