Duel of the Fates

Duel of the Fates is a musical theme recurring in the prequel trilogy and the name for a scene in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It was composed by John Williams. It was also featured in Episode II, Episode III, and Star Wars: Clone Wars, though not in its full form.

This symphonic piece is played with both a full orchestra, as well as a choir that chants an archaic Celtic poem Cad Goddeu (Battle of the Trees) in Sanskrit. In English, the poem reads: "Under the tongue root a fight most dread, and another raging behind, in the head."

The music is played primarily during a lightsaber duel between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul on Naboo. In addition to this scene, it was also played as Anakin Skywalker searched for his kidnapped mother on Tatooine. Variations on the main theme from "Duel of the Fates" are played in Revenge of the Sith during the battle sequence between Yoda and Darth Sidious. George Lucas believed the sense that everything is "in larger hands," as implied in "Duel of the Fates," plays very well into the third movie.

Episode I
"Duel of the Fates" was first played in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The "Duel of the Fates" scene (named by the DVD version of The Phantom Menace) is the scene where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn duel Darth Maul in the Theed Power Plant. In the duel, Darth Maul uses a double-bladed lightsaber. At the beginning, Kenobi and Jinn have the advantage, but when they are separated by electric shields, Darth Maul kills Qui-Gon Jinn. Kenobi then duels Maul and falls into a shaft, but grabs the edge at the last second. Using the Force, he jumps out and cuts Darth Maul in half with his master's lightsaber. The song comes to an end as Darth Maul falls from a very great height.

Afterwards, Qui-Gon, barely alive, tells Kenobi to train Anakin Skywalker.

Episode II
"Duel of the Fates" is played when Anakin Skywalker travels across the surface of Tatooine to search for his mother, Shmi Skywalker and rescue her from her captors, the Tusken Raiders.

Clone Wars
"Duel of the Fates" is played in Star Wars: Clone Wars during the battle between Anakin Skywalker and Asajj Ventress, and concludes with Asajj Ventress falling from a very great height.

Episode III
"Duel of the Fates" is played for the final time during Yoda's and Palpatine's fight in the Senate Chamber and concludes as Yoda falls from a very great height.

Lyrics (version one–Sanskrit words)
Translation Khara Matha Khara Rath Amah                     Khara = dreadful Khara Rath Amah Yuddha Khara                    Matha = head Khara Syada Rath Amah Dai Ya                    Rath = speak Khara Ki La Dan Ya                              Amah = give Niha Ki La Khara Rath Amah                      Yuddha = battle Syada Ki La Khara Rath Amah                     Syada = raging Khara Dan Ya Khara Rath Amah                    Dai = purify Khara Dan Ya Khara Rath Amah                    Ya = going Niha Ki La Khara Rath Amah                      Ki = like Syada Ki La Khara Rath Amah                     La = taking Khara                                           Dan = separate Khara Matha Khara Rath Amah                     Niha = loss Khara Dan Ya Khara Rath Amah Niha Ki La Khara Rath Amah Syada Ki La Khara Rath Amah Khara

Lyrics (version two–pronunciation)
Korah Matah Korah Rahtahmah Korah Rahtamah Yoodhah Korah Korah Syahdho Rahtahmah Daanyah Korah Keelah Daanyah Nyohah Keelah Daanyah Rahtahmah Syadho Keelah Daanyah Rahtahmah Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah Nyohah Keelah Daanyah Rahtahmah Syadho Keelah Daanyah Rahtahmah Korah Korah Matah Korah Rahtahmah Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah Nyohah Keelah Daanyah Rahtahmah Syadho Keelah Daanyah Rahtahmah Korah

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Possible canon appearance
Curators of the Coruscant Ice Crypts claim to have heard faint hums of "korah matah" emanating from the halls of the underground tombs. This could indicate that the tune may be of Zhell origin in-universe.

Non-canon appearances
"Duel of the Fates" has been featured in many fan films. It was also featured on an episode of The Simpsons in which Bart Simpson and Principal Skinner battled on top of a bus with sticks that had peanuts and shrimp attached to them.

Common parody lyrics
In the matter of a popular ytmnd fads in which songs in other languages are interpreted as funny English words, the introduction chant is most popularly "translated" to "Corn on the Cob, Corn on the Kebab".

Parody lyrics can be found at these pages:
 * [[Image:Corn on the Cob.ogg]]
 * http://cornonthekabob.ytmnd.com
 * http://duelofthecorn.ytmnd.com