Star Wars Main Title

"When I thought of a theme for Luke and his adventures, I composed a melody that reflected the brassy, bold, masculine, and noble qualities I saw in the character"

- John Williams on writing the "Main Title"

The "Star Wars Main Title", also known as "Star Wars Main Theme", "Star Wars Theme", "Luke's Theme", or simply "Star Wars", is the theme played at the beginning of all six Star Wars films and almost every other piece of Star Wars media (video games, T.V series, etc.). The film scripts refer to this opening theme as "war drums." It was composed by John Williams and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.

The "Main Title" segues directly into a theme created specifically for each film. These are: "The Arrival at Naboo" or "Boarding the Federation Battleship" (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace); "Ambush on Coruscant" (Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones); "The Revenge of the Sith" (Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith); "Rebel Blockade Runner" (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope), which goes on to quote the ending of "Mars" from Gustav Holst's "The Planets"; "The Ice Planet Hoth" (Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back); "Approaching the Death Star" (Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi).

The theme seems to appear in-universe during a celebration of Life Day, in which Princess Leia sings a tune similar to the theme.

Symbolism
The "Main Title" is symbolic of many aspects of the Star Wars saga. The most prevelant of these would be the idea of heroism and adventure. The following phrases each represent a particular step toward heroism:


 * 1) Opening fifth=reaching upward
 * 2) Descending triplet=gathering strength for another try
 * 3) Triumphant lift to an octave above the opening note=attainment of the goal
 * 4) Repeating of last four notes=reassurance of achievement
 * 5) Rounding out of the phrase=task completed

The theme is also used to represent the character Luke Skywalker in the Original Trilogy. However, due to the non-existence of Luke at the time, the theme is not used for this purpose in the Prequel Trilogy.

Summary
The "Main Title" starts off as a fast and rather complicated phrase for the brass. After the short intro, the theme goes into the most recognized melody, with the trumpets playing. The strings come in after the trumpet melody is played twice. The strings play a calmer, more peaceful melody before the brass comes back in with the main melody. The melody plays through twice before the strings finish the theme with a fast, decrescendoing phrase.

In the movies
The "Main Title" also occurs within the films themselves, notably: as a faster, dramatic variant in The Phantom Menace, when Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi fight B1 battle droids aboard Saak'ak, when the CIS and Republic armies charge towards each other in Attack of the Clones, during the chasm shootout in A New Hope, when Luke flees from the wampa in The Empire Strikes Back, and again when Luke fights Jabba the Hutt's henchmen over the sarlacc in Return of the Jedi. The only movie that lacks its appearance in-film is Revenge of the Sith.

In video games
This theme is also played during the opening crawl of almost all Star Wars video games. Commonly they use the original version, segueing directly into "Rebel Blockade Runner." A notable exception is the opening crawl of Star Wars: TIE Fighter, which features a version of the "Imperial March." In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a shortened version with slightly altered rhythm appears as the main title sequence.

This is a list of video games which use the "Main Title" (in alphabetical order).


 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * Star Wars: Battle for Naboo
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
 * Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
 * Star Wars: TIE Fighter

Canonicity
Leia Organa sings a song for the Life Day celebration in the Star Wars Holiday Special, very similar in tune to the Theme. This is a (superficial and semi-canonical) indication that "Star Wars Theme" perhaps exists in-universe. Similar indications exist with "Imperial March" (implied in The Paradise Snare to be the official in-universe martial anthem of the Imperial Navy) and "Duel of the Fates" (heard from ghastly voices in the Ice Crypts of Coruscant).

In the soundtracks
This is a list of all the tracks in which the theme "Star Wars Main Title" is heard followed by the time in the track at which it begins.

The Phantom Menace

 * "Star Wars Main Title" / "The Arrival at Naboo" (0:00)
 * "Fighting The Destroyer Droids" (From the Ultimate Edition Soundtrack)
 * "Panaka and the Queen's Protectors" (0:20)
 * "Augie's Great Municipal Band" / "End Credits" (1:26)

====Attack of the Clones ====
 * "Star Wars Main Title" / "Ambush on Coruscant" (0:00)
 * "Confrontation with Count Dooku" / "Finale" (4:45)

Revenge of the Sith

 * "Star Wars" / "The Revenge of the Sith" (0:00)
 * "A New Hope" / "Credits" (1:24)

A New Hope

 * "Main Title" (0:00)
 * "Rescue of the Princess" or "Tractor Beam/Chasm Crossfire"
 * "Land of the Sandpeople"
 * "The Throne Room" / "End Credits" (1:12/1:48)

====The Empire Strikes Back ====
 * "Main Title" / "The Ice Planet Hoth" (0:00)
 * "Luke's First Crash"
 * "Carbon Freeze/Luke Prusues The Captives/Departure of Boba Fett"

Return of the Jedi

 * "Star Wars Main Title" / "Approaching the Death Star" / "Tatooine Rendezvous" (0:00)
 * "The Pit of Carkoon" / "Sail Barge Assault" (1:35) or "The Return of the Jedi"
 * "The Emperor Arrives" / "The Death of Yoda" / Obi-Wan's Revelation" (3:58)
 * "The Battle of Endor"
 * "Sail Barge Assault (Alternate)" (0:51)
 * "Victory Celebration" / "End Title" (2:26)

Shadows of the Empire

 * "Main Theme from Star Wars" / "Leia's Nightmare" (0:00)

The Clone Wars

 * "Star Wars Main Title & A Galaxy Divided" (0:00)

In popular culture
The "Main Title" has become one of the most recognized theatrical themes ever written.

On the January 21st, 1978 episode of Saturday Night Live, Bill Murray's lounge singer character sang a version of the Star Wars theme with lyrics. Some of the lyrics include:

Star Wars,

Give me more Star Wars,

Nothing but Star Wars,

Don't let them end