Across the Stars

"Across the Stars" is the primary thematic music of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. The piece was composed by John Williams to accompany the romance between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, and is used frequently throughout the film.

Conception and development
John Williams wrote the musical score for the 2002 film Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, as had been the case for the four previous Star Wars films. He used the London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices to perform the music. Only the orchestra was used for "Across the Stars", the motif used to represent the romance between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala. The Attack of the Clones soundtrack was released on CD April 23, 2002 and as an mp3 download on May 16, 2002.

Symbolism
Accompanied by triplet arpeggios, this beautifully sweet love theme delicately illustrates the bond between the beautiful queen turned senator Padmé Amidala and the slave turned Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker slowly strengthens and blossoms into love. The forbidden love is sealed in matrimony and continues until it slowly crumbles when Anakin turns to the dark side.

Summary
The theme begins with an interval of a minor sixth, in contrast to the love theme for Han Solo and Leia Organa (based on "Princess Leia's Theme") which begins on an interval of a major sixth, foreshadowing that Anakin and Padmé's relationship is doomed to failure. Furthermore "Across the Stars" sometimes concludes with an echo of "The Imperial March." Oboe (which plays "Leia's Theme" when Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first hear Leia's transmission) and/or harp often play the theme in its more sparsely orchestrated incarnations.

Use
It is available from Sony Classical on the Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones soundtrack, as the second track entitled "Across the Stars." It also appears within other tracks, including two appearances in "Yoda and the Younglings," as dramatic piece in "Love Pledge and The Arena," and as a lighter, upbeat version in "The Meadow Picnic." It is reused in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, notably in "Anakin's Dream", and for a final time as Padmé is in contemplation upon landing on Mustafar.

"Across the Stars" can also be heard in the trailer for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic as well as in Chapter 1 of the Star Wars: Clone Wars microseries.

Alan Silvestri included a brief homage to the theme in his score for Night at the Museum II: Battle of the Smithsonean, which appears towards the start of the track "On Your Toes".

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * "Star Wars: Clone Wars"
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * Star Wars: The New Droid Army (Title Screen)

Notes and references
Across the Stars Across the Stars