Harmony in Star Wars is very important. It is worth going through some of the harmonic features that support the purpose of the music in each section. A good place to start is with the main title (bars 4-29, 0'07-1'08).

Most of the chords used from bar 4 (0'07) are major triads. Lower brass play a clear B flat chord (the tonic) in bar 4 itself. From here up to the end of the opening credits (bar 29, 1'08), there are a number of key harmonic features:

• Bar 5 and 6 (0'10) includes the alternation between a tonic chord of B flat and a more dissonant Fm7(add4) chord. Though the added 4th (a B flat) sounds a little insecure it actually allows for a tonic pedal which provides a great deal of certainty and conviction in the harmony. It is notated below and is worth playing on a piano to hear how it sounds un-orchestrated.

• In contrast to the previous point, the B theme from bar 12 (0'26) includes a dominant pedal in the bass. This provides a sense of tension and drama as the held F sounds unstable, making the listener want it to resolve to a B flat in a satisfying perfect cadence.

• There are some strong and firm perfect cadences used. Bar 21 (0'48) is a good example of one and is particularly emphasised with the ritardando just before the resolution.

• The opening phrase of the theme ends on the dominant chord (F major) at bar 7 (0'14) in a dramatic triplet idea which involves parallel harmony. Ending on an imperfect cadence creates a sense of propulsion into the start of the next phrase and is a device used to drive the music forward.

• Ending with an imperfect cadence at bar 28 (1'05) is particularly unnerving as the bass line lingers on an F for quite a long time before the music becomes chromatic and uncertain. This creates a sense of intrigue and curiosity as the opening credits on screen disappear and the viewer wonders what is going to happen next.

The opening fanfare is mainly based around the notes of F, B flat, E flat and A flat. The subsequent chord is stacked up in 4ths which is quite unusual because harmony is usually based around 3rds. This is called quartal harmony and it helps the introduction to sound celebratory and regal.

As already mentioned, the harmony becomes very chromatic from bar 33 (1'16). This section sounds very mysterious. Eerie harmonic intervals such as an augmented 5th (A flat-E) in bar 33 (1'16) between the violins and harp are very dissonant.

There are many other examples of dissonant harmony for the next few bars. From bar 42 (1'36) the music gains a little more momentum again and from this point to the end a pedal of C is heard in the bass providing a pronounced sense of propulsion.

From bar 46 (1'44), a cluster chord is heard (C, D flat, F and G) that creates a huge amount of agitation as the space ships start to appear on the screen, indicating that things aren't going too well...

This film was released 5 years after the original Star Wars film and John Williams composed a truly magical score that helped to depict the warm friendship Elliott forges with E.T. It is worth looking at the notated version of the piano score from 0'13 below.

• An added 9th chord at 0'13 lends a sense of colour and tenderness to the harmony. When the chord changes two bars later, the bass stays on the C, providing a tonic pedal note, contributing strength and determination to the music.

• The use of major 7th chords have a glistening, magical quality.

• The chord heard at 0'27 (7th bar below) is dissonant and helps to reflect the uncertainty of the scene. The chord is an A flat 7 with a D in the bass. Though the chord is a bit unnerving it resolves very effectively to the next chord.