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Duel of the Fates

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"The…piece…is a result of my thinking that something ritualistic and/or pagan and antique might be very effective. I just felt the way that George has staged that, on top of that great stairway, the way it's done is so dramatic and so like a great pagan altar, the whole thing seems like a dance or a ballet, a religious ceremony of some kind, probably ending in the death of one of the combatants…"
―John Williams[1][src]

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 Welsh 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." Musically, it recalls one of the primary motifs heard in the opening of the third movement of Dvořák's "New World Symphony".

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.

Contents

[edit] Episode I

"Duel of the Fates" was first played in The Phantom Menace. The "Duel of the Fates" scene (named by the DVD version of the film) is the scene where Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan duel Darth Maul in the Theed Generator Complex. It is played in instrumental form as Queen Amidala and her guards are ambushed by Droidekas in the Theed Hangar, and as Darth Maul and the Jedi activate their lightsabers. It is used again as the duel moves from the hangar to the generator complex. The cue comes to an end as the electric shields separate the three combatants for the first time.

It has been stated that the version of Duel of the Fates used in the film was not meant to be utilized as it was.[source?]

[edit] Episode II

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

[edit] Clone Wars

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

[edit] Episode III

"Duel of the Fates" is played for the final time during the middle of Darth Vader's duel against Obi-Wan on Mustafar, as well as Yoda's fight with Darth Sidious in the Senate Chamber and concludes as Yoda falls from a very great height.

[edit] Lyrics (version one–Sanskrit words)

Sanskrit                        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

[edit] Lyrics (version two–pronunciation)

Korah Matah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah Rahtamah Yoodhah Korah
Korah Syahdho Rahtahmah Daanyah
Korah Keelah Daanyah
Nyohah Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Syadho Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah
Nyohah Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Syadho Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah
Korah Matah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah
Nyohah Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Syadho Keelah Korah Rahtahmah
Korah

[edit] Lyrics - original fragment of the Cad Goddeu 

A chat er dygnawt                       And a battle was contested
Dan von y tauawt                        Under the root of the tongue
A chat arall yssyd                      And another battle there is
Yn y wegilyd                            In his head

[edit] Behind the scenes

Duel of the Fates has found a particular following among fans of Tottenham Hotspur F.C., who use the score as a sort of unofficial anthem at the team's matches.[2]

[edit] Appearances

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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. The theme also plays during Soulcalibur IV whenever Starkiller fights within either of the game's two Star Wars-themed stages, as well as during his extended ending.

[edit] 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:

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ↑ Karlin, F. & Wright, R. (2004). On the Track: A Guide to Contemporary Film Scoring (2nd. ed.). New York: Routledge. 165-168.
  2. ↑ Roadrunner123 [1]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Duel_of_the_Fates"