Force Theme
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
Force Theme is a musical theme repeated across the musical score of the Star Wars saga. The theme is a signature line of music and one of the most recognizable of John Williams's Star Wars scores. It is also known as the Binary Sunset, The Throne Room, Ben's Theme, or, in a version featured in a Star Wars music book, May the Force be with you.
Portions of it are heard in the Taris and Star Forge scenes of the game, Knights of the Old Republic, in the context of Bastila's Theme. Force Theme is also sometimes briefly heard when the Jedi Exile in The Sith Lords receives Light Side Points.
At least a short section of the Force Theme can be heard in all Star Wars movies.
[edit] Appearances
It was first introduced in Episode IV: A New Hope when Princess Leia Organa gives R2-D2 the Death Star plans but its most prominent inclusion was in the scene where Luke Skywalker gazes out to the twin suns of Tatooine. Later in the film, the theme is once again started when Obi-Wan Kenobi starts talking to Luke, shortly before the exhaust port is destroyed. Lastly in A New Hope, the theme can be heard during the victory celebration scene.
In Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, it is heard again when Yoda reveals himself as the Jedi Master Luke had been looking for. As Luke calls to Leia as he hangs from the bottom of Cloud City, Leia hears him through the Force, a unique ability for someone who is untrained. The Force Theme can again be heard when Leia hears her brother's words.
In Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, when Luke asks Leia of her memories of her real mother, the Force Theme is played. At the end of the film, the Force Theme is played when Anakin Skywalker grabs Emperor Palpatine and throws him into a chasm. As Vader is burned, the theme emerges again as he passes into the Force.
In the prequel trilogy, as with the original, the Force Theme is often used for the character Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had no unique musical theme of his own.
In Episode I: The Phantom Menace, as Anakin leaves Tatooine to become a Jedi, the theme comes in an outburst as he leaves his mother, departing to learn the ways of the Force. The theme is hinted at in the funeral music of Qui-Gon, which is brought back in Episode III.
In Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the theme is heard as Anakin and Padmé depart incognito to Naboo. As Anakin stands looking out to the sunset of Tatooine, the theme returns as he decides to venture out to look for his mother, who he just learned had been kidnapped by Tusken Raiders.
In Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, the movie itself opens with the Force Theme being played along with the Battle of Coruscant backdrop as the camera follows Anakin and Obi-Wan in their starfighters. Due to his nightmares, Anakin tells Yoda of his preoccupations: the theme appears as Yoda tells him that "death is a natural part of life," although the theme is played with deep tones. The theme is once again heard during Obi-Wan's and Anakin's conversation before the Jedi Master departs to Utapau. In the piece Battle of the Heroes, the theme makes an appearance as Obi-Wan tries desperately to bring Anakin back to the light. The movie closes with this theme in a reprise of Binary Sunset.
In the film Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Force Theme is used to underscore the film's resolution. It is used in a similar fashion in several early episodes of the subsequent television series.
