Repeating Triads And Rey/Kylo Ren’s Force Themes

Repeating Triads and Rey/Kylo Ren’s Force Themes

I apologize that this meta turned into a thesis, but at the same time, I’m not sorry =)

If you aren’t familiar with how film scoring works, don’t worry, I am pretty much clueless too, but I have been doing some reading lately as it’s been super interesting to me, so now I have some thoughts to share. 

So, most often, when the score is composed, the editing has not been 100% finished, so it’s likely that music will either be removed if a scene is shortened, or will have to be added from somewhere else if it is lengthened. This avoids the need to rehire the musicians to come back in and play another recording session. 

As someone who has been shamelessly OBSESSED with this soundtrack (because it is truly amazing, and in my opinion one of John William’s most well-rounded and emotional scores ever) I tend to be acutely aware of when the background music of scenes in the actual movie break from the musical presentation on the soundtrack score.

One such interesting iteration was the doubled use of one specific triad, pulled from the track “Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle” but is also placed into the movie score when Rey drops the Falcon into a free fall on Jakku. 

This is the music I’m talking about

Now, I totally get why this music was doubled here. That high E natural brings an INCREDIBLE amount of tension, as it wants to resolve so badly to the f minor key it’s in, but never does. It’s perfect for a moment of, Oh my gosh let’s just drop the ship into free fall and hope we don’t die. 

“How did you do that?!” asks Finn. “I don’t know!” Rey exclaims. 

So, the instance where the music actually appears in line with the soundtrack is right after Rey fires the blaster for the first time and kills the Stormtrooper. Just check out the look on her face. She didn’t believe she had that in her; the shot accuracy, OR the ability to kill without hesitation. 

For someone who apparently has “a lot to learn” when it comes to firing a weapon, she shot to kill on her second attempt. She’s the quiet lonely girl from Jakku, and she can’t believe it was so easy for her to take a life.  I’m guessing she was just a little scared of herself at this moment.  But she doesn’t have time to sit around stewing about it, as she immediately begins firing again, taking another Stormtrooper’s life, fighting to stay alive herself. 

Now, I’d like to submit some other music for inspection. 

**Listen here**    This music is the theme we hear playing as Kylo Ren pursues Rey in the forest on Takodana, prior to carrying her back to his shuttle. 

**Listen here**    This music comes from the second half of Rey’s theme. 

Notice anything interesting about those long last notes in both? Yup. Same one. Both E naturals. They both REALLY want to pull in a specific direction and feel very unresolved just left there. Unsurprisingly, Rey’s is high and light-sounding, while Kylo’s is low and dark. 

We know that the music from “The Abduction” is not Kylo Ren’s given theme, but it is a motif that does belong specifically to him. Interestingly, this music appears for the very first time in the film upon finally meeting face to face with Rey, as he ignites his lightsaber and begins deflecting her shots. 

The excerpt from Rey’s theme is strewn throughout the entire movie, especially after she leaves Jakku, and it only gets stronger and more prominent, drowning out the first half of her theme by the end of the movie. 

Now, unless i am mistaken, which is quite possible, the motif above of Kylo’s ONLY seems to be heard when him and Rey are interacting face to face on screen. It is heard again after meeting Rey and Finn in the forest, and sounds during their battle while the famous “Force Theme” is heard when Rey summons the saber and again when she channels The Force. At that point, the “Force Theme” and Rey’s theme merge together to overpower Kylo’s themes, which are never heard again. 

Sooooooo. To me,  these motifs all seem to be “force centered”, as if that long high E natural is the tangible pull The Force has on both Rey and Kylo Ren. The repeating triad occurred both times that Rey did something that she didn’t even know she was capable of, like perhaps she was being influenced by something. In my own individual musical analysis, I have labeled the two themes above as Kylo Ren’s and Rey’s personal “force themes”, though again, that’s totally just me trying to piece it all together in my mind. 

After listening to all the themes alone, listen to how they all meld together amazingly in “The Ways of The Force”, the last track on the album where Kylo and Rey are seen together. Seriously, go listen to it. It’s an awesome musical journey in and of itself. 

TL;DR: The Force is sneaky, and really has awakened. John Williams is an amazing composer and portrays that concept phenomenally well. 

Find the rest of my musings here