The Imperial March

This article is about the John Williams composition. For the musical work by Edward Elgar, see Imperial March (Elgar).
Further information: Music of Star Wars
"The Imperial March"
Single by John Williams
from the album The Empire Strikes Back
ReleasedApril 29, 1980
GenreFilm soundtrack
LabelRSO Records
Songwriter(s)John Williams
Audio sample
From The Empire Strikes Back (Finale)

"The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)"[1] is a musical theme present in the Star Wars franchise. It was composed by John Williams for the film The Empire Strikes Back. Together with "Yoda's Theme", "The Imperial March" was premiered on April 29, 1980, three weeks before the opening of the film, on the occasion of John Williams' first concert as official conductor-in-residence of the Boston Pops Orchestra.[2] One of the best known symphonic movie themes, it is used as a leitmotif throughout the Star Wars franchise.[3]

{\key g \minor \time 4/4 <bes d' g'> <bes d' g'> <bes d' g'> <ges bes ees'>8. bes'16 <bes d' g'>4 <ges bes ees'>8. bes'16 <bes d' g'>2 <g' bes' d''>4 <g' bes' d''>4 <g' bes' d''>4 <ges' bes' ees''>8. bes'16 <bes ees' ges'>4 <ges bes ees'>8. bes'16 <bes d' g'>2 }
  1. ^ Michael Matessino, booklet for original soundtrack recording for Empire Strikes Back, Special Edition, page 17. RCA ASIN B000003G8G. "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) is the now famous signature theme for Darth Vader."
  2. ^ Michael Matessino, booklet for original soundtrack recording for Empire Strikes Back, Special Edition, page 6. RCA ASIN B000003G8G.
  3. ^ Irena Paulus, "Williams versus Wagner or an Attempt at Linking Musical Epics Archived 2019-07-21 at the Wayback Machine" International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music 31 2 (2000): 153. "John Williams used leitmotifs in the genuine sense of the word. He has come very close to the practice of Wagner in the various procedures in which he varies and transforms his themes, and in using the idea of the thematic image (the arch-theme that is the unifying element of the musical material). However, the similarity of Williams's and Wagner's leitmotifs is greatest in the area of kinship of themes (a series of new themes or motifs derive from a single motif or theme) on the basis of which both of them create a web of mutually related leitmotifs. The closeness of the procedures of the two can also be found in the area of melody, rhythm, form, harmony, instrumentation, and even in the domain of the ratio of the old and the new in their music. The ultimate objective of Richard Wagner was to create the music drama, music for the stage based on the old roots of opera, in which all the musical elements were subordinated to the drama. The ultimate aim of John Williams was to take part in the creation of a film in which his music would serve to define the film's substance and help all the other elements of it to function property."