Ashley Hangan

 
Comparisons:
Scotland the Brave and Star Wars

 

 

 

 

 

Comparison



The main theme to Star Wars and the National Anthem to Scotland has one big difference which is instrumentation. Scotland the Brave uses one instrument with a drone, to provide a fuller sound, and continues to carry on the tune by itself. While on the other hand, Star Wars is brought with a full symphonic orchestra, using each and every instrument to provide to the sound and create a feel for the piece. But if seen more closely there are similarities in the melodies, style, meter, and form. Both pieces share a similarity in which they are both turn of the 20th century pieces. Also they both shadow tales of their origin. Star Wars tells the story of the movie and Scotland the Brave represents Scotland and her people. They have the same feel to them; a march like beat and rhythm that carries throughout both of the tunes and gives them a militaristic aura. Though both have different aspects of the march-like feel, Scotland, using the grace notes, and Star Wars, using the brass, it all comes together to sound very accurate and precise. Both being in a 4/4 time signature, they follow the same pattern with a melody at A, switching to B, back to a melody, but moving forward to C and finishing with D. Their melodies repeat many times in the same pattern, ending with a big finish of a fanfare and the low-toned drone.