Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Kevin Kiner
" The Force is strong with this one, but not as a Star Wars score. "Written by William Bard - Review of the regular release
After over three years of no new Star Wars films to hit cinemas, enter Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm's first animated feature film, with a storyline set in-between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, in the turbulent and tumultuous time period known to fans everywhere as the Clone Wars. With the new film (and animated television series) comes not John Williams, as fans have grown accustomed to, but Kevin Kiner, a primarily television composer who has not yet made his big leap into fame and publicity (though perhaps The Clone Wars will change that).
Just as this film is different from the six live action films, its score is also notably different, with the inclusion of non-orchestral instruments, in addition to the standard orchestra. What results from this non-Williams-like mix is a unique sound, varying greatly from the traditional Williams style in some cues, yet retaining the original Star Wars sound in others.
Beginning with the stunning "Star Wars Main Title / A Galaxy Divided", the score to The Clone Wars is an action-packed journey through the Star Wars galaxy. "Admiral Yularen" is one track in particular that showcases the old Williams sound, with a motif that sounds like a variation on The Empire Strikes Back's "Lando's Palace", and ending with a very, very Star Wars-like rising string section (from A New Hope's "Mos Eisley Spaceport", if I'm not mistaken). Another track well worth mentioning is "Battle of Christophsis", a war-like track, filled with low choir chants, sweeping strings, and battle cry horn calls. Excellent in all aspects, this one is.
Kiner's own, distinguished voice (mostly with guitars and electronics) begins to become excessively noticeable with each progressing track, rarely drawing from Williams' material as a musical base to work off of, and therefore making this as a Star Wars score fairly weak. The few times Kiner actually does seem to draw from Williams seem to be almost completely at random, and I'm curious to find out why he chose to use what themes and passages he did. The main Star Wars theme is present only in the first and last tracks, and even then, is not even played as Williams originally wrote it, but rather with a slightly different rhythm and a new percussion backdrop, giving the classic theme a much more modern, edgy sound. Good, or bad? Well, that depends all on taste, I suppose. But for Williams purists, this change will offset many, as will the lack of Williams motifs. You would have thought that Kiner would have at least used the theme from "Across the Stars", or maybe the battle theme from "Love Pledge and the Arena", but it seems like he had another idea.
As a fan of the Williams Star Wars scores, you know something's wrong when you don't hear a single recognizable motif until "Fight to the End", which includes a slowed variation on the "Imperial March" theme, as well as a trumpet solo and string ending of the Force Theme. This then leads into the credits music, which of course is Kiner's butchered version of the main theme. Now, don't get me wrong, the Kiner version is pretty darn cool, but I still don't feel that this is the best we could have gotten. A good approach? On George Lucas' part, no, I would say. It was he who asked Kiner to write like this, in the first place. If Kiner had been allowed to go his own way with scoring the film, who knows what we would have gotten?
Star Wars has been characterized for the past thirty years by the style and music of John Williams. I know some have wanted The Clone Wars to move on into a more modern style of music, and I must say, I was one of those people. But this does not sound like a Star Wars score. With tracks of strange, Middle-Eastern/Asian-like ethnicity ("Jabba's Palace", "Landing On Teth", "Battle of Teth", "B'omarr Monastary", "Jabba's Chamber Dance", "Dooku Speaks With Jabba"), rocky guitars ("Obi-Wan to the Rescue", "Battle of Teth", "Courtyard Fight"), and even some Earthly, in-universe source music ("Ziro's Nightclub Band", "Seedy City Swing"), this score ventures so far away from John Williams' blueprint, it is difficult to believe that this score has anything to do with Star Wars.
With all that aside, this is a good score, and does have a lot to offer. Kiner has successfully created a couple new themes for Anakin and Ahsoka (not sure yet if there are others), and believe it or not, some of his scoring is pretty good, and there's even a bit that sounds like a Star Wars score (maybe because it is from a previous Star Wars score)! But listening to a score is a journey, and when going on a journey through familiar, thirty year old territory, it is not necessarily unexpected to travel and end with the same or at least a similar experience. Or at least, it shouldn't be. Kiner has talent, and talent has a future. Don't get me wrong , this is a nice score. I thoroughly enjoy it, and will not anytime soon stop listening to it. The score is an interesting blend of styles, and you're almost certain to find something in here that sounds good to you. The City of Prague Philharmonic sound great, better than usual, and sound quality is good, as well. But it looks like George Lucas needs to get back in touch with exactly what makes Star Wars... Star Wars.
Tracklisting
1. Star Wars Main Title / A Galaxy Divided * (1.13)
2. Admiral Yularen (0.56)
3. Battle of Christophsis (3.19)
4. Meet Ahsoka (2.44)
5. Obi-Wan to the Rescue (1.24)
6. Sneaking Under the Shield (4.24)
7. Jabba's Palace (0.45)
8. Anakin Vs. Dooku (2.18)
9. Landing on Teth (1.43)
10. Destroying the Shield (3.08)
11. B'omarr Monastery (0.10)
12. General Loathsom / Battle Strategy (3.07)
13. The Shield (1.36)
14. Battle of Teth (2.45)
15. Jedi Don't Run! (1.22)
16. Obi-Wan's Negotiation (2.07)
17. The Jedi Council (2.04)
18. General Loathsom / Ahsoka (3.39)
19. Jabba's Chamber Dance (0.42)
20. Ziro Surrounded (2.20)
21. Scaling the Cliff (0.45)
22. Ziro's Nightclub Band (0.53)
23. Seedy City Swing (0.34)
24. Escape from the Monastery (3.12)
25. Infiltrating Ziro's Lair (2.24)
26. Courtyard Fight (2.41)
27. Dunes of Tatooine (2.00)
28. Rough Landing (3.03)
29. Padmé Imprisoned (0.50)
30. Dooku Speaks With Jabba (1.28)
31. Fight to the End ** (3.59)
32. End Credits * (0.51)
* Contains "Star Wars" Theme by John Williams
** Contains "The Force" Theme by John Williams
Total Length: 67.26
Just as this film is different from the six live action films, its score is also notably different, with the inclusion of non-orchestral instruments, in addition to the standard orchestra. What results from this non-Williams-like mix is a unique sound, varying greatly from the traditional Williams style in some cues, yet retaining the original Star Wars sound in others.
Beginning with the stunning "Star Wars Main Title / A Galaxy Divided", the score to The Clone Wars is an action-packed journey through the Star Wars galaxy. "Admiral Yularen" is one track in particular that showcases the old Williams sound, with a motif that sounds like a variation on The Empire Strikes Back's "Lando's Palace", and ending with a very, very Star Wars-like rising string section (from A New Hope's "Mos Eisley Spaceport", if I'm not mistaken). Another track well worth mentioning is "Battle of Christophsis", a war-like track, filled with low choir chants, sweeping strings, and battle cry horn calls. Excellent in all aspects, this one is.
Kiner's own, distinguished voice (mostly with guitars and electronics) begins to become excessively noticeable with each progressing track, rarely drawing from Williams' material as a musical base to work off of, and therefore making this as a Star Wars score fairly weak. The few times Kiner actually does seem to draw from Williams seem to be almost completely at random, and I'm curious to find out why he chose to use what themes and passages he did. The main Star Wars theme is present only in the first and last tracks, and even then, is not even played as Williams originally wrote it, but rather with a slightly different rhythm and a new percussion backdrop, giving the classic theme a much more modern, edgy sound. Good, or bad? Well, that depends all on taste, I suppose. But for Williams purists, this change will offset many, as will the lack of Williams motifs. You would have thought that Kiner would have at least used the theme from "Across the Stars", or maybe the battle theme from "Love Pledge and the Arena", but it seems like he had another idea.
As a fan of the Williams Star Wars scores, you know something's wrong when you don't hear a single recognizable motif until "Fight to the End", which includes a slowed variation on the "Imperial March" theme, as well as a trumpet solo and string ending of the Force Theme. This then leads into the credits music, which of course is Kiner's butchered version of the main theme. Now, don't get me wrong, the Kiner version is pretty darn cool, but I still don't feel that this is the best we could have gotten. A good approach? On George Lucas' part, no, I would say. It was he who asked Kiner to write like this, in the first place. If Kiner had been allowed to go his own way with scoring the film, who knows what we would have gotten?
Star Wars has been characterized for the past thirty years by the style and music of John Williams. I know some have wanted The Clone Wars to move on into a more modern style of music, and I must say, I was one of those people. But this does not sound like a Star Wars score. With tracks of strange, Middle-Eastern/Asian-like ethnicity ("Jabba's Palace", "Landing On Teth", "Battle of Teth", "B'omarr Monastary", "Jabba's Chamber Dance", "Dooku Speaks With Jabba"), rocky guitars ("Obi-Wan to the Rescue", "Battle of Teth", "Courtyard Fight"), and even some Earthly, in-universe source music ("Ziro's Nightclub Band", "Seedy City Swing"), this score ventures so far away from John Williams' blueprint, it is difficult to believe that this score has anything to do with Star Wars.
With all that aside, this is a good score, and does have a lot to offer. Kiner has successfully created a couple new themes for Anakin and Ahsoka (not sure yet if there are others), and believe it or not, some of his scoring is pretty good, and there's even a bit that sounds like a Star Wars score (maybe because it is from a previous Star Wars score)! But listening to a score is a journey, and when going on a journey through familiar, thirty year old territory, it is not necessarily unexpected to travel and end with the same or at least a similar experience. Or at least, it shouldn't be. Kiner has talent, and talent has a future. Don't get me wrong , this is a nice score. I thoroughly enjoy it, and will not anytime soon stop listening to it. The score is an interesting blend of styles, and you're almost certain to find something in here that sounds good to you. The City of Prague Philharmonic sound great, better than usual, and sound quality is good, as well. But it looks like George Lucas needs to get back in touch with exactly what makes Star Wars... Star Wars.
Tracklisting
1. Star Wars Main Title / A Galaxy Divided * (1.13)
2. Admiral Yularen (0.56)
3. Battle of Christophsis (3.19)
4. Meet Ahsoka (2.44)
5. Obi-Wan to the Rescue (1.24)
6. Sneaking Under the Shield (4.24)
7. Jabba's Palace (0.45)
8. Anakin Vs. Dooku (2.18)
9. Landing on Teth (1.43)
10. Destroying the Shield (3.08)
11. B'omarr Monastery (0.10)
12. General Loathsom / Battle Strategy (3.07)
13. The Shield (1.36)
14. Battle of Teth (2.45)
15. Jedi Don't Run! (1.22)
16. Obi-Wan's Negotiation (2.07)
17. The Jedi Council (2.04)
18. General Loathsom / Ahsoka (3.39)
19. Jabba's Chamber Dance (0.42)
20. Ziro Surrounded (2.20)
21. Scaling the Cliff (0.45)
22. Ziro's Nightclub Band (0.53)
23. Seedy City Swing (0.34)
24. Escape from the Monastery (3.12)
25. Infiltrating Ziro's Lair (2.24)
26. Courtyard Fight (2.41)
27. Dunes of Tatooine (2.00)
28. Rough Landing (3.03)
29. Padmé Imprisoned (0.50)
30. Dooku Speaks With Jabba (1.28)
31. Fight to the End ** (3.59)
32. End Credits * (0.51)
* Contains "Star Wars" Theme by John Williams
** Contains "The Force" Theme by John Williams
Total Length: 67.26