For the first 9 episodes (or films) of the Star Wars series, John Williams masterfully crafted the soundscape of the galaxy. But in 2019, something new happened. A Star Wars live action show on a new streaming platform, Disney Plus. And Ludvig Goransson was tasked to take up the mantle of creating the music for it.
I remember watching the first episode in New York City. I was there to sing at Carnegie Hall when the platform and show was released. From the first notes of……a wooden flute…..things were dramatically different. That wasn’t a soundscape that John Williams ever used. Throughout the series, Goransson has used very unique sounds, some that not usually used in orchestral scoring, and others that incorporate electric guitars, techno sounds, and all of it works beautifully together in my opinion!
I’ve been a little obsessed with all things Mandalorian for the past month, primarily because there is a movie that releases tomorrow. My wife and I were going to see it tonight, but having children and their crazy schedule made it impossible. So tomorrow it is! I’ve rewatched the show, I’ve listened to the soundtrack. Even since last Friday, I’ve been listening to the movie soundtrack. And the movie soundtrack doesn’t disappoint on a sonic level. In fact, it ups my excitement to put the story and visuals with it.
For Ludvig Goransson to incorporate unusual sounds and styles is nothing new for Star Wars. If you think back to the original movie (Episode 4), the music played in the Cantina (The Cantina Band theme) is a jazzy, big band feel. That’s a nod to Williams’ background as a jazz musician before he got into the film scoring world.
Goransson also continued in the world that John Williams created by creating leitmotifs, or themes, for each character. You have a theme for Din Djarin, the Mandalorian. You have a theme for Grogu (Baby Yoda). You have other repeating ideas that come back in, whether they’re musical or rhythmic themes. But the thing that Goranssen does is he doesn’t just stick with the same instrumentation. In season 2, the musical score titled “Come with Me” takes a bit of that Mandalorian theme and uses it with strings, instead of the wood flute. Things like that keep the listener on their toes. It would be like John Williams taking The Imperial March and scoring it for bagpipes. You’re expecting it to be one sound, but it takes you by surprise!
I love all of the music and the themes, but outside of the main themes, musically my favorite musical score is titled “Troopers”. It’s in the 2nd season when the Dark Troopers are activated. These guys are super warriors, all machine. And the music reflects a robotic type of sound, uses electronic, techno types of sounds, but there is one spot in the middle where the Mandalorian theme comes in on that wood flute. So there’s not only a clash on screen between the Dark Troopers and the Mandalorian, there’s a sonic clash as well. It’s wonderful.
I’d encourage you to watch the Disney Plus show, watch the movie, take it all in, if you haven’t yet. If you have, just go back and listen to the music. I think you’ll appreciate the amazing sounds you’ll hear!
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