In 1909, renowned English artist Arthur Rackham illustrated W. L. Courtney’s translation of Undine. The results are breathtaking, if unsurprising: Rackham was a master of his craft. The book contains 15 full color plates, and I’ve picked a few of my favorite to showcase here.
The sacrament is you.
TROS Incorrect Quotes 1/∞
Celebrity Couple AU: actress Rey Solo is asked about her husband Ben Solo and accidentally reveals too much - based on the tags by @galacticidiots
And oh so beautiful you are
In the light of the setting sun
𝖗𝖊𝖞𝖑𝖔 𝖒𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖊𝖛𝖆𝖑
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
“We are all stardust and stories.”
- The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
" You will have to be one and whole, for many years...you have so much to enjoy and to be, and to do "
Finally I've finished it! 😊
I had to take a break due to my loss...I'd like to thank you for your patience and for all the kind, supportive words ❤
( in memory of my beloved little one )
The Red String of Fate - Rey’s Force Vision
( So as I promised here’s my Episode IX re-make, part 1 💙) ( TROS does not exist, my epIX re-creation is not related to that garbage movie at all )
Rey goes for a walk in the forest, to find peace…to find answers within herself….Then suddenly she feels something in the Force…a figure of a small boy runs across the path in front of her. He feels somehow familiar…
As she watches the child, the trees begin to thin and transform into tall white pillars…
A tall figure appears in the distance, the little boy happily runs to him…the man holds out its arms, swinging the laughing child into the air..she could recognize “him” anywhere…Ben. And their child. Her family.
When she opened her teary eyes again…the force vision was gone.
She was alone with her thoughts again…but was she tho?