The leitmotif known as "Rey's Theme" was created by John Williams for the 2015 picture Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens and the music written for the film, in order to represent the character Rey, who is a central figure in the movie.
The main character of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, Rey, is musically represented by the leitmotif "Rey's Theme." John Williams wrote the music for the film and conducted it. Williams began writing the music after viewing the movie, and he experienced empathy for Rey because she is initially presented as being alone and without her family. He hoped the theme would express the empathy he felt for her. Williams wrote the theme using a musical language that was intended to be more of an adventure theme than a hero's theme, one that suggested more adventure and resolution were on the way.
"Rey's Theme" is a mysterious five-part composition led by strings and woodwinds, with a primary leitmotif of quickly changing notes played by various instruments, such as a solo flute. The theme's initial section consists of ten notes that are repeated before moving into a second section of seven notes. The 12-note main motif of "Rey's Theme" makes up the third section of the piece, while parts four and five bring the piece to a close by returning to the seven- and ten-note melodies.
The Dorian mode is used to write the main melody of Rey's theme. The period melodic structure is used. It has two four-measure phrases, known as the antecedent and consequent phases in period structure, and is eight measures long. The basic idea is restated with variations at the beginning of the consequent phrases, while the contrasting idea in the consequent phrases is completely new. John Williams never resolves the contrasting idea in the consequent phrases; instead, it is either cut off by a different melodic phrase, or he repeats it with a slight variation as if it were its own melody. Some melodic transcriptions refer to it as such, but it is clearly the melody's conclusion, drawn out and never resolved for tension. This design gives it a very obvious form, with a range of an octave and a minor sixth. The melody has a number of leaps, which gives it a more powerful sound. This melody first appears on the horn in terms of instrumentation before being picked up by the violins. On the flute, counter melodies based on the previously heard pentatonic pattern are performed.
"Rey's Theme" makes its debut in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens when Rey leaves a crashed Star Destroyer and travels quickly across the deserts of Jakku. It appears in a number of other pieces from the film, including "The Scavenger," when Rey is first introduced; "Farewell and The Trip," as Rey arrives on Ahch-To to find Luke Skywalker; and "The Jedi Steps and Finale," in the end credits. Later, the theme was featured in the teaser trailer for the movie Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi and is prominently featured in a few scenes involving the character on Ahch-To in the movie itself. The theme is heard once more in Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker in a number of scenes involving Rey.
"Rey's Theme" also appears in the video game LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars Battlefront II outside of the film. In addition, a cheerful version of the theme serves as the opening music for The Star Wars Show. The theme is featured in Rey episodes of the micro-series Star Wars Forces of Destiny. In Star Wars: Starfighter Missions, a version of the theme is played in the light side menu screens. The "The Force Theme" in the game also incorporates "Rey's Theme." In the light side menu screens of LEGO Star Wars Battles, a version of "Rey's Theme" is also accompanied by "The Force Theme."
SpaceX's Polaris Program, El Sistema music-education program, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital received "Rey's Theme" from John Williams as part of the "Harmony of Resilience" partnership. During the Polaris Dawn spaceflight in September 2024, astronaut Sarah Gillis performed the violin solo of "Rey's Theme" in Earth orbit while orchestras in Brazil, Haiti, Sweden, Uganda, Boston and Los Angeles in the United States, and Venezuela accompanied her.
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens soundtrack
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- Star Wars: The Last Jedi Official Teaser on StarWars.com (backup link)
- LEGO Star Wars Battles
- Droids of The Force Awakens Panel | Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Panel | Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- MadamTussauds Panel | Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)