On May 25, 1977 the original Star Wars premiered in theaters, and John Williams’ iconic score for the movie was instantly unforgettable. This week marks the 47th anniversary of Star Wars and Williams’ original music for the franchise. Lucasfilm recently asked Williams if Amandla Stenberg, the star of the upcoming Star Wars series, The Acolyte, could perform his Star Wars theme on her violin. As related in the video below, Williams not only said yes, he wrote a new solo arrangement of his theme specifically for Stenberg.
“I don’t think that you can love Star Wars without loving the Star Wars score,” said Stenberg. “John Williams has the ability to create music that feels huge in scope while still being emotive.”
Stenberg added that when she learned that Williams had made the new arrangement for her, she was “ecstatic… and terrified. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it’s something I’ll hold forever.”
As mentioned by Stenberg in the video, she has been playing the instrument since the third grade and the violin she used for this recording originally belonged to her grandfather. It’s unknown if Stenberg will have any opportunities on The Acolyte to show off her musical talent. Her character, Mae, is a former Padawan who has a serious grudge against the Jedi. Although Mae has only been shown in trailers wielding knives, we wouldn’t bet against her getting a red lightsaber from the Sith by the time the show is over.
The Acolyte will have a two-episode premiere on Disney+ on June 4.
