The Duel from "The Empire Strikes Back"

The Duel from “The Empire Strikes Back” for 8 trombones and piano
Music by John Williams
arr. Karim Elmahmoudi
Fellow fans of John Williams music frequently ask me if I have a favorite cue that he’s written for Star Wars. It’s really hard for me to choose just one. There are so many great ones. But one of my all time favorites is “The Duel” from “The Empire Strikes Back.”
I saw Empire in the theater when it first premiered. I was 6 years old and it made quite the impression on me. It was the first Star Wars movie I had ever seen and I was instantly hooked on John Williams’ music. No surprise that I picked a brass instrument when it came time to do so a few years later in my school music program.
“The Duel” is an amazing 4 minute distillation of so much of what I love about the music of Star Wars. For years I’ve thought about arranging this climactic scene. Typically I don’t record other peoples arrangements as I enjoy doing my own versions but in this case, I made an exception.
Meet my friend Karim Elmahmoudi. He’s a wonderful composer, arranger and trombonist who reached out to me almost 3 years ago to connect about our mutual love of all things trombone, John Williams and especially Star Wars scores. He has sent me original compositions as well as arrangements over the years and I was his guest on an interview series he does. He’s a wonderful spirit and I look forward to the day when we can meet in person after this pandemic is in our collective rear view mirrors.
Well, last April, he reached out and very graciously asked if I could record the contra part on his new arrangement of “The Duel” which is scored for 2 alto trombones, 4 tenor trombones, 1 bass trombone, 1 contrabass trombone and piano. He said he knew how busy I am and it was a tall ask. It was like he “felt a great need in the Force” as I had literally been just revisiting the idea of an arrangement of this cue when I got his email. I said to Karim, “This arrangement looks great! I think I want to do the whole thing myself! Problem is you’re gonna have to be patient. I’ve got a ton of other initiatives and projects that I need to do first but I WILL get to this. And I’ll add some SuperNova touches to the arrangement… sound good?”
So here it finally is! Karim and I both really have a powerful connection and reaction to this cue. It’s got so much in it but the most powerful moment is the Han and Leia theme that happens after the fugue section at the 2:39 mark. I’m actually getting goose bumps just typing this… you’ll hear what I mean.
Some how this cue captures a lot of what I’ve been feeling during the pandemic: feeling of fighting a seemingly insurmountable foe, the underlying terror of this battle, feeling of mutual struggle by my friends and family, final break through, escape and triumph… all in 4 minutes!
Last but certainly not least, I wanna give a huge thanks to Constanze Hochwartner for tackling the piano part on this arrangement. It is such a great color adding the piano to my NovaDub trombone choir sound and she sounds absolutely terrific.
I will be making a video of this so look for that in the coming weeks but I just couldn’t wait to share the recording!
Enjoy!!

[@tubatootingraham8123]

When the chords hit 😮‍💨 👌

[@jacobruiz97]

You know you’re godly when you’re able to get awkward-position unison notes with the alto perfectly in tune.

[@JimSuperNova]

😂

[@Bigred27789]

Wow. Seriously did this justice.

[@JimSuperNova]

Thanks!

[@tromboneman4517]

This is seriously epic.

[@JimSuperNova]

Thanks!

[@4Tbone]

This was just as fun to watch as it was to listen to. The performance was just "out of this world".

[@JimSuperNova]

Thanks so much!

[@louloutrombone]

Magnifique8

[@StephenOBent]

Fantastic arrangement and performance. This is soooo good.

[@JimSuperNova]

Many thanks!

[@mattethier2962]

The video editing has got my Oscar vote!

[@JimSuperNova]

Thanks my young Padawan!

[@pieterboelen2862]

That's some REALLY impressive work right there! I couldn't even begin to *dream* of doing something like that. I love how you take your fandom of John Williams and turn it into something constructive and creative. :-D

[@JimSuperNova]

Thank you very much!

[@jacobruiz97]

Wow! And I thought Christopher Bill was the undisputed king of multitracks. I was wrong!

[@JimSuperNova]

Thanks! Chris is pretty awesome too. But thanks for your kind words.

[@Mrjosh1138]

one of my favorite cues! I especially love the fugue-fanfare section at 2:39​

[@JimSuperNova]

Me too!

[@karimelmahmoudi7324]

Me three!

[@studerje]

Great stuff!

[@JimSuperNova]

Thanks!

[@srworkman22]

May the 4th be with you...

[@hymnbonist1335]

Don't you mean the dark "slide"?

[@JimSuperNova]

😈

[@taylorjones2705]

What, are you some kind of nerd?

[@JimSuperNova]

Who's the bigger nerd... the nerd or the nerd who follows him?