there’s still at least 4 new memorable themes that come to my mind: Kylo Ren/First Order, Rey, Resistance March, and Jedi Steps, all of which I really enjoy.
And that’s just as many memorable themes as I can list from from Empire: Imperial march, asteroid field, battle of Hoth, Yoda. And apart from the Emperor’s theme, what memorable music is in Jedi (and don’t say Jedi rocks 😉), what have the prequels other than duel of the fates, the trade federation march, love across the stars and battle of heroes?
THIS.
First time I saw the movie no major themes jumped at me, that’s true, but after listening to the score just 2 or three times and watching the movie a second time, everything is revealed to my hears. Kylo Ren/First Order, Rey, Resistance March, and Jedi Steps ARE the major themes indeed, and very good ones (although the resistance march is weaker compared to the Imperial march, of course, and even the Trade Federation march).
Anyway, Star Wars always have the majority of the music that just follows the action superbly without stealing the show AND some major themes that pops at key moments. I don’t think TFA is any different. It’s just that I think Williams was told to use some old themes from the OT more than in the PT. And rightfully so. TFA is an “homage deluxe” to the OT, so there are cool new themes, but they indeed are diluted in all the great themes we already know. Even the superb Jedi Steps at the very end can’t resist of being followed directly by the Force theme. It’s not fair for Jedi Steps. But it does not means this new music is not splendid.