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Duel of the Fates (commonly known as the Darth Maul theme) is a musical theme recurring in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the Expanded Universe. It was composed by John Williams. This symphonic piece is played with both a full orchestra, as well as choir.

Lyrics of Duel of the Fates

Origin of Duel of the Fates Lyrics

According to John Williams in his interview to the Star Wars Insider, the inspiration for the theme of Duel of the Fates was an old Celtic poem called ‘CAD GODDEU - The Battle of the Trees’. From the nine words used in the Sanskrit version it is evident that the entire poem has not been translated. The actual poem spans many pages, but it has been speculated that a general meaning might be ‘All the dread is mainly in the head’. This, to a certain extent, matches a line of the original poem, which says "Under the tongue root a fight most dread, and another raging, behind, in the head." Williams said in an interview that the song itself had no particular meaning, and was intended to simply sound dramatic, with the lyrics helping attain the desired effect.

Appearances

Star Wars films

The music had its debut during the final lightsaber duel between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (although Williams conducted Duel of the Fates to appear as a concert suite in the End Credits, rather than the film). For Episode I, John Williams recorded a choirless version of Duel of the Fates, then recorded the choir performing on its own, then layered the vocals over the choirless recordings.

In addition to The Phantom Menace, part of it was also played in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, as Anakin Skywalker searched for his mother, Shmi Skywalker, who had been kidnapped by Tusken Raiders on his home planet, Tatooine.

The piece Battle of the Heroes that was played in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, during the battle sequence between the Jedi Master, Yoda, and Emperor Palpatine, the Dark Lord of the Sith, in the senate chamber on Coruscant, and the simultaneous battle between Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar, was inspired by Duel of the Fates but rewriten in a tragedy style. Lucas had expressed in a documentary of The Phantom Menace that he wanted to use Duel of the Fates in his Part III liking how it portrayed the feeling of the doom of the dark side. But he decided not to use it mainly because it did not match the tragedy feeling of Darth Vader and Obi-Wan fighting. However, Duel of the Fates does make an appearance during the Yoda/Darth Sidious fight scene. For this instance, John Williams re-recorded the choir and layered it over the vocal-less recording from Episode I.

Expanded Universe

It also plays during Anakin's final battle with the Dark Reaper in the Clone Wars videogame, in the Darth Maul level of Lego Star Wars, in the final battle in the Revenge of the Sith video game, and a small section of the music is occasionally played in the videogame Star Wars: Empire at War. It also appears in Star Wars Battlefront II when playing as Maul (albeit without vocalizing), or while playing as Yoda (with full choral accompaniment). In Chapter 19 of the Clone Wars microseries, a part of it plays when Anakin grabs hold of Asajj Ventress' wrist and snaps it. This song is also played on the title screen of video games Star Wars: Battle for Naboo and Star Wars Episode I: Racer. Other appearances of the song include the final level of the video game Star Wars: Starfighter and a non-vocal version in the final level of the sequel game Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter. And in the online game Star Wars Galaxies: Trials of Obi Wan during the fight against Lord Vartonis at the end of the Fate of the Galaxy quest.

"Duel of the Fates" is unusual among recurring themes in the Star Wars scores because it does not represent a specific character, location, or group.

In other media

• The music is used in during the allergen-stick battle between Bart Simpson and Seymour Skinner in The Simpsons episode "Please Homer, Don't Hammer 'Em".
• In Top Gear series 9 episode 2, when James May is driving the Bugatti Veyron in order to reach its top speed, Duel of the Fates is played.
• In Any Dream Will Do, the music is regularly played in intense scenes usually at the start of the programmes.
• The theme was played in the Cancelled Core Design Tomb Raider: Anniversary trailer.
• With the music video for this theme, the London Symphony Orchestra became the only classical group to ever have a video debut on Total Request Live. "Duel of the Fates" lasted 11 days on the countdown.
• In 2005 it was arranged and recorded for pipe organ by Josh Perschbacher.
• In 2003 it was used as the theme music for the PBS Broadcast of the Drum Corps International World Championship.
• Duel of the Fates is played through the tannoy system at Tottenham Hotspurs homeground, White Hart Lane, before every game.
• The theme is in "Soulcalibur IV" whenever The Apprentice fights within either of the games' two Star Wars-themed stages, as well as during his extended ending.

See also

• The Imperial March
• Battle of the Heroes
• Immediate Music