David Cripps, the legendary British horn player, passed away last week following a battle with cancer.
Cripps served as principal horn of the London Symphony Orchestra between 1974 and 1983. During that time, he performed and recorded under such conductors as André Previn and Claudio Abbado. Perhaps he will be remembered most for his original soundtrack performances of Princess Leia‘s Theme, and other horn solos throughout John Williams’ iconic film scores for Star Wars and Superman, recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Princess Leia’s Theme from Star Wars
Cripps recalled the LSO session in 1977 when Princess Leia’s Theme, introduced by the plaintive, nostalgic voice of the horn, was recorded. It came at the end of a long, grueling day. To the musicians’ dismay, John Williams returned after a break, and requested a session of overtime. He assured the orchestra’s brass players, physically exhausted after playing hours of taxing action music, that the excerpt was gentle. Then, Williams turned to Cripps and said, “David, I’ve written a little horn solo for you. I hope you enjoy it!” Filled with quiet, majestic heroism, and venturing ever higher in cautious, tentative steps, the theme gives us a feeling of the character. In terms of atmosphere, the horn solo, enveloped in lush and shimmering strings, inhabits a world similar to that of American composer Howard Hanson’s Second Symphony. The horn call, heard as a signal during the hunt and on the battlefield, is infused with ancient connotations of adventure and heroism.
The Binary Sunset Theme from Star Wars: Episode IV -A New Hope
Throughout the Star Wars scores, John Williams employed the leitmotif technique found in many of Wagner’s operas. As with the Princess Leia Theme, these melodies and motifs represent characters and ideas. Heard in all of the Star Wars films, the Binary Sunset Theme represents The Force. The theme is introduced by the horn, beginning at 2:20 in the clip below:
Han Solo and the Princess from The Empire Strikes Back
The horn, played by David Cripps, introduces the love theme of Han Solo and Princess Leia in The Empire Strikes Back:
The Flying Sequence from Superman
Famously, John Williams’ love theme for the 1978 film, Superman, pays homage to the “transfiguration” motif from Richard Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration. In the Flying Sequence, the theme evokes a visceral sense of upward lift, and is heard against a backdrop of glittering tonal colors, reflecting the lights of the city, and adventurous soaring lines in the horns. The sequence concludes with the solo horn intoning the perfect fifth motif which opens the Superman March.
Thank you so much for your wonderful tributes to David, whom I was married to for 25 years, and are parents to three of his four daughters. It was a blessing that he could attend our youngest’s wedding at end of April, considering how ill he was. It is a great comfort to our daughters and his grandchildren that they have these recordings/videos to play/look back on, with special thanks to you.
It was really a great pleasure to listen to this music with new ears, and to showcase the musician who created the iconic sound of these scores. Best wishes, Tim Judd