The time Star Wars was soundtracked by kazoo

The famous Fox fanfare blared from the speakers.

In the movie theater, an exclusive audience was patiently waiting to see a pre-release screening of Star Wars, the new sci-fi movie from George Lucas.

On screen the words that have become synonymous with adventure and excitement – ‘A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away’ – appeared.

At the same time, a single kazoo parped out the famous B major of the Star Wars theme.

The audience giggled, and a crestfallen George Lucas knew then that he would have to abandon his beloved kazoo soundtrack.

 “George comes from a long line of kazoo players,” said composer John Williams, the man who would go on to orchestrate the Star Wars theme.

“So, it was really important to him that this film, which meant so much to him, featured the sound of the kazoo, in tribute to all the kazoo-playing Lucases that had gone before him.”

A glance at the original script shows how integral the kazoo was to Lucas’s vision.

The scene in which Darth Vader and Ben Kenobi duel is marked with the words – ‘dramatic kazoo.’

When Luke finds his beloved Aunt and Uncle have been brutally killed he’s written – ‘long mournful kazoo, sotto.’

“It crushed him that we had to change it,” continued Williams.

“But the laughter in that test-screening told him all he needed to know.”

Initially, Lucas was reluctant to use the big orchestration.

“Oh, sure. He thought it was old fashioned. First of all we tried a fast-paced banjo and bluegrass soundtrack, it sounded fantastic in the space battles, particularly that final scene, but it was a little silly in the quieter moments.”

They also drafted in Curtis Mayfield to try a funk soundtrack, as had proved so successful with Superfly, a few years before. Greek musician Iasos tried a suitably out-there new age soundtrack. Even British proto-punks The Damned attempted a rock-based soundtrack.

“Ultimately, we agreed that the only way to go was with the orchestration,” said Williams.

“Initially, George was disappointed, but when I told him I’d put in a tribute to his family instrument, he warmed up to the whole concept no end.”

If you listen closely, you can hear that tribute, because the famous opening bars of the Star Wars fanfare, in amongst the magnificent orchestration, features the humble kazoo – George Lucas’s favourite instrument.