The Acolyte composer discusses scoring the High Republic series

Whatever the public view of the recently-concluded Star Wars series The Acolyte, there is no denying that the soundtrack is one to revisit and reconsider. Whether comparing the witches' chants at the Ascension to echoes that accompany Mae's return to the Brendok fortress or wondering why we heard Kylo Ren's theme on multiple occasions, there is a lot to unpack.

The composer to thank for this thought-provoking music is Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Abels. That prize was awarded for his opera Omar, but his work on Us won several awards, and two of his scores have been short-listed for the Academy Awards. Fans following his work in Get Out can hear echoes of the otherworldly and sinister in "Helmet Visions" and "I've Accepted My Darkness" that would not be out of place in the Sunken Palace. There are citations of strings-based tension from Us in "The Acolyte/Homage to a Master."

In an interview on Starwars.com called "Scoring the Acolyte: Composing for the Jedi, the Witches, and the Many Moods of the Stranger," Abels described the creative process:

"Star Wars is an incredible franchise that I've grown up with and, as a composer, an opportunity to participate in that universe is a huge honor... [Creator Leslye Headland is] really clear about her vision of the story and all of the character's journeys. She's able to talk about that with extreme alacrity. And it just really makes me thrilled to help tell the story."

- Michael Abels

Abels went on to describe the importance of the music feeling "as innovative as the story is... and also... very familiar because it is part of the Star Wars world." He highlighted what he called "the profound loss theme" introduced with Master Indara's death but ties that to other losses in the series. A significant motif is one of intention as he describes how perspectives pay into the musical tone:

"The music is designed to show the Jedi from the perspective of the characters that they encounter...When you see the Jedi on Coruscant, the music is very traditional. But when we see them going into the courtyard on Brendok, they're not welcome... It's important that the audience understand why the coven would not think of the Jedi as good people, so the music's meditative, but it's an uncomfortable meditation... When Osha encounters Sol for the first time, and he holds the promise of her doing something that she considers noble, we hear a very noble theme that depicts her aspiration to become a Jedi."

- Michael Abels

Answering a common speculation, he referenced the "nod to Kylo Ren's theme interlaced with one moment interlaced with one moment" by comparing Qimir's mystery:

"My musical approach to Manny's character was always based on what do we know about him in this moment, and how do we feel about him in this moment? ...The music doesn't try to foreshadow or connect that at all. I When The Stranger is revealed, I think we're surprised but still horrified."

- Michael Abels

The Star Wars: The Acolyte original soundtrack can be found streaming, but it is worth listening to alone or appreciating in the episodes where it enriches the storytelling.