Film Music

1. Film Music The soul of the film

2. Film Score Terminology • Compilation Score • A musical score cobbled together primarily from pre-existing music, usually classical.

3. Film Score Terminology • Mickey - mousing • A technique made famous in scoring for animated cartoons. Here the music compliments and imitates specific physical actions in the film • Example: a character crashes into a brick wall at the exact moment symbols crash, or rhythm that exactly mimics the walking of a character down a dark hallway.

4. Film Score Terminology • Nondiagetic music • Music that is not actually heard by the characters in the film, but only by the audience to enhance the story telling elements of the film • Most movie music falls into this category.

5. Film Score Terminology • Leitmotif • A recurring melody or theme that is associated with a specific character, object, situation, idea or relationship. • These are often changed by tempo to reflect the character’s mood. • Example: Darth Vader’s theme in Star Wars

6. Film Score Terminology • Diagetic music • Music that is present in and part of the film itself rather than mere accompaniment. • It is heard by the characters as well as the audience. • Example: Character walks into a dance club with loud techno music.

7. More terms • Cue • Music composed for a specific scene, like the shower scene in Psycho.

8. Evoking the mood • Love, passion and emotion: • Often done with orchestral string instruments • Violins are most often used • Intimacy is implied by reducing the number of instruments • Very emotionally intense scenes use full orchestra • Jazz or blues melodies are often associated with a promiscuous character

9. Evoking the mood • TRIUMPH! • Brass instruments are often used with string to present a feeling of achievement or honor and glory • Primary modality is the battle field and victory parade • Festivity can be evoked by marches regal rhythms and bright melodies

10. Spiritual and reflective • Spirituality and reflection • One of the best ways to evoke a sense of spirituality it the use of choral voice • Usually in higher pitches

11. Spiritual and reflective • Spirituality and reflection • The same effect can be imposed but with a sense of awe and power using choral voice. • Usually in lower pitches

12. Evoking the mood • Suspense • Tension can be created by creating insistent repetitive patterns • Dissonant chords evoke anxiety • Frenetic rhythms and fast tempos create anxiety • Low pitch tones held for long time periods can produce suspense • Low pitch tones are menacing in general

13. Other types of Scores • Compilation score • Combination of classical type scores • Pop song score • Two guesses what that means • Newly composed score • Any score that is completely original and devoid of any prior theatrical or classical score

14. Other types of music • Period music • Music that reminds the audience of a specific time period. • Narrative music • A song where the lyrics tell the story of what is happening in the video. • Character music • Music that denotes the attitudes or personality of a character.

15. Use of music • What social morays does the music play upon? • Does the music denote ethnicity? • What emotional enhancement does the music offer? • Is there agreement between the visual and aural elements of the film? • Does the music communicate?