Film Music

Exploring music and the role it plays in Film.

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Lights, Camera,
Music

​Music for Film

The music in a film is known as the film score.
Each Piece of music within the score is known as a cue.

Film music can be divided into 2 categories:
1. Music contained within the action,
and
2. Background music.

Music that plays typically during scenes containing action or drama, usually serving to heighten the emotions of the scene.

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Music within the Action

Often referred to as underscoring. It adds to the mood of the scene, reinforcing dramatic developments and aspects of a character.

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Background Music

Open Ended

List 3 reasons why music would be used in film.

Open Ended

When might music not be used in a movie scene?

​Functions of music in film:

1. Create a sense of time and place.

2. Convey/describe a character and ideas.

3. Create a mood or atmosphere.

4. Express emotions.

Movie: JAWS

Here is a scene from JAWS, first without music, and then with the music John Williams composed for the scene.

​The importance of John Williams

Open Ended

Describe how the music added to the scene.

Open Ended

Select a moment from the scene you watched and

describe the musical elements (Melody/Harmony/Rhythm/Etc.)

John Williams used for his score in the JAWS scene.

ET: Goodbye scene
without music

ET: Goodbye scene
with music

Open Ended

Describe the musical elements (Melody/Harmony/Rhythm/Etc.)

John Williams used for his score in the ET scene.

Star Wars: Throne room scene without music

Star Wars: Throne room scene without music

Open Ended

Describe the musical elements (Melody/Harmony/Rhythm/Etc.)

John Williams used for his score in the throne room scene.

​Composing Film Music

• Film music must be understood immediately, so there is no time to develop long themes.

• It rarely uses conventional compositional forms such as the Ternary (ABA) or Rondo (ABABCB), etc.

• Film muisc is composed to accompany the action on screen and often uses quick and abrupt changes of:

  • tempo

  • harmony

  • melody

  • dynamics

  • rapid shifts from one musical idea to the next

​Composing Film Music (continued)

• Film composers often use leitmotifs (motifs) to represent a recurring musical idea.

• The motif could represent:

  • a particular idea

  • character

  • location

Open Ended

Write an axample of a motif from film and what it represents.

Example: "The Imperial March" - represents Darth Vader and the Empire.

Mickey-Mousing - Composition Technique

• Mickey-Mousing is where the physical action that takes place on screen has an accompanying music sound to help reinfore that action. It is used in cartoons and live action films.

• The music is time to (or in sync) with the visuals.

  • Example: cartoon character falls off a cliff to the sound of a slide whistle and the crash of a cymbal when the hit the ground.

• Mickey-Mousing is often used in comedy films.

• In film scoring, the orchestration (or choice of instruments) and instrumentation (how instruments are used) can be important for helping to elicit certain emotions or visuals.

• Instrumental color can suggest images:

  • Bagpipe evoking Scotland or muted brass for something sinister.

Classwork - Film Score Analysis

Directions
1. Select a movie you enjoy that is known for its orchestral score.
- DO NOT select something based on licensed songs
2. Search the full score on a streaming site of your choice (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. and select one song to listen to from the album fully.
3. Search the composer of the score and identify their methods of composition.
4. Without watching the scene where the music appears from in the movie, write a response that describes the musical elements of the score and identify any leitmotifs/themes present throughout. Make a connection between the composers personal style of composition and their approach to creating the music for the scene.