What’s your Superpower?

Listen to Michael Giacchino’s music for the film ‘The Incredibles’ Can you pick out any repeating patterns from the music? The ‘riffs’ or ‘ostinato’ patterns that he uses really drive the music along. Film composers often use short melodic ideas or patterns of notes for different characters and places. These ideas are often referred to as leitmotifs. Here are two good examples for you to watch and listen to: Jaws: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV8i-pSVMaQ Jurassic Park – the Raptors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnRxQ3dcaQk The melodic motif at the start creates a heroic and dynamic effect. How does the composer achieve this? What other film music do you know that does this? Superman? Batman? Indiana Jones? Star Wars? Extension Task – Listen to the music from the James Bond films and Mission Impossible. What do all the pieces have in common? (Try to pick out five musical points if you can)

Then this one second. (Keep repeating it). Again count ‘1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2’ Try this ostinato first. (Keep repeating it) Try counting ‘1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2’ Now try to arrange your own piece: try to include a layered build-up to your music Finally learn these melodic motives. Extension Task: Use the notes F / Ab / C / B to compose a heroic motif of your own to fit with the two repeating patterns