Music in Film Chapter 16

What you will learn Describe the origins and development of music in the art of film Identify three ways in which music enhances the dramatic action in a film Explain how music gives continuity to a film Describe the process that is used to match music and sound to film

Vocabulary Scoring Soundtrack Character themes Empathy Foreshadow Cue Music director Spot Click-track Mag track Dubbing

The History of Film The birth of filmmaking The beginnings Thomas Alva Edison is credited with developing movie Kinetoscope invented in 1899 is the forerunner to the present day movie camera The birth of filmmaking Early movies had little plot Focus was on the technology Later films told stories Voyage to the Moon (1902) The Great Train Robbery (1903)

Music in Silent Films Early movies were accompanied by live improvised music and sound effects Performers had to watch the screen and make the music match the action 1924 - Enro Rapee, a composer of silent film scores, published Motion Picture Moods for Pianists and Organists Birth of a Nation (1915) by D.W. Griffith was the first film to use a live orchestra as accompaniment Soon the symphony replaced the piano By the 1920’s the orchestra grew to nearly 100 musicians Scoring: Composing music expressly for a film

Activity 1, p. 364 CD 10:11 Hurry No. 2 What makes this music appropriate for a firefighting scene? What evidence can be seen in the music that creates the sense of urgency the composer intends? What other film scenes could this music accompany?

The “Talkies” Edison and others worked to synchronize sound with action The Jazz Singer (1927) – first talking film, featuring Al Jolson The Vitaphone solved the problem of synchronization but was difficult to run Soundtrack: Perforated strip along the film’s edge containing coded representations of the sound

Music in Modern Film Musical film – musical is central to the story Saturday Night Fever (1977) The story of aspiring disco dancers Songs were original disco tunes and many went on to become hits Amadeus (1984) Tells of the rivalry between Salieri and Mozart Features classical works as part of the plot and action Music establishes clearly the feeling of what the story is about Activity 2, p. 366 CD 10:12-14

Music Enhances Drama How music enhances film drama Ennio Morricone Music Enhances Drama John Williams How music enhances film drama Establishing character Character themes: Melodies associated with a particular character that recur throughout the film The Untouchables – has a sinister underworld theme of Al Capone by composer Ennio Morricone The music usually exhibits a style or melody form that overtly suggests traits of the character in question Superman (1978) John Williams – Superman’s theme is majestic The Red Violin (1998) John Corigliano “Anna’s Theme” played by Joshua Bell John Corigliano

Activity 3, p. 368 CD 10:15 & 16 “Superman Theme” – John Williams “Anna’s Theme” – John Corigliano Listen to the theme from Superman. Write down qualities of the melody, rhythm, and orchestration that convey the idea of the superhero. Listen to “Anna’s Theme” and follow the instructions from above. Compare “Anna’s theme with Superman’s. What are the differences that allow each theme to connect powerfully with the character it helps portray? What similarities can you identify?

John Williams Most successful film composer Began writing film scores in the 1960’s Earned five Academy Awards Wrote music for: Star Wars series Harry Potter series Schindler’s List Indiana Jones Series

Providing psychological insight An effective score can give a glimpse inside a character’s mind Sometimes the score captures the audience’s emotional reaction Platoon (1986) Oliver Stone Adagio for Strings – Samuel Barber Beautiful music used during scenes of terrible violence Scored for string instruments Use of dissonance: Tones that conflict

Activity 4, p. 371 CD 10:17 Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 Describe the characteristics of this music that make it an effective choice for the described scene. Is this melody conjunct or disjunct? How does the tempo add to the emotional effect?

Intensifies the overall impact of the film Midnight Express (1978) Music by Howard Shore who won an Oscar for Best Original Score in 2004 A relentless ostinato figure creates and supports the feeling of terror

Assignment Think about a movie you have seen recently. Describe how the music enhanced the drama in each of the following ways: establishing character, providing psychological insight, and intensifying the over impact of the film. (15 points)

Music Give Film Continuity Music’s expressivity gives a film coherence and continuity Foreshadow: Suggest actions or events before they happen Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Ang Lee, music by Tan Dun Based on a Chinese martial arts novel Activity 6, p. 374 CD 10:18-20 & 11:1-4 Cue: The specific music for a particular scene in a film or television production

Yo-Yo Ma Plays cello Child prodigy – debuted at age 5 Born to Chinese parents living in Paris Began to study when he was 4 Eclectic musical interests – records many styles of music Performed music for Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

The Process of Scoring a Film Music director: The professional responsible for selecting, commissioning, and/or writing the music track for a film Getting started The final track is the result of along technical process and the work of many Begins after the movie is completed The music director a producer meet to spot: To determine which scene should have music

The process continued Recording the music track After the film has been scored, the music is recorded The composer conducts the recording sessions The sessions are usually done in front of a large screen depicting the movie Click-track: A series of clicks that allow the conductor to synchronize the orchestra’s playing to the film Before the digital age, the music was recorded on a magnetic track or mag track: Film similar to audiotape coated with an oxide surface The final step is dubbing: Putting all the elements of sound – dialogue, sound effects, and music – onto one soundtrack

Review - Terms To determine which scenes should have music Spotting The specific music for a particular scene in a film or television productions Cue A perforated strip along the film’s edge containing coded representations of the sound Soundtrack The professional responsible for selecting, commissioning, and/or writing the music track for a film Music director

To suggest actions or events before they happen Foreshadow A series of clicks that allow the conductor to synchronize the orchestra’ playing to the film Click-track Melodies associated with a particular character that recur throughout the film Character themes Sharing of another person’s feelings or emotions Empathy Putting all the elements of sound – dialogue, sound effects, and music – onto one soundtrack Dubbing A film similar to audio tape coated with an oxide surface Mag track

Description Film Title Music composed by Tan Dun “Anna’s theme” played by Joshua Bell First talking film, featuring Al Jolson Score drew on Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber Has a sinister underworld theme by composer Ennio Morricone Music composed by John Corigliano First film to use a live orchestra accompaniment Won Oscars for Best Musical Score and Best Song in 2004 A relentless ostinato figure creates and supports the feeling of terror Features classical music as the plot relates to the bitter rivalry between composers Salieri and Mozart Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon The Red Violin The Jazz Singer Platoon The Untouchables Birth of a Nation The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Midnight Express Amadeus

Yo Yo Ma Movie music of John Williams a Chinese American cello known for his eclectic musical interests Movie music of John Williams Star Wars Sschindler’s List Harry Potter

How is the role of music in today’s films different from the use of music in “silent” films? Today music is used to Establish character Provide insight into a character or event Give a feeling of what the story is about Convey mood Evoke time and culture Provide continuity Intensify the overall impact of the film The music is integrated in the film as opposed to being external In “silent” movies music is performed by live musicians Helped establish the mood Covered the clattering sound of the projector and audience noise

Describe the process of making film music Begins after the movies is complete View the edited film Decide on genre/style Spot – determine scenes to have music Score music Record the music Dub the soundtrack