1. Music in Film
Chapter 16

2. 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

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

4. 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)

5. 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
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

6. 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?

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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?

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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