Film Music History Flashcards (Chapters 36-39)

Questions and Answers

What was one of the primary reasons that theater owners in the 1890s began to have music played to accompany the projection of silent movies?

Music distracted the audience's attention away from the loud noises made by the film projectors.

What was the purpose of Max Winkler's cue sheets of the early 1900s?

The cue sheets indicated exactly what part of which musical examples to play to imply various moods.

What invention, created by the Warner Brothers Studio in 1926, allowed music recorded on phonograph records to be played simultaneously with a film?

Vitaphone system

What was Max Steiner's first major achievement in film music that helped save a studio from closing its doors?

Score for King Kong Signup and view all the answers

What composer wrote the music for the films King Kong (1933) and Gone With the Wind (1939)?

Max Steiner Signup and view all the answers

True or false: Theaters started to provide live music because projectors used to show silent films were very noisy.

True Signup and view all the answers

What type of content was found in the cue sheets of Max Winkler?

Copyright-free classical works Signup and view all the answers

What was the first movie, starring Al Jolson, to include synchronized dialogue and a song?

The Jazz Singer Signup and view all the answers

Which are the musical connections and influences surrounding early film composer Max Steiner?

Steiner's godfather was Viennese composer Richard Strauss. Steiner studied conducting with Gustav Mahler. Signup and view all the answers

For what film was Max Steiner's famous 'Tara's Theme' written?

Gone With the Wind Signup and view all the answers

With which movie director did Bernard Herrmann frequently collaborate?

Alfred Hitchcock Signup and view all the answers

What composer won an Academy Award for his score for The Heiress (1948)?

Aaron Copland Signup and view all the answers

Which compositions can be heard in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)?

The Blue Danube Waltz, Gayane Ballet Suite, Thus Spake Zarathustra Signup and view all the answers

For what 1975 thriller directed by Stephen Spielberg did composer John Williams write the score?

Jaws Signup and view all the answers

Which composer wrote the music for Orson Welles' Citizen Kane?

Bernard Herrmann Signup and view all the answers

What music did Copland create to help save a scene from the movie The Heiress (1948)?

Dissonant music Signup and view all the answers

In what musical genre is the heroic theme written?

Fanfare Signup and view all the answers

What 1968 movie, directed by Stanley Kubrick, borrowed its soundtrack from previously composed music?

2001: A Space Odyssey Signup and view all the answers

What composer did movie director George Lucas choose to write music for Star Wars (1977)?

John Williams Signup and view all the answers

Which composer won an Academy Award for The Heiress's movie score?

Aaron Copland Signup and view all the answers

What technique did composer John Williams borrow from Wagner, which marries music themes with people and places on the screen?

Leitmotif Signup and view all the answers

What is the meter of the theme 'Srepegan (slendro nim)'?

Triple and quadruple Signup and view all the answers

Who is the American composer whose music accompanies the films Citizen Kane, Vertigo, and Psycho?

Bernard Herrmann Signup and view all the answers

Which composers heavily influenced John Williams's score to Star Wars?

Carl Off, Gustav Holst, Eric Korngold Signup and view all the answers

In what ways did the synthesizer revolutionize film music?

Performers in Hollywood had reduced opportunities playing on scores. A single composer could produce an entire soundtrack. Studios saved a great deal of money. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented a synthesizer in 1964 which would immediately become popular through Walter Carlos's album, Switched-On Bach?

Robert Moog Signup and view all the answers

Which British rock guitarist studied the sitar with classical Indian musician Ravi Shankar?

George Harrison Signup and view all the answers

How is the compositional approach of James Horner best described regarding his use of electronic music in film?

Horner incorporates both electronic and traditional instruments in his film scores. Signup and view all the answers

What West African artist worked with British producer Peter Gabriel, which helped to popularize his unique vocal style?

Youssou N'Dour Signup and view all the answers

What composers produce music that is highly influenced by non-Western music?

Philip Glass, John Cage, Terry Riley Signup and view all the answers

At what festival were American audiences exposed to Indian music, especially the sitar playing of Ravi Shankar?

1967 Monterey Music Festival Signup and view all the answers

The didjeridoo is a(n) ______ instrument.

australian Signup and view all the answers

What developments resulted from the World Exposition in Paris in 1889?

The music exhibitions influenced the style of French composer Claude Debussy. Europeans encountered music and dance from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented a synthesizer in 1964 which would immediately become popular through Walter Carlos's album, Switched-On Bach?

Robert Moog Signup and view all the answers

What string quartet group, from San Francisco, has incorporated much music from non-Western cultures into its repertoire?

The Kronos Quartet Signup and view all the answers

What popular music has gained universal acceptance?

Jazz, Rock, Pop Signup and view all the answers

In what ways have Americans learned about the music and customs of non-Western cultures in the twentieth century?

Contact with veterans who have returned from the Korean War, Contact with missionaries who have lived in various parts of Africa, Exposure to the culture and music of East Asia and Southeast Asia through World War II. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the organization begun by cellist Yo-Yo Ma in 1998 to encourage cooperation and exchanges between musicians in America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East?

The Silk Road Project Signup and view all the answers

What descriptions apply to folk music or world music?

Both folk music and world music are learned by oral tradition. Folk music is handed down from one generation to the next and is not generally notated. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Silk Road Project do?

Create cultural ties among musicians across several continents Signup and view all the answers

Intervals smaller than the half step of Western music, used in some non-Western music, are called ______.

microtones Signup and view all the answers

What is oral tradition in music?

Learning music through careful listening, observation, and memory Signup and view all the answers

What is heterophonic texture?

Two or more individuals performing the same melody at the same time, adding modifications Signup and view all the answers

Pitch sequences known as ragas are used in the traditional music of which country?

India Signup and view all the answers

What term is used to describe the use of simultaneous yet independent rhythms, common to much of the traditional music of Africa?

Polyrhythm Signup and view all the answers

When two or more individuals perform the same melody simultaneously, and they each add rhythmic or melodic modifications as they play or sing, the resultant texture is called ______.

heterophony Signup and view all the answers

The India tabla, a pair of drums played with the hands, belong to which instrumental group?

Membranophones Signup and view all the answers

The rhythmic sophistication found in much traditional African music greatly influenced the development of what type of Western music?

Jazz Signup and view all the answers

With what area of the world is the ensemble known as a gamelan associated?

Indonesia Signup and view all the answers

True or false: In this music, 'Srepegan (slendro nim),' the beat is clear and the tempo is quite steady.

True Signup and view all the answers

From what composition is this excerpt, 'Srepegan (slendro nim),' Indonesian gamelan ensemble?

Srepegan (slendro nim) Signup and view all the answers

Match the instrument to its category:

Chordopone = String Aerophones = Air Idiophones = Shaken Membranophones = Drum head Signup and view all the answers

What categories accurately describe the most typical types of instruments in the gamelan ensemble?

Idiophones Signup and view all the answers

What are the most prominent types of sounds in the music, 'Srepegan (slendro nim)?'

Soft bell or gong-like instruments Signup and view all the answers

What are the possible meters for this excerpt?

Quadruple, Duple Signup and view all the answers

In ancient Chinese music, to what natural phenomena did the twelve tones, or lu, compare?

The twelve months of a year Signup and view all the answers

The pi-p'a, a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument, belongs to which instrumental group?

Chordophones Signup and view all the answers

In ancient Chinese music, to what does the concept of huang chung refer?

The one true foundation tone Signup and view all the answers

What type of scale is the traditional Chinese piece, 'Moonlight on the Ching Yang River,' based on?

Pentatonic Signup and view all the answers

What is a raga?

Ragas are melodic patterns related to certain times of the day or night. Signup and view all the answers

Because of the mystical significance of the huang chung and the twelve tones of the lu, what did the ancient Chinese view as the highest musical achievement?

The perfect performance of individual tones Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of the traditional Chinese piece, 'Moonlight on the Ching Yang River?'

Its notes were indicated by words which represented each pitch, rather than by western notation. The melody is very old, coming from the T'ang Dynasty (seventh to tenth centuries CE). Signup and view all the answers

How can the textures best be described in this music?

Each instrument simultaneously performs the melody with its own ornaments. Signup and view all the answers

What are the goals of the performance of classical music of India?

To enhance the performer's spiritual development, To reflect the order of the cosmos Signup and view all the answers

What is a student expected to do during his years with a guru?

Memorize ragas and talas Signup and view all the answers

What is a student expected to do during his years with a guru?

Memorize ragas and talas Signup and view all the answers

What Indian instrument is a long-necked lute, played with fingertips, and with movable frets and numerous strings used for melody, drone, and sympathetic vibrations?

Sitar Signup and view all the answers

In what way is music and language closely related in many African cultures?

Relative pitch inflections in spoken words often change the meanings of those words. Signup and view all the answers

What composition is this work of music?

Folk Melody based on Raga Des (India) Signup and view all the answers

How is the character of music in African societies best described?

Communal Signup and view all the answers

In West African cultures, a village's primary singer who functions as a tribal historian is called a ______.

griot Signup and view all the answers

What percussion instruments are part of an Ewe drum ensemble?

gankogui, Dundun, Axatse Signup and view all the answers

What composition is this work of music?

'Gadzo' ('Kayiboe, the Child Is Not Matured') (Ghana) Signup and view all the answers

With whom did Henry Cowell study?

Charles Seeger Signup and view all the answers

What type of music did Henry Cowell study in Berlin, supported by a Guggenheim Foundation grant?

Gamelan Signup and view all the answers

Which elements are typically a part of an Ewe drum ensemble?

Bells and rattles, Master drummer, Singers and dancers, Chorus Signup and view all the answers

What are the possible meters for this excerpt?

Triple Signup and view all the answers

What reasons prompted John Cage to place various hardware items on and between the strings of a piano?

To create a more percussive sound Signup and view all the answers

In what ways did John Cage's interest in Eastern cultures influence his musical development?

His discovery of Zen Buddhism led him to unique compositional approaches. His study of gamelan music can be heard in his compositions for prepared piano. Signup and view all the answers

What type of music does an audience hear in a performance of John Cage's composition, 4'33'?

The surrounding environment Signup and view all the answers

What did composer Henry Cowell call his technique of forcefully and simultaneously playing a large group of adjacent notes on the piano?

Tone cluster Signup and view all the answers

Which of John Cage's famous composition teachers urged him to be creative with ways in which sound could be produced on the piano?

Henry Cowell Signup and view all the answers

What labels are sometimes used to refer to indeterminacy in music?

Chance music, Aleatory music Signup and view all the answers

Which student of Henry Cowell was greatly influenced by Cowell's views on chance music?

John Cage Signup and view all the answers

What characteristics of African music have influenced the minimalist composer Steve Reich?

Repetition of specific rhythmic patterns, Call and response, Polyrhythms Signup and view all the answers

What reasons prompted John Cage, in providing music for a dance production in 1940, to place various hardware items on and between the strings of a piano?

Cage wanted more variety and a more percussive type of sound than would have been otherwise possible. There was no room for any percussion instruments in this particular production. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the type of instrument John Cage developed, in which bolts, screws, plastic spoons, and other assorted items are placed on or between specific strings of the piano?

Prepared piano Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Film Music History

In the 1890s, theater owners incorporated music with silent films primarily to mask loud projector noises, enhancing audience experience.
Max Winkler created cue sheets in the early 1900s to guide musicians on musical selections that matched film moods.
The Vitaphone system, developed by Warner Brothers in 1926, enabled synchronized sound from phonograph records with silent films, revolutionizing the industry.
Max Steiner's score for "King Kong" became a crucial achievement, helping to salvage the studio's financial crisis.

Notable Composers and Works

Max Steiner, known for compositions such as "King Kong" (1933) and "Gone With the Wind" (1939), played a pivotal role in shaping film music.
"The Jazz Singer" (1927) marked the first motion picture with synchronized dialogue and songs, leading to the rise of sound films.
Bernard Herrmann frequently collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock, creating iconic soundtracks.
Aaron Copland won an Academy Award for "The Heiress" (1948).

Musical Innovations and Techniques

John Williams popularized the leitmotif technique, linking specific themes to characters and locations in films like "Star Wars" (1977).
The synthesizer revolutionized film music, allowing individuals to produce complete soundtracks and reducing the demand for orchestral musicians.
James Horner blended electronic and traditional instruments in his scores, creating a unique sound landscape.

Global Musical Influences

The 1967 Monterey Music Festival introduced American audiences to Indian music, notably the sitar, enhancing cross-cultural music appreciation.
Youssou N'Dour, a West African artist, collaborated with Peter Gabriel, showcasing the blending of diverse musical styles.
Non-Western influences permeate the works of composers like Philip Glass, John Cage, and Terry Riley, who incorporate global music elements.

Structures and Concepts in Traditional Music

In classical Indian music, ragas represent specific melodic patterns tied to particular times of day.
The concept of polyrhythm, common in African traditional music, describes the simultaneous independent rhythms often found in performances.
Heterophony refers to multiple performers interpreting the same melody with variations, adding texture to the music.

Ethnomusicology and Global Traditions

The Silk Road Project, initiated by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, promotes cultural exchange and collaboration among musicians across continents.
The Ewe drum ensemble emphasizes communal participation, featuring instruments like gankogui and dundun, and is representative of African percussion traditions.
The Kronos Quartet, based in San Francisco, incorporates non-Western music into their repertoire, expanding the global dialogue in classical music.

Key Instruments and Terms

The didjeridoo is an Australian wind instrument distinguished by its unique sound-producing method.
The tabla, a traditional Indian percussion instrument, is categorized as a membranophone, producing rich rhythmic patterns integral to Indian classical music.
The prepared piano, developed by John Cage, involves placing objects on piano strings to create unconventional sounds, expanding the instrument's sonic possibilities.

Influential Figures and Movements

Henry Cowell, a pioneer of experimental music, studied various cultural traditions and influenced future composers like John Cage.
The concept of indeterminacy in music, also known as chance or aleatory music, highlights the unpredictability in performance and composition, shaping modern musical expressions.
The complexity of traditional African music has significantly influenced the development of jazz, showcasing its lasting impact on Western music genres.

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Description

Explore the evolution of film music through these flashcards covering crucial aspects from Chapters 36 to 39. Learn about the role of music in silent films and the significance of cue sheets in the early 1900s. Test your knowledge and enhance your understanding of cinematic history!