Music 246 Lecture 1 PDF

1 Music 246 – Lecture 1 Our First Scene The musical accompaniment of Narrative Film Example: Apollo 13 (1995) Composer: James Horner Cue – Synchronized – composed for the film VIDEO EXAMPLE 1-Apollo 13 N...

1 Music 246 – Lecture 1 Our First Scene The musical accompaniment of Narrative Film Example: Apollo 13 (1995) Composer: James Horner Cue – Synchronized – composed for the film VIDEO EXAMPLE 1-Apollo 13 No music during shower scene. Why? - Small, intimate scene. Music would risk over-dramatizing. - Leave “space” for what follows. After this scene, music continues for several minutes through the launch scene. Where music “isn’t” can be as important as where it is. Music fades in under shower scene – smoothes transitions. Instruments: Brass – military – heroism – sacrifice Synthesizer Bass - Technology  2 Style: Chorale – Protestant Hymn – faith – sacrifice Tempo: Slow – restrained – controlled – professional Change in musical texture with transition to external scene. The Four Functions WHY MUSIC?  3 What is a movie? Narrative – tells a story. “Suspension of Disbelief” Film conventions attempt to minimize anything that threatens “Suspension of Disbelief” Except for the use of music The Four Functions: The focus of most cues will fall on a continuum between Emotion and Action. Specifically, most cues will have one or more of four basic functions 1. Music can create a more convincing atmosphere of time and place. - historical, cultural, geographical – BUT based on western conventions. 2. Music can underline or create emotional/psychological refinements. - supports the emotional tone of a scene. - provides insight into the unspoken thoughts of a character or the unseen implications of a situation. Music can provide a sense of continuity in a film. - structure of music “smoothes over” the discontinuous, chaotic nature of film. 3. Music can provide the underpinning for the theatrical buildup of a scene and then round it off with a sense of finality. - music can affect the “pacing” of a scene. Examples: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Composer: John Williams Functions 1, 3 and 4 F3 – Rapid change of location from Tibet to Egypt – Music is continuous throughout F1 – change in note choice signals change in location – arrival in Egypt F4 – Change from action to quiet dialog – Music brings the action sequence to a close.  4 Alien Resurrection (1997) Composer: John Frizzell Functions 2 and 4. F4 – Music reinforces the change from slow moving dialog to chaotic action – then slows the pace leading up to the conclusion of the scene. F2 – Music “catches” Call’s reaction on hearing Ripley’s name – foreshadowing the connection between them Behind the scenes – extra fun https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2p6o86 Homework! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbUbx9cJPX0 Video for a performance of Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra composed in 1945. Take note of: The four main sections: Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion The various instruments found in each section. The different sounds produced by each section / instrument Rules: 1/ Watch this on the largest screen you can access with the best sound system you can access – not on a phone! 2/ Do nothing else while you watch and listen – this should be a focused exercise.