Background Music

Kristine Copeland The primary author is the individual who drafted the first version of the material which could have been different than the currently published version.

Background music is often used synonymously with "musical score" and "sound track," although there are distinctions to be made among the terms. Background music, or musical score, is original music written to accompany onscreen action in a film. It can serve many purposes, including, but not limited to, moving along the narrative, or to focus the viewer's emotional connection to the visual story. Songs are usually not considered to be background music, although they are referred to as part of the soundtrack. A soundtrack may also include the dialogue and sound effects used in a film.

The earliest films, which were silent, were often accompanied by music played by a musician in the theater. It seemed a natural pairing as theaters were already home to the live performance of orchestras and individual musical performers. Music brought more depth to the viewing of the black-and-white screen images. And, the addition of music brought the added benefit of dulling the mechanical sound of the film projection equipment. Some of this music was improvised, but eventually uniform sheet music to be played as an accompaniment to the films became part of the artistry of the film and an integral aspect of the movie-going experience. D. W. Griffeth's silent film Birth of a Nation (1915) was the first film produced with a sheet music score of classical and popular music.

A more recent film, Gladiator (2000) is notable for being the best-selling recorded film score ever produced. It was composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, who also contributed vocals to the score. To date, Zimmer has composed music for over 150 films and his work on Gladiator, while borrowing from classical influences such as Wagner, has gone on in turn to influence subsequent composers of war movie themes. His use of female wailing vocals and a highly recognizable "battle waltz" have become part of the musical lexicon of modern films.

Reprinted from Film Studies, http://filmstudies.info/terminology/manuscripts/background-music.html Last updated on 18 October 2014 Photo Credit: Bob Howland with Barton Theatre Pipe Organ.

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Works Consulted

Adlerangriffe. "Birth of a Nation by D.W. Griffith — Trailer (1915)". Youtube. YouTube. 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 30 Sept. 2014. Film trailer with musical score.

Barton Organ." 2014. Michigan Theater. Web. 4 Oct. 2014.

Chihara, Paul. From Scene to Shining Screen: A Short History of Film Music. Nd. American Composers Orchestra. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.

MrJake3011. "Gladiator, first battle, HD" Youtube. YouTube. 17 Feb. 2007. Web. 30 Sept. 2014. The opening scenes of Gladiator. The opening sequence of the film establishes several musical themes which are then used throughout the film to anchor pensive moments, to precede battle scenes, to heighten battle scenes and to convey the majesty and pageantry of Rome. This 12 minute clip includes all of these themes including music which is meant to evoke the Roman afterlife.

Necro Flesh. "Gladiator End Fight." Youtube. YouTube. 18 May 2013. Web. 30 Sept. 2014. This ends the film and includes a reprise of the music which accompanies thoughts of the afterlife (at 9:30).

Oppenheim, Yair. "The Functions of Film Music." 2001. Film Score Monthly. nd. Web. Sept. 30, 2014

Reprinted from Film Studies, http://filmstudies.info/terminology/manuscripts/background-music.html Last updated on 18 October 2014 Photo Credit: Bob Howland with Barton Theatre Pipe Organ.

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