Inception : A Film Scoring Analysis

The music plays an important role in establishing the dramatic nature of the movie. The score could be categorized as more of an orchestral score than an electronic one. There are a number of key points in the film where music helps in explaining the rather abstract idea of going inside of dreams There is a rhythmic pulse provided by the bass in the train scene at 15:17 which seems to exhibit traits of a hybrid score. The pulse is used to accent what sounds like a timpani and some electronic percussion. The strings seem to fade in after a while before the end of the scene. The ambient nature of the score is also exhibited in the next scene which has a rather interesting chord progression. The music starts sound more like a major scale but then ultimately turns into a minor scale as the piano comes in. This helps to accent the rather difficult relationship the protagonist has with his family. There is a large amount of bass and sub-bass used all throughout the movie to accent dramatic and dream sequences There are themes that are used with interesting variations which includes using alternative instrumentation or variations of melody to lend to the movement of the plot in the film. (Electronic, percussive to signify something changing, orchestral to signify emotional moments and so on) Most of the background is provided by bass. However, like most scores there is no singular instrument playing constant of middle, back or foreground. The scene at 35:05 uses extensive use of what sounds like a violoncello which seems to be playing only the bass notes to the Mombasa track while there is variations in synth and percussion which helps in providing a solid middleground. The foreground comes more at the front about 30 seconds later, which seems to be a combination of synths and strings playing the melody.

Interestingly, in places where there is a lot of dialogue, the score reverts to more of a background with more of only bass-like instruments accompanied by minimal percussion. The chase sequence in the 37th minute starts with a percussion rhythm, followed by the strings which are mixed in with a rhythmic bass, the guitars and synths come into prominence and fade out alternatively all through the scene. The music plays on the unexpected nature, with sometimes suddenly all instruments and sometimes, a small amount of instruments. To sum up, the background is provided by various bass instruments, middle ground by layered synths and percussion, and foreground by guitars and orchestral instruments

16/02/15 6:08 AM

16/02/15 6:08 AM