Soundtrack means pieces of music (usually songs) not purely associated with the film, used as diagetic (the characters can hear it) or non-diagetic (only the audience can hear) music.

Score means the pieces of (usually) instrumental music written for the film to denote mood, time, place, represent characters or match the action. This is usually non-diagetic

Soundtrack Vs Film Score

Film Scores

Favourite film score

What makes this a memorable and favourite score?

Composer

Why does this composer’s composition work effectively?

Related pieces

How does this composer use similar ideas in other pieces?

Match the characteristics to the score

Composer’s fingerprints

Use of 5ths in the melody Octave doubling of strings Brass fanfare motifs

Arpeggiaic accompaniment Restrained, non-virtuosic part writing Quaver movement, often oscillating

Chromatic movement in harmony and melody Use of vocals within the orchestration Use of unusual instruments: pipe organ, celesta, synth

Match the characteristics to the music you hear

Composer’s fingerprints

Chromatic movement in harmony and melody Use of vocals within the orchestration Use of unusual instruments: pipe organ, celesta, synth

Arpeggiaic accompaniment Restrained, non-virtuosic part writing Quaver movement, often oscillating

Use of 5ths in the melody Octave doubling of strings Brass fanfare motifs

Who are they?

John Williams Rachel Portman

Danny Elfman

Instrumentation (including techniques and timbres)

Melodic shape

Rhythm, Metre and Tempo

Key words – post-its

Use of 5ths in the melody

Octave doubling in the strings

Brass fanfares

Memorable and logical melodies

Use of triplet rhythms

John Williams

Arpeggiaic accompaniment

Restrained, non-virtuosic part writing

Quaver movement, often oscillating

Orchestral with added piano

Rachel Portman

Chromatic movement in harmony and melody

Use of vocals within the orchestration

Use of unusual instruments: pipe organ, celesta, synth

Danny Elfman

Set work

Related pieces

Related pieces

Related pieces

Related pieces

Related pieces

Transition Task Timings of performances will be decided first lesson in September

Please bring tasks b and c to your first two lessons

Appendix

Key words Diagetic music – music that comes from characters within the film clip –

e.g. the cantina scene in Star Wars that the characeters can hear. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6PDcBhODqo)

Non-diagetic music – music that the characters don’t interact with, that is for the viewer e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9KqkCyEjaE

Or a bit of both: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqQVyAiBHBI

A good explanation : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd0kQLD7JS8

Leitmotif – Theme tune, gives the character some personality e.g.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7BkmF8CJpQ

Underscore – music that goes under the dialogue, often representing action, movement, mood. It is also used to manipulate the viewer to feel a particular way.

Composers John Williams - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THMZl5OfCHQ

Hans Zimmer – Gladiator, Madagascar, The Last Samurai, Black Hawk Down, Planet Earth II https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j5xuEl-y5k

Thomas Newman – Finding Nemo, Skyfall, Saving Mr Banks, The Lost Boys

Howard Shore – LOTR, the Hobbit, Mrs Doubtfire, Philadelphia, Gangs of New York

Rachel Portman – the Duchess, The Vow, Mona Lisa Smile, The Lakehouse, Chocolat, Mog’s Christmas Calamity

Danny Elfman – Simpsons, Nightmare before Christmas, Batman, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, MIB, Sleepy Hollow, Avengers: Age of Ultron

Henry Mancini – Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Alan Silvestri – Back to the Future, Avengers, Forrest Gump, Contact,

Anne Dudley - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmKMfXKKM74

Bernard Herrmann – Psycho, Taxi Driver, North by Northwest, Vertigo