FILM MUSICWhat really makes the movies

great!

History of Film Before film: plays, dances, and operas

shared similarities 1878-1894 birth of film/experimentation

using cameras, film, projectors, and printers

First 30 years of movies were silent! Many movies had live musicians that would

provide the sound affects Experimentation with sound film technology,

both for recording and playback, was virtually constant throughout the silent era

History of Film In 1926, Hollywood studio Warner Bros. introduced

the Vitaphone system, adding recorded sound effects and orchestral scores to some of its major films

This period from the 1920’s-1940’s was referred to the “Golden Age of Hollywood” where sound was introduced

Since then, film scores have been orchestral, electronic/computerized, synthesized, or compilation (previously recorded or composed pieces/songs used in a film)

We will be looking at narrative films – tells a fictional story

Jaws (1975) Directed by: Steven Speilberg (ca. 1946,

American)

Music by: John Williams

(ca. 1932, American)

Jaws (1975)Questions to answer while watching the clip

What type of role does the music play in this scene?

What kind of music do we hear accompanying the opening underwater scene?

Does the underwater music contrast with the music we hear on land? How?

Jaws (1975) “Shark” theme is based on alternating

pattern of the notes E and F (half step)

Williams based the theme off of Igor Stravinsky’s (1882-1971, Russian composer) The Rite of Spring: The Adoration of the Earth

Let us take a listen:

The Rite of Spring: The Adoration of the Earth

The Shining (1980) Directed by:

Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999)

Music: Classical Musiccompilation

The Shining (1980)Questions to answer while watching the clip

Why do you think the director chose to use classical music for this scene?

What instruments do you hear?

Besides the music, what else makes this scene seem suspenseful?

The Shining (1980) Based on Stephan King’s novel “The Shining”

Did have a film score written for the movie but Kubrick decided to use Classical music instead like he did in 2001: Space Odyssey

Featured classical piece in the scene was – Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta by Béla Bartók (1881-1945, Hungarian)

Movement III - 2:19

Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Directed by: George Lucas

(ca. 1944, American)

Music by:John Williams

(ca. 1932, American)

Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Musical Themes within a Narrative Film 1) The Star Wars/Luke Skywalker Theme

2) The Darth Vader Theme vs. Gustav Holst’s (1874-1934, English) The Planets: “Mars” - 4:25

3) The Love Theme of Princess Leia and Han Solo

4) The Force/Yoda Theme

Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Lucas could barely get the new film made because none of the studios thought it would be a success with the public

Set box office records earning six

Academy Awards including Best Original Score

Known for its sound effects – put Dolby sound on the map nationally to theater owners

Here’s another movie theme you might recognize…

Batman ThemeIf there so happens to be sequels to movies, the

theme comes back but is altered a bit

Batman Forever Theme

Danny Elfman (ca. 1953) Works with Tim Burton a lot

Other movies: Spider-Man, Men in Black, Flubber, Corpse Bride, etc.

I'm Batman Scene

Atonement (2007) Directed by: Joe

Wright (ca. 1972, British)

Music by: Dario Marianelli (ca. 1963, Italian)

Atonement (2007)Questions to answer while watching the clip

List all the sounds you hear in this scene

What instrument does the typewriter act as?

There is a lot of information that is given to us in this scene, what can you conclude from it?

Atonement (2007) Novel written by Ian McEwan in 2001 7 Academy - Award nominations: won Oscar for

best original score The director and composer collaborated in Pride

and Prejudice back in 2005 Very complex tragedy The device of viewing a scene from two different

perspectives at two different times within a film’s narrative has a long history that goes back to the classic Hollywood era

Uses musical themes for characters

Impact of Movie MusicHow does this music clip make you feel?

Now let’s watch the scene: Did you know what the scene was about? Did it meet

your expectations?

Music by: Steve

Jablonsky (ca. 1970,

American)

Effects used in Modern Films

Like Transformers, many modern films use blending synthesized sound with that of the instruments of a traditional orchestra.

Hans Zimmer (ca. 1957, German), who was Steve Jablonsky’s mentor, uses this compositional style of mixing acoustical and synthesized instruments.

You might have heard Hans Zimmer’s music if you’ve seen The Lion King, Gladiator, Pearl Harbor, Pirate’s of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight…

So how does one become a film composer?

What is the musical process the film composer starts when assigned a film?

How does the composer begin scoring?

How long does the film scoring process take?

Is it an easy job?

Harry Gregson - Williams

Harry Potterand the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Directed by: Chris Columbus (ca. 1958, American)

Music by:John Williams(ca. 1932,

American)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) British author J.K. Rowling created seven

books (1997-2007)

Many musical themes

Suite from Harry Potter

Harry's Wonderous World

How many movies can you identify?

Just for kicks, how many motion pictures can you identify either by the music or

clip?

Look who the conductor is!!!

Hollywood Movies

References www.youtube.com http://www.wikipedia.org/ Music 004 - Film Music (Penn State

University)