Transcript Music Music Functions: Physical

Music in Film and Television
Music
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Music Functions
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1) Physical
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2) Psychological
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3) Technical
Music
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Music Functions: Physical
Having to do with external environment or setting of the
scene; supporting obvious visual action
Creation of a physical atmosphere or setting time of
day, weather, climate, sea, mountains, open spaces,
etc.
Evocation of time period, style or evocation suggests
an accurate time period.
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Evocation of a culture in which a story takes place,
such as ethnic flavor by use of associative instruments
and modes appropriate to a specific culture.
Underlining action-intensifies perception of physical
movement
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Music
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Music Functions: Physical (cont)
Underlining action-intensifies perception of physical
movement
Mickeymousing- the music accents or even mimics
what is happening on the screen, used for humorous
intent
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Music
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Music Functions: Psychological
Dealing with thoughts or feelings
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Creating psychological mood, fear, suspense,
joy, tranquility, etc.
Rounding off the film- resolution or theatrical
build-up; not always big musically
Underlining unspoken thoughts of a characterproviding more insight into a character’s
unexpressed thoughts or feelings.
Revealing unseen implications of a situationforeshadowing what will eventually happen
Music
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Music Functions: Psychological (cont)
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Revealing psychological makeup of a
character- reveals or suggests something that
is not apparent “on the surface” about a
person
Underlining expected reaction of the
audience- confirms viewer understanding of
the scene.
Deceiving audience as to what has actually
happened- a conscious decision on the part
of the director to “trick” the audience into
perceiving the scene in an alternate way also
known as “a red herring”
Music
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Music Functions: Psychological (cont)
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Making a philosophical point- music
influences viewers judgement of the
situation (also widely used in propaganda
films, commercials)
Setting up audience for subsequent
surprise- going for the “shock value” as
opposed to the music’s “telegraphing” what
is about to happen.
Music
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Music Function: Technical
Aiding in the flow of the film
 Building continuity from scene to scene- To
help connect scenes that are related or even
quite contrasting in content, helps smooth out
the editing or scenes which contain lots of
cuts.
 Building overall continuity- association of
previously stated themes helps the audience
draw relationships among the characters and
events in the film; gives the film a unified
personality of its own.
Music
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Musical Terms
Harmony- Pleasing combination of two or three tones played
together in the background while a melody is being played.
Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.
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Chord-3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.
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Interval- The distance in pitch between two notes
Key- Systems of notes or tones based on and named after
the key note
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Music
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Musical Terms
Modulation- To shift to another key.
Major- The Major mode can be identified by the bright, happy
mood.
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Minor- The minor mode can be identified by the dark,
melancholic mood.
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Rhythm- The element of music pertaining to time, played as
a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented notes.
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Music
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Musical Terms
Phrase- A single line of music played or sung. A musical
sentence.
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Theme (motif)- A reoccurring musical phrase that is usually
associated with a character or emotion.
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Tonic- The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.
Consonance-Groups of Tones that are harmonious when
sounded together as in a chord
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Music
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Musical Terms
Dissonance- Harsh, discordant, and lack of harmony. Also a
chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a
harmonious chord
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Measure- The unit of measure where the beats on the lines
of the staff are divided up into 2, 3, 4 or more beats to a
measure.
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Drone- Dull, monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing
sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.
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Glissando- Sliding between two notes.
Music
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Musical Terms
Legato- Word to indicate that the movement or entire
composition is to be played smoothly.
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Staccato- Short detached notes as opposed to legato.
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Ostinato- A Short Repeated phrase.
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Tempo- Indicating speed.
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Atonal- Music that lacks a tonal or key center.