Paterson, J. (n.d.). A Brief History of Film Music. Retrieved November 25, 2014, from http://www.mfiles.co.uk/film-music-history.htm
Summary:
This article discussed the progression of film music, and the various roles that music plays in film. The primary angle that this particular resource took on was by looking at the history of film music. Beginning with silent films in the early twentieth century, the film industry knew right away that seeing a film with absolutely no sound wasn't going to catch on and so they would have live musicians in the theatre either improvising or playing a selection. The article continues to address the differences in music when it comes to the various genres in film, and how composers use different techniques to create more of an emotional response from the audience. Throughout the years the film industry has grown and so has the artistry of film scoring, and many composers have created iconic music that people associate with films that has remained intact over the years. Music is also used as a marketing opportunity for film and music. Music in film can be used either to create hype for an upcoming film or to reboot an musician's career. Overall film music has progressed from musicians playing live in the theatre to the use of computers and technology to compose full length film scores.
Significant Quotes:
"But a silent movie without a musical accompaniment seems totally empty, so music was typically provided in the theatre by a musician on piano or organ (or a group of musicians) to give emphasis to the story."
"Note also the unusual examples of films where the music comes first and the pictures are created to fit the music such as Disney's Fantasia, recently resulting in a sequel."
Summary:
This article discussed the progression of film music, and the various roles that music plays in film. The primary angle that this particular resource took on was by looking at the history of film music. Beginning with silent films in the early twentieth century, the film industry knew right away that seeing a film with absolutely no sound wasn't going to catch on and so they would have live musicians in the theatre either improvising or playing a selection. The article continues to address the differences in music when it comes to the various genres in film, and how composers use different techniques to create more of an emotional response from the audience. Throughout the years the film industry has grown and so has the artistry of film scoring, and many composers have created iconic music that people associate with films that has remained intact over the years. Music is also used as a marketing opportunity for film and music. Music in film can be used either to create hype for an upcoming film or to reboot an musician's career. Overall film music has progressed from musicians playing live in the theatre to the use of computers and technology to compose full length film scores.
Significant Quotes:
"But a silent movie without a musical accompaniment seems totally empty, so music was typically provided in the theatre by a musician on piano or organ (or a group of musicians) to give emphasis to the story."
"Note also the unusual examples of films where the music comes first and the pictures are created to fit the music such as Disney's Fantasia, recently resulting in a sequel."
"The thriller demanded its own unique style of music to assist with the tension building, and of course playing a part in the "false alarm" devise for shocking the audience on those occasions when the menace isn't actually there. Key in this genre must be the man who so ably supported Alfred Hitchcock in many films, Bernard Hermann, whose screaming strings in Psycho and dizzy arpeggios in Vertigo were an effective ingredient in the final mix."
"The potential for marketing opportunities was recognised, an early example (still in the Western category) being High Noon in 1952 with song, "Do not forsake me, oh my darling" by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington."
"A simple but effective mix of specially composed soundtrack and pop tunes can be found in the time travel flick,Back to the Future (Alan Silvestri), which used popular music to help conjure two different periods in the present and the past"
Reflection:
Some of the earliest figures in the film industry have also been some of the most driving forces in the formation of music in film. Films haven't always had soundtracks and full length film scores to accompany the visual. If it weren't for some of the early filmmakers such as Charlie Chaplin, who composed his own music for his films, music might not play such a prominent role in film as it does today. Nowadays we have films with soundtracks full of popular artists writing songs specifically for a movie. In Baz Luhrmann's version of The Great Gatsby, the soundtrack was just as popular as the movie and created publicity for the film because of artists like Beyonce and Fergie being featured on the soundtrack. A film wouldn't be the same without accompanying music. Although moments in film can seem more intense and lifelike without music, silence tends to make audiences uncomfortable which is why even silent movies had to have some sort of music. Music has played a crucial role in making some films such as Jaws iconic. The associated theme songs and film scores that are specifically made for that certain film and genre create a way to identify a film and make a film more memorable. Composers over the years have adopted specific techniques for various genres of film, and use music to create an emotional response from the audience. This emotion that music adds allows audiences to have a stronger memory of a film or have a stronger opinion of a film, so music is an important aspect of a film that can make or break it.
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