Exam 4 Flashcards
Minimalism
A musical movement that achieved prominence in the 1970s, in which short melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic ideas are repeated with little variation.
Halloween, Kundun, Inception.
Pedal
A log sustained pitch, generally in the lowest registers
Chaconne
A type of variation structure in music, associated with the Baroque period, that is based on a harmonic progression or a repeating bass line.
Postmodernism
A movement in the arts that can be seen as a reaction against the modernistic values held during much of the twentieth century. It rejects the idea that all arts have to be original, incorporates elements of the popular art and musical worlds, and encourages a playful mixture of styles from various regions and eras.
Blockbuster
Originally a WWII military word for a bomb that could destroy an entire city block, the term was adopted by Hollywood for movies that were enormously successful. Such as Avatar.
Short Answer: Historical dramas and why they gained popularity with audiences in the 1990s
Cold war abruptly ended. USSR collapsed. ‘Pax Americana’ era arrived. Diffusion begins to blur styles.
Glory, Dances with Wolves, Last of the Mohicans. Braveheart, Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s list, Titanic, Kundun.
Symphonic sores , leitmotivs, Wide range of emotions. Greater degree of accuracy and attention of detail.
Short Answer: Description of action music that includes minimalism (something like Skyfall)
Repetition of small ideas, Rhythmic Energy, Avoids tuneful melodies. Cues often consist of drumming, and ominous – sometimes very long – chords. Often some sort of pulse… sometimes rock pulse.
Short Answer: John Williams and his use of music for the ill fate of young Anakin
When Yoda expresses concerns of Anakin’s future John hints at the Darth Vader theme in ending cadences of Anakin’s otherwise gentle theme. We also hear Vader in the closing credits music. He basically sneaks in Vader before Anakin becomes Vader. ‘we know the future’
Short Answer: How the extended opening of Up is reminiscent of silent film
Each cut of the opening montage (showing the arc of their marriage, life together, and eventually Ellie’s death) is supported by highly emotional music which tells us everything we need to know about the moment and requires no dialog.
Films: Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Glimpse of distant past - historical events.
- Repeating Bass lines
- Mixture of Baroque, Scottish, and Native American elements
- Mood of music counter to the action.
Films: Titanic (1997)
11 Academy Awards. Large Symphonic score. Last blockbuster. like Gone With the Wind and Ben Hur.
Theme song! Popular trend.
- Two themes suggest the excitement of the voyage
- Wordless vocals – magnificence of the ship
- Southhampton and Titanic themes
- Love verse & Love Chorus: Rose.
Films: Shawshank Redemption
- Repetitious musical cues sustain moods.
- Music climaxes with Andy’s escape
- Score rarely reflects details of drama
- Sets mood – cold/ distant or somber
- Melodic Fragments
- Minimalism.
- Pedal
- Climax by volume.
Film: Forrest Gump (1994)
- Flashbacks using popular music ( sets time periods, mini history of rock and roll).
- Popular music -> Montages
- Orchestral scoring for quiet/joyful moment.
- Feather music… purity.
Film: Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Best score.
- Elaborate song and dance
- Leitmotivs are established
- Underscoring for mood (humor, action, romance)
- Colorful yet delicate orchestration
- Extended songs Belle (a,b,c)
Film: Jurassic Park
Parallels to King Kong (exotic Island, gates, unrelenting action once is starts
Loud, brass and percussion, two themes: trumpet & brontosaurus.
