Film Music

Question 1

When was music introduced to accompany films by live performances by a pianist or an orchestra?

Answer 1

1900s to 1920s

Question 2

What are the musical features of Orchestral Film Music ?

Answer 2

-Mickey Mousing
- Leitmotifs
-Orchestration
-Pedal
-Ground Bass
-Ostinato
-Repetition
-Silence
-Dissonance

Question 3

What is Mickey mousing ?

Answer 3

A technique used in film that synchronises the music to what is happening in the scene on screen

Question 4

What is a Leitmotif?

Answer 4

A musical theme that recurs throughout a film to represent a particular character, place or situation (E.g. The imperial March (Darth Vader Theme) - Star Wars )

Question 5

What is Orchestration?

Answer 5

Orchestration is the choice of instruments used in a film

Question 6

What is a pedal ?

Answer 6

A note that is sustained or repeated throughout the music

Question 7

What is a Ground Bass ?

Answer 7

A short phrase played in the bass that is repeated many times

Question 8

What is an ostinato?

Answer 8

A repeated pattern or phrase

Question 9

What is repetition?

Answer 9

Repetition used in film music as a way of establishing a motif or idea

Question 10

What is silence for in film music ?

Answer 10

Used for dramatic effect

Question 11

What is dissonance and why is it used in film music?

Answer 11

Dissonance is a lack of harmony, clashing notes. Often used in film music to make the audience feel uneasy

Question 12

Who wrote the Dam Busters March ?

Answer 12

Eric Coates

Question 13

What piece of film music did Eric Coates compose ?

Answer 13

The Dam Busters March

Question 14

What are the key features of the Dam Busters March?

Answer 14

• Orchestration - The march is scored for the standard modern symphony orchestra consisting of double woodwind, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, strings and 3 percussionists.
• Tonality - C major
• Time signature - 2/4
• Auxiliary note - when the melody alternates between a main note and the pitch either immediately above or below
• Diminution - when the note values of a melody are shortened
• Augmentation - When the note values of a melody are lengthened
• Fragmentation - When a theme is broken down into smaller motifs
• Fanfare - Music played by the brass especially trumpets to announce something special such as a royal or military occasion
• Binary Form - When the structure of a melody or price of music consists of two sections, e.g A-B, the dam Busters March
• Interrupted cadence - An interrupted cadence consists of the dominant chord followed by the submediant chord (chord 6 which is a minor chord)

Question 15

What is the tonality of the Dam Busters March?

Answer 15

C major

Question 16

What is the time signature of the Dam Busters March?

Answer 16

2/4

Question 17

What is an Auxiliary Note ?

Answer 17

When the melody alternates between a main note and the pitch either immediately above or below.
An additional note that adds to the melody and makes it fancier

Question 18

What is Diminution?

Answer 18

Diminution is when the note values are made shorter and therefore played faster

Question 19

What is augmentation?

Answer 19

When the note values of a melody are lengthened therefore meaning they are played slower

Question 20

What is Fragmentation?

Answer 20

When a theme is broken down into shorter motifs

Question 21

What is a Fanfare ?

Answer 21

A Fanfare is music played by the brass (especially trumpets) to announce something special such as a royal or military occasion

Question 22

What is Binary Form ?

Answer 22

When the structure of a melody or price of music consists of two sections e.g A-B