Film Music Flashcards
What is a leitmotif?
A tune that returns throughout the film (often more than one)
Which is the correct way of spelling:
a) Leitmotif
b) Leitmotiv
Both are k
Why might the leitmotif change slightly?
To reflect what’s going on. It can be played in a different key, the instrumentation can change or sometimes just the rhythm
Complete the sentence:
Some leitmotivs give you a…
hint to what will happen later in the film (if the character turns out to be a bad guy, their theme might have menacing chords in the background even when they’re good
Why do some films use pop songs?
For publicity, both for the song and the film
What question is this the answer to?
To set the scene more, and make it easier for the audience to believe the setting
Why is it important to use traditional instruments for a traditional time/ place (e.g. 70 pop songs used in a film set in the 70s)
Fantasy, Sci-Fi and horror films will do what with music?
Make unusual and incorrect sounding music, to transport the audience to the mythical settings
Explain why composers would use the following techniques:
a) Minor & dissonant chords
b) Low pitches in brass & strings
c) Percussive, metallic sounds with a reverb effect
d) Suspensions that don’t resolve
e) Dynamics swelling and falling
a) To make you feel uneasy
b) To sound dark, as if you’re underground
c) To make you imagine someone hiding/ lying in wait
d) To build tension and make danger seem near
e) To make it seem someone’s coming in and out of the shadows - more dramatic to less dramatic
Name a computer program which enables the user to chop up music to be synchronised with the film
Cubase
Pro Tools
What type of music can the characters hear? What type of music is only for the audience & for extra effect on the film?
Diegetic music can be heard by characters
Extra-diegetic isn’t part of the story
Complete the sentence:
Soundtracks in a major key make the audience feel like…
nothing bad will happen (which changes as soon as a minor key comes)
What is ostinato?
A continually repeated musical phrase/ rhythm
What do sustained noted do?
Create suspense (e.g. tremolo strings)
To build the tension, what/ how can composers do to/ use these key features?
a) Dynamics
b) Tempo
c) Pitch
d) Repeated tune of a scary part from earlier
e) Silence
a) Gets louder, like the danger
b) Gets faster, like the danger
c) Gets higher, lie the danger
d) To remind the audience that something will go wrong here
e) To make the audience jump when suddenly the music starts again
What is Fantasia, 1940?
A series of animations by Disney matching up to classical songs
