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Music > Silent Film > Flashcards

Silent Film Flashcards

1
Q

How many periods for silent film history are there?

A

three

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2
Q

Early cinema was from what year to what year

A

1895-1905

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3
Q

how was music adapted to the situation?

A

either a vaudeville play or a lecture series (accompanied by slides)

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4
Q

what was the name of the period of silent film history from 1905-1915

A

Nickelodeon era

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5
Q

in the nickelodeon area a combination of short reels were used. how many reels and how long were they?

A

2-3 reels of 10-18 minutes each with live entertainment in between reels

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6
Q

what was used as accompaniment in the nickelodeon era?

A

piano, organ, or small ensemble of instruments (or a phonograph)

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7
Q

music wasnt used to match the screen action. what was is used for in the nickelodeon era? later on it was used for accompaniment and not entertainment, new types of music would later be used… what three music was preferred after 1910?

A

to draw in wealthy patrons
and as entrance and exit music
-light, classical, melodramatic mood music.
1. songs (titles linked to the story)
2. classical music for drama
3. musical topics and moods taken from melodramas

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8
Q

what is the primary music using for silent films? and why?

A

musical topics/moods

- more easily adapted to the narrative rather than songs or classical music (posed synchronization challenges)

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9
Q

collections of music suitable for a variety of scenes, aimed at local nickelodeons

A

Musical suggestions

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10
Q

who were the first to release musical suggestions?

A

The Edison Company

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11
Q

there were ____ sheets for a single movie. (i.e Frankenstein of 1910) that became outdated but they could be used over and over again

A

cue sheets

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12
Q
  • list of compositions, with their placement, sent out by studios or their agents as suggestions for theatre musicians. silent film or sound-film era?
  • what could the cue sheets have?
A
  • during the silent film era –> cue sheets

- could have music (a few notes) or not (just titles)

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13
Q

a legal document that lists all music that appears on the sound track of a film

A

cue sheets in sound-film era

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14
Q

what is the musical suggestions collection from 1910 Frankenstein

A

The Edison Kinetogram

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15
Q

moods (topics) are suggested by ______

what is andante and moderato

A

tempo
andante- walking pace-slower (topic for heroine)
moderato- moderately-faster (neutral music)

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16
Q

supplied general music topics for a variety of scenes/situations

A

cue sheet collections or musical mood anthologies

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17
Q

example of drawn on well known classical music pieces by 19th-century composers as well as melodrama topics

A

Hurry’s

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18
Q

Lyle C. True’s How and What to
Play for Moving Pictures: A
Manual and Guide for Pianists
what type of music does it list?

A

catalog of suitable music

new and old music

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19
Q

What is the name of the silent film period occurring between 1915–1929

A

Picture palace era

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20
Q

what was the stratification of exhibition in large cities and small towns?

A

large venue with an orchestra and organ in large cities.

small modest theatres in smaller towns

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21
Q

What did the show include in the picture palace era

A

picture, live entertainment, hall, ushers, lobby. idea of pampering the spectator.

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22
Q

who was Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel

A

owned Roxy theatre and Radio City Music Hall

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23
Q

what did a typical program at a large theatre include

A

overture, the feature (main picture), several short films (comedy and newsreel) and live performances.

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24
Q

music-only component of the show

A

overture

25
Q

what was the name of the organ that was a staple of the theatre–> one man orchestra with sound effects

A

Mighty Wurlitzer organ

26
Q

What do we mean by “fitting the picture” in the picture palace era

A
  • Compilation scores and improvisation continued to dominate

- theatre with orchestra and organ would split the duties between ensembles

27
Q

What was more prestigious and reliable than improvisation in the 1920s

was is harder or easier than improvisation?

A

compilation scores

  • not original music written for the film, preexisting works was gathered and ordered for the performance
  • harder to consistently reflect/match the action of the film
28
Q

what began to be commissioned for use in movies –> incidental music, soundtrack music, and themes written specifically for the accompaniment of silent film
collections of _______ were printed and sold

A

photoplay music

moods

29
Q

like earlier catalogues, provides all manner of musical moods or topics.
-newly composed pieces

A

Erno Rapee’s Encyclopedia of

Music for Pictures

30
Q

does Erno Rapee’s Encyclopedia of

Music for Pictures draw on classical repertoire or well known songs?

A

NO

31
Q

how are pieces arranged in the Erno Rapee’s Encyclopedia of Music for Pictures
-give examples

A

in series

  • The Agitato series
  • The Hurry series
32
Q

how are pieces identified?

A

Through their function; light, medium (neutral)

33
Q

these catalogues/collections were more _____ and permitted “_______” input.

A

flexible; artistic

34
Q

what were special scores in the 1920s?

A
  • music composed for specific films and distributed by studios along with the film
  • a feature of extended-run or road shows was a commissioned score for that particular film
35
Q

movies that travelled with picture and original score
shown in theatrical (vs.picture palace) style: reserved seating.
how many shows a day?
was the theatre with motion picture or play?
any music could be played with the film in road show films, what is this called?

A

road shows
1 or 2 shows a day
motion picture
regular release

36
Q

__ ______ music during filming was common

A

on-set

37
Q

what kind of music did musicians provide (pianist - 30-piece orchestra) ?

A

mood music

38
Q

name of a sound film era movie that shows the transition from silent film to sound film
what kind of music did musicians provide

A

Singin’ in the rain

music on-set during filming

39
Q

what kind of music was used for action scenes. What type of code is this?

A

Hurry music

standard code

40
Q

what theme was used for romantic scenes. what type of code is this

A

Love themes

standard code

41
Q

what was used for main titles? what type of code is this?

A

Overture, fanfare

standard code

42
Q

what is the name of the themes associated with characters

A

cinematic musical codes

43
Q

name of codes involving topics

A

cultural musical codes

44
Q

a short idea can be called what?

A

a motif, theme or motive

45
Q

if it lasts more than 10 seconds and has two parts it is called a _____

A

theme

46
Q

a theme proper is usually a ________ idea composed of two phrases

A

complete

47
Q

Wagner term used consistently in Der Ring des Nibelungen

A

Leitmotif

48
Q

what do themes refer to

A

characters, objects, even ideas (Redemption through love)

49
Q

Leitmotifs are more directly associated with a character or object. What do leitmotifs represent/signify?

A

the character/idea and the context/situation of the character

50
Q

changes in what can be used to reflect the present situation of the character?

A 
changes in orchestration
tempo
dynamics
meter
rhythm
mode (from major to minor)
accompaniment
51
Q

Conventional musical figures (ideas or styles) that generally represent moods/narrative traits

A

musical topics

52
Q

why is love theme music a topic?

A

has a specific “stye” that marks it as a love theme

53
Q

what contributes to the style, making the music a particular topic?

A

orchestration, tempo, texture

54
Q

Examples of love theme topics

A

orchestration - violins (strings)
texture- melody (usually slow and long sustained tones) with flowing, smooth accompaniment
tempo- slower, “andante”

55
Q

specific style that marks it as a love theme is often associated with the ________ (in which case they almost function like a _______)

A

heroine; leitmotif

56
Q

what creates a certain expectation of the narrative

give an example

A

characteristic sounds of topics

loud, fast, percussive music for battle

57
Q

distinct sets of topics have clear _____ derived meaning

give example

A

culturally
battle, storm, have similar elements
love theme vary: highborn vs country love

58
Q

what can topics suggest?
give examples
Topics that represent the “exotic” of “foreign” are called

A

A location
-anthems
Stereotypical
- Tchaikovsky’s arabian dance represents a whole range of locations that were exotic.

59
Q

anthologies that provided the whole range of topics possible: moods, affects, music for specific characters, scenes, dances (organized according to nationality and class)

A

Rapee’s Motion Picture Moods

Music (7 decks)

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