Misterioso cliché

British English CC

Romantic love scene turning into a dramatic action scene

Compare the music in these two parts of that scene: clip 1

Compare the music in these two parts of that scene: clip 2

Listen again to how this performer manages that transition

This is a typical vamp based on a D minor chord

In this example, the tempo speeds up, the key changes and the dynamics change

Task A audio

To transition between the scenes, we need to perform a vamp

Then we can combine the music for the different parts of the scene

Check A

Check B

Check C

Check D

Task B feedback audio

Scoring a silent movie

Music

How music shapes film

Action in early movies

Tension in early movies

Representing characters through music

Motivic transformation

This unit explores film music and how composers use music to enhance mood, atmosphere and storytelling. Pupils study common film music techniques and themes, and apply this knowledge by composing and performing music to accompany visual scenes, developing their composition and performance skills.

Film Music

a musical idea that is repeated throughout a piece

a musical idea that represents a character

What do we call a repeating musical pattern, often used to transition between scenes?

Which of these can easily be changed when playing a vamp? (Choose all that apply)

A __________ seventh chord is a four-note chord typically used at dramatic moments.

You would expect music in a chase scene to have a _________ tempo.

When was the end of the silent movie era?

Which technique involves synchronising notes with the movement of characters on-screen?

a chord playing every time a character falls over

a minor melody playing in an emotional scene

a descending scale playing when a character hops down some stairs

Which of these is not an example of mickey-mousing?

What type of chord is particularly effective for creating dramatic moments?

it uses the notes of a minor chord, with one note added

Which two statements are true about the notes in a diminished seventh chord?

Adding __________ notes into a scale can be very effective to create suspense.

Suitable instruments hadn't been invented yet.

The directors of the films preferred not to use sound.

The technology to record sound didn't yet exist.

Starter Quiz

Which technique involves synchronising notes with the movement of characters on-screen?