Key learning points

1. An effective film score will help us understand and deepen connections with a character.
2. Using a motif in a film score helps to strengthen the understanding of the narrative through the music.
3. The motifs in film scores from the Planet Earth series help bring the characters in the documentaries to life.
4. A motif can be developed and built on to create a bigger piece.

Keywords

• Film score - on original piece of music composed to accompany a film or television programme that contributes to the narrative by adding emotion, tension or drama

• Scoring - creating original music for film or television that enhances the narrative

• Characterisation - using music to reveal a character’s personality, traits, emotions and motivations

• Motif - a short recurring musical idea in a film score that represents a place, character, emotion or idea

• Elements of music - the building blocks or key ingredients needed to create a piece of music e.g. pitch, rhythm or structure

Common misconception