Developing mood in film music
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use texture to develop music for a film scene.
Key learning points
- Film composers use different genres to help set the film in a time or place, and to create an appropriate mood.
- They also use specific instrumental clichés to create effects.
- These include using arco strings for emotional moments and brass to represent important or heroic characters.
- Developing the texture allows film composers to balance variety and repetition, and to build energy.
Keywords
Ostinato - a repeating musical idea that forms the basis of a composition (or section)
Genre - a category of music that has shared characteristics (e.g. jazz)
Texture - how many layers of sound are heard at the same time and how they fit together
Musical cliché - a commonly used musical idea or association
Common misconception
The genre of the music tells us exactly what kind of film it is.
This is not always true. Sometimes composers deliberately use genres that go against expectations. This might be for humour, or to create a strange clash. A good example would be A Knight's Tale, which uses modern genres in a medieval film.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to explore the music in their favourite films and to analyse the use of instruments and genre to 'set the scene'. This would work effectlively as an independent task, or together as a class.
Equipment
DAW, keyboard or other suitable instrument as a composition tool.
Licence
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