It's not a masterpiece, but there you are.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Monday, 1 February 2010
Humpty Dumpty Theme Tune In E Minor Monday, February 01, 2010
It's not a masterpiece, but there you are.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Research into composing the music Sunday, January 31, 2010
Our film opening is going to carry omens which are like a sinister version of the children's nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty. The tune to this nursery rhyme will therefore play an important part in the music, along with the other codes and conventions of film music.
I have found the sheet music to the nursery rhyme:
The piece is in the key of G major, so to make it sound more sinister I will be converting it into it's relative minor - E minor. This part of the film music will probably be played using some kind of music box/glockenspeil sound, as this makes references back to the childlike nature of the nursery rhyme, but in a more sinister way. I will also be adding in chords to fit with this melody.
I have found the sheet music to the nursery rhyme:
The piece is in the key of G major, so to make it sound more sinister I will be converting it into it's relative minor - E minor. This part of the film music will probably be played using some kind of music box/glockenspeil sound, as this makes references back to the childlike nature of the nursery rhyme, but in a more sinister way. I will also be adding in chords to fit with this melody.
Friday, 29 January 2010
Some Deconstructions Of Film Music Friday, January 29, 2010
I have been looking into the codes and conventions of the music used in horror films, by deconstructing some soundtracks which hae been used in horror films.
Dead Silence
There are music box or xylophone type sounds, which imply childhood innocence but are played in an eerie sounding minor key, making them seem sinister. Drums and bass are used, but not prominently. This is not enough to distract from the main bulk of the music but enough to carry it along and give it pace. Choirs are heard singing minor harmonies (possibly in four parts) which give the music a gothic feel. This also gives the music an atmospheric effect. Soundscapes are also used, which sound as though something is rushing past. This effect may have been gained by something being played backwards. Other than what has already been mentioned, the piece is made up predominantly of string instruments. Structurally, it begins and finishes in a similar way, building up to a dramatic climax in the middle and slowing down towards the end.
Orphan
The music starts with the sonund of a child singing a song, which would seem innocent but is made to sound more sinister by accompaning it with a low string drone in a minor key. There is a piano or something similar playing a fast paced part which sounds like "twinkling" noises. Drums are only used to highlight important parts of the music and move the piece along. Many sound effects are used, such as rushing noises and glass smashing, adding to the sinister feel of the music. Very high piano chords and strings are played with very low strings, which gives the music a rich yet sinister texture. Again. the music reaches a climax in the middle of the piece.
The next piece of music is actually from an American television drama, but includes some music that could be adapted into a horror film from 1:32 to 3:38.
One Tree Hill
High, screechy sounding strings are used, and coupled with lower bass strings this creates an eerie atmosphere. The use of drums and sudden swells in volume accompany fast paced editing as the camera focusses on points of interest. The piece has a sinister sounding, minor tonality. There are also frequent changes in tempo and metre to make the music sound confused and erratic, which reflects the nature of the situation. The strings slide in an ascending pattern towards a climax while the volume gets gradually louder in order to build up tension. When the door slams, the music suddenly stops and is replaced by totally diagetic sound, reflecting the abrupt nature of what has just happened.
Dead Silence
There are music box or xylophone type sounds, which imply childhood innocence but are played in an eerie sounding minor key, making them seem sinister. Drums and bass are used, but not prominently. This is not enough to distract from the main bulk of the music but enough to carry it along and give it pace. Choirs are heard singing minor harmonies (possibly in four parts) which give the music a gothic feel. This also gives the music an atmospheric effect. Soundscapes are also used, which sound as though something is rushing past. This effect may have been gained by something being played backwards. Other than what has already been mentioned, the piece is made up predominantly of string instruments. Structurally, it begins and finishes in a similar way, building up to a dramatic climax in the middle and slowing down towards the end.
Orphan
The music starts with the sonund of a child singing a song, which would seem innocent but is made to sound more sinister by accompaning it with a low string drone in a minor key. There is a piano or something similar playing a fast paced part which sounds like "twinkling" noises. Drums are only used to highlight important parts of the music and move the piece along. Many sound effects are used, such as rushing noises and glass smashing, adding to the sinister feel of the music. Very high piano chords and strings are played with very low strings, which gives the music a rich yet sinister texture. Again. the music reaches a climax in the middle of the piece.
The next piece of music is actually from an American television drama, but includes some music that could be adapted into a horror film from 1:32 to 3:38.
One Tree Hill
High, screechy sounding strings are used, and coupled with lower bass strings this creates an eerie atmosphere. The use of drums and sudden swells in volume accompany fast paced editing as the camera focusses on points of interest. The piece has a sinister sounding, minor tonality. There are also frequent changes in tempo and metre to make the music sound confused and erratic, which reflects the nature of the situation. The strings slide in an ascending pattern towards a climax while the volume gets gradually louder in order to build up tension. When the door slams, the music suddenly stops and is replaced by totally diagetic sound, reflecting the abrupt nature of what has just happened.