Download Lecture Notes Chapter 30

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MUSIC 004 FILM MUSIC
Lecture Notes: Chapter 30 – Symphonic Scores, 1989-1996
Douglas Starr, Music Faculty Adjunct
Text: “Reel Music, Exploring 100 Years of Film Music,” Hickman, Roger, Norton & Company, © 2006
ISBN: 0-393-92574-9 Tests will be taken from chapter content in the text, lecture notes and directly
from musical passages on screened portions of films in class.
With the end of the cold war, America leads in artistic and technological development. Movies
can now easily be viewed in the home and post-production sales become part of revenue
forecasts.
http://www.filmsite.org/1989.html
The films of 1989-1996 reflect trends in moviemaking:
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Films with dark moods (Batman)
Historical Realism (Glory)
Graphic violence (Saving Private Ryan)
Symphonic scores (Schindler’s List)
Fantasy films – Batman, 1989 scored by Danny Elfman, full orchestra
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Film noir traits of use of lower instrumental resisters
Non film noir traits of use of full dynamic orchestra
Prominence of minor keys
Gothic trait instruments. E.g. pipe organ
See opening scene, Batman theme treated in variations
Historical Dramas – To portray realism in historical settings, full orchestra
1. Glory, (1989) scored by James Horner
 A Civil war era film with source music of the time’s instruments
 The military sounds of solo trumpet, military drums and marches
 The Harlem Boys choir in sounds depicting African American Soldiers
 See final scene, Principal theme and triumphal music when Commander Shaw
Soldier Trip fall together
2. Schindler’s List (1993) scored by John Williams
 Another Spielberg/Williams collaboration
 The score is unique in its concern for beauty and introspection
 The solo violin pitted against the orchestra is a metaphor for the voice of the Jewish
people as a minority among the German people
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The use of Jewish popular music, Klezmer, is another sound depicting its people
The music is often aloof from the dramatic action
See Trailer, Schindler’s List theme of solo violin and orchestra
Comedies – Films with a message
1. Home Alone (1990) a John Williams film score
 A film of family relationships during Christmas
 Williams creates underscoring from traditional Christmas music
 See “Carol of the Bells” variations and church scene
International Films:
1. France- Blue (1993) scored by Zbigniew Preisner
 Music of a composer’s life and death
 See Trailer, His wife finishes his music