An Introduction
to Music in
Movies
Historical Background:
Early Movies
• 1889
– Thomas Edison invented
the Kinetoscope
– Film was turned with a
crank
– Called the “peep show”
because only one person
at a time could watch
Historical Background continued…
• 1896
– Edison invented the Vitascope
– This machine could project the image
onto a wall
– Subjects included:
• circus acts
• dances
• boxing bouts
• comic scenes
• snippets
of this and that
Historical Background continued…
• 1903
– Edwin Porter
produced and
directed The Great
Train Robbery
– 11 minute long
complete story
– First successful
Western
– Beginning of film as
an art form
Historical Background continued…
• 1927
– The Vitaphone was invented
and the first talking film The
Jazz Singer.
– Now sound and film can be
synchronized, although it used
two separate machines that had
to be coordinated.
– It wasn’t until 1933 that we
could have both talking and
musical background in a film –
made possible by a soundtrack
which was a strip on the actual
film.
Early Movies & Music
• A piano was housed in the theatre and someone
would play music to accompany the action and mood
on the screen.
• The individual who was hired to play often made the
music up on the spot, depending on what was
happening on screen.
• In 1915, the premiere of The Birth of A Nation used
the first symphony orchestra as accompaniment for
the movie.
• During the 1920’s scoring music for film became
standard practice.
• In 1924, a music book called Motion Picture Moods
for Pianists and Organists was compiled by Erno
Rapee.
Characteristics – Movie Music
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Background music
Sets the basic mood
Enhances and intensifies the drama
Provides continuity
Helps establish character
Gives emotional insight
Background Music
• This music happens
off the screen
• It can be pop music
from the period of
the movie.
• For example, it
might be the music
playing at a party
or in a club.
Setting the Mood//Enhancing the Drama
• Music helps to set the
time and the place
and the feeling.
• It shows the viewer
the essence of the
film. It lets the
viewer know that they
“get” the message.
• It evokes a sense of
culture.
• Music should be a part
of the whole, without
the viewer being
aware of it.
• Music is used to
enhance the action in
a movie.
• In a scary movie, you
can tell when
something bad is
going to happen by
listening to the music.
• It triggers
anticipation,
emotional reactions,
heightens suspense,
and reinforces
climactic moments.
Provides Continuity
• Music helps to connect parts of the
movie together.
• Music that recurs throughout the
movie helps the viewer view the film
as a whole.
• The style in the music remains
consistent.
Establishes Character
• Music may establish character.
• Musical themes are repeated to
recall important associations.
• In the movie Superman (playing), the
theme tells us that the hero is
strong, tough, and one of the good
guys.
• The music may be used throughout
the film to let us know that help is
on the way and to announce the
entrance of our hero.
Psychological Insight
• Music complements the onscreen
action and reinforces the emotional
impact of a scene or film.
• In Schindler’s List, the haunting
theme is used to heighten a sense of
sadness and anguish for those lost
during the Holocaust and expresses
the grief of Oscar Schindler and his
friends that more could not have
been done to help save more Jews.
Movie Composer Attributes
• Movie composers have
special talents.
• In addition to writing
music, they have to
make the music fit
seamlessly.
• On top of that, they
usually conduct the
orchestra while
recording the score.
The music must fit the
scene and be timed
perfectly.
(John Williams conducting.)
John Williams (b.1932)
• Composed music
for almost 80
feature films
• Orchestral
conductor and
composer
• Steven Spielberg’s
composer of choice
• Web page address
www.johnwilliams.org
John Williams Movies(Selected)
• Star Wars (all)
• Indiana Jones (all)
• Harry Potter (all)
• E.T.
• Jaws
• Schindler’s List
• Jurassic Park
• Superman
• The Patriot
(How many have you seen?)
More John Williams Movies
• Saving Private
Ryan
• The Terminal
• A.I. (Artificial
Intelligence)
• Angela’s Ashes
• Stepmom
• Hook
• Sleepers
• Home Alone
• Close Encounters
John Williams Awards
• Has won 5 Academy
Awards, 4 for best
original score,
including Jaws, Star
Wars, E.T., and
Schindler’s List
• 43 total Academy
Award nominations
• 18 Grammys Awards
and 52 total
nominations
• 3 Golden Globes and
18 total nominations
• 2 Emmy Awards and 5
total nominations.
Williams Receives Academy Award
More Great Movie Composers
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Elmer Bernstein
Bernard Herrmann
Michael Kamen
Alan Silvestri
Jerry Goldsmith
Danny Elfman
Hans Zimmer
James Horner
Trevor Rabin
Trevor Jones
• Howard Shore
• James Newton
Howard
• Henry Mancini
• John Barry
• Rachel Portman
• Thomas Newman
• Randy Newman
• Mark Isham
• Marc Shaiman
Playing: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves by Michael Kamen
Good Movie Information Sites
• The Internet Movie Database,
www.imdb.com/ contains hundreds of
links and info on movies, composers, and
more.
• Film Music Society, Composer Links
www.filmmusicsociety.org/resources_links
/resources_links.html
• Dmoz Open Source Database Project
dmoz.org/Arts/Music/Movies/Composers/
References:
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Amazon.com (2005). Retrieved February 4, 2005 from
http://www.amazon.com/
Fowler, C. (1994). Music: Its Role and Importance in Our Lives,
Chap. 21, pp. 410-421. Glencoe McGraw-Hill, Woodland Hills,
California.
Internet Movie Database (2005). Retrieved January 25, 2005 from
http://www.imdb.com/
JohnWilliams.org (2005). Retrieved February 6, 2005 from
http://www.johnwilliams.org/
John Williams Collection (2005). Retrieved February 15, 2005 from
http://mahawa.jw-music.net/interviews/
Kamen, M. (1991). Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Soundtrack. Time
Warner Company. Burbank, California.
MichaelKamen.com (2005). Retrieved February 7, 2005 from
http://www.michaelkamen.com/site/
MovieMusic.com (2005). Retrieved February 15, 2005 from
http://www.moviemusic.com/vote/poll.asp?id=21
Newman, A. (1977). Spectacular World of Classic Film Scores. RCA
Victor/BMG Music. New York, N.Y.
PhillyDance.com (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2005 from
http://www.phillydance.com/~nationalcontra/
Williams, J. (1999). John Williams Greatest Hits. Sony Classics. Toronto,
Ontario.