Fiction Film Soundtracks Pt.2

Various Film Genre Soundtracks

Harry Potter: The Prisoner Of Azkaban

This is one of my favourite scenes from this movie, the non diegetic sound in this scene begins with children singing the intro of the soundtrack, while the diegetic sounds of the scene, numerous horse and cart's trampling through a rainy and muddy embankment. This part of the scene is very enchanting and  magical and invokes memories & feelings from childhood. 

The Crescendo of this scene is when the scene changes to show the choir of children singing the song in an Auditorium which again invokes memories of childhood, this scene generally has a very magical enchanted feel to it. 

It was composed by John Williams during the film's production as he felt it to be a warm welcome back to Hogwarts. The song was sung by the London Oratory School Schola. This song's lyrics are taken directly from William Shakespear's Macbeth.

Film Music: Touching The Void

Use Of Music In Film 

Often we fail to appreciate just how important music is in enhancing the cinematic experience, a movie scene can boast stunning cinematography and great acting, but often it's using the right piece of music that will nudge a scene into iconic territory, where it will never be forgotten.

Activity 1

In this scene Joe is struggling to escape the crevasse, the music follows Joe during his escape. Dramatic, & full of suspense was the music during Joe's climb. As he reaches the peak of the crevasse, where his freedom is moments away the music changes to express Joe's sense of freedom, and the grandeur of the ground covered with crisp white ice. 

Activity 2

The music change after the sudden cut from Joe climbing to the mountainous landscape suggests that what's about to happen is Joe's will finally make it to the top of the mountain. The mood suggested by the music is one of great relief, joy, & happiness. If I had to use one word to sum up how the music relates to the way Joe felt in that moment it would be "Freedom".


Activity 3

Fiction Film Soundtracks Pt.1

                  

Musical Features

Instruments, Tempo, Pitch, Duration 

 ET 

The Extra Terrestrial Original Trailer 1982

The music in this opening scene of this film consists of non diegetic music, violins playing quietly as a Narrator speaks over scenes from the movie. As the trailer goes on the music becomes more dramatic with trumpets being blown to match the images being shown on screen. The Crescendo of this scene consists of a big orchestra ending which highlights the credits including the John Williams the Composer.

Star Wars 

The non diegetic fanfare of music in this opening scene is very dramatic, an orchestra playing strings and bass. The diegetic sound Crescendo in this scene is from the engine of a spaceship which is slowly flying through the space foreground, as it fires shots at another spaceship which is in the background. The drama of the music matches the scenes duplicated on scene  

2001: A Space Odyssey

This scene opens with the sound of low frequency humming, which makes the scene very dramatic. A trumpet is then heard being blown very loudly followed by kettle drums beating. The Crescendo of the sound in this scene is the orchestra coming to an abrupt, dramatic, & enchanting ending as the Sun rises from behind a planet. 

This iconic movie soundtrack brings people back to 2001, this movie was directed by Stanley Kubrick, & the music is composed by Richard Strauss.

  

Sound: Film Language Sound

Analysis Of Sound

The sound used in the opening scene to Sherlock Holmes was a mixture of Diegetic & Non-Diegetic Sounds, here's a summary of the sounds I observed during the opening scene. 

The scene starts with a piano playing slow atmospheric music (Piano & Violin), a horse & cart is then heard in the background.

The tempo of the music then speeds up, & becomes more dramatic, a gun is heard being cocked, barrel of a gun is heard being spun.

The music becomes even more dramatic still with the introduction of drums beating rhythmically during the scene, a man running through the street (we hear his feet) passing a lot of diegetic sounds, such as a fire burning, a bird crowing. 

The Crescendo of the scene is Synchronous mix of the atmospheric music, & glass breaking, which gave a very dramatic and heart held feel to the ending of the scene.