...Midterm #1 Essays 1) Describe the three basic types of music heard in original scores during the silent film era and cites specific examples from The Birth of a Nation. (10 points) Adaptations of classical works, arrangements of well-known melodies, and newly composed music are the three basic types of music that is heard in The Birth of the Nation. Adaptations of Classical Works involve large action and dramatic scenes in most cases, but, Mass a passage in the Birth of the Nation that was attributed to Mozart that was used for the ending and also during Lincoln’s assassination. But most commonly Classical works is placed in tense, apprehensive, action and violent moments throughout the film. Arrangements of well-known melodies are primarily used to bring about emotions and create the disposition or set the moods. Tunes such as “Maryland, My Maryland” and “Dixie” are put into the film to create a brighter, not as tense view. New music which is the third basic type of music that is head in original scores during the silent film era with specific examples from The Birth of the Nation, D.W Griffith uses new music to create themes that represent the aspect of the story and also to alter the themes to reflect the changes that are occurring in the story. 2) What is the role of source music in Casablanca? (10 points) Casablanca uses source music to identify a scene, to compliment the character or mood, and to introduce the famous melody. Casablanca is set around a war and...
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...The fact that the music of films often has powerful effects on its audience is undisputed. Careful examination of the reasons behind these effects, however, has been largely ignored. We tend to compare previously unassociated dramatic pieces we hear to film music - but what piece cannot be compared to film music nowadays? Every pre-composed piece or spontaneous melodic fragment is potential fodder for a cinematic soundtrack. The real questions lie in how and why people have been compelled to combine drama with music throughout history. This essay attempts to clarify some of music's manifold roles in cinema and the reasons behind them by using as an example composer Bernard Herrmann's Citizen Kane soundtrack. In order to address these issues, a brief overview of the history of music in cinema is required. The root of music in film harks back to the Greek melodrams (the precursor in both literal language and event to the melodramas of today), a cross between a play and fledgling opera in which spoken word is accompanied by music.[1] As time passed, melodrams developed into opera, giving rise to types of performances known as number opera (those composed of a collection of closed pieces) and continuous opera (those including nonstop music), divisions that film soundtracks would later echo. Wagner's full-fledged support of program music at this time, as opposed to the absolute music that had previously reigned supreme, resulted in his novel invention of leitmotifs (first used...
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...Short Essays The essays should be typed with double-spaces. 1) Describe the three basic types of music heard in original scores during the silent film era and cites specific examples from The Birth of a Nation. (10 points) 1-2 ¶‘s * Adaption is one basic type of music heard during the silent film era. With adaptation you borrow substantial portions of existing music, usually classical, for use in film score. The music should remain largely in tack, although it can be altered or adapted to fit the film. Some examples of adaption can be heard in The Birth of a Nation, one is the use symphony No.6 by Ludwig van Beethoven and another is Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner. The latter serving as a leitmotif for the ride of the KKK. * Arrangement is another basic type of music heard during the silent film era. With arrangement you also borrow music, unlike adaption though, you only borrow melodies, usually well known, and create new accompaniments and arrangement to it. The Birth of a Nation also uses arrangements such as popular southern tunes like “Dixie” and “Maryland, My Maryland”(the same melody as “O Christmas Tree”). * Lastly, original Music was also heard in original score during the silent film era. As the name implies this is music written specifically for the film and is not borrowed from other previously composed music. This type of music is also expressed in The Birth of a Nation. Carl Breil who wrote the score created numerous leitmotifs for...
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...1) Describe the three basic types of music heard in original scores during the silent film era and cites specific examples from The Birth of a Nation. (10 points) The three basic types of music heard in original scores during the silent film era are adaption, arrangement, and original music. Adaption follows the strategy of borrowing pieces of existing music. The pieces do maintain majority of their original structure, but may be tweaked to the fit the film better. “Symphony No. 6”, by Ludwig Van Beethoven, is a great illustration of this in Birth of a Nation. The second type of music, arrangement, also follows the strategy of borrowed pieces, however it only uses the melody of the track. The melody is then altered with new accompaniments and arrangements. The Birth of a Nation shows this idea through “Maryland, My Maryland”, which utilizes the same melody as “O Christmas Tree”. Finally, original music was used, consisting of pieces written specifically for the film. Carl Breil, the score composer for Birth of a Nation, demonstrates this type of music through many leitmotifs paired with certain characters throughout the movie. For example, Elsie’s joyous and naïve tune. With adaptation you borrow substantial portions of existing music, usually classical, for use in film score. The music should remain largely in tack, although it can be altered or adapted to fit the film. Some examples of adaption can be heard in The Birth of a Nation, one is the use symphony No.6 by...
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...during the silent film era and cite specific examples from The Birth of a Nation. Music alone can become a powerful source that affects our daily lives also playing a huge role in regards to art, film, and everywhere we go in general. In movies, music foreshadow scenes for viewers and builds up our emotions which increases our feeling of happiness, sorrow, hilarity, fear, and much more. During the silent film era there were three basic types of music heard in original scores; consisting of adaptions of classics, arrangements of tunes, and newly composed music which can also found in the silent film Birth of a Nation. Adaption to classical music indicates a dramatic scene that is about to be played out, Birth of a Nation used music by Mozart to indicate the tension and violence during the assassination of Lincoln and the ending of the movie. Arrangements of tunes are used to set and brighten the mood, for example “My Maryland, My Maryland” and “Dixie” were used to lessen the tension bringing a brighter atmosphere into play. Newly composed music being the third basic type of score was used to change the theme of a story as Birth of a Nation has done with D.W Griffith’s music. 2. What is the role of source music in Casablanca? 3. The music for Gone with the Wind is the paradigm of the Classic Hollywood film score, and the music for Citizan Kane represents, like the film as a whole, a departure. Describe the basic characteristics of the Classic Hollywood film score using...
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...during the silent film era and cite specific examples from The Birth of a Nation. Music alone can become a powerful source that affects our daily lives also playing a huge role in regards to art, film, and everywhere we go in general. In movies, music foreshadow scenes for viewers and builds up our emotions which increases our feeling of happiness, sorrow, hilarity, fear, and much more. During the silent film era there were three basic types of music heard in original scores; consisting of adaptions of classics, arrangements of tunes, and newly composed music which can also found in the silent film Birth of a Nation. Adaption to classical music indicates a dramatic scene that is about to be played out, Birth of a Nation used music by Mozart to indicate the tension and violence during the assassination of Lincoln and the ending of the movie. Arrangements of tunes are used to set and brighten the mood, for example “My Maryland, My Maryland” and “Dixie” were used to lessen the tension bringing a brighter atmosphere into play. Newly composed music being the third basic type of score was used to change the theme of a story as Birth of a Nation has done with D.W Griffith’s music. 2. What is the role of source music in Casablanca? 3. The music for Gone with the Wind is the paradigm of the Classic Hollywood film score, and the music for Citizan Kane represents, like the film as a whole, a departure. Describe the basic characteristics of the Classic Hollywood film score using...
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...Midterm 1 Music 468 Spring, 2015 Short Essays You will write three essays in all. The essays should be typed with double-spaces. For the 10-point essays, think of a paragraph or two, and for the 20-point essays aim for three or more paragraphs. Since this is an exam, I am limited in the answers that I can give if you have questions. All of these points are covered in the book and addressed during lecture. 1) Describe the three basic types of music heard in original scores during the silent film era and cites specific examples from The Birth of a Nation. (10 points) The three basic types of music heard in original scores during the silent film era were Adaptations of classical works, arrangements of well-known melodies, and newly composed music. Adaptions of classical works borrow a substantial portion of an existing composition for use in a film. In the Birth of a Nation, classical music is in dramatic and action scenes. Classical works are played during Lincoln's assassination, and also during violent and action scenes in the movie. Arrangements of well-known melodies borrow melodies to create emotions, disposition, and set the mood. An example of an arrangement from The Birth of a Nation would be works such as tunes such as “Maryland, My Maryland” and “Dixie.” Newly composed music uses new music to create themes that stand for the aspect of the story. 2) What is the role of source music in Casablanca? (10 points) The role of source...
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...Between Dreams and Reality: The Citizen Kane Effect “If I hadn’t been very rich, I might have been a really great man.” Charles Kane has said to audiences since 1941. Citizen Kane has been a staple in the classrooms of film studies as well as on lists of classic movies. Although meant to have been premiered on February 14, 1941 at Radio City Music Hall, the intense threats of William Randolph Hearst, who it is believed Orson Welles modeled the fictional character of Kane from, caused most theatres unwilling to risk backlash and thus striking the film from their show lineups. Financial success at the box office was assured to be nonexistent and eventually caused Welles departure from RKO Studios and restricted direction freedom on his future projects. The controversy surrounding the film didn’t stop there. True authorship will forever be debated with credit being distributed between co-writers Mankiewicz and Welles. Although either side you take gain perspective on the core audience they developed their groundbreaking story for and undoubtably had the greatest impact on: the middle class liberal males of the 1940’s and 1950’s. “The people are going to see Citizen Kane, and not one of them will be quite the same person after seeing it as he was before. It is profoundly moving an experience as only this extraordinary and hitherto unexplored medium of sound-cinema can afford in two hours. You leave it with regret, wishing you could see it all through again, feeling...
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...scores during the silent film era and cites specific examples from The Birth of a Nation. (10 points) There are three basic types of music heard in The Birth of a Nation. Each type serves it’s own purpose in the film. The first is adaptations of classical works. These adaptations are extended versions of the original classical piece of work. These adaptations are used for extensive action scenes. For example, Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyrie is the leitmotif for the Klu Klux Klan in the movie. The second type is arrangements of well-known melodies. These well-known melodies are used for emotional appeal. For example, “Dixie”, a very popular song of the South, is used to express Southern patriotism. Also, these well-known melodies were used to set a racist mood. A scene shows slaves dancing to “Turkey in the Straw”. Lastly, the third type is original music. The original music is used to reinforce the characters of the movie. For example, Elsie has a sweet, playful leitmotif. This theme implies her innocence. The original music in The Birth of a Nation is the strongest of the three types, composed by Joseph Carl Briel. 2) What is the role of source music in Casablanca? (10 points) The role of source music in Casablanca is in the development of the character Rick. The source music used is mostly American popular music. All the popular songs used are barrowed. The only exception is “Knock on Wood,” which was created specially for this film. The beginning of the film starts with melodies...
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...Film History & Research Citizen Kane Film Essay Orson Welles' Citizen Kane Success the first time around is very uncommon. Orson Welles's first feature film richly realizes the full potential of excellent craftsmanship. Citizen Kane is almost indisputably the greatest achievement in the history of filming. In 1941, this film was considered by many as the best film ever made. This film is about the enormous conflict between two twentieth-century icons, publisher William Randolph Hearst and the prodigy of his time, Orson Welles. The rather overwhelming beginning of an opening sequence is still as electrifying as any in the history of movies. That tarnished sign on a forbidding black wire fence is the first thing we see in Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. Citizen Kane is a movie about perception and projection. Indeed, with the complex theme the whole movie seems to be placed in a kind of psychological trauma for the viewers. Citizen Kane is a portrait of a public and private figure that remains tantalizingly unfinished. Excellent acting was revealed for the first time as these new roles played out. Orson Welles was a director ahead of his time and his portrayal of Kane shows his acting ability. This film is one of the first films to rely heavily on style and visuals; Citizen Kane uses camera, lighting, and set techniques to show Kane's rise and fall from power. The movie as a whole, though as artistically satisfying as a picture can get...
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...original scores during the silent film era, were adaptations, newly composed music, and arrangements. Adaptations of classical works are usually used in action and dramatic scenes and involve borrowing of a substantial portion of an existing composition for use in a film score. In The Birth of a Nation an example of adaptations was when a composition by Mozart was used for a scene that showed Lincoln’s assassination as well as for the ending of the entire movie. These music was used to portray the tension and violence in these scenes. Adaptations are the most prominent in the film. This type of music is meant to be very recognizable as well as well as true to the original piece. Newly composed music is music that is created to reflect themes that are highly specific to the storyline of the film. This new music is original and is created for the film. D.W. Griffith uses this time of music to create themes that run throughout the story and attach to specific characters and their role in the film. Themes can be altered throughout the film to reflect a change in the story or the mood. Arrangements are a new form of a previously composed melody. In an arrangement the film composer borrows the just the melody from a classic and creates an almost entirely new sound. In The Birth of a Nation, arrangements of well-known melodies are used to stir up emotions. Southern songs such as “Maryland, My Maryland”, “Old Folks at Home”, and “Dixie” remind the viewer of the films setting as well as incite...
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...The Critics Corner Roger Ebert a prolific movie critic, had this to say about “Citizen Kane,” “Citizen Kane” is more than a great movie; it is a gathering of all the lessons of the emerging era of sound, just as “Birth of a Nation” assembled everything learned at the summit of the silent era, and “2001” pointed the way beyond narrative (Ebert, 1998).” I most certainly agree with Mr. Ebert on this movie does begin to break into the categories not yet truly explored in movies sound and special effects. However being a child and growing up in the age of “Star Wars” and most recently “Avatar” I found myself losing interest quickly. “For the first time in the American cinema, the very process of telling a story on film became every bit as tricky and exhilarating as the story itself”, said columnist Owen Gleiberman. (Gleiberman, 1991) Certainly agree with the columnist here the story itself although to me took a moment to unfold at the end became a lot more plain for the viewers. Citizen Kane proved to be a slightly difficult movie to watch not because the acting was horrible or the movie production was awful but more because it was not what I was accustomed to. The movie started a little slow with the introduction of the main character in what almost seemed like a very early slide show. The takeaway from the movie as opposed to what Mr. Ebert stated in his review I believe is to see how far we have come as a movie going and producing society. The movie was a masterpiece...
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...Hollywood elite, and most importantly the United States government? Also, Welles left the country at a time when the dreaded “blacklist” was starting to funnel through Hollywood (“Orson” 17). Whether this was coincidence or intentional is debatable, but either way the ramifications may have helped account for the different direction he took with his post-Hollywood career. Did Orson’s fame draw too much attention and lead to his downfall? The Orson Welles we all know was an American writer, director, producer, and actor. He was known for his innovative productions, unique voice and personality, and was acclaimed as one of the most successful artist of the twentieth century (“Orson” 1). Welles expanded many medias, working in radio, television, film, and theatre (which is how Welles got his start). Welles made his stage debut in...
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...While researching film made in the Nineteenth Century I found that the use of technology brought new idea and cause a revelation that effected movie goer worldwide. The following time line shows how each innovation had an effect on the technology that was introduce in that time period. The expectation of movie goers was high as a result the film makers came up with new way of composing motion picture on the big screen. The thought process was open to new possibility. The use of movie projection called magic lantern was introduce in the Seventeenth Century. The use of different filming technique was on the rise. The thought process of movie composer consists of what they were exposed to and to shoot at different perspective. It was well thought out. A movie that was directly influenced by a technological advancement was Alfred Hitchcock, “Vertigo”. To achieve my point, I have organized my paper into four main sections, two of which have sub-sections. In the first section, there is a record of three important events in twentieth century motion picture history: technological changes, the information revolution, a film by Alfred Hitchcock. The techniques he used and how it paved the way for movie director that came after him. It discuss articles a about how the movie Vertigo played an important role and how it impacted the twentieth century film making producer and filming in connecting with his audience. The paper ends with a third section that the film functioned on multiple...
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... CHAPTER 4 Chapter Objectives After reading this chapter, students should: • Have a working knowledge of the cinematographer’s job • Understand the difference between cinematography and mise en scène and recognize the importance of each • Understand the importance of color and lighting and how they affect the tone and feel of a film • Be familiar with different methods of photographing a film, and with terms such as panning, tilting, tracking shots, deep focus, and aspect ratios • Understand how different focal length lenses affect the look of a shot • Recognize what special effects can do for a movie—and what they can’t do 4.1 The “Look” of a Scene W hen we are first introduced to Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, played by Marlon Brando, the Mafia boss is sitting in the study of his home. Along with his consigliore, or adviser, Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), Corleone is listening to a line of people requesting favors on the day of his daughter’s wedding. Corleone is immensely powerful, as we learn by the scope of the favors he is asked to grant, which in one case includes the desire of a singer to be cast in a film to revive his musical career, and Corleone’s ability to grant them. However, it is not just what Corleone says in the scene, which introduces us to all that will follow, that makes us aware of his power. It is also how the scene looks, how it is shot, and how color and light are combined that give The Godfather such an immediately distinctive...
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