Three basic types of music that are heard throughout Birth of a Nation include adaptation, arrangement, and original music. Adapations or the extended quotations of classical music can usually be heard alongside large action scenes. Dramatic scenes are also often related with adaptation. Adaptation can be heard during the assassination of President Lincoln as well as the ending of the movie. The biggest thing about adaptation is that it is most commonly heard throughout the action scenes where a lot of violence is seen. Setting moods and arousing emotions would be very difficult to do without the arrangement of well-known melodies. Melodies such as “Maryland, My Maryland” and “Dixie” can be heard through-out the film. These tunes were used in order to paint a brighter, not so jumpy mood. Newly composed music is the third type of basic music we hear in The Birth of a Nation. This music is put into the film in order to create new themes that represent the aspect of the story.

Casablanca is set around a war which forces the director to switch scenes from America to the Middle East quite often. Source music is used in order to identify scenes. There is a sequence of scenes that switch from an American restaurant and a Middle East restaurant. American music can be heard during the scene of the American restaurant, Rick’s Café, while Middle East music can be heard during the scene of the Middle East restaurant, The Blue Parrot Café. Source music is also used in order to introduce famous melodies. The theme of the film is heard through the song “As Time Goes By”. Source music is also used in order to go along with the moods and emotions of the characters. During the refugee scene source music is used in order to set the mood of the refugees.