Essay Questions #1

1 Describe the three basic types of music heard in the original scores during the silent film era and cite specific examples from The Birth of a Nation. * There are three basic types of music that can be heard in the original scores during the silent film era. These 3 type are known as adaptations, arrangements, and newly composed music or originals. Adaptations of Classical Works usually involve large action and dramatic scenes. They typically involve the borrowing of part or all of a song for the use in a film score. For example, in The Birth of a Nation, adaptations were used when an arrangement by Mozart was used for the Lincoln assassination as well as the end of the movie. Since this composition is one of seriousness and intensity, it was used to give the scenes a sense of tension and violence. Arrangements can be defined as remakes of previously composed work. In these works, a composer will borrow only the melody of a classic song and recreate it to make an entirely new sound. In The Birth of a Nation, many well-known melodies are used to emotionally connect to the audience. Tunes such as “Maryland, My Maryland” and “Dixie” are put into the film to create a lighter less dramatic feeling. New and original compositions, are defined as just that. A song with melody in which the composer writes without the help of other tunes. These are typically written specifically for the film itself. Griffith uses this type of music to create a recreate themes that run throughout the entirety of the film.

2 What is the role of source music in Casablanca? * Music plays a very important role in the popular film Casablanca. The supporting music helps make every scene as realistic as possible and build a sense of “love story”. The music is carefully planned to bring out the details in each scene. It helps develop the characters and their