FILM MUSIC

Character motif
L.O.: 1. To explore the musical clichs used in creating
character motifs
and their effectiveness.
2. To compose your own character motif using
different devices.
3. To perform your character motif and evaluate its
success.

Task 1:

* Listen to the following extracts of music.

* Use the MUSICAL ELEMENTS cards to analyse the
extracts.
* Match the cards to the extracts (8 cards for each
MAIN MELODIC
IMAG
Extrac
extract)
IDEA

MAIN RHYTHMIC
IDEA
MODE/TONA
LITY
MOO
D

TEMP
O
INSTRUME
NTS

MAIN COMPOSITIONAL
DEVICE

t1

Extrac
t2
Extrac
t3

TEMPO
Slow
getting
quicker

MODE/TONA
LITY
Minor Key

MAIN COMPOSITIONAL
DEVICE
Use of Chromatics
MOOD
Mysterious Threatening

TEMPO
Stately
walking pace

MODE/TONA
LITY
Major Key

MAIN COMPOSITIONAL
DEVICE
Diatonic based on chord
triad MOOD
Optimistic Heroic

TEMPO
March like
walking pace

MODE/TONA
LITY
Major Key

MAIN COMPOSITIONAL
DEVICE
Disjunct awkward
intervals
MOOD
Threatening
Impending
Doom

Musical Clichs

* When composing for Film, a mood needs to be

instantly recognised.

* To help, there are a set of established clichs which

give instant results for the audience.
* Throughout the film the composer is able to
manipulate and change the initial motif to reflect the
development of the character.
* Today, you will be composing your own character motif
so you will need to remember to capture the mood
instantly for your audience.
* Here are a few well-established clichs:

HAPPY

Musical Clichs
SAD

Instruments: brass, woodwind, strings,

Instruments: strings, woodwind, piano
percussion
Pitch: low
Pitch: high
Timbre: smooth timbre
Timbre: bright timbre
Texture: gradually building or thick
Texture: moderate, gradually getting thicker
Melodic ideas: descending melody
Melodic ideas: rising melody
mainly in step with a few awkward
in step melody
intervals
based on the chord triad
Mode/Tonality: minor key, Dorian mode
Mode/Tonality: major key
Tempo: slow
Tempo: quick or stately
Rhythm: simple rhythms
Rhythm: lively rhythms, syncopation
Dynamics: fairly quiet, maybe gradually getting louder
Dynamics: loud (at moments can drop to
in moments of great distress
nothing to build back up again at moments of
great excitement)
Instruments: strings, synthesisers
Pitch: either extreme low or extreme
high
Timbre: smooth timbre
Texture: gradually builds in thickness
Melodic ideas: single suspended note

SUSPENSE

dissonance / cluster
chords
Mode/Tonality: whole-tone scale, minor
key
Tempo: slow, free time
Rhythm: simple, sustained rhythms
Dynamics: quiet, maybe gradually
getting louder
sudden loud stabs of sound
(accents)

Working in Pairs:

Task 2:

* You need to COMPOSE a motif for a given character.

* You need to think about how you can quickly
establish the mood of the character for your
audience.
* You CAN use some of the ideas on the MUSICAL
CLICHS sheet to help you and use the various
compositional skills you have learnt!
* Remember instrument soundsyou do not have to
keep the keyboard on the piano setting, experiment
with brass and strings.

Evaluation

1. Which group did you like the most? Why?

2. Which group do you think needs to develop their
motif further? Why?
3. Do you think your motif successfully answered the
brief? Why?
4. Why do composers use clichs in their character
motifs?
5. What can a composer do to the motif throughout
the film? Does it stay the same?
6. How could YOU further develop your theme?