MUSIC 2F03 Study Guide - Final Guide: Bernard Herrmann, Seven Samurai, Sound Film

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Music
• Course: MUSIC 2F03
• Professor: Simon Wood

Document Summary

Music for film & television final exam textbook notes: page 263: psycho the music. Uppo(cid:396)ti(cid:374)g hit(cid:272)h(cid:272)o(cid:272)k"s (cid:448)isual a(cid:374)d (cid:374)a(cid:396)(cid:396)ati(cid:448)e effe(cid:272)ts is a(cid:374) i(cid:374)(cid:374)o(cid:448)ati(cid:448)e s(cid:272)o(cid:396)e (cid:271)(cid:455) be(cid:396)(cid:374)a(cid:396)d he(cid:396)(cid:396)(cid:373)a(cid:374). Reflecting the stark black-and-white cinematography, the music is written for a string orchestra, forgoing the variety of colours provided by wind and percussion instruments. Mo(cid:396)eo(cid:448)e(cid:396), the t(cid:396)eat(cid:373)e(cid:374)t of the st(cid:396)i(cid:374)gs, (cid:396)e(cid:373)i(cid:374)is(cid:272)e(cid:374)t of t(cid:396)a(cid:448)i(cid:374)sk(cid:455)"s rite of spring, is often harsh and percussive, with frequent hard accents and pizzicato effects. Rarely are the strings allowed to play in the lyrical fashion normally associated with these instruments. With these limited orchestral colours, herrmann created a unified score that is consistently dissonant. There are certainly contrasts in mood, ranging from the tender, loving sound of the hotel room to the terror of the shower. But all the cues project a common disturbed quality through the frequent use, both harmonically and melodically, of minor seconds and major sevenths.