What is the function of film music?
The function of music in the movies is a very wide field.
Music can serve several purposes that are either important on the emotional side of the movie or help/enhance the storytelling. It is not only helpful but essential for any director/producer to keep the music in mind when planning/shooting the movie. For example collages that practically don’t work at all without film music can have a fantastic effect later with the appropriate music.
You can extend every function below by clicking on the arrow in order to read a description of this function.
The following list tries to be a comprehensive overview about possible functions of film music in a movie. Some functions overlap sometimes or some music serves several functions at other times.
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1. Commenting
This is a function that shouldn’t be overdone. Music can put a judgement on certain movie scenes, it can state that a certain battle scene is heroic, a certain dialogue is sad etc. In the early days of film music, the function of the music was most of the time to comment on the images. Nowadays we perceive this as an annoying redundancy most of the time but used cleverly it will help push the audience into the right direction.
In this clip the music creates a certain heroism for rather neutral images:
2. Illustrating Movement
Another function that feels rather old fashioned and comedy. Accenting with the music every movement seen on screen is so-called mickey-mousing (coming from a scoring technique that was often used in Mickey Mouse cartoons). Hearing xylophone “plings” when someone raises his eyebrow etc. feels very cartoony however it can be great in slapstick moments and when done well even in dramatic situations.
In the following clip the music syncs up with motion in several occasions:
3. Creating Plot Relationships
The use of so-called leitmotifs has been established by Richard Wagner in the opera and has often be used in film context since the early days of film music. Giving certain characters/situations/places thematic identities helps to connect certain plot points together. When the villian gets a theme and later we hear that theme again when somebody talks about a “stranger” we get a very clear hint of who that stranger might be. It doesn’t need to be that obvious for leitmotifs to work, of course. However, be warned to not overdo that technique. Not every supporting role needs a motif/theme and it can quickly feel very old fashioned when using this method extensively.
4. Create Atmosphere
This is one of the strongest function of music in the movies. It can set the tone of the movie. Just by the way the score comes in for the first time in the movie makes it possible to know the genre and the “level of drama” of the movie. Of course exactly this really strong function can be used to create plot twists.
The intro of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS already sets the atmosphere for the entire movie in site of the visuals being rather neutral.
5. Portray Emotions
Another very strong function. Music can serve the movie by getting into the emotions of the characters. A face with a neutral expression can be pushed into “feeling” many different things just by what kind of music is used. In the same way it works of course very well to evoke certain emotions with the audience.
Here’s the legendary ending sequence of ET without music:
And the same scene WITH music:
6. Social/Cultural/Geographic References
Music can work very well to make clear the heritage of a character/group of characters or the geographic setting of the movie or a scene. Often so called pseudo authenticity is used that uses music that feels like a certain location to western ears as opposed to actual music that can be heard at that location (which differs quite heavily sometimes). If for example Irish sounding music can be heard during a certain scene etc. we can easily spot where it’s taking place without the need of visually establishing the location too much.
The opening sequence of this series pretty specifically sets the location of it musically:
7. Time/Period References
Music can also work very well to establish a certain time or period. Music that sounds very baroque will put us back into the 18th century but references can also be more subtle. Flashbacks over a few decades for for example can be very well supported by the musical style which adapts to the time portrayed in the movie and therefore makes the flashbacks more understandable.
8. Connect Scenes/Montages
Music helps very well to glue scenes together. Rather harsh scene changes can be softened by adding music over the scene change. One of the extremes of these forms are montages which work beautiful with music. Even though we might have a lot of jumps in time/places or even periods, when the montage is covered under one score cue it will at the same time be glued together and understood as a whole.
Here’s an example of a montage being glued together by music:
9. Manipulate
One of the functions of music that is and has been used quite a lot, even though it is not one of the most noble functions of music. Doubtful contents of a movie can be pushed into the “right” direction by music as it has been seen with lots of propaganda movies from all periods of times. However it can also be used very cleverly. For example when a character that is being portrayed as “the good guy” but actually is the villain. However in this case this fact will only be revealed at the end of the movie. Any moment before where the audience might get trapped into maybe thinking that he might be the evil guy, the music can jump in and manipulate in the way of working against these doubts.
10. Alternate the Perception of Time
The perception of time is a fantastic playground for music. Just by altering the tempo of music, it can heavily push or drag any scene. Imagine a chase sequence where the music pushed with lots of tempo, exciting orchestration etc. compared to the same sequence with a calm, slow music. The latter one would almost feel like irreal but it would make the scene way less exciting. Same goes for any time perception. A scene where we see a person waiting which lasts only 30 seconds can be extended painfully in the perception by the music.
In this scene, the slow motion shots are being scored very excitingly giving this sequence the emotional importance:
11. Imply a Sense of Space
Not only the perception of time but also the perception of space can be influenced by the music. Using a very intimate piano+violin duo on a space science fiction movie might seem just as wrong as using a full symphony orchestra in a two character movie that’s taking place in a small flat. Also by the use of register (very deep sub bass or very high violin notes as opposed to music that plays mainly in the middle registers) can leave an impression of “size”.
In this dialogue scene, the music opens up the size of the underwater world by having a lonely flute line on top of rumbling basses/celli.
12. Create Unreal Situations
Characterizing nightmares or situations of shock or being paralyzed can be done perfectly by the music. Anything that gives the feeling of not being real can be greatly enhanced by the music. Nightmares of characters can be made much more impressive with the right music.
This excerpt shows how music pushes the situation into a surreal atmosphere right from the beginning.
13. Create Contradictions
Music that sounds like something that is not expected in a certain scene will create a feeling of “something is not right”. It works great for example on dialogues that are actually neutral from the content of what is being said. However having a really dark and sinister music under this scene will leave the impression that something will be happening, something might be wrong here.
This well known sequence from SCHINDLER’S LIST overlays the gruesome liquidation of the ghetto with a classical piano piece, creating the strongest musical contradicition possible.
14. Parody
Music can influence very strongly whether we find a scene to be serious or laughable. It can use this ability to create fantastic parodies of characters or situations in the movie. One very simple example would be a character who pretends to be very evil and acts like this, however the music just gives him/her a quirky wannabe-evil march.
In this scene, the music sets some comedic parody moments:
15. Physiological Conditioning
Music can also influence and stimulate our very basic emotions like fear and therefore evoke in a best case scenario every physiological consequence that comes with that emotion like racing heart, sweaty hands etc. Especially in the genre of horror and thriller, these effects are used extensively. A certain level of volume will make it impossible for the body and the conscious mind to detach from these emotions. Shock effects in scores/movies as well as terrifying buildups (cop sneaking in a dark basement – he’s approaching a corner – music gets louder and more terrifying etc.) are very common and work great, however quickly can feel like a cheap trick when used too often. It is also possible to influence into other emotional directions, which is more subtle and doesn’t have the obvious effect as fear etc.
This scene from INTERSTELLAR and its music create a strong sense of urgency, pushing the adrenaline:
16. Implying Size Relations
A little boy walking alone through a huge city is just a scene that might be very suitable for this use of film music. In this case the music can enlarge the visual differences between these things by giving the boy a little innocent flute motif on top of a very low, boiling music which might symbolize the huge city. In this way, things that can’t be seen like that on the screen can be set into relationship. If this little innocent boy from above might actually be a really brave, heroic person who has done or is about to do big things the music might set him into another “size” dimension to the city even though the images don’t reveal that yet.
17. Psychologically Uniting the Audience
One of the most obvious case of such a function of music are national anthems whose function of course also is, to unite the “nation”. The same works in the music. Especially euphoric, heroic emotions can be used very effectively to get this collective emotion. Often, well known songs/music pieces can be used for that as they are easier accessable than music that the audience hears for the first time. However, even a very heroic score cue on top of a scene where the heroes of the movie walk through a crowd applauding a cheering at them after they fought the last big battle and won can create exactly this collective feeling of having been part of all that also with the audience.
In this scene the music unites the characters in the movie as well as the audience:
18. Character Development
Music can help the audience to understand or develop character. For example, through listening to the song “When She Loved Me,” in Toy Story 2, the audience learns the sad story of the character “Jesse.”
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Thank you .
Film music is often misused in Nollywood. Because of the absence of trained professionals.
I feel that music deters from rather than adds to TV or films. Surely the content of the vision should address all the above points. Countless times dialogue in dramas etc is drowned by music and documentaries certainly don’t need it. Keep these art forms separate I say.
Robin –
This is an excellent list. Might I suggest that you add Youtube links of examples?
BTW, I once asked Hans Zimmer what he thought the function of a composer in a film was. He said, “To think of things the director hasn’t thought of.”
Thanks! This would involve a hell of a lot of research which I simply don’t have the time for currently. I’m happy to add any video clips that fit the specific functions if you find any, though 🙂
what does, “to think of things the director hasn’t thought of” mean?
Very interesting and enlightening
An excellent and superb explanation of film music and soundtracks effects. This is very helpful.
I am a teacher at an arts high school in CA. I’ve been teaching a course on Film Literature for a number of years. One area that needed bolstering was the use of music in film. I have many students who are not musicians who felt deficient due to their lack of musical vocabulary. We have used your list and are most grateful. My students requested examples of the each of the functions. I incorporated them into our presentation (the link is in the website box). I began referencing your work at slide thirty. I have revised a bit for my high school students’ purposes. I fancy you might be able to include some of the links as examples on your site. Thank you for posting this content!
Thanks so much Stacie. I didn’t have the time yet to research Youtube for appropriate clips! I will include those in the list!
Stacie,
I did not see a link. I would love a copy of the slides you’re talking about. ryanDOTsaulATpetalschoolsDOTcom (obviously with the abbreviations)
Thanks,
Ryan Saul
And this is great info on site! Thanks for sharing.
Ryan, if you click on her name above, you’ll be transfered to her presentation.
This is awesome, Robin and Stacie! I am currently enrolled in a TESOL certification program. May I use these for my demo project?
My undergrad is on Liberal Arts with major in Communication Arts — it includes film, among others. I’ve always thought music plays a major role in film but is not much appreciated.
I will include clips I can find once I learn how to incorporate them into the presentation.
Thanks, and stay safe! =)
Great piece of information
Excellent list, thorough and interesting. Music is like a second engine of a vehicle. It interacts with the visual information, but still can influence the audience in its own way. Nice effort to summarise the practices into theories.
Hi Robin. Thanks for posting this information. It is very interesting because it also applies to the use of film music in other media such as multimedia, games and audio dramas. We have been so exposed to film music that we can recognize what it means, and that translates to other media as well when we use it there.
For example, I produce flash fiction stories narrated over short film music and sound effects. I use short pieces that are available on music licensing sites such as West One Music because I get access to lucious music by composers such as Richard Allen Harvey. The uses you describe in your post also apply to my stories. The music is an integral part of the stories–they are symbiotic. The music creates a deep emotional and imaginative depth to the narrations.
When I first started my stories2music project in 2011, I used short stories or bits of other writing that I had previous written. I managed to find the perfect music for them. Eventually, I ran out of my own stories, so my process changed. Since film music can be narrative, I started listening to the music pieces, which then generated stories in my imagination. I now write the story to the music. The stories are driven by the narrative in the film music. It’s such an amazing process.
Anyway, you can see what I mean on my stories2music website: http://www.stories2music.com/
I also do educational podcasts and blogs about how film music and sound effects enhance audio stories (also available on the s2m website).
If you ever have the time or inclination, I’d love to do a quick interview for a podcast about the language of film music to tell a story and how we understand that story.