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
In this clip the music creates a certain heroism for rather neutral images:
2. Illustrating Movement
In the following clip the music syncs up with motion in several occasions:
3. Creating Plot Relationships
4. Create Atmosphere
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
Here’s the legendary ending sequence of ET without music:
And the same scene WITH music:
6. Social/Cultural/Geographic References
The opening sequence of this series pretty specifically sets the location of it musically:
7. Time/Period References
8. Connect Scenes/Montages
Here’s an example of a montage being glued together by music:
9. Manipulate
10. Alternate the Perception of Time
In this scene, the slow motion shots are being scored very excitingly giving this sequence the emotional importance:
11. Imply a Sense of Space
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
This excerpt shows how music pushes the situation into a surreal atmosphere right from the beginning.
13. Create Contradictions
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
In this scene, the music sets some comedic parody moments:
15. Physiological Conditioning
This scene from INTERSTELLAR and its music create a strong sense of urgency, pushing the adrenaline:
16. Implying Size Relations
17. Psychologically Uniting the Audience
In this scene the music unites the characters in the movie as well as the audience:
18. Character Development
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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.