Take Eight: Score!

I hope you took notice of the playlist I have displayed on the right of this blog. The songs on this playlist is music from many of my beloved films. I am sure you figured out where some of them are from. Especially, if you have been keeping up with my blog and watching or have watched some of the films I recommended. This music is the background music in films and is known as the score of a film. A score is specifically made to accompany a film. Usually scores are orchestral style music. However, recently the styles of scores have been incorporating electronic fundamentals as well. The score’s purpose is to enhance the emotional impact of the scenes in a film.

Composers write scores and are in the guidance of the director and or producers of a film in order to get the right feeling of music for the film. In order for a composer to make music for a film they must see a rough cut of the film. This is why most scores are written towards the editing process of a film. Placing the rough cut with the score the composer takes note of the timing making sure the right part of the music is in sync with what is happening in the scene of the film. Once the composer has written and orchestrated the song he must conduct it be it with an orchestra, chorus, etc. And finally once the music has been composed and orchestrated, the orchestra or ensemble performs the music with the composer conducting. The film is playing on a large screen while the orchestra is performing.

Scores ordinarily do not incorporate lyrics. However, there are some rare instances where a composer will write up a song to be sung by a singer. One example of this would be “My Heart Will Go On” which was the main theme song for the film Titanic (1997). The music was written by composer James Horner, lyrics by Will Jennings and Celine Dion sang it.

Scores are one of my favorite parts of a film. They are always so beautiful and do enhance the feelings you feel while watching a scene in the film with a score in the background. Horror films are a great example of this. Think about the last time you saw a horror film, now imagine one scary scene, was there music playing in the background? More often then not there is. Now imagine that same scene but without the score. It will probably not be as scary as you felt to be with the music. In Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Hitchcock originally did not want the shower scene to have music. However, when composer Bernard Herrmann, played the score while playing the shower scene Alfred Hitchcock changed his mind. The score from the shower scene in Psycho has been declared be many to being one of the scariest theme for any film. (Above left: Psycho shower scene with & without music) How about you what do you think about the music in the shower scene? Did you feel your emotions were more disturbed with or without the sound? Me personally, I thought the music did it more justice. Though some may argue that the scene gives more raw and fearful feelings with the sounds effects from the slashes of the knife rather then the music.

Weather you have seen the films or not most people recognize the theme from Star Wars. The composer of the score from Star Wars is John Williams and he uses a technique in which he has themes for important characters and events. The themes will often have a recurring musical phrase associating with the character or event. This is known as a leitmotif. Star Wars has many themes for is central characters like Dark Vader and Princess Leia. Princess Leia’s theme is one of my most favorite scores. It’s tune is so enchanting and romantic. John Williams is serious the man. He has won five academy awards. He has composed the themes for Jaws, Superman, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Raiders of the Lost Ark and many more.

Aside from John William my favorite composers would have to be Hans Zimmer (The Lion King, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Pirates Of the Caribbean), Howard Shore (The Lord Of The Rings trilogy), Alexandre Desplat (The King’s Speech, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I & II, Twilight Saga: New Moon) and Danny Elfman (Edward Scissorhands, Silver Linings Playbook).

Do you have a favorite score or composer? If so, what is it? I’m both curious and intrigued to know :)