AOS 3 Film Music

Musical devices and techniques used in film music

Name the famous leitmotifs
Leitmotif (motif or idée fixe)
A short musical theme or idea linked with a character, object, place or idea.

Composers such as Berlioz and Wagner used leitmotif to great effect in their works.

Compare the theme from Jaws with the ‘dragon’ motif from Wagner’s opera Der Ring des
Nibelungen
Create your own leitmotif
Create a short leitmotif for one of these potential film characters

Tip: Use a limited number of notes and keep it simple.

Extension: Once you have composed your motif use thematic transformation to alter or develop it.
● Add or subtract from the idea to make it longer/shorter
● Change the instrumentation
● Change the pitch, dynamics, tempo or note values
● Use inversion, augmentation or diminution to reinvent the idea
● Alter some of the characteristics - (intervals, rhythmic patterns)
● Vary the texture (imitation)
● Change the key or use the opposite mode
Transformation of leitmotifs
The main motif for Batman, composed by Danny elfman is repeated later as the ‘love
theme’.

● What changes have been made?

● How has the musical idea been transformed?

Main theme Love theme

Minimalism
Characterised by repetition based on small cells which evolve gradually.

Techniques include:

● Additive melody/rhythm
● Phase shifting
● Metamorphosis
● Polyrhythm
Listen for these techniques in Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint for live and recorded
guitar
Compare it to Philip Glass’ music for the 1982 experimental film Koyaanisqatsi and
Michael Nyman’s soundtrack for the 1993 film The Piano
Layering

Pirates of the Caribbean listening exercise

Pirates of the Caribbean listening exercise
Describe how Klaus Badelt’s music enhances the scene and atmosphere in this extract from
Describe how Klaus Badelt’s music enhances the scene and atmosphere in this extract from
Pirates of the Caribbean.