THE ELEMENTS OF

MUSIC
MELODY, TIMBRE, DYNAMICS
Why is music so important in films?
• Do task 1.1 – 66 words
Brief history
Music in films make use of
the following elements to
create mood,
characterisation, and
atmosphere:
What is a sound track?
What is a theme?
“Theme” – the
melody associated
with someone,
something, or
somewhere in a
movie
MELODY
Definition – “a series The most
of musical notes or recognizable part of
tones arranged in a the music – people
definite pattern of will remember this
pitch and rhythm” part the most
CAN YOU
GUESS THE
THEMES?
“”Star Wars Main Theme” from Star Wars: A New Hope

“Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

“Indiana Jones Theme” from Indiana Jones

 What is TIMBRE?
“What colour does the sound have?”
• Tone Quality
• No instrument is the same

“Throne Room” theme from Star Wars Saga

What’s
different
about the
two?
WORDS THAT DESCRIBE TIMBRE

Brassy Thick Cold Breathy Bright

Clean Distorted Piercing Rich Warm

Heavy Dull Thin

DYNAMICS
“How loud or soft something can
be”

The Volume of a sound

 GRADUAL VOLUME IN THEMES
“Jurassic park Theme” “Superman Theme”

Decrescendo (subito)
Crescendo
 LEITMOTIF

“Rey’s theme”
from Star
Wars: The
Force
The smallest piece of information that contains thematic Awakens
information
Difference between a theme and
leitmotif:
Listen to the following excerpts and
answer the questions linked on teams: