FILM MUSICCharacter motif

L.O.: 1. To explore the musical clichés used in creating character motifs and their effectiveness. 2. To compose your own character motif using different devices. 3. To perform your character motif and evaluate its success.

Task 1:* Listen to the following extracts of music.

* Use the MUSICAL ELEMENTS cards to analyse the extracts.

* Match the cards to the extracts (8 cards for each extract)

IMAGEMAIN MELODIC IDEA

MAIN COMPOSITIONAL DEVICE

MAIN RHYTHMIC IDEA

MODE/TONALITY INSTRUMENTS

TEMPO

MOOD

Extract 1

Extract 2

Extract 3

MAIN COMPOSITIONAL DEVICEUse of Chromatics

MODE/TONALITYMinor Key

TEMPOSlow – getting

quicker

MOODMysterious - Threatening

MAIN COMPOSITIONAL DEVICEDiatonic – based on chord triad

MODE/TONALITYMajor Key

TEMPOStately – walking

pace

MOODOptimistic -

Heroic

MAIN COMPOSITIONAL DEVICEDisjunct – awkward intervals

MODE/TONALITYMajor Key

TEMPOMarch like – walking pace

MOODThreatening –

Impending Doom

Musical Clichés* When composing for Film, a mood needs to be instantly recognised.

* To help, there are a set of established clichés which give instant results for the audience.

* Throughout the film the composer is able to manipulate and change the initial motif to reflect the development of the character.

* Today, you will be composing your own character motif so you will need to remember to capture the mood instantly for your audience.

* Here are a few well-established clichés:

Musical ClichésHAPPY Instruments: brass, woodwind, strings, percussionPitch: highTimbre: bright timbreTexture: moderate, gradually getting thickerMelodic ideas: rising melody in step melody based on the chord triadMode/Tonality: major keyTempo: quick or statelyRhythm: lively rhythms, syncopationDynamics: loud (at moments can drop to nothing to build back up again at moments of great excitement)

SADInstruments: strings, woodwind, pianoPitch: lowTimbre: smooth timbre Texture: gradually building or thickMelodic ideas: descending melody mainly in step with a few awkward intervalsMode/Tonality: minor key, Dorian modeTempo: slowRhythm: simple rhythmsDynamics: fairly quiet, maybe gradually getting louder in moments of great distress

SUSPENSEInstruments: strings, synthesisersPitch: either extreme low or extreme highTimbre: smooth timbreTexture: gradually builds in thicknessMelodic ideas: single suspended note dissonance / cluster chordsMode/Tonality: whole-tone scale, minor keyTempo: slow, free timeRhythm: simple, sustained rhythmsDynamics: quiet, maybe gradually getting louder sudden loud stabs of sound (accents)

Task 2:Working in Pairs:

* You need to COMPOSE a motif for a given character.

* You need to think about how you can quickly establish the mood of the character for your audience.

* You CAN use some of the ideas on the MUSICAL CLICHÉS sheet to help you and use the various compositional skills you have learnt!

* Remember instrument sounds…you do not have to keep the keyboard on the piano setting, experiment with brass and strings.

Evaluation1. Which group did you like the most? Why?

2. Which group do you think needs to develop their motif further? Why?

3. Do you think your motif successfully answered the brief? Why?

4. Why do composers use clichés in their character motifs?

5. What can a composer do to the motif throughout the film? Does it stay the same?

6. How could YOU further develop your theme?