hiya!!!!

i've recently been asked to write a score to a small film that's part of a project for youths in my school!!! has anybody got any ideas on how i can create the right feeling for certain emotions... eg: texture, instrumentation????

has anyone done anythin similar before........ i need as much info as possible!!!!

jaime

Hi Jaime

For my GCSE integrated assignment, i had to produce a film score for a western, and picked up a few tips for film music:
1. If you are trying to make it sound expansive, sythesized strings on a keyboard is a good instrument to use, and have a continuous note in the bass, e.g. in G major, a low G and then the octave below,simultaneously.
2. If you want an increase in activity, could use a crescendo, or vice versa for decrease in activity in the scene.
3. For any kind of transport, a bass line which starts slowly, then gradually speeds up, but with a moving melody, e.g. flute or violin.
4. If you want a peaceful sounding beginning try having flute trills, e.g. a nice sounding one is a high C done with a trill key.
Hope some of these help.
If i get any more ideas, i'll let u know.
Helen

thanks!!!!!

we start writing it soon!!!

jaime

The best thing to do is listen to a range of different types of film music, make a note of what the composers to do to create expression, etc and try and incorporate that into your own comosition.

Also find out what the music is going to be used against, ie: what will be happeing when the music is being played, that way you'll know what type of instruments to use etc, I know this may seem dodgy but take john Williams ET Flying theme, in the film elliot and et are cycling and suddenly start to fly, Williams uses an ascending sequence to reflect the increasing height, whilst using delicate sounding instruments to show the naivety of elliot and et, this all helps to paint a picture of whats happening on screen. Its the same in TITANIC, Take her to sea mr Murdoch, Horner uses deep instruments to reflect the sound of the engine room whilst semiquaver passages and syncopated rhythms reflect the ship ploughing through the waves. Hope this helps, Its best not to think about what your doing too much and just sit down and right whatever you think sounds right, remeber you dont have to use a range of instruments as some films use unaccompanied solo instruments whilst others use big bold sounds to emphasise what going on.

Choose to either use your music to depict in music what is going on screen or use your music to emphasise. The two are completely different and I normally tell my students that this is usually the best thing to do. Hope this helps.

thanks alot

that really helps!!! i'll let you know how i get on!!

jaime