Linglin Tu

12/16/2015
A good film music is the one which is not noticed
--discussing the importance of the film music and its role from the
perspective of history
To me, the most interesting topic we explored from session 7, 8 & 9 is the
sound. We talked about sound as an element of visual language, and listened
two lectures of sound. One is the music in the film, and the other is the sound
of video games. From them, Ive generated the awareness of its importance,
to which I never pay attention. Everything looks so different when the
background music changes! So now I try to review the history of film music in
order to find out the importance and the role the film music plays in
presenting a film.
Recalling the development of films, its not difficult to find out that there
are always good pieces of film music along with master works. The music
which matches up to the sequence can always add atmosphere to the scene
and lead the emotions of the spectators. Without a background music, the film
cant effect peoples feeling so much and so well. Although this kind of
function is often ignored by people, the spectators can always be
unconsciously influenced, feels like being be personally on the scene. Through
the music, one can feel joy, anger, sorrow and happiness, even, every time
when he hears the sound, he can recall the shot immediately. It shows how
important the music is to build the atmosphere and to express the emotion
impact of the film.
In the era of silent film, the background music emerges in
response to the needs of times.
The use of background starts in the era of silent film. It is easy to consider
that the silent film is a film without music. In fact, outside the screen, there
exist improvisations of pianists. They play the piano for the film, or there will
be a small orchestra playing the tracks according to the list of the film
company, to add atmosphere for the film. It is to say, although at the very
beginning, limited to the technology, the film cant use language to express
the inner world of characters, the director has already noticed that it is a must
to use music to add communications between the people inside the screen
and outside the screen. Then directors begin to use the music. At that time,
along with the development of this kind of movie, emerge a large amount of
pianists and orchestras. It can almost said that the background music of film
brought up a industry, and forms a model of Hollywood.
The improvisation creates the vitality of film.
In the initial stage of the film, limited to the level of technology, the

emotion can not be transferred by sound, which is obviously very mortal for
the development and the transmission of film. The spectators emotions cant
be effected without the communication of sound , which will definitely lead to
the death of the film. However, the smart director figures it out to use music
outside of the film. The background music at an early age comes from a lot of
the classical music. There is not so much music created specially for a film at
that moment. Nevertheless, there are some directors not satisfied with the
current situation of films, and make excessive demands on every corners of
their films. For example, the master of silent film, Chaplin, does everything by
himself, especially has a unique idea of the part of the music. In all of his
movies, almost all the music is made by himself. His music talent comes from
the environment in which he grew up, his father, who was an artist and
vocalist and his mother, who was a comedian and singer, laid a solid
foundation for his music creation in the future since his childhood. He requires
the perfect of the film music, which seems to be the soul of the Chaplins
music, humorous but profound.
Along with the improvement of film technology, the problem of the
synthesis of picture and sound is solved, and the dialogue which contains the
characters emotion can be passed directly to the audience, the orchestras
behind the screen is disbanded. However, the music film didnt come to an
end, on the contrary, the soundtrack keeps improving and innovating. The film
music no longer stay on the use of existing works, but needs more works
which are more expressive and closer to the plot of the film. Many people who
have a talent for music, add theirs musical inspiration to the film using the
modern high-techs, in order to infect the audience's emotions.
The music influences people in an unconscious but effective way.
There is a remarkable difference between art and others subjects: the art
influences people by emotion. The artistic work is filled with the thoughts and
emotions of the artistes, and expresses theirs feelings of life. Music is not an
exception. People often is affected unconsciously.
Of all the contemporary masters of film music , The most noteworthy is
the Italian composer Ennio Morricone. Those who knew him know that the
background music of <<Malna>>, <<The legend of 1900>>, <<The
Mission>>> is all created by him. His music style can considered as versatile.
No matter horror film, adventure film or romance film, he will try to create
music for them. His glamour of music lies in that his music can be listened
purely. Perhaps you wont remember the plot of the film, but the moment
when his music rings out, those scenes will flash back to your head like
tidewater. Another reason why he could be remembered, is that his music will
always give people surprises and never fall within those formulaic rules. For
example, when begins the theme music of <<The legend of 1900>>, his
desire of the outside world, his repel, and his insistence, all the complex
emotions are fully expressed in the music.

Hearing his music, one can see not only the characters, but also theirs
stories and emotions. It is the music with a vivid shot that lets people never
forget. His music can grasp the various characters and psychological forms
freely. He gives the music of humanity and life. His music show people's
emotions, which seems like has been portrayed and can be touched and felt.
This is also the reason why people can not forget his music.
What the movie music do is to portray the film as a part of the music, to
tell the story. And ultimately, let the music touch people's hearts instead of
disappearing in the air.
In short, no matter in the era of silent film at the early age or the film with
voice later, the emotion expressed by the music can not be replaced by the
scene. In addition to heighten the atmosphere of the movie, what matters
more of the effect of music is to sublime the meaning of the film itself. It is the
resonance produced by music in the emotion level.
A good piece of film music should keep the integrity of the film.
About the appropriate levels of aiding movies, there exist two point of
view. The older and traditional view thinks that the best music should play its
various role in an unconscious way and without being noticed. In other words,
if we did not notice the music, then it is a good soundtrack. Therefore, as a
good background, the music can not be too excellent, because in that case,
the music itself will attract the attention of the audience and let them out of
plot of the movie.
In contrast, the modernist view allows the music attract our conscious
attention at a right time and can even overshadow the movie screen, as long
as it can be keep the movie as a whole by being closely integrated with the
visual, drama and rhythm and other elements of the film. In that time, we
might notice the inherent beauty of music, but we should not be too
distracted, so as not to ignore the screen frame.
Therefore, whether is the modern or traditional view, their fundamental
point is the same: those film musics that attract too much attention and
undermine the integrity of the film, are not successful ones. No matter how
much it can play as a supporting role, a good piece of music is often an
important structural element, playing his role just right by mixed with the film
perfectly. Also, it can leave the spectators much space to ponder over.