Scott Hallgren avatar
Scott Hallgren 04/19/2019 20:09:57
How does score work with picture? Two ways - policy and vocabulary:

Policy:

The relationship between the film and the score, and how the two relate to each other, is called ‘policy’. This is established through the placement (spotting) of music in the film, and the level of emotional depth requested.

Think about the difference between the scores for any generic action movie or comedy; what does the music need to accomplish? How does a composer accomplish that for each of those?


Vocabulary:

Instrumentation - instruments might inform time, place, culture; etc.

Harmonic language - what is the music of the time/genre?

Melodic shapes - are they expansive and grand, or close and modest?

Music style - is there a style of music that the scene demands, or that supports the dramatic need?