Midterm Study Guide: Film Music Analysis

Antagonist

Opposing force to the protagonist

Casual Plot

Cause-and-effect structure

Antagonist

Opposing force to the protagonist

Casual Plot

Cause-and-effect structure

Cinematography

Visual aspects of film

Crosscut/Crosscutting

Alternating between scenes

Cut

Change from one shot to another

Editing

Process of assembling shots

Episodic Plot

Loosely connected story events

Flashback

Scene from the past

Linear Plot

Chronological storytelling

Montage

Series of short shots in sequence

Mood

Emotional tone of a scene

Narrative Film

Story-driven movie

Nonlinear Plot

Non-chronological storytelling

Omniscient POV

All-knowing perspective

Period Film

Set in a historical time period

Plot

Sequence of events

Point of View (POV)

Perspective of the scene

Protagonist

Main character

Setting

Time and place of a scene

Shot

Continuous camera take

Subjective POV

From a character's perspective

Theme

Central idea of the film

Beat

Basic unit of rhythm

Cello

String instrument with deep tones

Chord

Combination of notes played together

Chorus

Repeated musical section

Dissonance

Clashing, tense sounds

Flute

High-pitched woodwind instrument

Flutter-tonguing

Rapid tongue movement on wind instruments

Harmony

Combination of simultaneous notes

Harpsichord

Early keyboard instrument

Key

Tonal center of a piece

Melody

Main musical line

Meter

Pattern of beats

Oboe

Woodwind instrument with a nasal tone

Orchestration

Arrangement of music for instruments

Orchestrator

Person who arranges film music

Pitch

Highness or lowness of a note

Pizzicato

Plucking string instruments

Rhythm

Timing of music

Synthesizer

Electronic instrument

Tempo

Speed of music

Timpani

Large, tunable drum

Tonal

Based on a central key

Trumpet

Brass instrument with bright sound

Tune

Recognizable melody

Violin

High-pitched string instrument

Cue

Musical segment in a film

Ethnic Music

Music representing a culture

Historical Music

Music from or imitating a time period

Leitmotif

Recurring theme for a character or idea

Medley

Series of connected musical pieces

Mickey Mousing

Music mimicking on-screen action

Minimalism

Repetitive, simple musical style

Overture

Opening orchestral piece

Running Counter to the Action

Music that contrasts visuals

Score

Full musical composition for a film

Soundtrack

Commercially released film music

Source Music (Diegetic Music)

Music heard by characters

Stinger

Sudden musical accent

Underscoring (Non-Diegetic Music)

Background music not heard by characters

Wall-to-Wall Music

Continuous film music

Auteur

Director with distinct artistic style

Ballet

Dance performance with orchestral music

Beethoven

Classical composer influencing film music

Character Dance

Dance reflecting a character's identity

Classical Film Score

Orchestral, traditional Hollywood music

Descriptive Music

Music that conveys imagery

Dies Irae

Medieval chant often used in film

Melodrama

Overdramatic storytelling with music

Movement

Section of a larger musical piece

Opera

Dramatic, fully-sung theatrical work

Program Symphony

Instrumental music telling a story

Tchaikovsky

Composer known for dramatic orchestration

Wagner

Composer known for leitmotifs and epic music

How does film music enhance storytelling and emotions?

Film music sets the tone, builds tension, foreshadows events, and deepens emotional impact by complementing visual storytelling.

What is the difference between diegetic and non-diegetic music?

Diegetic music is heard by the characters (e.g., a radio playing in a scene), while non-diegetic music is only for the audience (e.g., background score).

What is a leitmotif, and how is it used in film music?

A leitmotif is a recurring musical theme linked to a character, object, or idea, helping reinforce identity and emotional connections (e.g., Darth Vader’s theme in Star Wars).

How have classical composers influenced film scores?

Composers like Wagner, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky introduced orchestral techniques, leitmotifs, and dramatic storytelling methods that modern film composers use.

What are Mickey Mousing and underscoring in film music?

Mickey Mousing is when music directly mirrors on-screen action (e.g., a character tiptoeing matched by plucking strings). Underscoring is background music that subtly enhances mood without being directly tied to movements.

How does orchestration impact the mood of a film?

Orchestration determines the emotional weight of a scene—strings create warmth or sadness, brass adds intensity, and dissonance builds suspense.

How does music shape audience perception?

Music can manipulate emotions, suggest hidden meanings, create anticipation, and even make scenes feel more uplifting, ominous, or dramatic.