Film Music Composers and Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering film music composers, their contributions, key music concepts, and terminology related to film and television music.

Leonard Bernstein

Born in 1918 and died in 1990; active from the 1940s to the 1980s, known for West Side Story (1961) and blending classical with pop music.

Henry Mancini

Born in 1924 and died in 1994; active from the 1950s to the 1990s, famous for jazz-influenced film scores like The Pink Panther (1963) and Moon River (1961).

Simon & Garfunkel

A folk rock duo active from 1957 to 1970, known for their lyrical songwriting and contributions to The Graduate (1967).

Jerry Goldsmith

Born in 1929 and died in 2004; active from the 1950s to the 2000s, recognized for diverse scores in films like Planet of the Apes (1968) and The Omen (1976).

Nino Rota

Born in 1911 and died in 1979; active from the 1930s to the 1970s, best known for his work on The Godfather (1972) and unique Italian themes.

Bernard Herrmann

Born in 1911 and died in 1975; known for innovative orchestration in films from 1930-1970 including Psycho (1960) and Taxi Driver (1976).

John Williams

An influential composer active from the 1950s to present, notable for iconic scores including Star Wars (1977) and Jaws (1975).

James Horner

Born in 1953 and died in 2015; active from the 1970s to the 2000s, known for emotional scores in films like Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009).

Howard Shore

Born in 1946 and active from the 1970s to present, acclaimed for his dramatic scores in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Ennio Morricone

Born in 1928 and died in 2020; known for his work on The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and innovative Western film scores.

Danny Elfman

Active from the 1980s to present, recognized for quirky scores like Batman (1989) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

Hans Zimmer

Active from the 1980s to present, famous for scores in films like Inception (2010) and The Lion King (1994).

A.R. Rahman

Active from the 1990s to present, revolutionized Bollywood film music by infusing Western styles with traditional Indian sounds.

Underscore

Background music that supports action or dialogue without drawing attention, setting emotional tone.

Soundtrack

The music accompanying a film that enhances emotional impact and narrative.

Auteur Theory

The concept that a director's personal vision and stylistic choices significantly influence a film, including its music.

Film Musical

A genre where characters sing and dance, essential for storytelling and emotional expression.

Needle Drop

Moment when a pre-existing song is placed in a scene for emotional effect or thematic enhancement.

Minimalism

A musical style emphasizing simplicity and repetition, often creating a hypnotic effect.

Mickey-mousing

Technique where music mimics or exaggerates actions on screen, commonly used in animated films.

Playback Singer

A singer who records songs for films, where the on-screen character mimics their singing.

Metadiegetic Music

Music that characters hear that transcends typical diegetic function, often reflecting psychological states.