MUSIC IN FILM (Quiz #1)

SPOTTING

precisely when the music comes in/out in a scene or ‘cut’

LEITMOTIF (leading motif)

A recurring theme linked with some character/aspect of the film.

MOOD

the description of the emotions and feelings the music evokes for the film

MONTAGE

A series of different (short) scenes edited together in a film showing the passage of time or events; almost always accompanied by music

PITCH

A musical note; specifically, how high or low a musical note is

TIME SIGNATURE

the top number tells how many beats per measure, and the bottom number tells what type of note receives a beat

MELODY

A sequence of notes that is heard as a “unit;” can be sung or played by 1 person, or by an entire orchestra each playing the same notes.

MOTIVE

A small melodic unit, typically only a few notes, that is treated like a theme, or that can be a small part of a larger theme.

THEME (a musical theme)

A recognizable melody or piece of music that recurs throughout the film, related to a character, place or event in the film

HARMONY

The element of music that is created when 2 or more pitches (notes) are produced at the same time.

MONOPHONIC

A single melodic line played without any other musical accompaniment.

CHORD

A chord occurs when 3 or more pitches are sounded simultaneously. Chords often accompany, or are played with a melody.

MAJOR – a happier, brighter sounding chord!

MINOR – a darker, sadder sounding chord

DISSONANCE

Created when pitches of the chord (directly adjacent to each other) clash with each other

TEMPO

The speed at which the pulses in the music are heard (when watching a music cue in a film, this is also referred to as the ‘pace’ or ‘pacing’)

ORCHESTRATION

the task of assigning which instrument plays which specific part(s) of the music

PIZZICATO

String Technique: (violin, viola, cello, bass) pluck strings with their fingers

SOURCE

Music in a film emanating from a source within the movie (ex: radio, club, or TV).

UNDERSCORE

Music in the film that does not come from a source within the movie (edited in).

CUE

Term for each individual piece of music in the film

TIME-CODE

Term for the numerical address given to each and every specific frame inside a film. In the format of Hour/Reel# : Minute : Second : Frame (ex: 01:03:38:1).

Time-Code can be used to define when a Cue starts, stops, or changes somehow.

ADAPTED SCORE

A score composed of existing, previously written music. Can be edited or unedited, but no ‘original’ composing of new music.