Let’s imagine a documentary with powerful images, a moving story, and a successful execution. But then, after a while, the music disrupts the overall impression. And to the film professional, it even seems somehow familiar. Because it doesn’t sound original, but rather cheap (royalty-free) archive music that has already been used in countless other projects. This doesn’t do oneself any favors, because music in documentaries has to “hit the right note” very precisely and simply can’t sound “cheap,” otherwise the viewer’s hand will quickly be back on the remote control or mouse. Good documentary music, just like an unobtrusive film score, is an important element in the overall work, but often more tangible than audible. The stage belongs to the protagonists and the visual scenery. Sometimes, especially with sensitive topics, it’s even better to let the images speak for themselves in silence, without any music at all. Alternating music and silence intensify the rhythm of any documentary narrative.