Tempo, rhythm, time – the foundation of film music, before harmony and themes When film music is discussed, the conversation usually starts with harmony, themes, or style. But long before a single chord is chosen, a film has already made a far more fundamental decision. Every film defines its own relationship to time. Film music … Read more
Everybody loves big themes – but in film music, chords & harmony do the real work When people talk about film music, they usually talk about themes. They hum melodies, remember opening titles, associate films with iconic musical ideas. And that makes perfect sense. Melodies are easy to remember. They give shape to memory. They … Read more
Underscoring – The art of musical invisibility Underscoring is a subtle but powerful technique in the world of film music. A well-made underscore enhances emotions without pushing itself to the fore. It is the art of using music in such a way that it supports the action without dominating it. Especially in scenes with a … Read more