What makes music reach a person? There are songs that you can't help dancing to, and yet there are others that seem to say all the right words to explain how you're feeling. I've been brought to tears by some some, and seriously about the throw-up after hearing others. What is it about the grand opening melody of Star Wars that excites the audience and makes us all anticipate the awesome story about to commence?
Have you ever watched a scary movie with the sound on mute? It makes the film humorous. You laugh, because the usual atonal and nails-on-board tones are absent, and you have nothing but just visual to tell you something is scary. Music really creates the atmosphere. It takes you to a whole new level of experiencing the movie. Without the music, most films would be very average and forgettable. Does that make auditory experiences more memorable and influencial than visual? Could sound be better than image?
And the reverse is often true. Speaking of Star Wars, what (really) would Episodes One and Two have let to Episode Three if they'd had a crappy soundtrack? Was I the only one to notice in Episode Three that Williams was on notice to pad Hayden Christiansen's acting with an overly lush 70's style string score every time he was supposed to be feeling something...?
ReplyDeleteJD
read this if you dare:
ReplyDeletehttp://books.google.com/books?id=0g3rL6lyWsYC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=twopage&q=&f=false
its an ebook of castiglione's from the renaissance that talks about the effect of music. PGS 64-65
How interesting. I really like the way it is put, especially the idea of music as a heal all. (Emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually, and even intellectually.) It helps put babies to sleep and sailors to ease. Great read Kelly.
ReplyDeleteAnd JD, I did notice the music in the third one becoming amazing whenever HC was trying to act emotionally. Really, if John Williams had not done the music to Star Wars, I doubt it would be the craze it is today.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm watching something that I don't want to scare AJ I always mute it... it's worked so far. If I am having a hard time feeling relaxed a nice sweet-sounding piece of music always makes life seem better. If you're up for a challenge, write a piece that begins on an uncertain note but ends up giving the listener hope by the end.
ReplyDeleteI accept the challenge.
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