Modern Voices in Film

Expressionism in Film ScoresConcert Composer vs. Film Composer Concert Composers wrote music for musics sake(symphonies, operas, chamber music). Included new, innovative sounds.Film composers had to work quickly & efficiently and still used the traditional style1940s: elements of the concert music started to bleed over into film music

2ExpressionismExpressionism: continuous dissonant harmony and disjunct melodiesHanns Eisler: brought expressionism to HollywoodHangmen Also Die (1943): expressionist score

Schoenberg requested $100, 000, a year to compose and a voice in how the film was created- Eissler was one of the first Hollywood figures called before the House Un-American Activities Committee under suspicion of promoting communism. He voluntarily deported due to reputation being ruined

3Modern Music in HollywoodBernard Herrmann: first major film composer to consistently use modern concert music sounds in film scoresThe Devil and Daniel Webster : used telegraph wires and layered tracks to create eerie effects

Citizen Kane (1941)Americas Greatest Film, even though it runs against many of the trends at the timeOrson Welles: starred in it, produced it, and helped write the scriptPlot: the rise and fall of Kane, told from 6 peoples perspectives. An anonymous reporter, Thompson, links these all together as he searches for the meaning of Kanes last word: RosebudCinematographic effects made it innovative

Stark contrast between bright light and darkness

Camera angles used to create unique shots

Deep Focus

Reflected Images

Citizen Kane: The MusicComposer by Bernard HerrmannLike classic Golden Age film scores: supports drama, captures moods, creates unityDifferent in its orchestration (dark), harmony(dissonant) & melody(cold sounding)Rosebud refers to the sled that represents Kanes happy childhood.Breakfast Montage: shows the demise of Charles Kanes marriage

Clip: Library scene-Dies Irae with dark-muted orchestration10Vertigo (1958)Score by Bernard HermannDirected by Alfred HitchcockUses film noir devices: sustained moods, low woodwinds, & wavering tonesUnderscoring is essential in sustaining suspensehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8cWjLMuJgo

North by Northwest (1959)Score by Bernard HermannDirected by Alfred HitchcockMore traditional scoring due to action genreMost famous musical moment is silence when the plane is chasing the leadLove theme played by clarinet & oboe to sound more mature than saxophone used in other films

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