Music in Film
Class Outline
Fall 2008

Picture (558x6, 993 bytes)
Unit One
Unit Two
Unit Three

Syllabus and Course Description        Music 103/308 Home Page

*This page is subject to change and revision throughout the semester*

 

Learning Objectives for Unit One

At the end of unit one you will be able to do and understand the following:

1) You will be able to identify the elements of the soundtrack and describe them: dialogue, music, and sound effects

2) You will be able to listen to the music in a scene or in a sequence of scenes and evaluate and analyze its role, showing how it reinforces emotions, fleshes out the psychology of a character, and contributes to the development of the narrative

3) You will have an understanding of the role of "romanticism" in film music and identify some of the main proponents of this style.

Work to Complete Before Class on this Date

Reading/Written Assignments

Texts:
Hickman: Reel Music (Text Rental)-RM
Karlin: Listening to Movies (Text Rental)-LM

D2L assignments are in red.

WWW-Refers to World Wide Web Sites
Reserve Materials-can be checked out from the IMC-on the second floor of the library.
Or: E-Reserve

UNIT ONE

 
9/3 Introduction: Overview of Class Material
  • Browse and familiarize yourself with class D2L and web pages
  • Log in to D2L by clicking here: D2L-enter your login and password and take a "stroll" around the D2L area. Click on the links on the taskbar and find the Content, Discussion, Quiz, and Drop Box areas. You'll be using these a lot throughout the course of the semester.
  • Make a post to the Class D2L Folder-Introduce yourself to the class-talk about your major, musical interests, musical experience (if any), and why you are taking this class. Find one other person and comment on something interesting that you might share or piques your curiosity about that person. Due before class on 9/8

     
  • RM-Chapters 1,2 and 4
  • LM-Chapter 4
     
9/8 What to look and listen for in a film

RM-Chapters 1, 2 and 4
LM-Chapters 4

9/10 The Elements of Music
 

 

RM-Chapter 3

PowerPoint Presentation: Musical Terms-Kalinak in D2L folder.
9/15 Listening to Film Music

LM-Chapter 4

RM-Chapter-4

Recommended: Electronic Reserve: Aaron Copland on Film Music

D2L Discussion Due by the Beginning of Class

In Class Group Exercises

 

 I will play a short film clip several times for you in class that has a dense soundtrack.

 

1)     The first time I will ask you to listen and make a preliminary mental catalog of soundtrack events.

2)   The second, third and fourth times I will ask you to focus on each of the elements and create a list of events for that category-I.E. sound effects-gunshots, doors closing, heavy breathing, etc; score elements-orchestral, solo instruments etc.; dialog: sparse or Wall-to-wall, overlapping or a respectful conversation, etc.

 

3)     Lastly, I will have you view the clip a last time and then describe and evaluate your new sensitivity level. I will ask you these questions: Can you hear the discrete elements of the soundtrack now? Are you more aware of them? How do they work together to create the total fabric of the soundtrack?

 


 


9/17 The Rise of the Symphonic Film Score

 

 Electronic Reserve: The Golden Age of Film Music-Music of Steiner and Newman

RM-Chapter 10
 Outside Viewing: The Hollywood Sound-IMC

9/22 The Golden Age of Film Music: Music of Korngold
Scene Analysis: Robin Hood		 RM-Chapter 11

Karlin: 92-99

Electronic Reserve: Erich Wolfgang Korngold

D2L Discussion Due by the Beginning of Class

9/24 The Golden Age of Film Music: Music of Korngold
Scene Analysis: Robin Hood
 RM-Chapter 11

Karlin: 92-99

Electronic Reserve: Erich Wolfgang Korngold

9/29 Film Sound

LM-137-144
Electronic Reserve: Bordwell/Thompson and Chion Articles

In Class Small Group Project

 

  • You will take a scene or sequence and divide into small groups and come up with analysis. You will each be responsible for analyzing a part of the soundtrack Dialogue, Sound Effects, and Music
  • Functions of Film Music-reinforces narrative, reflects psychology, underscores emotions, etc.
  • Karlin Terms-Hits the Action or Plays through, etc.


D2L Discussion Due by the Beginning of Class

10/1 "Hollywood's Greatest Year"

RM-Chapter 12
 

10/6
Review for Exam No. 1

 

 RM-Chapter 12
10/8 EXAM NO. 1

UNIT TWO
Planning the Score

 

 Karlin-3-16
10/13 Planning the Score-continued  Karlin-3-16
10/20
Music in the Post-War Era		 RM-Chapter 15
D2L Discussion Due by the Beginning of Class
10/22 The Turbulent 50's  RM-Chapter 17
10/27 Catch Up! RM- Ch. 15 (182-186), Ch. 17 (212-217)
 
10/29

Ben Hur and the Religious Epic

RM-Ch. 19 
 Electronic Reserve: Miklos Rozsa: A Composer for All Seasons
11/3
Cue Analysis Due in D2L by the beginning of class

Bernard Herrmann and the Stylistic Shift

 

RM-Chapter 13 (158-163)

Bernard Herrmann (from the Bernard Herrmann Web Pages) 

 

Outside Viewing-Bernard Herrmann-Music From the Movies-IMC

11/5 The Apotheosis of Herrmann and Hitchcock-
 The Trouble With Benny-from the Herrmann Web Pages

RM-Ch. 20
Outside Viewing-Bernard Herrmann-Music From the Movies-IMC
11/10

The Western

Review for Exam 2

Karlin-122-128

11/12 EXAM NO. 2

 A different kind of Western

 

  

Morricone Article

Electronic Reserve:Royal Brown on the Spaghetti Western

 

 

 

11/17 Music 308 Presentations

 A different kind of Western

 

  

Morricone Article

Electronic Reserve:Royal Brown on the Spaghetti Western

 

 

 

Back to top  

s
11/19 The Emergence of Goldsmith RM-Chapter 23

Electronic Reserve: Jerry Goldsmith
Outside Viewing: Film Music Masters-Jerry Goldsmith on Reserve in the IMC

Radio Interview: Goldsmith

D2L Discussion Due by the Beginning of Class

     
11/24 The Ascendance of John Williams RM-25-26

John Williams Bio
Electronic Reserve: Star Wars

 

 

11/26 The Ascendance of John Williams RM-25-26

John Williams Web Pages
 K: 129-137

Radio Interview with Bob Edwards

Interview with Leonard Slatkin

John Williams and the Music of Star Wars

 

 

D2L Discussion Due by the Beginning of Class
12/1

The International Film

 RM-28
12/3 Second Cue Analysis Due in D2L Dropbox

The Newman Dynasty Continues		 RM-Chapter-31

Electronic Reserve: Thomas Newman Interview

WWW-Thomas Newman

 

12/8 From the Concert Hall to the Big Screen-Music of John Corigliano RM-Chapter-33

WWW-Corigliano

12/10 Film Music Comes Full Circle-the Lord of the Rings

Wrap up and Review

 Electronic Reserve: Alex Ross on Film Music in the New Yorker, Phillip Glass and Minimalism

RM-Chapter 34

 

  Final D2L Discussion Due by the Beginning of Class

. Back to Top

 

12/15 Exam no.3:

12:30-1:30

There will be no options to take this test another time!

Back to top

This page is to be used for educational purposes only. It is intended for students enrolled in Music 103/308 at UW-Stevens Point.