The Influence of Music in Film: Bringing Scenes to Life



Music in a film is not just an additional element; it is a fundamental aspect that builds atmosphere, conveys emotions, and solidifies the storyline. Soundtracks and scoring play a major role in building a memorable and heart-touching cinematic experience for the audience.

Silent Film Era

In the early history of cinema, silent films were the main trend, with music supporting the delivery of feelings. In cinemas, pianists often played classical music that was in harmony with the film's scenes. Although not perfectly in harmony with the scenes, the music still supported the storyline.
In the 1890s, technologies such as the Kineto-phonograph tried to unite images and audio, although they were full of limitations. Advances in sound recording reached their peak in 1927 with the presence of The Jazz Singer, the first film with complete sound.

The Development of Illustration Music

With the presence of sound films, music began to be considered an important element in films. Accompanying music gained popularity in Indonesia in the late 1920s thanks to the presence of sound films from the US. During the 1930s to 1950s, Hollywood began to involve composers in creating music as the main support for visual narratives.

The Role of Film Music in Creating Emotional Atmosphere

Soundtrack refers to the songs featured in a film, while scoring is an orchestral musical work created specifically to support the film's narrative. The roles of both are to:
Building Mood: Music is used to create an atmosphere that is in line with the context of the story. For example, dramatic orchestral music supports action scenes, while soft melodies enhance the romantic impression.

Voicing Emotions: Melodies and rhythms can clarify the feelings of the main character, inviting the audience to feel the emotions expressed. As an illustration, melancholic music in a farewell scene can bring out a sense of sadness in the audience.
Showing Direction: Music serves to give clues about future developments in the story. In horror films, slowly rising low notes often signal that a scary situation is about to occur.

Iconic Examples of Music Use

Many famous films have cleverly used music to enhance their narrative.
Jaws (1975): John Williams’ score effectively builds tension before the shark enters the scene. The simple yet eerie melody symbolizes the danger that lurks.
Star Wars (1977): John Williams’ main theme has become an iconic soundtrack, bringing to mind characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.
Inception (2010): Hans Zimmer’s score plays a key role in deepening the theme of dreams and blurred realities, with the tempo changes creating a sense of complexity in the film’s plot.

Check out the video I made below to get a clearer idea of how music influences movies.


Sources

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