Film Music Scene Review: The New World

Let's look at two scenes from the Terrence Malick film, The New World. Both scenes use "Vorspiel" from Das Rheingold, the first of the four operas in Wagner's Ring Cycle.

In the first scene, we see the tall ships arriving at the area that would eventually become the Jamestown settlement. Wagner's low horns speak to the grandeur of the ships from the perspective of the natives while the rolling crescendos evoke the sea.

The cyclic, low to high patterns, repeated higher in the strings set the stage for the the rest of the film. Notice how the melody moves from low notes to high notes, back down and then up again but rising higher with each cycle. Is it a rising tide? An approaching storm?

Now watch in a very different scene towards the end of the film that uses the same music. At this point, we see Pocahontas in England with her young son. Again the swelling in the music foreshadows a major event. Notice how the rising and falling in the string and brass parts echo the many cycles in the picture. Is it any coincidence that she turns a cartwheel?

While the cyclic parallels may be obvious to some, there is no denying the powerful impact this music has with these scenes in the film.

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Search YouTube for "the new world - Vorspiel" to see the scenes described above. Thanks to New Line Cinema for permitting the clips from The New World for commentary and educational purposes. Congratulations to Terrence Malick on winning top prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his latest film, The Tree of Life.

(c) 2009 Carlos Garza

Film Music Scene Review: Breakdown

Experts in the role of music in film sometimes refer to the underscore as if it were another character in the film. For example, Norman Hollyn, in his book, The Lean Forward Moment: Create Compelling Stories for Film, TV, and the Web (Voices That Matter) talks of music as a dynamic element that reflects the relationships between the on-screen characters. Because music and moving pictures are time-based media, we can express changes in relationships too. Falling into love or out of love or a growing tension over a span of time.

Today's case in point, is a scene from Breakdown, starring Kurt Russell. There is a scene where the Russell character enters a bar looking for clues to the disappearance of his wife. The audio cues in this scene hit us over the head a bit to mark the points where the story is turning. For example, when he sees the receipts in the bar tender's hands.

Later, when the Russell character is outside, we see him on the phone and then talking to a mentally challenged character washing his car. The slide guitar tells us that the character is figuring things out while playing to the rural setting.

In summary, film music can bring the viewer inside a character's state of mind and mark points where there is a change in a relationship. Like when the guy says, "it's the PO-lees that's doin' it."

(c) 2009 Carlos Garza

Film Music Scene Review: Teen Wolf

The following comments are based on the underscore for the film, Teen Wolf starring Michael J. Fox. In this scene, the Michael J. Fox character is walking towards the camera on a sidewalk with his friend, Lisa "Boof" Marconi. 

Miles Goodman uses very simple instrumentation of electric piano and strings to evoke different feelings. The music around 6:35 invites us to enjoy the camaraderie of the characters. The electric piano and strings are working together to create this feeling.

After "Boof" offers to “listen anytime” and Scott (MjF) says “not this time” there is a very effective moment. It’s just a beat with a held pad but it creates a momentary tension that is quickly resolved when she walks away and the music continues. At this point, the elements start to take on different roles.

The romantic electric piano continues to represent the bond between the characters. At the same time, the strings move to a higher register and now they seem to convey the tension that Scott feels: he wants to open up to her but would she accept him if she knew the whole story?

The music and the arrangement are very simple but give the film exactly what it needs. The best part is that it's so transparent.

(c) 2009 Carlos Garza