BAFM02C FILM MUSIC IN CONTEXT 1

Level: 4

Credit Value: 15

Pre-Requisites: NONE

Module Description

The module is designed to develop an awareness of cultural and artistic issues in

film and television music composition since 1900, through listening, analysis and
research. It also provides an introduction to techniques of musicological analysis and
a learning context within which students entering Higher Education will be able to
develop their study, academic and presentational skills.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Research and analyse selected musical works for film and television using
critical thinking skills
2. Present, evaluate and interpret a variety of secondary sources
3. Communicate accurately and reliably cultural, historical and performance
issues
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the development of the film making process
and the relationship with the process of film music composition

Indicative Content

Study of developments in culture and society as reflected in film music of the

period 1900 to date and, since its invention, music used for television
Study of developments of technology used in film and music composition
The role of specific composers in artistic development in this period
The film composer's journey: from spotting to the final mix
Audio/Visual theory - analysis of how music works with image
Cue points and synchronisation
Analysing the composer's palette: timbre, texture, genre and tempo etc.
Notational practice and development of ideas linked to visual stimuli
Elements of musicological editing and analysis, using appropriate analytical
techniques
Development of study, academic and presentational skills including referencing

Learning & Teaching Strategies

This module will be delivered through lectures, seminars and music literature
tutorials, and, where possible, film music society presentations to see whole works in
context. Video evidence and documentaries of composers will show examples of the
journey from spotting the score to the final mix, from which students will build a
knowledge base and can implement these in the composition modules.

Assessment

Aggregate Semester
Hand-in
(Yes/No)
Proposal, 1200 words (30%)
Yes Sem 1, Mid
LO1, LO4
Presentation / Seminar, 12-15 minutes
Sem 1,
(70%) Yes
End
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Specific Learning Resources

Lecture Theatre or Classroom with Multimedia Facilities including Blu-Ray

Surround Sound (5.1 or similar)
Large screen for projection (e.g. Lecture Theatre)
CD/DVD resources and in house compilations of examples

Reference List

Highly Recommended
Cooke, M. (2008) A History of Film Music. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Davis, R. (2010) Complete Guide to Film Scoring, 2nd ed. Boston: Berklee Press
Publications
Jewell, R.B. (2007) The Golden Age of Cinema - Hollywood, 1929-1945. Oxford:
Blackwell Publishing
Prendergast, R.M. (1992) Film Music: A Neglected Art, 2nd Revised Edition. New
York: W.W. Norton & Co

Recommended
Adams, D. (2010) The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films: A Comprehensive
Account of Howard Shore's Scores. California: Carpentier
Bhatt. M. (2008) The Golden Age of Indian Film Music. Finetune Publishers
Franklin, P. (2011) Seeing Through Music: Gender and Modernism in Classic
Hollywood Film Scores.
Oxford: OUP
Goldmark, D. (2007) Tunes for 'toons: Music and the Hollywood Cartoon. Berkeley:
University of California Press
Goldmark, D. and Taylor, Y. (2002) The Cartoon Music Book. Chicago: A Cappella
Books
Horn, P. and Schriever-Klassen, S. (2005) Bollywood: The Passion of Indian Film
and Music (includes 4CDs). Hamburg: edel classics GmbH
Kompanek, S. (2004) From Score to Screen. London: Music Sales Ltd.
Larson, R.D. (1996) Music from the House of Hammer: Music in the Hammer Horror
Films, 1950-1980. Maryland: Scarecrow Press
McCreary, B. (2011) Battlestar Galactica: Piano Solo Arrangements. USA: Hal
Leonard Publishing Corporation
Mera, M. and Burnand, D. (2006) European Film Music (Ashgate Popular and Folk
Music Series). Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Miller Marks, M. (1997) Music and the Silent Film: Contexts and Case Studies, 1895-
1924. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Redner, G. (2010) Deleuze and Film Music: Building a Methodological Bridge
Between Film Theory and Music. Bristol: Intellect
Slobin, M. (2008) Global Soundtracks: Worlds of Film Music (Music Culture).
Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press
Smith, S.C. (1991) Heart at Fire's Center: The Life and Music of Bernard Herrmann.
Berkeley: University of California

Background Reading
Davidson, J. W. (ed.) (2004) The Music Practitioner: Research for the Music
Performer, Teacher and Listener. Aldershot, Surrey: Ashgate

Online Journals / Websites

American Music Preservation (n.d.) Film Music Review. Online (Available from
www.americanmusicpreservation.com/fmr.htm)
Broxton, J. (n.d.) Movie Music UK. Online (Available from moviemusicuk.us)
Cinemanotes (n.d.) Film Score Database. Online (Available from
www.cinemanotes.com)
Cinemusic (n.d.) Soundtrack Reviews. Online (Available from www.cinemusic.net)
Equinox (n.d.) The Journal of Film Music. Online (Available from
www.equinoxjournals.com/index.php/JFM)
Film Music on the Web (2006) Soundtrack Reviews until 2006. Online (Available
from www.musicweb-international.com/film/index.htm)
Film Music Society (n.d.) The Film Music Society. Online (Available from
www.filmmusicsociety.org)
Film Score Monthly (n.d.) Film Score Monthly. Online (Available from
www.filmscoremonthly.com)
Filmsound (n.d.) Film Music links. Online (Available from
www.filmsound.org/filmmusic)
FilmTracks (n.d.) Modern Soundtrack Reviews. Online (Available from
www.filmtracks.com)
IFMCA (n.d.) Internal Film Music Critics Association. Online (Available from
filmmusiccritics.org)
La-La Land Records (n.d.) La-La Land Records. Online (Available from
www.lalalandrecords.com)
MainTitles (n.d.) Film Music Community. Online (Available from www.maintitles.net)
McCreary, B. (n.d.) Bear's Battlestar Galactica Blog. Online (available from
www.bearmccreary.com/blog)
Movie Score Magazine (n.d.) Composers and Their Films. Online (Available from
moviescoremagazine.com/)
Offscreen (n.d.) Essays and Reviews. Online (Available from www.offscreen.com)
ScoreNotes (n.d.) Scores, Movies, Pop Culture. Online (Available from
www.scorenotes.com)
Shore, H. (n.d.) Howard Shore The Official Website. Online (Available from
www.howardshore.com)
SoundtrackNet (n.d.) The Art of Film and Television Music. Online (Available from
www.soundtrack.net)