MUSI 301 Final Exam Listening Identification

Taxi Driver

Composer: Bernard Herman -Bernard Herman's final score before death -film dedicated to his memory -contrasts deep, sleazy noises, representing the "scum" that Travis sees all over the city -the saxophone, a musical counterpart to Travis, creating a mellifluously disenchanted troubadour -opposing noises in the soundtrack—gritty little harp figures, hard as shards of steel, as well as a jazz drum kit placing the drama in the city—are indicative of loneliness in the midst of mobs of people -Deep brass and woodwinds are also evident

Lord of the Rings*

Composer: Howard Shore *Traditional theme of romanticism *Full symphonic coloring *Leitmotifs are associated with groups of people rather than individual characters *Most of the musical ideas tend to be short, repetitive and played by the low brass *The sound and chanting choral cues establishes a sense of mystery and magic which connects the audience back to the middle ages. Leitmotifs: -Fellowship -heroic, jagged and assertive -used whenever literal fellowship is shown in the film -signature theme for the first movie -Begins and ends with a shift down to the lowered leading tone and back to the home pitch. -King of Gondor- "A Knife in the Dark" -Instrumentation: French Horn and low strings -Dark chords -Hobbit- "Concerning Hobbits" -can be heard in The Hobbit movie -the theme for the shire -Thematically related to the Fellowship theme -Establishes a rhythmic pattern -Undergoes thematic variation -Ring -main title in all 3 movies -minor keyed and elusive. -full of chromatic half-steps -Orcs -relentless 5/4 rhythm -evokes pounding of industrial machinery -Plays whenever we see Sauroman or his forces -clanging metal sounds

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial*

Composer: John Williams -one of John Williams' Oscar winning scores -gentle woodwind sounds are predominant *Musical style evokes the avant-garde styles of the post-World War II generation with its unique colors, dissonances, and sliding pitches *Nontraditional timbre suggests the presence of extraterrestrials. Leitmotifs: -E.T. Theme- "Meeting E.T." -Heard predominantly in the piccolo, harp, and celesta, all of which produce delicate sounds -Under goes thematic transformation- variations of the basic motive create a sense of both unity and variety -E.T. motive begins with a leap upward followed by a descent of at least one note -Alien Theme- "Toys" -How the adults view E.T. -Bicycle Theme - "Bait for E.T." -Can be heard as an "elaborate variation" of the E.T. theme -Officer Keys Theme- "Frogs" -Ominous theme -Presented in a low register which contributes to its menacing character -Instrumentation: bassoons

The Empire Strikes Back*

Composer: John Williams -George Lucas calls the film a "Space Opera" -idea of "kinship" themes -interweaving leitmotifs *All of the themes are examples of postmodernism by embracing the traditions of the past and adopting clichés from westerns, medieval action/ romances, martial arts films, and romantic comedies. *Uses a symphony orchestration *Unity through leitmotifs and thematic transformation *Strings provide a lyrical quality, Brass provides power, and woodwinds are used for their individual colors. Leitmotifs: -Luke Skywalker -also the main title theme -In Williams' words, it is "larger than Luke is" -Undergoes thematic transformation -Obi-Wan Kenobi/ The Force -only "good" theme that Williams set in a minor key -four phrases that all end on sustained notes -It's unique minor mode creates an effective contrast in sound -Obi-Wan's theme has an emotional impact -Undergoes thematic transformation -Instrumentation: Woodwinds -Princess Leia -also becomes the "love" theme -Has a gentle feminine quality which provides an effective contrast to the other themes -Princess Leia's theme undergoes thematic transformation when she gains a joint theme with Han Solo -Darth Vader -the most prominent theme in the movie -uses the famous Tristan chord -Dark chords and stuttering rhythm provide a generally unobtrusive background for this strong character. -Instrumentation consists of low brass -Han Solo and Princess Leia -Emotional qualities of romanticism -Instrumentation French Horn -Yoda -Lyrical theme suggests his wisdom and strength

Lawrence of Arabia*

Composer: Maurice Jarre Leitmotifs: -Lawrence of Arabia -High strings -Ethnic music established by the orchestration -Avant garde -Lawrence of England

King Kong*

Composer: Max Steiner Leitmotifs: -Beauty Theme: Sea at Night (1:00) -Slow rhythm -Instrumentation consists of string instruments -Non-diegetic -Native theme -Fast rhythm -Ethnic style of music -Instrumentation consists of brass instruments -Beast/ King Kong -Starts off with a homophonic texture- few sounds of a gong -Harsh harmony -Stuttering repeated chords create a terrifying sound -Courage (Entrance of Kong 5:05) -Three note decrescendo -Instrumentation consists of low brass instruments and drums -Clashes of dissonances