Music communication in film

Everyone loves music. Music makes us immersed in music word, which is tranquil and enjoyment. A song plays a very important role, because the role of songs too wide. In many case, the song is not perfect, but if put a song into the film, it will different sound effect for perspective of hearing and visual effect. Therefore, music plays very important role in film, which creating a certain setting or evoking a certain emotion. Music is rendering the atmosphere of plot, which enhances artistic appeals for film.

           Music promotes the development of the plot of film; the same melody of music repeats a lot of time in film, which make the film coherence and complete. In addition, making the theme more distinct. Appearing of music is mainly to support the images of the plot as purport, it is a major manifestation of Film music, so keep the subject between music and image’s relationship, which makes the whole movie success, performed its connotation. “Referential meanings associated with the music are ascribed to the overlapped (congruent) audio-visual components upon which attention is focused.”(Lipscomb&Tolchinsky,2005) For example, Titanic is best example for keep the subject between music and image’s relationship. My heart will go on as theme for Titanic, integrating with the whole song and film, which makes film infectious. The song breakthrough the whole movie, which establishes the emotional tone of it’s tragic, also to bring people have feeling of fresh. This song’s melody is from the original flat to arouse, and climax of song with tender and romantic sentiments, and until finally the song end with sadness. There are only four minutes of song, but actually embody the whole movie. We can likely associate with from melody of song that is Titanic first time voyage of grand sight: luxurious ship that smell of new paint in everywhere, it seems so excited and proud of itself, and its welcome every passengers as honor to become its first customers for first time voyage. Music tone is cheerful and full of hope; this is portrait that people are looking forward to better future, which so exciting. Along with the music in climax of song, the main character Rose and Jack, they meet on boat, falling in love, which fulfill a romantic atmosphere. The background music also plays a role of properly, which is song with tender and romantic sentiment. However, disaster is coming, which break this beautiful melody, merciless of cold water is accompanied by an iceberg hit the ship. At this moment, it is break the silence, and people are panic. The obviously contrast of images and music is display in film. Music is suddenly speed up, rapid drums and critical. Strong melody is rendering of tension in the plot. This piece of music is highlighting the critical of condition and people's helplessness and desperation. Finally, the ship had sank, Jack save the rose’s life. In this moment, music is increasing the infection of plot. My heart will go on ‘s melody indistinct display through the whole film, which makes its unforgettable. “The music alters meaning of a particular aspect of the film” (1988,p199) Therefore, it cannot be denied that a several episode appears in film, it can deepen the main idea of film and effect of infectious.

           Music foil atmosphere of the film in order to make audience feel like be personally on the scene. In film, there are serve situation to adding the music to film, it will show a different effect in film. For example, a plot wants to show character’s internal monologue or emotion without any self-narrative or conversation; hence, director will add into music in order to display the character’s mood or feeling. “Musical sound provides a cue for the listener concerning whether the narrative is intended to be perceived as scary, romantic, funny, disturbing, familiar, comforting, other-worldly”(Lipscomb&Tolchinsky,2005). In this case, music get involved from perspective of hearing, and put in plot for expression of the visual content, it makes the character’s emotion further stressed that further rendering atmosphere of film. Moreover, it is deepen the purpose of visual effect, which enhance artistic appeal. “In this capacity, the role of music is significantly enhanced by the level of ambiguity inherent in the visual scene. Specifically, the more ambiguous the meaning of the visual image, the more influence is exerted by the musical score in the process of interpreting the scene.”(Lipscomb&Tolchinsky,2005). For example, there is one plot, which left deep impression for me. The four-violinist man plays the quartet, which have violinist, violist, cellist, and a bassist mix together rhythm. When the ship start drowned water, everyone want to escape from the ship, but they are continues play it, which ignore any emergence delirium. In this moment, melody plays in the film, which cover their tonality of violin. The music can convey character’s internal idea, they face to the fact of sink, no fear, no anxiety, and they are calm to accept anything. In film, the role of music can be basic on visual effect in order to let audience have hearing effect. Combining with music and visual effect, it makes the plot further sufficient evidence to convinced audience, which let us left deep impression for the film. To reveal character’s internal thoughts, it express character’s emotion in order to foil atmosphere of plot, therefore, music of performance is important to depict the plot.

         In conclusion, if the image is framework for film, then the music is spirit of film. Film music as a new music carrier, it plays important role in the film. Whenever the film is happiness or sadness, it necessary to use the music represent emotion, it’s brought the vivid for image. A good film is not only impressing plot for audience, but also film music left deeply impression for us.


Reference

Scott D. Lipscom&David E. Tolchinsky. (2005). Musical Communivaiton. The Role of Music Communication in Cinema. Retrieved from http://www.lipscomb.umn.edu/docs/Lipscomb_Tolchinsky_ICMPC8_proceedings_final.pdf

Brown,R (1988). Film and classical music. In Film and the arts in symbiosis: A resource guide（ed.G.R.Edgertion),pp165-215. New york,Greend wood press.