Music in Film and TelevisionMusic in film and music for TV. The history and why it is so powerful Music is one of the most powerful forms of communication available to man. From simple folk songs, to complicated operatic productions, music speaks to an audience and conveys a message. It is that ability to speak, to convey a feeling or a message, which makes music such an integral part of big and small screen productions. This is why the music that you hear on your favorite television show, the instrumental sounds that accompany a particularly tense, exciting, or scary part of a horror movie, and the commercial jingles that get stuck in your head for days are so well thought out and perfectly planned by the people who put commercials, television shows, movies, and plays together. From the screech of a violin to a piano concerto, music accompanies the events that you witness on screen. Sometimes, the use of music is so subtle that many viewers don’t even realize that it’s there. But, there it is, in the background, helping to supplement the atmosphere that the creators of the show want you to experience.
Music in Film, a short history lessonMusic has been a major player since the beginning of time. The Greek theater had what was called a “chorus”. These were actors who provided sounds and outcries to help the audience feel as if they were participants in the plays they were watching. In more modern times, the age of the radio saw music used to supplement what was happening on radio soaps and skits.After radio, the invention of the motion picture, which originally began as a silent production, called for some sort of sound to help viewers “feel” what was happening and to provide additional entertainment. Before films became “talkies”, live music was played along with the film to aid the viewer in understanding what was happening on the big screen. Music became highly popular especially when “musicals” showcased the popularity of music in film and television. Today, we can’t imagine watching virtually anything without some sort of musical accompaniment. Think about it, the nightly news has a musical introduction, television shows have instantly recognizable songs associated with them, and even Monday Night Football has a musical score. Film Music and Music for TV, it's BusinessMusic is not only a key part of movies and television, it’s big business. The scores that are created or selected to be part of what we see on television or at the movies are highly sought after by both the creators of the visual media and the individuals who seek to provide those scores. Both parties stand to profit a great deal from a successful representation. Movie sound tracks sell millions of copies and award recognitions are presented to the best contenders.So, it’s easy to understand why we use music in film and television productions. Music helps us associate with what we’re watching, it helps us understand the tone of what we’re watching, it sets the stage for what’s coming next, it helps focus our attention on what’s on the screen, and it fills in huge blank spots where there may be little action or no dialogue such as when an actor is portrayed as “thinking” or as the credits roll. Music in film and television works as both a brand identifier and a source of entertainment. Who can listen to Where Everybody Knows Your Name and not think of Cheers? Can you listen to Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On and not picture Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet embracing on the bow of the Titanic? Like it or not, the associations our brains make between the music that we hear and the productions that we watch are solid and entrenched. This is what makes music in film and television big business!
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