MU 313 - Topics in Music History & Culture: History of Film Music

Course Description

"Selected topics examine specific musical genres, style periods, composers, and/or works of music such as opera, film music, digital music, hip hop, the work of Stephen Sondheim, etc. Through reading, listening, and discussion, these courses build musical vocabulary, improve aural perceptions of form and genre, and encourage a deeper understanding of music as cultural expression."

Summer 2024 Topics:

Section 004: History of Film Music

Motion pictures and the music that accompanies them do not exist in a vacuum; rather, they are influenced by the culture and society which creates them, and in turn they may also affect and change cultural norms and social conventions. This course is designed to introduce students to the world of Film Music, beginning with a detailed chronology of significant films and their composers, viewed alongside the historical events and trends which inspired them. Specific emphasis will be placed on the relationship between Director and Composer (in history as well as today), along with the aesthetic and dramatic function of the score. Aspects of music associated with common film genres will be discussed, as well as the influence and tradition of non-Hollywood International filmmakers and their composers. Our goal this term will be to see how music can help to tell a story, how it often reflects and affects popular culture, and how it can even stand effectively on its own.