Shared Flashcard Set

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Music & Film
Midterm
170
Music
Undergraduate 3
01/05/2012

Additional Music Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Richard Wagner
Definition
one of the most influential figures in the history of film music; termed the total artwork as the Gesamtkunstwerk
Term
auteur
Definition
the central role of the director, the creative force that forges all the artistic elements into one principal goal
Term
Gesamtkunstwerk
Definition
the revolutionary concept of the total artwork; termed by Richard Wagner
Term
leitmotif
Definition
first created by Richard Wagner; musical themes that represent various characters and aspects of the story
Term
causal plot
Definition
contains: exposition, complications, climax, and resolution/denouement
Term
episodic plot
Definition
rather than moving through a series of complications, this type of plot presents a succession of events that do not build directly from one to the other; stories involving travel frequently have this structure
Term
flashback
Definition
can interrupt the chronological flow of the story, bringing new insights to the current situation
Term
linear
Definition
a story that maintains a strict chronological timeline
Term
nonlinear
Definition
a plot that incorporates either logical or illogical jumps of time
Term
epic story
Definition
tend to have a long string of complications that lead to a number of climaxes, while conveying a larger story of a person's life or a major event
Term
protagonist
Definition
principal character; it is primarily through his or her eyes and experiences that we follow a story
Term
antagonist
Definition
principal adversary; generates a conflict that sets a series of complications in motion
Term
setting
Definition
refers to both the location and thetime framein which a story takes place; can have an important influence on a narrative
Term
period film
Definition
a movie that is set in a defined historical era; suggests attention to details of costumes, sceney, and manners
Term
genre
Definition
a category based on similar stories and other conventions; narrative films can be organized into these
Term
cinematography
Definition
the art of a cinematographer taking moving pictures
Term
mise-en-scene
Definition
the visual element in film; borrowed from the theater; encompasses aspects such as lighting, costumes, and decor, the relationship of these elements to each other, and how they are photographed
Term
point of view (POV)
Definition
the perspective of the camera eye
Term
omniscient point of view
Definition
the view that a narrative film is usually shot through; the camera moves at the will of the director; we are allowed to see the action as an observer, and hence often know more about a situation than do the principal characters
Term
subjective point of view
Definition
when the cinematographer lets us see through the eyes of one of the characters; Jaws (the underwater perspective of the shark)
Term
postproduction
Definition
the final stage of the creation of a film; the film is given its final shape through the editing process and the addition of sound effects and music
Term
editing
Definition
the shots created during production are joined together
Term
shot
Definition
an uninterrupted length of film
Term
cut
Definition
the precise moment when one shot ends and another begins
Term
crosscut
Definition
the alternation of shots from two or more sequences
Term
montage
Definition
refers to a section of film comprising a number of brief shots edited together in order to show a condensed series of events
Term
melody
Definition
a succession of pitches that is heard as a unit; usually somewhat memorable; can also use the word "tune" or describe it as being tuneful 
Term
conjunct
Definition
a melody that moves primarily in small intervals 
Term
disjunct
Definition
a melody that contains a significant number of large intervals
Term
cadence
Definition
ends of phrases; can be incomplete, independent, or questioning; equivalent of punctuation marks
Term
phrase
Definition
the melodic units that rests create; give the singer a chance to breathe
Term
lyrical
Definition
melodies in vocal style with limited ranges, conjunct motion, and regularly recurring phrases
Term
motive
Definition
a small melodic idea that can serve as part of a larger melody or stand on its own
Term
theme
Definition
a melody that recurs within a given work, usually with special significance to the drama
Term
texture
Definition
the relationship of a melodic line to other musical material in a given passage
Term
homophonic
Definition
type of texture; single dominant melody with accompaniment or music that seemingly has no dominant tune; found a lot in film music
Term
monophonic
Definition
the presentation of a single melodic line without any other musical material; not common in film music 
Term
contrapuntal
Definition
a type of texture; can also simply be called counterpoint; the presence of two or more equal melodies
Term
imitation 
Definition
a type of counterpoint; when a song is played in a round; most often encountered when a brief musical motive is played alternately by two or more instruments
Term
fugue
Definition
when the imitative counterpoint suggests a chase
Term
harmony
Definition
the element of music that is created when two or more pitches are produced at the same time
Term
chord
Definition
harmonic term; the sound of three or more pitches at any given moment in a musical work
Term
dissonance
Definition
harsh and disturbing; created when the pitches clash with one another
Term
interval
Definition
the distance between two pitches, whether they are played simultaneously or in succession
Term
rhythm
Definition
the element of music dealing with time
Term
tritone
Definition
diminished fifth or augmented fourth; this interval creates great tension both melodically and harmonically in traditional Western music
Term
major and minor
Definition
two seven-note scales which use a combination of whole and half steps
Term
tempo
Definition
the speed at which pulses are heard
Term
meter
Definition
the pattern when beats often occur in regular patterns or strong and weak pulses
Term
syncopation
Definition
when the melodic material contradicts the given pulse by creating accents on weak beats or between beats
Term
timbre
Definition
the technical term for the color or tone quality produced by voices, instruments, and various combinations of the two
Term
orchestration
Definition
when composers initially write their music at the piano and then assign the various musical ideas to voices and instruments
Term
orchestrator
Definition
someone who specializes in orchestration; can provide valuable assistance to a composer by suggesting possible instrumental combination for a given passage and by completing the time-consuming job of writing out individual orchestral parts according to the direction of the composer
Term
electronic instruments
Definition
the earliest electronic instruments heard in film music are the theremin and ondes martenot; produce oscillating pitches that create an eerie, unreal sound
Term
historical instruments
Definition
effective in suggesting an earlier time period; the most distinctive antique-sounding instrument is the harpsichord
Term
ethnic instruments
Definition
can perform in a style indigenous to their region, but they also may be combined with Western instruments to suggest another culture while maintaining a musical style that is familiar to Western audiences
Term
medley
Definition
when the music contains a series of tunes from the film; common in musicals
Term
overture
Definition
meant to precede the beginning of the film
Term
entr-acte
Definition
immediately precedes the resumption of the film; functions as an overture for the second part
Term
source music (diegetic music)
Definition
heard as part of the drama itself; the characters in the film are able to hear it 
Term
underscoring (non-diegetic music)
Definition
has no logical source in the drama itself; creates a general mood and guides us emotionally and psychologically through the course of a film
Term
cue
Definition
a passage of underscoring from its entrance to its end
Term
wall-to-wall music
Definition
when music plays almost continuously in a film
Term
arrangement
Definition
borrows a melody from another source, and the film composer provides it with an original setting suited to the film
Term
leitmotif
Definition
when one can observe a clear and consistent relationship between a musical idea and its onscreen counterpart 
Term
thematic transformation
Definition
helps to create variety and gives support to dramatic situations; a leitmotif can be altered when it recurs during a film
Term
adaptation
Definition
borrows a complete passage from another source, including both melody and accompaniment
Term
compilation score
Definition
in the silent film era, scores that are a pastiche of borrowed music 
Term
adapted score
Definition
in the sound era, film music that is substantially borrowed
Term
eclectic score
Definition
a score that's weird and makes no fucking sense
Term
running counter to the action
Definition
when the music depicts a mood that deliberately does not match what is happening on the screen
Term
Mickey Mousing
Definition
when the music is too obvious; like accenting every step of someone walking 
Term
Thomas Edison
Definition
produced a commercially viable phonograph and met with Muybridge in 1888; introduced the Kinetoscope in 1891; opened the first Kinetoscope parlor in 1894; Unveiled the Kinetophone in 1895; Premiered the Vitascope 1896; Invented the phonograph in 1876
Term
Eadweard Muybridge
Definition
Exhibited the Zoopraxiscope in Stanford's home in 1879; met with Edison in 1888; leading photographer of the American West; placed 12 cameras at specified intervals next to a racetrack to show that horses do completely leave the ground while they run
Term
Zoopraxiscope
Definition
exhibited by Muybridge in Stanford's home in 1879; a projection device
Term
W.K.L. Dickson
Definition
was the principal moving force behind the development of moving pictures at the Edison lab; created the first studio, a small building called the Black Maria, directed the early films, and even appeared as an actor in several of them
Term
Black Maria
Definition
the first studio which was created by Dickson
Term
Kinetoscope
Definition
first introduced by Edison in 1891;
Term
1879
Definition
Muybridge introduces the Zoopraxiscope which dealt with series photography (horse photography experiment)
Term
1885
Definition
George Eastman creates "roll film" which were sensitized strips of paper; these replaced glass plates
Term
1888
Definition
Edison produced the phonograph
Term
1889
Definition
Eastman introduce roll film made out of celluloid; transparent; could project light through
Term
Kinetophone
Definition
kinetoscope with an attached record player; debuted in 1895 and came equipped with both a viewer and earphones
Term
1891
Definition
Edison introduced the Kinetoscope
Term
1894
Definition
Edison opened the first kinetoscope parlor
Term
1895
Definition
Edison introduced the kinetophone which was a kinetoscope with a record player attached and the Lumiere brothers presented their first films with music
Term
When did the Lumiere brothers come up w the cinematographe?
Definition
1895
Term
28 December 1895
Definition
Paris; first motion picture; acc. by live music; great success
Term
What was the first narrative film? 
Definition
Trip to the Moon (1902)
Term
What was the first film with crosscuts? 
Definition
Great Train Robbery (1903)
Term
academy of motion pictures arts and sciences
Definition
founded by Louis B. Mayer in 1927; founded on the concept of film as a total artwork, dependent on a large # of individual artists
Term
Louis and Auguste Lumiére
Definition
created the cinematographe in 1894 which was a device that was capable of taking moving pictures, printing film, and projecting images onto a screen
Term
Cinématographe
Definition
a device which was capable of taking moving pictures, printing film, and projecting images onto a screen; could be taken outdoors because it only weighted 12 lbs. 
Term
Max Skladanowsky
Definition
his works preceeded those of the Lumiere brothers, but they are often overlooked; on Nov. 1, 1895, he projected films before a paying public
Term
Vitascope
Definition
Edison's projector which he invented after he abandoned the idea of the peephole of the kinetoscope
Term
Georges Melies
Definition
young magician; most famous work was A Trip to the Moon (1902); he was characterized by elaborate sets and costumes, fantastic stories, and lots of beautiful girls
Term
Edwin Porter
Definition
director of The Great Train Robbery in 1903
Term
nickelodeon
Definition
small shops that showed films exclusively, usually for the admission price of a nickel; first nickelodeon was established in 1905 in Pittsburgh
Term
ballyhoo music
Definition
when the music was not played in the theater, but rather in front of the shop, where the volume would be boosted in order to attract attention
Term
song films
Definition
films that were created to illustrate a popular song that would be played or sung with the film or slide show; it was common for these to alternate with narrative films in a nickelodeon
Term
film in 1908
Definition
L'Assassinat du Duc de Guise
Term
film in 1912
Definition
Queen Elizabeth
Term
film in 1915
Definition
The Birth of a Nation
Term
films in 1916
Definition
Intolerance and The Fall of a Nation
Term
film in 1919
Definition
Broken Blossoms
Term
D.W. Griffith
Definition
generally regarded as the single most important figure in American film; first great artist in the field; directed The Birth of a Nation
Term
United Artists
Definition
a corporation formed in 1919 by D.W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Charlie Chaplin; the first film under this umbrella was Broken Blossoms
Term
Wurlitzer Organ
Definition
America's largest organ maker; began producing instruments designed for movie theaters; started adding different devices so that irregular sounds could be made
Term
compilation score
Definition
Term
action/adventure films
Definition
one of the main genres of music; an example would be James Bond movies
Term
actualities
Definition
the first films were just capture of everyday things; example: The Kiss by WKL Dickson and Edison and the Serpentine Dances
Term
animation
Definition
in 1928, Mortimer Mouse was in Steamboat Willy; soon became Mickey Mouse; first and only animation until Snow White in 1937
Term
ASCAP
Definition
formed in 1914; charges theaters 10 cents per seat per year for composer royalties
Term
ballet
Definition
created by the mixture of drama, music, and dance; successful effort of combining divergent arts
Term
character
Definition
someone in a story; protagonists and antagonists
Term
closing credits
Definition
the credits at the end of a film; giving credit to those who took part in the making 
Term
comedy films 
Definition
a genre of film; example: Mash
Term
dailies
Definition
very similar to actualities; short films depicting parts of everyday life
Term
dramatic films
Definition
a genre of film; example: King's Speech
Term
flim editing
Definition
postproduction stuff; decide which shots will be chosen; put in cuts and crosscuts
Term
film genres
Definition
action/adventure, animation, comedy, drama, horror, musical, romance, mystery, and science fiction
Term
Max Winkler
Definition
pioneer in compiling music for films
Term
William Axt
Definition
the music director for the Capitol Theater; worked on many of MGM's greatest silent films; ushered MGM into the sound era almost single-handedly; directed "Don Juan" which was the first film with synchronized sound (1926)
Term
Giuseppe Becce
Definition
compiled the kinobibliothek in 1919
Term
Busby Berkeley
Definition
created the backstage story, effective humor, and elaborate dance routines for the movie "42nd Street"
Term
Joseph Carl Breil
Definition
America's first significant film composer; composed the music for "Queen Elizabeth" in 1912 in addition to severl of DW Griffith's films such as Birth of a Nation and Phantom of the Opera
Term
Erno Rapee 
Definition
wrote the first film tune called "Charmaine" in 1926  (in movie called What Price Glory)
Term
"Sunrise" 
Definition
1928; first full-length film to use the sound on film method; won an academy award in 1928 also (at the first academy awards)
Term
vitaphone
Definition
could record sound on disk and mechanically sync w/ film; disk could only be played 20 times before it had to be replaced with a new disk
Term
Steamboat Willy
Definition
first cartoon character (Mortimer Mouse) appeared in this film in 1928
Term
Sam Fox Moving Picture Music Volumes
Definition
appeared between 1913 and 1914; 70 original compositions in 4 volumes
Term
"Birth of a Nation"
Definition
premiered with a score by Breil in 1915; super controversial due to racist nature of the film (KKK)
Term
"A Trip to the Moon" 
Definition
first narrative film; by George Melies in 1902; had 15 scenes
Term
1895
Definition
Lumiere brothers present first films with music
Term
1896
Definition
Edison introduces the Vitascope
Term
1902
Definition
A Trip to the Moon by George Melies
Term
1903
Definition
Edwin Porter's The Great Train Robbery
Term
1905
Definition
Harry Davis opens first nickelodeon in Pittsburgh
Term
1907
Definition
There were approx. 3000 nickelodeons in the US
Term
1908
Definition
There were approx. 8000 nickelodeons in the US; first original film score commissioned
Term
1910
Definition
NYC's Capitol Theatre (largest in the US) employed 6 organists
Term
1913-1914
Definition
The Sam Fox Moving Picture Volumes appear
Term
1914
Definition
ASCAP is formed and charges theaters for use of music
Term
1919
Definition
The Kinobibliothek (kinothek) is published in Berlin
Term
1924
Definition
Motion Picture Moods for Pianists and Organists appears
Term
1926
Definition
Don Juan, the first film with synchronized sound, premieres
Term
1927
Definition
The Jazz Singer, the first feature-length "talkie" premieres
Term
Charlie Chaplin
Definition
directed the last great silent films: City Lights (1931) and Modern Times (1935)
Term
Louis B Mayer 
Definition
founded the academy of motion picture arts and sciences in 1927
Term
Roxy theater
Definition
1927; movie palace; NYC's largest (6200 seats)
Term
Camille Saint Saens 
Definition
commissioned the first original film score (L'assassinat...) in 1908
Term
motion picture moods for pianists and organists
Definition
several hundred pages of music; by Rapee; 1924
Term
Kinobibliothek
Definition
1919; published in Berlin; had music that could be used in movies 
Term
The Great Train Robbery 
Definition
1903; by Eadward Porter; first movie with crosscuts
Term
The Jazz Singer
Definition
1927; recording sounds on records and syncing was used; 25% "talkie"; used the vitaphone system; first time food was used in a movie 
Term
L'Assassinat du Duc de Guise 
Definition
used the first original film score by Saint Saens which was commissioned in 1908
Term
Rosa Rio
Definition
was told she would not succeed in music; studied classical music at Oberlin; Orson Wells' first organist; used to have to play to a film she was seeing for the first time sometimes 
Term
kinetoscope parlor 
Definition
opened by Edison in 1894
Term
phonograph
Definition
produced by Edison in 1888
Term
movietone sound system 
Definition
developed by GE for Fox studios; the "sound on film" method
Term
Charmaine
Definition
first hit tune from a film; "What Price Glory"; 1926; Rapee 
Term
City Lights 
Definition
one of the last great silent films; 1931; by Charlie Chaplin
Term
Don Juan 
Definition
1926; the first film with synchronized sound premieres, but still no dialogue; by William Axt
Term
Lights of New York
Definition
significant film of 1928 (same year as Steamboat Willie); incorporates both underscore and sound music, including an extended live musical number
Term
Camille Saint Saens 
Definition
commissioned the first original film score in 1908 which was used in L'assassinat...
Term
Louis Silvers
Definition
composed music for DW Griffith and was later awarded the first music Oscar for his contributions to One Night of Love (1934)
Term
Harry Stafford
Definition
created some of the synchronized music which was presented in silent scenes
Term
Carl Stallings 
Definition
joined the disney studio and created the music for many of the early catoons 
Term
Max Steiner
Definition
child prodigy; scored over 300 films; won 3 academy awards and was nominated for 15 other Oscars; King Kong, Casablanca, among tons of others 
Term
King Vidor 
Definition
directed films in both the silent and sound eras; one of the uncredited directors of The Wizard of Oz (1939) 
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