Searching for the Right Music

Today we're going to continue our exploration of film sound. Below you will find five movie clips, or, rather, the same clip five times. It is the opening shot from the John Ford film The Searchers. Each version has a different background score. Your task is to copy and paste the following questions into a Word Document. Then, following the directions and answer the questions.  Be sure to NOT listen to all of the clips before looking at the questions. The questions will instruct you view/listen to each clip in its own time. Answer the questions thoroughly. I'm looking forward to reading you thoughtful analyses. When you are finished, print out your responses and turn in one Tuesday. (Do NOT post your answers in the comments below.) Obviously, any work you don't finish in class is homework. Good luck and have fun.

Searching for the Right Music

Analysis Questions

1.  View/listen to the ASTURIAS VERSION. (A) What tone does the music set in this version? (B) Take a few sentences to describe the story of the film as you imagine it from this version.

2.  View/listen to the DANCES VERSION.  (A) What tone does the music set in this version? (B) Take a few sentences to describe the story of the film as you imagine it from this version.

3.  View/listen to the WILD VERSION.  (A) What tone does the music set in this version? (B) Take a few sentences to describe the story of the film as you imagine it from this version.

4.  (A) Of the three versions you've listened to so far, which is the most appealing? Why?  (B) Which is the least appealing? Why?

5.  (A) Describe the tone and style you imagine the ORIGINAL VERSION to be like. View/listen to the ORIGINAL VERSION. (B) How close were you? Explain.

6. Obviously, non diagetic music has the potential to radically influence the meaning of a film. Discuss the use of background music - for better or worse - in a movie that you've either seen recently or has really stuck with you. In other words, discuss the effectiveness of background music in another film, and explain in detail how it improved or degraded the quality of the film. Again, be specific.

BONUS   View/listen to the BAMBOLEO VERSION and discuss your reaction. Better than the rest? Worst? First impression? Effect on the story? Etc.





ASTURIAS VERSION



DANCES VERSION



WILD VERSION



BAMBOLEO VERSION



ORIGINAL VERSION