What's covered
Creating mood and supporting the action3
Leitmotif and instrumentation in film3
Key facts
1
A leitmotif represents a character, place or idea.
2
Film music creates mood and supports the on-screen action.
3
Composers use tempo, dynamics, instrumentation and dissonance to match a scene.
4
Underscore is background music played under dialogue or action.
Sample questions
A taste of the 6 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
1Creating mood and supporting the action
What is the main purpose of film music?
- •To advertise the cinema
- ✓To create mood and support the action
- •To replace the spoken dialogue
- •To slow the film down
2Leitmotif and instrumentation in film
In film music, what does a leitmotif represent?
- •A change of cinema
- ✓A character, place or idea
- •The closing credits only
- •The film's total budget
3Creating mood and supporting the action
What is 'underscore' in film music?
- •A fully sung title song
- •A scene with no music at all
- ✓Background music under the action
- •The loudest main title theme
4Creating mood and supporting the action
Film music is used to create mood and support the on-screen action.
Answer: True
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More GCSE Music topics
Musical Elements and LanguageArea of Study 4: Popular MusicArea of Study 1: Musical Forms and DevicesArea of Study 3: Film MusicArea of Study 2: Music for EnsembleArea of Study 1: Instrumental Music 1700–1820Area of Study 2: Vocal MusicArea of Study 3: Music for Stage and ScreenArea of Study 3: Rhythms of the WorldArea of Study 4: FusionsArea of Study 5: The Conventions of PopArea of Study 1: Western Classical Tradition 1650–1910Area of Study 2: Popular MusicArea of Study 3: Traditional MusicArea of Study 4: Western Classical Tradition since 1910Area of Study 2: The Concerto Through Time