This week I listened to a piece from the “Dawn of War” Soundtrack called “No Mercy No Respite”. Obviously it had militaristic themes but it had a definite “brave-hero-on-a-mission” feel to it. It instantly made a sort of heroic character in my head, one that I would feel sympathy for and yet admire as one who is brave and daring. The music made me feel a little more brave and reminded me of something I would play before a soccer game because it’s not your average rap or hip hop warm-up music and I love to defy stereotypes, but it’s also that kind of piece that gets you a little amped up, like you would be whilst playing a video game.
As I began to think about the ways in which I would use this piece for a show I sort of realized that although my mind went straight to the hero, it could work for the antagonist as well. Part of this train of thought was just that when the anatagonist comes onstage, that’s when it suddenly becomes dangerous for the protagonist and that’s when you would need music like this.
I never realized how scary it sounds for you to hear a person walking towards you down a hallway when they’re out of your peripheral vision. Even just the sound of their steps getting closer, especially if the person is moving quickly, kind of escalates the heart rate. At first I caught myself feeling this as I listened to my surroundings in the basement of Trinity Chapel and I sort of laughed at myself. Then I realized that it sort of makes sense. Generally, we’re afraid of the unknown and strange footsteps moving quickly towards you is a little bit intimidating. I realize that this would be a little bit difficult to portray onstage, at least my exact feelings, but it wouldn’t be that hard to do something more like, someone strange pacing outside of a closed door. That would be easily done with some hard shoes on a flat that doesn’t have sound board on it.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Week 1 - Becca
To start this out, I must say I like the fact that iTunes offers a few free downloads, because I have managed to come across a few unique songs that have really made me think. In fact the song “Norway” by Beach House is something that is incredibly hard to describe, but at the same time a fascinating song to listen to. Multiple times over the course of the song there are musical distortions that the only way I can even come close to describing is like an ill Hawaiian motif, or like when a cassette tape would get played too much after a while it would sound sort of stretched. That what the song sounds like, but it’s intentional. While there are lyrics in the song, it appears to be that the music has higher importance. The lyrics in this song don’t really make the most sense while listening to the song because I was more focused on the music accompanying the words. If you broke the song down into the distorted part of the music can be used as a way to set a feeling of unease or uncertainness, or it could fit in well with a few absurdist shows because it has that unique quality to it.
Speaking of unique sound qualities, something that caught my attention is the sound of walking in the snow. There are actually many different sounds that can come from this act. What you get is dependent upon a number of different things like is the snow slushy or solid, is it loose or has it been compacted by lots of people walking on it previously, is there salt in it, what type of shoes are you wearing while walking in it? The different factors create a sound that is unique, but still familiar.
Slushy snow has the nice squish and a slight rustle almost like stepping through a lot of little loose paper scraps. The slushy sound you get reminds me of being a kid, because it’s the closest thing to puddles in the winter time, and let’s face it…jumping in puddles is a lot of fun no matter what age you are at.
Solid snow that has been packed down has a creaky crunch to it which is reminiscent of listening to a person chew something very loudly, or like intentionally crushing up cereal. However, if the solid snow is still loose what you get is a mostly a muffled footstep. The creaky crunch though seems to be more of a hurried step. The more audible the crunch the faster a person is walking almost as though they are trying to get somewhere, or just to get out of the cold. On the flip side, the softer snow seems like a more hopeful and contemplative sound. Like time is not as much of an issue.
When there is salt on the ground along with the snow it reminds we of walking on top of a bag of chips (minus the explosion if you don’t open the bag). This one too appears to be a more hurried feeling and a bit unsettling. It’s almost as though the crunch of the salt is trying to send a warning to the walker (or the person in front). Honestly every time I walk on salted snow in the sidewalk I feel like I am being followed because the crunch makes me think that there is something right behind me.
It’s really strange though how much difference there is though in what sounds come from a seemingly normal act of just walking in the snow.
Speaking of unique sound qualities, something that caught my attention is the sound of walking in the snow. There are actually many different sounds that can come from this act. What you get is dependent upon a number of different things like is the snow slushy or solid, is it loose or has it been compacted by lots of people walking on it previously, is there salt in it, what type of shoes are you wearing while walking in it? The different factors create a sound that is unique, but still familiar.
Slushy snow has the nice squish and a slight rustle almost like stepping through a lot of little loose paper scraps. The slushy sound you get reminds me of being a kid, because it’s the closest thing to puddles in the winter time, and let’s face it…jumping in puddles is a lot of fun no matter what age you are at.
Solid snow that has been packed down has a creaky crunch to it which is reminiscent of listening to a person chew something very loudly, or like intentionally crushing up cereal. However, if the solid snow is still loose what you get is a mostly a muffled footstep. The creaky crunch though seems to be more of a hurried step. The more audible the crunch the faster a person is walking almost as though they are trying to get somewhere, or just to get out of the cold. On the flip side, the softer snow seems like a more hopeful and contemplative sound. Like time is not as much of an issue.
When there is salt on the ground along with the snow it reminds we of walking on top of a bag of chips (minus the explosion if you don’t open the bag). This one too appears to be a more hurried feeling and a bit unsettling. It’s almost as though the crunch of the salt is trying to send a warning to the walker (or the person in front). Honestly every time I walk on salted snow in the sidewalk I feel like I am being followed because the crunch makes me think that there is something right behind me.
It’s really strange though how much difference there is though in what sounds come from a seemingly normal act of just walking in the snow.
Week 1 - Dane
While watching the Canadian made movie “Men With Brooms,” which is a comedy about the sport of curling, I found some music and such that is new to me. By just watching the movie in general it was given a sense of a low budget, independent style and feel. The music they had in it was a big factor to that feel of the movie. While the movie itself wasn’t that great nor was the music that great it still did the job right. The music had a sound that was relatable to a local rock band. It was louder and heavier when it was appropriate or needed, and it was soft under the right circumstances as well. Another thing with the music is that it was somewhat generic in terms of the genre of rock. While the music isn’t terrible, it definitely can work for many different scenarios and stories. It certainly won’t amplify a story to a point of amazement but it’ll help keep things more exciting than complete silence.
The non-music piece that I also noticed in the movie is the dull roar that the curling rock makes when it slides across the ice. It makes a sound that could be used for some unexpected purposes. It makes this rumbling sound where with a bit of a bass boost and some slight alterations in the sound could make for something almost scary. Multiple times when I have seen stage show or movies that are in the genre of horror a common noise is a deep, rumbling sound and it would usually represent the presence of a spirit or demon present. As bizarre as it sounds, a curling rock sliding across the ice with the proper alterations could make something close to this sound and might make a horror show even creepier.
The non-music piece that I also noticed in the movie is the dull roar that the curling rock makes when it slides across the ice. It makes a sound that could be used for some unexpected purposes. It makes this rumbling sound where with a bit of a bass boost and some slight alterations in the sound could make for something almost scary. Multiple times when I have seen stage show or movies that are in the genre of horror a common noise is a deep, rumbling sound and it would usually represent the presence of a spirit or demon present. As bizarre as it sounds, a curling rock sliding across the ice with the proper alterations could make something close to this sound and might make a horror show even creepier.
Week 1 - Heather
The music that I found to listen to was "Hymn to the Fallen" written by John Williams.
To start with, the beginning of the song made me think of the sun rising slowly. The trumpets started a theme that is later replicated by the clarinets and flutes. To me, there is a strong sense of moving forward which I like about the song, and eventually it seems as you can hear the person's steps as they walk or climb whatever stairs/ hills they might be encountering. The whole piece has a nice crescendo effect until the very end when it returns to the clarinets and trumpets. The entire piece is regal even though it is quiet at times. Personally, if I were to use it in a play I would only use the second half when it is a little more up beat, otherwise the audience will be waiting forever as the different parts are slowly added in. An example of when I would use it would be after the main character has resolved his main conflict.
One of our pots has water in it to boil, and it let out a high pitched whistle every now and then once it had been boiling for a while. One way to replicate that on on stage would be to get a tea kettle onto an actual stove so that it could heat up and whistle when it was done, but since that is not very practical and you wouldn't be able to control when the sound would take place, another way would be to record the sound and use it later. A whistle of boiling water in a tea kettle could bring feelings of home to mind, either yours or someone you know, possibly your grandparents even. The sound could also be used as an interruption point in the conflict between two characters.
To start with, the beginning of the song made me think of the sun rising slowly. The trumpets started a theme that is later replicated by the clarinets and flutes. To me, there is a strong sense of moving forward which I like about the song, and eventually it seems as you can hear the person's steps as they walk or climb whatever stairs/ hills they might be encountering. The whole piece has a nice crescendo effect until the very end when it returns to the clarinets and trumpets. The entire piece is regal even though it is quiet at times. Personally, if I were to use it in a play I would only use the second half when it is a little more up beat, otherwise the audience will be waiting forever as the different parts are slowly added in. An example of when I would use it would be after the main character has resolved his main conflict.
One of our pots has water in it to boil, and it let out a high pitched whistle every now and then once it had been boiling for a while. One way to replicate that on on stage would be to get a tea kettle onto an actual stove so that it could heat up and whistle when it was done, but since that is not very practical and you wouldn't be able to control when the sound would take place, another way would be to record the sound and use it later. A whistle of boiling water in a tea kettle could bring feelings of home to mind, either yours or someone you know, possibly your grandparents even. The sound could also be used as an interruption point in the conflict between two characters.
Week 1 - Tori
This week I chose a soundtrack piece from a movie that I’ve never seen, and have not listened to the soundtrack as of yet. The piece was entitled “Run Daddy Run” from the movie 2012. This piece has great rhythm to it, heavy drums in the background with a swift string beat over the top. It makes me think of a chase scene or perhaps a moment before a battle, and the beginning of the fight. It could be used in theatre to create a sense of urgency or a coming danger. It has a very heroic or courageous edge to it, but there is also an underlying sense of fear.
I chose the sound of the fans in my room as my non-musical study. It instantly made me think of either a bathroom or a recently painted area, since painters usually have fans blowing to dry the walls. It could be used as a background noise maker, or it could provide an edge of comedy if two characters were trying to talk to each other over the sound of fans on stage. The emotional implications can be annoyance, boredom, contentment, and a vast array of others. But those three were the first that came to mind.
I chose the sound of the fans in my room as my non-musical study. It instantly made me think of either a bathroom or a recently painted area, since painters usually have fans blowing to dry the walls. It could be used as a background noise maker, or it could provide an edge of comedy if two characters were trying to talk to each other over the sound of fans on stage. The emotional implications can be annoyance, boredom, contentment, and a vast array of others. But those three were the first that came to mind.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
