Task 4 – Brass Score For North By NorthWest

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1).For this task we had to compose a score for Brass to a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s North by NorthWest (1959).

2).The visual elements I chose to highlight was when he leaps to the ground, performed by a solo trumpet gesture from hi to low. When the plane soars and misses, performed by a crescendo-diminuendo, similarly at 1:07-12 with a crescendo. I chose these for the same reason as Task 2 (Piano for Batman).

3).I took inspiration from Johann Pachalbel’s ‘Canon In D Major’ where the melody flows (cannons) from one instrument to the other overlapping at a specified time with some variations of intervals and rhythm. One sub-type of canon is a round, which is where the imitation is identical, creating an intertwining echo effect. For this same theory, I also took inspiration from Danny Elfman’s theme from Batman: The Dark Knight (2008) . You can see this in the ‘Batman theme’ previously posted from 0:12 and in my piece between 0:14 and 0:27.

I also took inspiration from Arnold Schoenberg and adapted his 12-tone theory of serialism by using only the notes C, C sharp, F, F sharp and G sharp (with one small exception). (see full explanation about this in my Blog-Post ‘The 12-Tone Technique, Serialism and Pitch Sets’).

4).One new audio technique applied was the quantization of triplets using the Piano Roll – useful for this task, being in a 6/8 time signature.

5).One music technique I learned was the process of a musical cannon. I also learned about the 12-tone technique, serialismpitch-sets and rounds.

6).This task was practice as research because I explored the music theories just stated and furthered my research them by creating my own pitch-set, then mixed the techniques together in my own composition.

7). I would give myself 65% for this task because I researched into music theory with the cannon, the 12-tone technique, serialismpitch-sets and rounds, then recycled and improved these methodologies to fulfil the outlines of the task. 

Word Count: 263

Bibliography    

Pachalbel, J., 1980. Canon In D Major [Vinyl] United States: Musical Heritage Society. MHS 1060. 6 mins. 3 sec. 

Batman: The Dark Knight. 2008. [Film] C. Nolan, United States: Warner Bros.

North by Northwest. 1959. [DVD] A. Hitchcock, United States: Warner Home Video


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