Assignment 3

Due Friday by 11:59pm Points 20 Submitting a file upload File Types docx, doc, and pdf

Background

Ludwig Göransson is part of the newer group of film composers who are "postmodern" in their inclusion (and complete understanding) of the traditional Hollywood film score, as well as contemporary popular music.

The film excerpt for this assignment is 2020's Tenet; Göransson's score blends the orchestra and synthesisers, often straying into sound design.

The 31-minute excerpt, below, contains a variety of cues, many of which merge directly from one into another.

A substantial portion of the individual cues from the film are available on the soundtrack, available on YouTubeLinks to an external site.; however, not every cue in this excerpt is part of this collection.

The cues in the soundtrack album, with titles by Göransson, with timings from the excerpt:

3:02 SATOR

6:22 TRUCKS IN PLACE

15:32 RED ROOM BLUE ROOM

20:16 INVERSION

24:23 RETRIEVING THE CASE

29:24 THE ALGORITHM

You can listen to the soundtrack cues above, but keep in mind that the music is very often mixed at a low level in the film; one of the criticisms of the film is that the soundtrack is often buried in the sound effects.

Keep in mind that the final effect of the film's music should be considered as it is presented in the film itself, not the soundtrack album.

Although Göransson does not use many conventional themes—for example, in the way John Williams does—one important recurring melodic idea is one associated with The Protagonist, first heard during WINDMILLS:

Audio: Tenet (2020) The Protagonist Theme (Windmills)

The Assignment

Watch the following clip (it is over 30 minutes in length):

Tenet (2020), music by Ludwig Göransson

Decide where cues begin and end: note that the clip begins in the middle of a cue. As mentioned, you may decide to divide up a longer cue into smaller sections if its mood, or purpose, changes. I noted ten distinct cues; you may have more or less.

For each cue:

Part One: Describe the Scene

Note its starting and ending points, and give the cue a descriptive name.

Note how the music begins and ends

Briefly describe the action in the film: the characters on-screen, the location, and a summary of the dialogue.

Describe any sound effects that affect the music in any way.

Part Two: Describe the music

Briefly describe the orchestration; for example, "synthesisers with added strings".

Describe the music, noting if the music shifts or responds in any way to the action or sound effects on screen.

Part Three: Analyze the cue

What purpose is the music serving for this cue? What is its function?

Describe all the ways that the music is doing to support this purpose, and describe how the composer is achieving this.

Parts One and Two should be in point form. and objective: don't include any opinions or interpretations. Part Three should be reflective and analytical, presenting your interpretation of the score.

For example,

Cue 1: The Protagonist is discovered

0:00 - 0:31

Part One: The scene

music begins at start of clip; music ends before dialogue begins

Location: on Sator's boat, below deck.

Scene description: The Protagonist is secretly watching Sator, is discovered, then brought to Sator

Dialogue: brief interchange between thug, The Protagonist, and Sator

Important sound effects: punches thrown

Part Two: The music

Orchestration: synthesiser sounds (throbbing pulse), percussive sounds

Description:

begins with "throbbing sound" that could be processed engine noise

brief pause (silence)

metallic percussive hits, synced with the first two punches.

throbbing sound re-enters, tempo in sync with punches

three final percussive hits precede The Protagonist being thrown down. Throbbing sound stops with final hit

Part Three: The Analysis

The music at the beginning of the clip serves as an underscore, a rhythmic pulse that could be heard as source sounds, such as the boat's engine. It is ambiguous as to whether this is source or score. Either way, it is definitely background and "inaudible", not meant to be consciously noticed.

This music/underscore ends right before the first punch, leaving silence; this silence heightens tension.

The entry of the loud metallic percussive sound is synced with the first two punches, making these more dramatic. It is interesting that only the first two punches are synced to the music, and not the third; perhaps this was done to avoid creating a "Mickey Mouse" effect.

The percussive hits are in tempo with the throbbing sound, which makes us realise that the previous throbbing was score and not source.

The throbbing sound continues (it seems louder than previously). Three final percussive hits are out of time with the throbbing sound and not in sync with any action or effect on screen. The final hit has an added low-pitched bass drum, which gives it a sense of finality.

The throbbing sound stops with the final hit (with the bass drum), leaving silence.

The sudden entry of the percussive sounds (at 0:12), synchronised with the sound effects, is a dramatic elevation of the music: at this point, we become very aware of both the sound effects and the music. The music serves as a signifier of emotion (fear, excitement) as well as a narrative cue as a type of "stinger".

Rubric

Assignment 3 rubric (AE)

Assignment 3 rubric (AE)

Criteria Ratings Pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDescribes all cues

2 pts

All cues described

1 pts

Most cues described

0 pts

Missed significant number of cues

2 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePart One: Description of scene

3 pts

Exceeds expectations

2 pts

Meets expectations

1 pts

Does not meet expectations

3 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePart Two: Description of music

6 to >5.1 pts

Far exceeds expectations

5.1 to >4.2 pts

Exceeds expectations

4.2 to >3.0 pts

Meets expectations

3 to >0 pts

Does not meet expectations

6 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePart Three: Analysis of Cue

9 to >7.6 pts

Far exceeds expectations

7.6 to >6.3 pts

Exceeds expectations

6.3 to >4.6 pts

Meets expectations

4.6 to >0 pts

Does not meet expectations

9 pts

Total Points: 20