Silent Film
What was the most common type of accompaniment in small theaters during the silent film era?
Piano
How did many accompanists handle music during a film?
They improvised to match the action and emotions
Which early sound film featured Max Steiner’s groundbreaking score?
King Kong
Which film featured Herrmann’s famous “shower scene” score with shrieking strings?
Psycho
What is the main purpose of film music?
To set the mood, support storytelling, and enhance emotions
In addition to classical works, what other kind of music was often played in silent films?
Current hit songs for comedy or romance
Who were two key staff composers during the Golden Age?
Max Steiner and Erich Korngold
Bernard Herrmann’s music was known for which qualities?
Psychological intensity, dark harmonies, and unusual orchestration
Which instrument was popular in larger theaters because it could also create sound effects?
Organ
Why were famous classical works by composers like Beethoven or Tchaikovsky often reused in silent films?
Audiences already recognized them, making them effective
Which studios were known as the “Big Five” during the Golden Age of Hollywood?
MGM, Warner Bros, Paramount, RKO, 20th Century Fox
Which of John Williams’ early works earned him an Oscar nomination?
The Reivers
Why were silent films not truly “silent”?
Live music was almost always performed to accompany the film.
What did cue sheets provide for silent film accompanists?
Suggested pieces to match moods and actions
Why did orchestral film scores become the Hollywood standard?
They carried prestige, were flexible for emotion, and appealed universally
Ennio Morricone was known for using unusual sounds in his film scores. Which of the following might appear in his music?
Whistling, electric guitar, whips, gunshots, voices
Why was music especially important in silent films?
It covered up projector noise and created emotional impact.
How did larger theaters sometimes contribute to the evolution of film scoring?
By hiring composers to write full original scores
What did the Big Five studios have complete control over?
Production, distribution, and exhibition
What did John Williams carry forward from Golden Age composers like Steiner and Korngold?
Sweeping melodies, orchestral color, leitmotifs, and classical traditions