Sound Of Music

Analysis of "The Sound of Music"

Vincenzo Chiapperini

Grand Canyon University

Within a film, there are many elements that come together to both entertain and enthrall audiences; one such element is music. Used correctly, the music in a movie can evoke any feeling, and create any atmosphere needed to bring an audience in. Rodgers and Hammerstein, the composing duo of "The Sound of Music" were brilliant at arranging music to perfectly fit movie and stage scripts. Their use of fluctuating dynamics would bring the audience to highs and lows at just the right time to express the feelings of the characters at that point in the movie. The texture of the vocals and instruments throughout the movie provided complex layering to what appeared to be simplistic composition which gave the pieces fullness and life. Rodgers and Hammerstein were also geniuses when it came to catchy melody; for example, who when asked could not at least hum the tune of "My Favorite Things", or how many kids learned the vocal scales by singing "Do-Re-Mi"? One may not remember all of the children's names, or some of the scenes, but most all remember the unforgettable music.

Dynamics within a piece of music or a musical theatre production can change the emotion, the mood, and the feeling of the entire composition or production dramatically even when all other elements have gone untouched. For example, watch a familiar suspense movie and listen to the music when the climax scene is imminent; what is heard is an extreme fluctuation in the dynamics of the music to give a signal to the viewer that something big is about to happen. This is normally done using calm and yet somehow unnerving low notes followed by a climactic raise in dynamic to the ultimate height of action. The dynamics of the song "My Favorite Things" successfully gives the feel of dominance, as Maria tries to comfort the children during the thunderstorm. The goal of this scene was for the children to take dominance over their own feelings of fear and insecurities not just of the storm, but of their lives. The song, and the dynamics within it is giving the "yes I can" sort of feeling by using strong short bursts and drawn out loud verses that almost sound like they were meant as a "lalalalala" type of feel as they try to drown out everything but what is desired. The dynamics of "Do Re Mi" however, rely on just slight variation in dynamic between the echo verses to give a feeling of a lighthearted school lesson. A stern and yet playful feeling derives from this dynamic, especially when the gentle increase and decrease happens between student and teacher verses. It is clear that the dynamic is critical in getting the reaction one wants out of a musical, a movie, or any composition, and can dramatically change a piece of music without any other part of it being changed in any way.

In music, the texture refers to the overall quality of the sound, which is most often indicated by the number of voices being heard within a piece of music, and the relationship between these voices. A piece's texture my also be described by using terms such as thick, light, rough and or smooth. For example, the texture of this musical has more of a light, theatrical feel to it. As one hears Maria begin to sing, she starts off sort of low and grasps you with her soft melodic voice each time, as to allow her audience to know that it is her with her unique style. Her octaves really never change throughout the production,