Film Music History and Aesthetics

Module code
M-FT-MHFA
Curricular domain
Profile, extension and depth: Community
Credits
4
Group size
6-20
Number of course weeks
15
Class duration
One 90-minute lesson per week
Total contact hours
23 hours
Study load
89 hours

Form / content / level

Prerequisites
Admitted to ArtEZ Composition for Film and Theatre. Required for first-year students.
[School years '24-'25 and '25-'26: depending each year on teacher availability and student interest, possible as an elective for CFT students in years 2 and 3]
Competencies
See Competencies Matrix.
Aims
Developing a broad understanding and insight into the history of film music as well as into its aesthetics. Understanding that cinema is an audiovisual art form in which music and sound are not a supplement to the visuals, but an integral part of the narrative, expressive and formal aspects of the medium. Achieving an attentive and contextual approach to film music throughout its development from the silent age to the present day.
Relation to other modules
History of Classical Music, History of Jazz & Pop Music.
Content
Aspects of film music and aesthetics throughout history, included but not limited to:
- Music for silent films
- Music for sound films
- Film music, dialogue and acting
- Diegetic versus non-diegetic film music
- Film music and sound design
- Film music and silence
- The many lives of the leidmotif
- The colour of film music
- Electronic film music
- Music for animation
- Music for documentaries
- Music for experimental films
- The musicality of film
Mode(s) of instruction
Group lessons that, depending on the composition of the group, take place entirely on-campus, entirely online or in a combination of both, i.e., that there are attendees both physically in the classroom and virtually via a screen. Online attendees communicate by seeing, talking and listening to each other and the on-campus attendees equally. The teacher has access to a whiteboard, application sharing, desktop sharing and document sharing and can hand this privilege to any other participants.
Apart from the video conference a high quality stereo audio stream is open at the same time via source connect. That way students and instructor can listen to music from any source of the group and talk about it simultaneously.
All online lessons are recorded and are available for students later on.
Material & Tools
Recommended list of suitable literature and (video)links dealing with Film Music.
Student activity
n/a

Examination and assessment

Mode(s) of assessment
Assignments throughout the course (scoring film fragments, verbal reflections on dramaturgical film scoring choices, etc.), Active Participation.
Criteria
The student should have mastered the elements described under Aims.
Pass requirements
The student has completed this module if they are awarded a minimum grade of 5.5.
Examination procedure
Tests conducted online are valid only if it is done without interruption. The assessor will decide whether or not the test was valid.
Resit options
See the Education and Assessment Plan.

Module summary

The student has developed a broad understanding of the History of Film Music in all its facets and has become acquainted with some of the more experienced film composers. The relationship of the aesthetics of film music to the chronological progression of ideas and developments is explored.