video record
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Description
Jonn Rutter discusses the use of music in film and television. He takes sequences from two television programmes a programme about heroism in the French Resistance and a ghost story and substitute...s different music so as to change the sequences into, respectively, a peaceful landscape and a romantic climax. He then considers various other uses of music in film, and television, to create irony, to suggest a period atmosphere, to create tension and underline an emotional situation.
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: A101, An arts foundation course
Item code: A101; 12
First transmission date: 10-05-1978
Published: 1978
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:22:45
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Producer: Robert Philip
Contributor: John Rutter
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Brahms; Henry VIII and his six wives; I Claudius; Imagery; Scars of Dracula; Secret Army; Television; The Lark Ascending; The Stone Tape; Young Bess
Footage description: The programme opens with the start of the BBC TV programme Secret Army, after which John Rutter comments on the music used in the programme. To emphasise the importance of the music, the start of the Secret Army episode is shown again, firstly without any music, then with Vaughan-Williams' The Lark Ascending. Rutter comments on the effect of these changes. Rutter argues that music has the power to alter the meaning of visual images. As an example of an extract from BBC ghost story The Stone Tape is shown accompanied by Brahm's Third Symphony. Rutter comments on the effect of this music. Then the extract is shown with the original music, and followed by Rutter's comments on the difference. Rutter describes a simple way in which music can build up tension. A extract from Hammer horror film Scars of Dracula demonstrates this technique. Rutter mauintains that music can relate to visual images with great subtlety. The opening credits of the BBC TV programme I Claudius are shown as an example. Rutter introduces an extract from the film Henry VIII and his six wives in which the music is composed by David Munrow and is in a genuine 16th century style. Rutter contrasts this with a mistake made in many historical films, where the music is inappropriate. An extract from the Hollywood film Young Bess is shown as an example. Rutter ends the programme with some general observations on the relation of music to films and plays.
Master spool number: 6HT/72826
Production number: 00525_3449
Videofinder number: 2602
Available to public: no