Wednesday, April 23, 2014

The Science Behind Science Fiction Music

By Essie Osborn


Discovering new areas of study can be quite exciting. This is especially true when it comes to sound design. Interested individuals can now learn important elements of science fiction music through many online tutorials. A few of these can be found on MusicTech and other music websites.

Science fiction has always been a popular genre with regards to film, television and theater. This has been the case since the inception of theatrical arts, movie houses and television. Much of which has often been recorded live during the filming process when it comes to blockbusters such as the recent "Gravity, " or involve musicians playing live on stage. "Star Trek" is probably the best example of a television show which uses a great deal of recorded music as background sound.

Earlier examples of orchestral work would be "Star Wars." Whether science fiction movie, play or television show, most include various artists and songs. Generally, each of these add key elements with regards to communicating fear, mysticism and suspense to viewers.

Whether a soundtrack is live or recorded, there are certain aspects that need to be included when it comes to accompanying any form of science fiction. One is that the soundtrack build and decrease energy of the audience. Otherwise, viewers may become somewhat distant from the action, story and miss important details related or leading to the main plot.

When vocal tracks are used, it is important that the songs do not tell a story different from the production. Otherwise, the audience may get lost in the music and miss key elements of the production which relate to the overall story line and plot. When it comes to productions for children, there is more freedom to use material which aids in telling a story along with the various characters, whether animated or otherwise.

Experience and recognition with relation to any musical artists performing on the soundtrack is also another important aspect to consider. So, when using various musical artists, it is often good to use recognizable artists and well known songs. This is because these music professionals and familiar song titles often have the ability to draw individuals to a theater almost as much as the movie description, actors, directors and producers.

When creating a soundtrack, the sound design engineer often has a great deal of freedom. There are numerous options when it comes to creating the music for a production. These include, locating songs and sound effects in the public domain, creating new material or using existing recordings on stage or during the filming process.

Regardless, the most important elements are that the music fit the characters, plot and story, entertain the audience and leave the audience with an overall positive reaction. It is also important the music build up and reduce the energy of the audience during key moments. After which, viewers often leave with an overall positive sense whether the production be animated, fictional, or non-fictional.




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