Introduction
This movie was written by Tom Eyen and Condon, directed by Bill Condon and produced by Laurence Mark. The actors and the actresses include Deena Jones famously known as Beyoncé Knowles, Curtis Taylor Junior whose real name is Jamie Foxx, James Thunder Early who is the famous Eddie Murphy, Effie, Lorrel, White, Wayne and Battle. The main songs that have been used in this film are compositions from Eyen and Krieger with four of Krieger’s new songs (Millner et al 5).
The musicians credited and the creditors of this movie
The creditor of this musical play, dream girls is the 2006 academy awards. This is attributed to the fact that during this year, this musical movie produced the best supporting actress, Jennifer Hudson. The credited musicians in this movie include the contribution from Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy. They are credited musicians as the characters and the roles that they play in the musical depict their prominence. All this musicians have been proved to do so well in the music industry worldwide which gives this musical play credit (Millner et al 5).
The score and the orchestra
The score and the orchestra in this musical movie have been done by Stephen Trask. The orchestral instrumentation has been written and the performance directions given by Trask. Trask provides the performance directions in the musical to bring out the intended message of the music. Through orchestrating, he also provided the scores to be followed through the orchestral music scenes that are used as a guide for performance in the movie (Millner et al 11).
The type of music that have been used in the movie
This movie has mainly used jazz music to emphasize on the message that is intended for the audience. This can be seen from the trio music that has been done by the Curtis together with the trio. An example of jazz music that has been done in this movie includes big which is an instrumental based jazz based piece. Ballroom music has also dominated the movie. This can be evidenced by the type of music which has scenes having the gay community who are more pleased with such type of music (Millner et al 30).
The use of dialogue music has also been employed in this movie. This can evidenced by the song done mainly by Jennifer Hudson that says ‘and I am telling you that I am not going’ whereby Jennifer is trying to tell Jamie that she is not ready to quit the music industry and will pursue her passion for music even if put down by being put in the back bench while Deena being given more attention. Orchestral instruments have also contributed to the type of music in this movie. The instruments like the brass have contributed to the jazz effect that is brought out (Millner et al 30).
Some of the music that have been done also have the classical pieces effect. This can be seen through harmonization and the use of melody for some of the staged performances that are put up by the trio during the concerts that they hold in different parts of the country during their musical tour. Therefore, this movie incorporates classical, jazz and ballroom music into the play scenes (Millner et al 30).
Existing songs and pieces that have been used in this film
Some of the existing pieces and songs that have been used in this film include fake your way to the top which is done by Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé Knowles, Anika, Eddie Murphy and Noni Rose. In addition, when I first saw you that existed previously can be seen to be done by Jamie Foxx in the movie. I’m somebody by Beyoncé Knowles can also be seen to exist previously and being done by Knowles, Sharon, and Anika in the movie and the song and I am telling you I’m not going which initially was a version done by Jennifer Holiday and in this movie is now done by Jennifer Hudson. More of the songs that existed earlier and have been incorporated into the movie include: one night only, perfect world, I meant you no harm, I miss you old friend, hard to say good bye, going’ downtown, taking the long way home and Cadillac car (Millner et al 3).
Musical themes in the movie
Musical themes that have been used in this musical film are very clear. The most recognized theme is the one that is based on the song, ‘and I am telling you that I am not going’ at some point in this melody line, counter theme has dominated this piece of music that has been done mainly by Jennifer Hudson. Monothematic theme can also be evidenced in the same melody on the phrase of ‘and I am telling you I am not going’ in this piece of music which requires that Jennifer has a very strong vocal power to accentuate the message that she is passing across. The song, ‘we are the dream girls have a polythemetic effect and have dominated the soundtrack of this musical film (Millner et al 35).
The composer used the theme of the melody line, ‘and I am telling that I am not going’ to portray the emotions of Jennifer Hudson in this movie. This can be evidenced through sound back up effects that come from the brass, the percussion and the drums in this song. The sound depicts the emotions of anger that comes out of Jennifer Hudson’s voice. In this scenario, the brass instruments have been used to echo Jennifer’s voice hence emphasizing more on the message that she is trying to pass. The theme of and I am not going has also been used to portray Jennifer’s determination of not backing off from her passion of music which she believes will be successful at some point (Millner et al 35).
The theme of dream girls’ song has also been transformed into various scenes and situations. This is evident when the trio gets to win in the competition for the harmony group competition and the theme of the song dream girls is played for most of the scenes of the winning event. The theme of the dream girls song is also played when the girls are still struggling to show that being the best group still remains a dream, hence at this stage, they have not achieved much. Therefore, the theme of the song has been incorporated in both the winning and losing situations of the trio’s music career. The theme of the song dream girls has been fragmented especially when being played in the background of certain scenes that apply to the message in the song. This can be seen to appear shortly in most parts of the film (Millner et al 35). The composer also has used themes to represent emotions and person in this film. For example, Hudson’s emotions and personality has been brought out by the type of music that she does like the one for not backing off to be the lead singer of the band.
When comparing Beyoncé’s notes and Jennifer’s notes, most of the notes sung by Jennifer are augmented when compared to the diminished notes that are done by Beyoncé Knowles. The augmented notes that are done by Jennifer suits her vocals are meant to bring out the anger in her voice while that of Beyoncé is diminished since she is known to be a lead singer and has been favored with the band leader throughout her music career. Therefore, both augmented and diminished notes have been used in this musical movie (Millner et al 35).
Changing of the theme sounds to suit the current happening on the screen
Yes, the composer changes the theme sound according to what is happening or what is about to happen on the screen. This is to prepare the viewer on the message and the effect that is expected. For example, when Jennifer Hudson is complaining of her oppression and being given the back bench position while Beyoncé Knowles is given the position of a lead singer, it is a sad moment for Jennifer and she expresses her anger through the music by stressing that she is not ready to quit until she achieves her intended goal (Bordman 81).
The main theme of the solo knocks out that has been done by Jennifer Hudson has been enhanced by the use of instruments echoing the words. The instruments echo stresses on the key point for example, the brass instruments echo the words sung by Jennifer ‘and I am telling you I am not going’ hence, this can gives an evidence of determination from Hudson and not being ready to give up for the best position when in the performing band (Bordman 81).
For the instance that something good or bad is going to happen, the composer has used different instruments to prepare the audience. For example, when it is a win for the trio for the first time, dream girls song is played by the orchestral instruments in a bright tone. This brings out the happy event in a more clear way. Minor tonality is also a key consideration that has been used to pass sad news or bring out the sad expression of the artists in this musical film. During the happy or the normal, it is evident that major key tonality has dominated (Bordman 81).
Conclusion
Therefore, dream girls as a movie is more musical in nature and encompasses so many characteristics that a musical would have. This film has been accompanied by the orchestra especially the brass instruments, hence, the predicament that most of the music played is jazz. More so, the artists’ feelings and expressions have been brought through both vocals and the instruments. Tonality has been of key consideration when giving the themes to the music as well.
Work cited
Millner, Denene, and Bill Condon. Dreamgirls. London: Scholastic, 2008. Print.
Millner, Denene, and Bill Condon. Dreamgirls: A Novelization. New York:
HarperEntertainment, 2006. Print.
Bordman, Gerald M. American Musical Comedy: From Adonis to Dreamgirls. Bridgewater, NJ:
Replica Books, 2000. Print.
