Soundtracks to movies appeared even before we could actually here the actors. The music, which accompanies the scenes, help the view feel the film better and grasp the emotions on screen. Three pieces of music were chosen to go with a particular fragment of the movie Rob Roy.
First Selection: Beethoven's 5th Symphony, 1st movement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7pQytF2nak
The music is to start playing from the moment the main hero grabs the ropes. The singular notes already played by a group of strings to create the sounds of a chord perfectly represent the dramatic atmosphere of the moment. Moreover, the syncopation seamlessly follows with the two movements: the throw of the rope around the throat and the jump off the bridge. The accelerando of the music, which follows, goes well with the hasty movement of the soldiers. Just when the crescendo comes, the main hero is free - now off to survive in the waters below. The melody takes over and everyone once again start running. The main hero swimming through the waters in a hurry to save his life and the soldiers in a hurry to do what is asked of them and defend the honor of their leader. The music helps keeps the view on their toes and in excitement worry about what it to come. Even some of the bullet shots go perfectly in line with the rhythm of the music. However, the excitement of the chase can only last that long, so the musical melody slows down when we believe the main hero may be unseen by his followers. Yet the crescendo follows and on the top of the music, the hero starts falling down the waterfalls. The accelerando only fastens the chase, which the viewer is now once again watching full of excitement that the music fuels. The triumphant notes hit right when the cow - the way out is spotted by the hero as if hinting to the view that here it is - here is the way he will escape. The darkness of the music, which follows, helps build the danger of the close approach of the soldiers. The quick rhythm of the sounds to follows as if speed up the conclusion of the soldiers that the trace is gone and echoes with the feelings of the view who also cannot wait for the soldiers to leave as fast as possible.
Second Selection: James Horner - Climbing up Iknimaya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CagUw9KwzE
The starting melody of the piece of music, the strings as if imitating the water and the flute as if helping the viewer hear the peaceful chirping of the birds teleports us to the calm travelling scene of the carriage. Yet, the low tones of the start still allow remembering that this is not a journey for pleasure. The calm melodic shape of the music represents the calm atmosphere of a monotone carriage voyage. The mother and child are simply following the road and looking ahead and the last notes and the crescendos are echoing in the distance, follow the departing carriage from off the scene.
The new scene abruptly stops the music. We are transported back to the soldiers and the painful results of their work. Just the human voices, panting and crying is enough sound to fill the scene. The tragedy of a death and the pain of losing someone beloved is enough to fill the ears of the viewer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuAGGZNfUkU
The opening chords of the piece of music as if echo the slow steps of Mary getting out of bed and slowly walking up to Robert. Just as the main melody starts, we see the injured face of her loved one and the low notes of the music help illustrate the terror, which Mary must be feeling. The slow rhythm of the sound creates a perfect harmony with the low light of the scene. The low pitch shown together with the low light creates the intimate atmosphere. There is no reason for the characters to hurry at the moment and the music follows their slow movements. The crescendo starts when Robert starts moving his head in disagreement as if showing that the conversation is now past the moments of just slow shock. The feelings have sunk in and the couple are now contemplating further just as the music moves on to the next phrase of the melody. The dramatic music only emphasizes the dramatism of the scene and the emotions of the two people trying to hand what life had given to them. Yet they do not lose their love for each other, which is symbolized in the music by the growing sound, which as if their love grows in the moment to culminate in their kiss. The strings as if the tight lines of their hurting feelings for the wrong done to their beloved one accompany the scene and emphasize the emotions in it.
Works Cited
"Hans Zimmer - Time". YouTube. N.p., 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016.Appendix
"Climbing Up Iknimaya-Path To Heaven By James Horner". YouTube. N.p., 2016. Web. 23
"Beethoven -5Th Symphony, 1St Movement: Allegro Con Brío". YouTube. N.p., 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016.
CUE SHEET
[MacGregor jumps over the bridge] start Beethoven's 5th Symphony, 1st movement
MacGregor!
Cut him Free!
[MacGregor falls into the water]
Bring him back here!
[First shots fired]
[MacGregor goes over the falls]
I see him!
[MacGregor sees dead cow] end Beethoven's 5th Symphony, 1st movement
[Carriage crossing a creek] start James Horner - Climbing Up Iknimaya
Is this where we may stay?
Aye, by his grace's goodness;
Under his protection
Will father come here?
If he can end James Horner - Climbing Up Iknimaya
[Soldiers pillaging]
No!
[scene fades to twilight]
[Mary lying in bed] start Hans Zimmer - Time
Robert? Robert! Oh, my Robert!
What have they done with you?
You should have told me, Mary.
Robert, I should have, but I could not.
Forgive me, my love.
I was wrong.
No, it was me who was wrong.
You were right when you told me I must have it my own way. It's
that which brought all this on us. I should have packed my pride and
given Montrose his way.
No, Robert.
And all this has come on us.
All this you have endured
And wrong would have been done you!
And what of the wrong done you?
Wrong past bearing.
No, not past bearing, not past bearing;
Not if I have my Robert, and he has himself
And you would not, not if you had done a lesser man's bidding
Honor is the gift a man gives himself;
You told our boys that. Would you have stolen from yourself that
which makes you Robert MacGregor?
Oh, my Mary. How fine you are to me.
And you to me.
[Kiss] end Hans Zimmer - Time
[End of our excerpt just before Mary says, Oh Robert, there is more]
