The Use of Harmony in Film Music

Understanding Harmony in Film Music

Harmony acts as a foundation upon which film music is built, manipulating viewers’ emotions and enhancing on-screen action.
Film music typically utilises conventional tonal harmony, but could also experiment with modal, atonal or polytonal harmony, depending on the nature of the scene.
The choice of chords and their progression often defines the mood of the scene - major chords for positive or triumphant moments, minor chords for sad or tense events.

Function of Harmony in Film Music

Harmony in film music contributes to auditory storytelling, expanding the narrative beyond visual elements.
Dissonance, or clashing harmonies, could signify tension, danger, or confusion, while consonance often depicts resolution, peace, and fulfilment.
By modulating or changing keys, composers can enhance the dramatic arcs, symbolising change, growth, or shift in the narrative.

Harmony and Character Development

Leitmotifs, or character-specific themes, often employ unique harmonic structures that correspond to the personalities or growth of specific characters.
Subtle changes in harmonic structure of these motifs across the film can hint at character development or transformation.

Harmony in Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Music

Harmony in diegetic music, the music characters within the film can hear, might reflect the time period, location, or culture of the scene.
Non-diegetic music, background music heard only by the audience, uses harmony to enhance the tone, atmosphere, and emotional undertones invisible to characters but felt by the viewers.

Recognising Harmony in Different Genres of Film Music

Different film genres often favour certain harmonic structures. For example, science fiction might lean towards atonal or dissonant harmonies, while a romantic film may opt for warmly consonant, major key tonality.
Be conscious of the harmony used in various film music genres. This not only enriches your appreciation of the music but develops your understanding of the emotional language of film scores.

Remember that harmony in film music isn’t just about keeping the score coherent, it’s an expressive tool used by composers to evoke specific reactions and shape the viewers’ journey throughout the film. Complementing the visual narrative, effective harmonic structures bring depth and emotional richness to the cinematic experience.