Why do most soundtracks sound dissonant?

Discussion in 'Education' started by Radioactive Fallout, Aug 21, 2019.

  1. When I do listen to any soundtrack (9 out of 10), it seems their makers are not very interested in consonant sonorities and tend to slip into the dissonance realms. Even it's rare to find pleasant tracks for non-dramatic scenes.

    • Why do most soundtracks sound dissonant?
    Music theory books are usually talking about tensions and their resolution to consonances but it seems there's not much resolution in the movie scenes.

    • Why do film composers like that?
    Due to this dissonancy, listening to soundtracks doesn't make much desirable moments for me unlike the classical pieces.:dunno:
     
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  2.  
  3. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    3,828
    Likes Received:
    2,657
    Location:
    Sweden
    Maybe because they want to convey a feeling of unease and tension, as in describing the intention/mood/atmosphere of the character or scene. You know, depending on where we are in the dramaturgical curve.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 1
    • Love it! Love it! x 1
    • Useful Useful x 1
    • List
  4. I think listening to that kind of music is just for learning (how to compose the similar ones) not enjoyment because I don't enjoy that much. Sometimes complicated soundscapes and harmonic structures but not delightful. :dunno:
     
  5. 23322332

    23322332 Rock Star

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2011
    Messages:
    693
    Likes Received:
    352
    Modern soundtrack music is not even designed to be listened. More like a background ambience.
    I am pretty sure many directors don't want the music to be more interesting than the actual movie.
    Animations (both Western and Non-western) usually have more artistic soundtracks.
     
  6. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    3,828
    Likes Received:
    2,657
    Location:
    Sweden
    Enjoy? That is not the purpose of the music. It's not pop music. :rofl:
    Maybe the whole intention is to make you feel uneasy, uncomfortable, overwhelmed, etc(!). Then the composer most likely did what he/she set out to do.

    Music is language. Music is story [insert face of Hans Zimmer]. But instead of words we use music, sounds, dynamics, different instrumentation, contrasts, sonority, dissonans, rhythm/tempo, rubato, modal scales, tonal and atonal pitches to convey feelings and emotions. We also tell story with music, as it evolves and progresses and explain things throughout a piece. Sometimes there is dialogue in the music between melody/motif and counterpoint. There are "core feelings" that a musician/composer aims at in order to orient the music towards the feeling/mood that it intends to enhance. It's quite self-explanatory really.
    Music is also used to reveal events, describe decitions or explain a shift in mood, before they happen on the screen. It's a way to guide/help the movie-goer.

    If you were to feel "good" about music from a scary movie, the contrast would be startling. There is also a trick in composition to use this stark contrast (to further enhance a mood/feeling). But it seems you are not there yet.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2019
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Creative Creative x 1
    • List
Loading...
Similar Threads - soundtracks sound dissonant Forum Date
"Late 90s Soundtracks" Style Thriller Music Our Music Nov 12, 2022
Invitation! Making Soundtracks For Silent Short Films! Film / Video Game Scoring Mar 27, 2022
The Music of Panfilov's 28 Men or why I sincerely value film soundtracks Conversations About Good Music Dec 13, 2021
Soundtracks that built the movie,your favorite movie soundtrack ? humor Oct 24, 2021
A piano library for solo piano soundtracks Software Jan 9, 2020
Loading...