Chapter 55: Underscoring Meaning: Williams and Music for Film
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Why is music important to film?
a. It can reveal the emotions of the characters.
b. It can suggest a time and place.
c. It can tell the audience where or when the story takes place.
d. all of the answers shown here
2. Which of the following best describes the music at the climax of The Godfather?
a. The mood reflects the action.
b. The mood runs counter to the action.
c. No music is heard until the last moment.
d. The lack of music creates a sense of realism.
3. Music that is performed on screen and is part of the drama itself is called:
a. underscoring. c. counter to the action.
b. leitmotifs. d. source music.
4. Which of the following characterizes the career of John Williams?
a. He was a composer for the TV series Gilligan’s Island.
b. He was the composer for films such as Jaws and Star Wars.
c. He is a composer and conductor of concert music.
d. all of the answers shown here
5. John Williams was the music director and principal conductor of the:
a. Los Angeles Philharmonic. c. Boston Pops.
b. New York Philharmonic. d. Vienna Philharmonic.
6. Which of the following film scores was composed by John Williams?
a. Schindler’s List
b. Titanic
c. Ghostbusters
d. Braveheart
7. ________ occurs when music comes from an unseen source, often an invisible orchestra.
a. Source music c. Overscoring
b. Underscoring d. Leitmotif
8. A theme associated with a particular character is called:
a. underscoring. c. a leitmotif.
b. source music. d. all of the answers shown here
9. A film character listening to the car radio is an example of:
a. underscoring. c. chance music.
b. source music. d. none of the answers shown here
10. The Imperial March is associated with:
a. Darth Vader. c. Yoda.
b. Luke Skywalker. d. Obi-Wan Kenobi.
11. The Imperial March is an example of:
a. source music. c. overscoring.
b. underscoring. d. none of the answers shown here
TRUE/FALSE
1. The most important function of music in film is to establish a mood.
2. Most Hollywood films use music to establish an overall mood, not to reflect the emotional content
of a given scene.
3. Music can help create a sense of place and time in films.
4. In film, music that can be heard by a character on the screen is called underscoring.
5. Wagner’s Ring cycle might have inspired John Williams’s use of leitmotifs in the Star Wars films.
6. Underscoring is what most people think of as film music.
7. The scary two-note oscillating motive in Jaws is an example of a leitmotif.
8. The scary two-note oscillating motive in Jaws is an example of source music.
9. Composers can create irony by supplying music that runs counter to the action on screen.
10. The minor tonality of the Imperial March contributes to the dark character of the piece.
11. John Williams has only composed film music.
12. The Imperial March represents the character of Yoda.
ESSAY
1. Describe how film music sets the mood and helps establish the characters and a sense of place and
time. Cite specific examples in your answer.
ANS:
Answers will vary.
PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: Essentials: pp. 311–314
TOP: Film Music MSC: Conceptual
2. Describe how the Imperial March musically reflects the character of Darth Vader.
ANS:
Answers will vary.
PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: Essentials: pp. 312–314
TOP: Williams MSC: Conceptual