AUS220 Film Score Genre Blog
Jaws — John Williams
The film Jaws was released in 1975 and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is about a killer shark that is terrorizing a local summer resort town. The films score was composed by John Williams (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park). The entire score was produced using only “six basses, eight celli, four trombones and a tuba” (Burlingame, 2012).
One section of the score, the ‘main theme’ is played multiple times throughout the film and perfectly illustrates a sense of dread and doom. This theme is played from the point of view of the shark as it hunts its victims. The theme is simple yet effective, only using the two notes F and F sharp, alternating between the two. The beginning of the theme is played on a Tuba; John Williams was asked why he wrote the tuba part in such a high register, when a French horn might seem more appropriate, he replied that he wanted it to sound a little more threatening (Chaundy, 2006).
The rhythm of these alternating notes creates suspense for the viewer. Each time these two notes are struck in the film the viewer knows that the shark is lurking and someone is going to fall prey. The simplicity of this rhythm adds to the mood in a great way, because it’s nothing more than two contrasting notes at first which begins to build up in speed and intensity, representing the shark itself getting closer and closer. The alternating notes are played with different timbres, one note feeling less intense than the other, almost as if one represents the anticipation of the kill and the other is the sound of the strike. The form of the theme begins slow and simple with nothing more than the two alternating notes on tuba, and the notes speed up including more instruments and percussion to signify the impending doom of the person in the water.
One of the first times the theme plays in the film is during a scene where all of the characters are at the beach, and all of the kids are splashing around creating frenzy in the water. The theme begins playing from the point of view of the shark under the water and it swims past the children’s legs, as it builds up in intensity the camera moves closer and closer to one child’s legs until he is taken by the shark, which is seen from the point of view of everyone on the sand. The theme acted as a countdown for the final moments of this poor child’s life before he was taken by the shark, the rhythm sped up indicating the moment of doom was getting closer and closer until it finally did. That is why the theme is so effective, because it perfectly illustrates the emergency and the build up of it, even though it was based off two simple alternating notes the rhythm and harmony creates a sense of dread that can’t be ignored.
Flash Gordon — Queen
The film Flash Gordon is a 1980 space opera action film based on a comic book which goes by the same name. The score for the film was produced by the rock band Queen, with the orchestral sections by Howard Blake. Flash Gordon was one of the earliest high-budget films to use a soundtrack composed and performed by a rock band.
The band played the instruments they’re known for playing Freddy Mercury sang lead and backing vocals, along with synthesizer, piano and keyboards. Brian May played lead guitar and backing vocals, he also contributed co lead vocals on Flash’s theme. Roger Taylor playing drums, timpani and contributed to backing vocals, and finally John Deacon played the bass guitar and rhythm guitar on the record. They were also joined by Howard Blake who contributed additional orchestral arrangements. The soundtrack was produced by Queen and a producer who they would go on to work with more Reinhold Mack.
The film begins with a conversation between two of the films antagonists, talking about annihilating the planet Earth and causing natural disasters using their alien technology. The Queen song ‘Flash’ or ‘Flash’s Theme’ begins to play with a beat of kick drum, with piano being added in slowly building into Freddy’s first vocal where he sings the words “Flash, ah savior of the universe” followed by a guitar lick. The form of this intro goes hand in hand with the film itself, the quarter notes playing ominously gives a sense that something is wrong and then the vocals and guitar lick represent the opposite, and they represent the hero Flash and the conquering of evil.
The Timbre of the vocals is a stark contrast to the beat that plays before them, also adding to this sense that evil lurks and good will come in to save the day. The song continues into an interlude of sorts where there are sounds of destruction and maniacal laughing with the beat continuing until the vocals come back in and transition into a chorus where Freddy is singing falsetto with backing vocals giving the sense of triumph and power when backed with a fast montage of images from the old comic strip Flash Gordon is derived from. The song transitions into an outro singing about Flash being a man who cannot fail until it transitions back into the film. This opening title with Queen’s song ‘Flash’ really sets the tone for the film. The melody of the song transitions between dark and daunting to a sudden flash of heroic triumph, and it goes back and forth to create a sense of good versus evil which is present throughout the film.
Bibliography
Burlingame, J. (2012) The film music society: John Williams recalls ‘jaws’ — by Jon Burlingame — by Jon Burlingame. Available at: http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/2012/081412.html (Accessed: 14 February 2017).
Chaundy, B. (2006) Spies, sports and sharks. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6107576.stm (Accessed: 14 February 2017).
Edge of the Fringe (2013) Flash Gordon opening titles. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfc_CrwiE4Y (Accessed: 14 February 2017).
