Academic Major: Musical Studies- Music History
Title: The Role of Violin in Western Film Music
As one of the most expressive vehicles for transmitting information and telling stories, film is an integral component of modern culture. Born at the turn of the 20th century, film grew into a multi-billion-dollar industry attracting creative talent and audiences worldwide. Therefore, studying it allows for a stronger understanding of many cultures. A pivotal transformation in film (and a popular vehicle for classical music interest) was the introduction of sound and the subsequent composition of soundtracks.
Sound and music are treated as essential elements of film. To create this soundscape, many different musical instruments are used. The violin, a significant Western musical instrument with many cultural impacts in classical and popular music, plays a major role in film music. Borrowing from its role in Western classical orchestras, the violin was featured prominently in film scores like those from The Red Violin and Oppenheimer, and the styles of performers such as Toscha Seidel created a strong perception of the ability of the violin to convey romance.
This project aims to study the violin's role in film music, including how the violin developed a characteristic sound over its performance lifetime and how this shifted over time. I will examine scholarly literature, film scores, soundtracks, music criticisms, and other sources to find my information. I hope to interview and intern with a modern film composer to understand how they compose and orchestrate the violin. To culminate this project, I will design a public exhibition so general audiences can learn more about the violin in film in addition to a lecture recital, paper, and ways to present my research.
This project expands beyond the regular coursework of the Music History curriculum at Crane. Film music is not part of the Music History I, II, or III courses. The Music in Film course does not specifically delve into the topic I want to explore, which is more history, performance, and violin focused. By pursuing this research project, I hope to further my understanding of how the violin portrays a unique role in film music performance practice and enjoyment.